Articles 12.29.2004

The Syracuse Post Standard has an 11.27.2004 article and a 12.12.2004 article on a wounded 2nd BCT soldier. Spc. Jonathan Bailey, of the 1-506th, was wounded in mid-November when a suicide car bomb exploded near his humvee, injuring him and three others in the vehicle. Spc. Bailey was treated for shrapnel wounds in Baghdad while the other three were airlifted to Germany. After receiveing treatment, he returned to his front-line unit. Before the 2nd BCT deployed to Iraq, Spc. Bailey turned down a redeployment stateside in order to stay with his friends.
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According to a Multi-National Force Iraq press release, Marines "conducted a controlled detonation of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device at approximately 9 a.m. on Dec. 28 near the Ramadi Hospital in downtown Ramadi." Hospital workers notified the Marines of the suspected vehicle, who inspected the vehicle and found "at least one-105mm artillery round and three bottles of unknown explosives linked together by detonation cord."
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The Associated Press reports on the increased attacks on Iraqi policemen and Iraqi National Guardsmen. The Deputy Governer of the Anbar province was assasinated near Ramadi. Knight Ridder news services mentioned that an Iraqi National Guard commander survived an assasination attemp in Ramadi.
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Other articles from the region:
- USA Today: With Iraq vote in a month, every day crucial to success
- Associated Press: U.S. Accuses Syria of Helping Insurgents
- NY Times (reg req'd): Rebels Inflict Heavy Losses on the Iraqis
- LA Times (reg req'd): Getting an Education in Jihad