Articles 10.14.2004

The Christian Science Monitor carries an article titled "Signs of progress amid turmoil in Iraq." Among the primary points:
- fighters loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have started turning in weapons.
- negotiations have continued in Falluja.
- air-strikes in Falluja may be causing a split between anti-US resistence fighter and foreign fighters linked to terrorist organizations.
- experts are claiming "attitudes became more cooperative" in October following the offensive in Samarra, increased ground operations in Ramadi, and disruption of insurgent supply lines in Baghdad.

However, the article also quotes: "Yet few are using the word 'optimism.'"
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An 10.14.2004 article in USA Today follows a patrol from the 44th Engineer Battalion in Ramadi during which an ambush occured.
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A story out of Scotland indicates that a 600-member unit of the "Black Watch" Regiment of the British military will likely be moving to Falluja from Basra in order to "act as the Divisional Reserve Force."