Articles

Here is a nice article titled "Media Misses the Humanity" (you have to scroll down on the linked page) talking about how the news misses the human side of what our troops go through. It is from the perspective of the Marines in Ramadi, but I think holds true in general.


Increase in Troop in Ramadi
An AFP report indicates that U.S. forces in Ramadi will be doubled to around 2,000 soldiers. A U.S. Military spokesman said the 1-503rd Infantry will be joining the 2/5 Marines in Ramadi. Both battalions are under 2nd BCT command.Until now, the Army has "patrolled the edge of eastern Ramadi and its northern suburbs", while the 2/5 Marines has "cruised the streets and maintained eight combat outposts across the city." "The influx of troops would allow Army units to sweep villages south of Ramadi, which are thought to be providing haven to leaders of a bloody insurgency that has raged since last year's U.S.-led invasion, said a military official."

10/29 News

The following story was posted on Al Jazeera (so you have to take it with a grain of salt, or even the whole shaker!):
Two Iraqis have been killed and at least six people wounded, including a US marine, in clashes between fighters and US troops in Ramadi.

"The toll from the clashes is two dead and five wounded, including a policeman," Dr Amir al-Ubaidi of Ramadi's main hospital said on Thursday.

A marine officer said one marine had been injured in fighting that erupted after a patrol came under fire during a pre-dawn weapons search.

Iraqi police said fighters on Thursday fired three rocket-propelled grenades at a US base and the regional government office in Ramadi, 110km west of Baghdad.

Iraq's US-backed interim government has vowed to crush fighters in Ramadi ahead of national assembly elections scheduled for January.

Search operations

Iraqi journalist Mahmud Abd Allah told Aljazeera US forces were engaged in weapons search operations in different neighbourhoods in Ramadi city.

"The forces have called on citizens through loudspeakers to stay in their homes, threatening to arrest or open fire at any one who violates the instructions," he added.

"Ramadi city is paralysed," Abd Allah said. "Schools and governmental departments are all closed, as the forces have closed all roads," he added. "US forces blow up all explosive devices they find," he added.

The Iraqi journalist went on to say that US troops found a car loaded with explosives, near Muaawiya mosque west of the city, and blew it up.

"US forces have also detonated a citizen's house, arresting three of his family members, claiming they have found explosives in his house," Abd Allah said.

"However, the owner of the house confirmed that no explosives were found in his house, saying that US forces said so to blow up his house and arrest three of his sons"

A sad day for the Cards

Well, yesterday was a sad day for the in Cardinals. But, if they had to lose to somebody, it might as well be the Sox. The curse is broken! Yeah!

Happy Birthday Mark!

Here's wishing a very happy 50th birthday to Mark Sherony! And here's to the next half century.

(Don't worry Mark, I'm sure the Cubs will get back into the series SOMETIME in the next 50 years...hehehe.)

Hope you have a marvelous day. Don't eat too much cake!

News & Updates

Rory Update:
It looks like Rory logged on yesterday and read thru the site. He also called Sarah this morning and is doing well. He is sending pictures back so hopefully we will see some soon! :)

News Reports 10/25/04
From BBC: In Ramadi, three Iraqis are killed as US forces clash with insurgents, a US security patrol is bombed and a separate convoy is ambushed by anti-US and anti-Iraqi government fighters.

From Al Jazeera: Three Iraqis were killed and four others injured during violent clashes between US forces and armed men in eastern districts of Ramadi city, Aljazeera has learned. The clashes erupted after a US military headquarters, west of the city, had been bombed.

GAME 3 COMING UP! Let's see if the Cards can pick up the pace now that they are home! Game 5, Game 5, Game 5...

Package Overload

Hi folks,

It appears that we might be overloading our favorite soldier with packages--so much so that he is out of space! (Hey, I know I'm guilty. I send him something almost every week.) And if we are ALL doing that then his bunk must look like a mini-UPS Store haha. (Actually my second bedroom looks like a mini-UPS store with all the packing supplies!) So perhaps, we should all cut our shipments in half... If you send packages weekly, cut back to every other week and send a letter or a card in its place. He is sharing his excess "stuff", but apparently the other soldiers in his unit also have a lot of left-overs, so there's not a lot of people to share with! I have heard from other soldier's families that they are experiencing the same issues. Plus they have a rodent problem over there and if there is a lot of food laying around the rats get to it. I know Rory does appreciate all the love and time people are putting into these packages, but also doesn't want them to go to waste.

On the other hand, if excess packages are his biggest problem, then I think he is doing pretty good under the circumstances. :)

I hope everyone is having a good weekend and is getting ready for GAME 2 of the World Series! Go Cards!

Bombing in Ramadi

More than 20 Iraqis killed in series of blasts
A suicide car blast near a U.S.-Iraqi base near the western city of Ramadi on Saturday, killed at least 16 Iraqi policemen and wounded some 40, officials said. According to them, it occurred at the Baghdadi base, used by U.S. occupation forces and Iraqi National Guards. No American troops were hurt in the bombing, the U.S. military said. Earlier, a roadside bomb went off near an American military patrol in Baghdad Saturday, wounding six troops, the U.S. command said, according to The AP. The attack occurred at 7:15 a.m. along the main highway leading to Baghdad International Airport, the U.S. military said. Witnesses saw an armored vehicle burning. The troops were evacuated to a nearby military medical facility. Also Saturday, a mortar shell hit a central Baghdad neighborhood, killing two people and injuring one. And a suicide bomber detonated a car near an Iraqi National Guard checkpoint south of Samarra, killing four guardsmen and injuring six, police said. (Source: Albawaba)