Not sure why I didn't see this earlier (like a week ago when it happened), but Lt. Gen. Jim Dubik concluded his command of the effort to train Iraq's security forces and returned to the United States. In a ceremony July 3 in Baghdad, the former Fort Lewis commanding general turned over the reins of the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq to Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick.

The press release said Dubik will retire after 37 years in the Army. He was the top man at Fort Lewis from 2004-06.

His hometown Erie, Pa., Times-News took note of his career in an editorial Wednesday.

Dubik returned home in time to testify Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee, where he said he expected Iraq's ground forces to be fully manned and operational as soon as next April. Coverage here and here and here.

KING TV reports that Fort Lewis soldiers are being warned to watch their credit reports after the recent theft of a laptop containing personal information about "thousands of soldiers." The TV report suggested the entire 4,000-soldier 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, just back from nearly 15 months in Iraq, may be at risk.

Fort Lewis officials told me "the premise of the KING 5 story is generally accurate," but said the computer contained information about 800-900 soldiers. They didn't identify the unit.

Otherwise, the post released a statement:

"The Army takes security of personal information extremely seriously, and we are investigating this incident fully. However, it is apparent that Army standards and policy regarding protection of this information were not followed, and we are making immediate changes to step up enforcement of these policies to prevent this from happening again. We know what information may have been compromised, and we have already begun the process of notifying the appropriate Soldiers. We are also committed to working with local authorities to pursue prosecution to the maximum extent possible if these Soldiers' information is misused."

Lots of follow up questions there. The post's public affairs shop says they'll have more details later today.

UPDATE, 2:50 p.m.: Still waiting on Fort Lewis PAO shop to answer some followup questions. Apparently since this has to do with three of the touchier food groups – law enforcement, information security and personnel – the answers have to go up and down several stove pipes for approval.

At any rate, our friends at the Olympian report that the theft occurred sometime between 9:30 p.m. July 3 and 10 a.m. July 4 from a Dodge pickup parked in the driveway in the 5500 block of 34th Avenue Southeast in Lacey. The reportee was listed as a federal employee of the U.S. Army. The reportee said there was no classified, secret or top secret information stored on the computer and an external 500 GB hard drive.

The reportee said he left the door of the truck unlocked.

Awaiting a copy of the police report.

UDPATE, UPDATE: Fort Lewis finally came through with some additional information shortly after 6 p.m., a mere eight hours after we posed some followup questions. Next time somebody tells me how long it takes to turn around a battle ship ...

I did a quick story for tomorrow's paper that I am posting here:

=> Read more!