From the "Boo-Flippin'-Hoo" files:

Guantanamo cell is better than freedom, says inmate fighting against release

An inmate of Guantanamo Bay who spends 22 hours each day in an isolation cell is fighting for the right to stay in the notorious internment camp.

Ahmed Belbacha fears that he will be tortured or killed if the United States goes ahead with plans to return him to his native Algeria.

The Times has learnt that Mr Belbacha, who lived in Britain for three years, has filed an emergency motion at the US Court of Appeals in Washington DC asking for his transfer out of Guantanamo to be halted. He was cleared for release from Camp Delta in February and his lawyers believe that his return to Algerian custody is imminent.'Notorious internment camp'? Now, there's an objective phrase. And further proving they're not biased is the inclusion of statistics from Amnesty International.

You can read the full article at the London Times Online.

Oh, and be sure to have some onions handy so that you can generate the proper amount of tears for poor Ahmed.

Labels: Afghanistan, Gitmo, GWOT, terrorists

Michael Yon sent the link to this piece at National Review Online:

Turning Point?
An op-ed and a war.
An NRO Symposium

The New York Times ran a piece Monday by two non-“neoconservatives” — Michael O’Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack — arguing that the war in Iraq can be won. Is this indicative of some kind of mood change afoot? Could we really win this war? Could the rhetoric in Washington really change? National Review Online asked a group of experts.

It seems that the tide of opinion at home just may be turning...despite a concerted effort by certain cowards individuals to paint the surge as a failure, and abandoning innocent people to slaughter immediate withdrawal of the troops as the only option.

People like Michael Yon, Senator McCain, and other well-known names weigh in - it's definitely worth the read.

ON THE STREETS - U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Leota (center), and 1st Sgt. Ronnie Blount, walk through a local market in Kirkuk, Iraq, July 30, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Juan Jimenez

Labels: children, Iraq, Kirkuk, photos, US Army

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Little Daylight Between Bush, Brown on Iraq PHOTOS
Iraqi Parliament Adjourns Without Benchmark Legislation
Rice, Gates Seek Arab Support for Iraq on Mideast Trip
Admiral cites problems undermining Iraq
Iraqi premier faces revolt within party
Iraqi parliament adjourns for August
Military.com DT: Virtual Fallujah
Iraqi forces take pride in themselves, their units
Chem unit assists in removal of 40,000 gallons of nitric acid

Operation Enduring Freedom
Body of Second Hostage Found
Taliban: more hostages will die 'at any time'
Afghans recover body of slain Korean hostage - Video
Suicide car bomb hits U.S. convoy in Afghan capital - Video
Taliban Issues Another Hostage Deadline

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Bollywood star jailed for 6 years in Mumbai blasts
Palestinians hail withdrawal of U.N. Gaza statement
Australia releases new evidence against Indian doc

Troops on Trial
Soldier enters pleas in rape-murder case

Other Military News
Military.com Daily Shock: Mirage Crash
House OKs Boost to Vets' Mental Care
House Wants Apology on Sex Slaves
Problem With Wives Wearing Rank

Worldwide Wackos
Nuclear inspectors say North Korea cooperating

Politics / Government
Sen. Ted Stevens' Renovated Home Searched by FBI, IRS
House to Vote on Lobbying Reform Bill
Al Gore III Pleads Guilty to Pot, Unauthorized Prescription
Cheney: Libby Shouldn't Have Been Convicted
Reporter's Notebook: A Morning With Alastair - VIDEO

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Chief Justice Seizure Scare - Spokeswoman: Roberts has 'fully recovered'
Dr. Manny: What Caused John Roberts' Seizure?
Think Your Boss Is Bad?
Man Leads Cops on High-Speed Chase Over Sick Cat
Michael Vick's Co-Defendant: Vick Almost Entirely Funded Dogfighting Operation
Woman Accused of NYC Genital-Mutilation Death
Cops: Suspect May Have Killed, Castrated Stepfather to Avenge Sexual Abuse
Bail Denied for Maryland Mom Suspected in Deaths of Four Infants Found on Property
Goldman Family Awarded Rights to O.J. Simpson Book
Nike to pay $7.6 mln to settle race-bias suit

Adventures in Political Correctness
McDonald's drops rapper from tour

U.N. News
U.N. resolution on Darfur troops nears vote
British PM to address United Nations

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Award-Winning NBC News Producer Dies After Falling From New York Apartment
Sex offenders lurk on Facebook, Conn. official says
Rapper Diddy takes to Web for staff with attitude
News Corp., Dow Jones approach decision
Ball State names building for Letterman

Science / Medicine / Technology
One cannabis joint as bad as five cigarettes: study
Glaxo diabetes drug should stay on market: U.S. panel
Medicare tightens reimbursement for anemia drugs
Caffeine, exercise may help ward off skin cancer
UK launches CO2 car rankings Web site
Company devises umbrella that forecasts rain

Mother Nature
Montana Wildfires Threaten 200 Homes - PHOTOS
Washington State Prepares for Return of Wolves
Tropical Depression Strengthens Off East Coast
China floods put Three Gorges Dam to the test

Oddities
Panda Breeding Facility Recycles Poop Into Toys
Cell phones light up operating room during blackout
Poland's oldest parachutist jumps at 84

Other News of Note
Missing Alabama Minister's Wife Found Working at Fast-Food Restaurant in New York
China tells Paulson it's poor and poses no threat
"Killing Fields" judges grill first suspect
Former 49ers coach Bill Walsh dead at 75

Fox News
'Wonder Years' Actress Danica McKellar Tells Girls: Smart Is Cool
Pop Tarts: Paris Hilton Still a Grandpa's Girl
Friend: Usher's Pregnant Ex-Fiancée 'Doing Fine' Since Wedding Cancellation

Reuters: Top News
Italian filmmaker Antonioni dies at 94
"Simpsons" draws crowds as box office surges
"Hairspray" ingenue Blonsky filming teen comedy
Global stocks rally sharply as credit market calms - Video
U.S. oil climbs above $77
Glaxo shares climb as U.S. panel backs Avandia
Price pressures, merger costs hit Alcatel-Lucent
High yielders recover as risk aversion cools - Video
Monster focused on growth, not sale
Big Oil spends more, pumps less
IMF chief warns of globalization risks
Whole Foods to court to defend Wild Oats takeover
Merrill eyes new China partner for securities JV
Greenspan group presses case to buy Dow Jones stake
Peltz says could offer $37 to $41/shr for Wendy's

AP World News
Thousands line up for 'Idol' auditions
Bonds, A-Rod and Glavine aim for history
Stock poised to open higher
Arby's owner prepares offer for Wendy's
Source: T-Wolves to send K.G. to Celtics
Ex-college head hopes to clear his name
Utilities search for buried danger
La. residents rush to beat aid deadline

Military.com
Op-ed: Blue Collar Benchmarks
Review: Lindsay Lohan's New Flick
Fitness: SEAL Talks Back Pain
Podcasts: From The Editor's Desk

CENTCOM: News Releases
16 SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA TERRORISTS CAPTURED
11 terrorists killed, 13 detained during Operation Woodshed
MND-B ATTACK AIRCRAFT KILLS TWO ARMED INSURGENTS

USJFCOM
Visitors get up close and personal with Command and Control Data Pilot initiative - podcast
U.S. Joint Forces Command supports Exercise Talisman Saber 2007 - podcast
USJFCOM assessing digital Joint Close Air Support capability - podcast
Joint Systems Integration Command kicks off Joint Intelligence Operations – Command and Control program - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Brits helping to train Iraqi Army
1-15 Inf. helps Iraqis during free heath clinic
‘Operation Iraqi Heart,’ U.S. Special Operations Forces, Army Civil Affairs aid Al Anbar child
MND-B attack aircraft engage enemy rocket launchers
MNF-W forces attacked
Nine suspected al-Qaeda terrorists detained
Troops provide dental, medical assistance to the residents of Janeen
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain al Qaeda cell leader in Husaybuh

DefenseLink
Gates, Rice to Reaffirm U.S. Ties to Gulf Region
Arms Sale to Help Bolster Long-Term Security
U.S.-U.K. Leaders Reaffirm Goals in Terror War
Petraeus Aims to Keep Iraq Assessment Apolitical
Iraqi Police Continue Phase 2 of Special Training
Surge Putting Pressure on Terrorists in Iraq - Video
Teams Provide Dental Care Aboard USNS Comfort
Officers Get New Joint Credit Qualification System
Major League Players Tour Pentagon

More Headline News
Improved Security May Mean Fewer Troops
U.S., Iraqi Generals Chart Progress in Baghdad
Civilian Skills Help with Afghan Poppy Problem

Military News
Friends Survive Blast, Receive Purple Hearts
Institute Creates, Preserves U.S. Military Heraldry
Guard, Reserve Forces Need Experienced Leaders

War on Terror
Iraqi Kindergarten Reopens
Troops Raid Terrorists
Afghan Police Successful
Coalition Forces Combine Gains

Transformation
Guests Visit HMS Illustrious
Army Launches Chain-Teaching
Cyber Command Online for Future

Face of Defense
SEAL Recruiter Third in Badwater Ultramarathon
Sergeant Thrilled to Serve
Family of Musicians Rocks
Sailor Promotes Volunteerism

America Supports You
Department Honors ‘Dr. Laura’
Heroes, Employers Connect
Comedians Entertain Troops
‘Horseplay’ Benefits Troops

DefendAmerica
BLOGGERS' ROUNDTABLE with U.S. ARMY Col. Mark R. French
Iraqi Police Receive Expert Training - Story
Bloggers' Roundtable Web Site

NEWS UPDATES
Troops Raid Terrorists - Story

ON THE GROUND
Iraqis Complete Military Lifesaver Course - Story
Engineers Repair Levee for Afghan Villagers - Story
Iraqi Community Reopens Kindergarten - Story
Marines Save More than Aches, Pains - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraq's Prime Minister Visits Diyala for First Time
Electronic Training Tool Aids Soldiers in Combat
Khalis Tribal Leaders Sign Peace Agreement
Language Barrier Can’t Stop Iraqis from Training
Kindness, Expertise Push Iraqis Forward
Army Engineers Help Rebuild Water System
Iraqi Army Takes Lead in Assessment Mission
Tigris River Provides Water for Troops in Iraq
Iraqi Doctor Jump Starts Immunization Program

IN DJIBOUTI
Seabees Drilling Wells, Building Schools in Africa
Task Force Members Survive in Djibouti Desert
Civil Affairs Team Celebrates Fence Completion
Servicemembers Move into New Living Units

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghan Soldiers Undergo 'Commando' Training
Ready Reserve Soldiers Respond to Duty

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
War on Terror Reconstruction Report
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Today in History
1498 - Christopher Columbus discovers Trinidad.
1777 - Marquis de Lafayette, is made a Major-General of the Continental Army -- at age 19.
1790 - Samuel Hopkins is granted the first U.S. patent -- for a potash process.
1809 - The first practical U.S. railroad track opens in Philadelphia; it is a wooden track designed for horse-drawn cars.
1813 - The British invade Plattsburgh, NY.
1912 - The U.S. government prohibits movies and photos of prize fights.
1922 - In MN, 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson glides off on the world's first water skis.
1925 - England passes the Unemployment Insurance Act.
1942 - In Minsk, the German SS gases 1,000 Jews.
1948 - President Truman dedicates Idlewild Field - it will become JFK airport in NY.
1949 - Lightning strikes a baseball field in FL, killing the shortstop and the third baseman.
1953 - The Department of Health, Education and Welfare is created.
1960 - Elijah Muhammad, leader of Nation of Islam, calls for a Black state.
1962 - The Federation of Malaysia is formed.
1964 - Al Parker glides 644 miles without any motor; the U.S. Ranger-7 takes its 4,316th picture before crashing on the Moon.
1969 - Mariner 6 flies past Mars; the National Guard is mobilized to deal with race riots in Baton Rouge, LA.
1970 - Chet Huntley retires from NBC, ending the "Huntley-Brinkley Report."
1978 - A gunman shoots his way into the Iraqi Embassy in Paris.
1980 - The U.S.S.R.'s Soyuz-37 crew returns to Earth aboard the Soyuz-36.
1981 - Arnette Hubbard becomes the first female president of the National Bar Association.
1984 - The U.S. men's gymnastics team wins the team gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA.

Birthdays
1803 - John Ericsson US, invented screw propeller, built USS Monitor
1841 - George Melville polar explorer, naval engineer
1904 - Arthur Daley sportswriter (NY Times-Pulitzer 1956)
1919 - Curt Gowdy Green River Wyo, sportscaster (ABC)
1919 - Primo Levi Italy, chemist/writer (Survival in Aushchwitz)
1921 - Whitney M Young Jr civil rights leader, head of Urban League
1943 - William Bennett US Secretary of Education (1985-88)/drug czar
1957 - Victoria E Cooke Hollywood Ca, playmate (Aug, 1980)
1962 - Kym Malin Dallas Tx, playmate (May, 1982)

Passings
1556 - St Ignatius of Loyola
1811 - Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Mexican hero priest, executed by Spanish
1875 - Andrew Johnson, 17th U.S. President
1953 - Robert Taft (Sen-OH)
1981 - Gen Omar Torrijos leader of Panama, dies in plane crash

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Burroughs, William D., USAF (MD); RF101 shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - deceased March, 1999.

1967
Allen, Thomas R., USAF (OK); F4C shot down (pilot), remains returned November, 1997

Packard, Ronald L., USAF (CO); F4C shot down (weapons / systems operator), remains returned November, 1997

Zuhoski, Charles P., USN (NY); F8C shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

1969
Burns, Michael P., US Army SF (TX); believed KIA, body not recovered

Neal, Dennis P., US Army SF (FL); believed KIA, body not recovered

Labels: Headlines, History