Articles 10.08.2004

An article in the Kansas City Star (Free Registration Required) describes a Marine's personal experiences in Ramadi. Cpl. Benjamin Musser is with the Echo Company which was profiled in the Philadelphia Inquirer (Free Registration Required) earlier this year. Cpl. Musser's unit is back in California. Another member of Echo Company, Cpl. Justin Tate, describes his experiences to the "Marion Daily Republican. Cpl. Tate felt that the new armor greatly improved soldier safety. Another marine in a different battalion, Kyle Tunell, describes his experiences in the Maryville Daily Forum, MO. Tunnell was injured in combat in Ramadi.
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An Associated Press Article discusses the current U.S. strategy in Iraq. Some quotes:

"The Bush administration has developed a formal written strategy for Iraq that envisions using a mix of diplomacy and military force to try to wrest control of dozens of key cities from insurgents before planned January elections, a senior administration official said Friday."

"Other military officials and outside defense analysts also have said those offensives into cities could be delayed if Baghdad and Washington settle for partial, rather than full, Iraqi participation in elections in January."

"The Pentagon fears that Iraqi forces may not be strong enough to hold cities like Fallujah and Ramadi, even if American forces manage to root out insurgents there, Pentagon officials and defense analysts say."

More specifics on the plan are given published in the NY Times.
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An AP article reports on an explosion in Ramadi on 10.08.2004. Marines "saw four insurgents filming the explosion," who ran into a mosque when they realized they were sighted. The explosion occured at the Iraqi Red Crescent Society building. No injuries where reported.