Articles 12.2.2004

Updated 14:45 cst:
NBC News, CA and the Daily Breeze, CA have articles on Spc. Sergio Diaz-Valera, of the 1-503rd, who was killed in Ramadi on 11.24.2004. Spc. Diaz joined the Army as a legal immigrant, in part to save money to buy a house for his mother. He is to be buried in Guadalajara, Mexico, where his mother lives. Neighbors in Lomita, CA, where his father lives, expressed hope that Spc. Diaz will receive his U.S. Citizenship posthumously.
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Fox News has a blog update and new video report on patrol with the 2/5 Marines in Ramadi. To view the video, click on the "video" tab in the article and select "On patrol in the 7-ton truck."
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posted 08:30 cst:
News Oklahoma (reg req'd) has an article on Sgt. Carl W. Lee, of the 1-503rd, who was killed in Ramadi on 11.28.2004. Sgt. Lee joined the Army after high school, and reenlisted last year with the aim of being a career soldier. Eventually, he and his brother had hoped to start an automotive business. He was 23 years old.
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A NY Times article (reg req'd) from 11.30.2004 on the struggling Iraqi forces quotes Lt. Col. Justin Gubler, commander of the 1-503rd. "Down the road, in Ramadi, an American commander said the police had proved useless. There, American troops with the First Battalion of the Army's 503d Infantry are briefed to be just as cautious in dealing with the Iraqi police as they are with anyone else. The police "are clearly intimidated to the point where they don't want to come to work," said the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Justin Gubler. He said the Iraqi National Guard, known as the I.N.G., has only a "little bit more training." They also have serious problems of loyalty and competence. Just a few months ago, he believes, the local National Guard force was complicit in the abduction and killing of its own battalion commander west of Falluja. "That's what you get out of the I.N.G.," Colonel Gubler said. "They gave up their battalion commander, laid their weapons down, and 23 cars and trucks and massive amounts of ammunition went to Falluja. It's just pitiful."
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A DoD news story quotes the commander of Multinational Force Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr. on the situation in Ramadi. "In the aftermath of Fallujah, Casey said, the coalition hopes to focus efforts on providing better security in Ramadi, capital of the Anbar province, as well as in Mosul and Baghdad. "We believe a solution in Ramadi in now obtainable, now that Fallujah has been eliminated as a terrorist safe haven," he said. "The whole Al Anbar province is an area of difficulty for the interim government, and we will work very hard to bring the security situation there to the point where they have election in January."
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The DoD announced troop extensions for Iraq to support the upcoming elections. Deployments home have been extended for over 10,000 troops in theater, and 1500 soldiers are deploying for up to 120 days from the 82nd Airborne Division. In total, 150,000 troops will be in Iraq, the highest to date. Note that this announcement does not affect the 2nd ID, 2nd BCT. The "2nd BCT" mentioned in some media reports for extension is from the 25th Infantry Division, not from the 2nd Infantry Division deployed from Korea.
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Other articles from the region:
- The Guardian, UK: Personal stories from the U.S. hospital in Landstuhl, Germany
- Associated Press: the dangerous highways of Iraq
- LA Times (reg req'd): Fallujah fight among deadliest in years for U.S.