Articles 1.22.2005
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (reg req'd) carries an article on Pfc. Jesus Fonseca, of the 1-503rd, who was killed in Ramadi on 1.17.2005. Pfc. Fonseca was married in December 2003. While his parents live in Georgia, his wife, Marlen, and many relatives live in Mexico. After a viewing in Georgia, his body will be laid to rest in Mexico. His former high school English teacher quoted a sentence from an essay he had written about patriotism: ""I think the best way I can love my new country is to serve my new country."
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Embedded Stars & Stripes Reporter Joseph Giordono has two new articles with the 2nd BCT. The first article follows a joint patrol between soldiers of the 1-9th Infantry and "an elite Iraqi unit dubbed the Freedom Guard" in the Tamim district of Ramadi. The goals of the joint patrols are to provide security for the upcoming election and to continue preparing Iraqi forces to eventually take over responsibility of their country. The article has 5 pictures, and several 1-9th soldiers are quoted.
The second article is a lighter "Reporters Notebook" piece on strange things in Iraq. At a vehicle checkpoint, soldiers of the 1-9th discovered four small sheep hidden in the trunk of a car.
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The Los Angeles Times (reg req'd) carries an article on the key role Ramadi plays in the upcoming election. Some key quotes:
-"With Fallouja in virtual lockdown after the November offensive, Ramadi looms as the more significant test of whether U.S. and Iraqi forces can provide security and Sunni voters will ignore calls by some clerics to boycott the election."
- ""From a symbolic and a political standpoint, conducting a successful election in Ramadi, the provincial capital, is critical," said Brig. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division."
- "In October, the U.S. doubled the number of troops assigned to Ramadi, and security improved for a time. Now attacks are occurring almost daily again."
- "In preparation for the election, U.S. troops have raided numerous locations around Ramadi. In one night, 82 suspected insurgents were captured. The military said a load of anti-American literature and several caches of weaponry, including grenades, rockets and AK-47s, were seized."
- "Although they are among the few large cities in Al Anbar and are only 40 miles apart, Ramadi and Fallouja historically have gone their separate ways. Ramadi has been more tribal, with a tighter social structure. Fallouja was more hospitable to outsiders and served as a way station for travelers and merchants from Syria and Jordan....The U.S. has attempted to exploit the rivalry and disdain many Ramadi residents feel toward Falloujans. The "good people" pamphlet, for example, is one of several "information operations" designed to play on their differences."We're hearing some Ramadi residents telling us: 'We don't want a Fallouja here. We're not Fallouja,' " said Col. John Coleman, chief of staff of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force."
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Photographer Joe Raedle of Getty Images has several new photos with the 1-503rd in Ramadi dated 1.21.2005, including pictures of the memorial service held for Pfc. Jesus Fonseca, Pfc. George R. Geer, and SSG Thomas E. Vitagliano, and a joint US/Iraqi patrol.
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Other articles from the region:
- The New Yorker: Can Iyad Allawi hold Iraq together?
- Knight Ridder: Analysis: Iraqi insurgency growing larger, more effective
- BBC: Iraq attacks spark Allawi warning
- Washington Post (reg req'd): No Foreign Observers to Monitor Iraq Vote
- AFP: More than 90,000 Iraqi expats register to vote
================
Embedded Stars & Stripes Reporter Joseph Giordono has two new articles with the 2nd BCT. The first article follows a joint patrol between soldiers of the 1-9th Infantry and "an elite Iraqi unit dubbed the Freedom Guard" in the Tamim district of Ramadi. The goals of the joint patrols are to provide security for the upcoming election and to continue preparing Iraqi forces to eventually take over responsibility of their country. The article has 5 pictures, and several 1-9th soldiers are quoted.
The second article is a lighter "Reporters Notebook" piece on strange things in Iraq. At a vehicle checkpoint, soldiers of the 1-9th discovered four small sheep hidden in the trunk of a car.
================
The Los Angeles Times (reg req'd) carries an article on the key role Ramadi plays in the upcoming election. Some key quotes:
-"With Fallouja in virtual lockdown after the November offensive, Ramadi looms as the more significant test of whether U.S. and Iraqi forces can provide security and Sunni voters will ignore calls by some clerics to boycott the election."
- ""From a symbolic and a political standpoint, conducting a successful election in Ramadi, the provincial capital, is critical," said Brig. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division."
- "In October, the U.S. doubled the number of troops assigned to Ramadi, and security improved for a time. Now attacks are occurring almost daily again."
- "In preparation for the election, U.S. troops have raided numerous locations around Ramadi. In one night, 82 suspected insurgents were captured. The military said a load of anti-American literature and several caches of weaponry, including grenades, rockets and AK-47s, were seized."
- "Although they are among the few large cities in Al Anbar and are only 40 miles apart, Ramadi and Fallouja historically have gone their separate ways. Ramadi has been more tribal, with a tighter social structure. Fallouja was more hospitable to outsiders and served as a way station for travelers and merchants from Syria and Jordan....The U.S. has attempted to exploit the rivalry and disdain many Ramadi residents feel toward Falloujans. The "good people" pamphlet, for example, is one of several "information operations" designed to play on their differences."We're hearing some Ramadi residents telling us: 'We don't want a Fallouja here. We're not Fallouja,' " said Col. John Coleman, chief of staff of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force."
================
Photographer Joe Raedle of Getty Images has several new photos with the 1-503rd in Ramadi dated 1.21.2005, including pictures of the memorial service held for Pfc. Jesus Fonseca, Pfc. George R. Geer, and SSG Thomas E. Vitagliano, and a joint US/Iraqi patrol.
================
Other articles from the region:
- The New Yorker: Can Iyad Allawi hold Iraq together?
- Knight Ridder: Analysis: Iraqi insurgency growing larger, more effective
- BBC: Iraq attacks spark Allawi warning
- Washington Post (reg req'd): No Foreign Observers to Monitor Iraq Vote
- AFP: More than 90,000 Iraqi expats register to vote
posted by Ryan Kirk @ 6:59 AM
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