Articles 1.5.2005

The Wichita Eagle, KS, has an article on a wounded 2nd BCT soldier. Pfc. Anthony Thompson, who's unit wasn't given (but was described as deploying from Korea), was shot in the leg near Ramadi on 11.27.2004. He returned home to Wichita on 12.21.2004 for convalescent leave after 5 surgeries in Iraq, Germany and Texas. Barring complications, he expects to regain full use of his leg after a year or more of therapy. Pfc. Thompson is unsure of his future plans.
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Reuters reports that "a gunbattle broke out [in Ramadi] after rebels detonated a roadside bomb near a US military convoy in the city some 110 km west of Baghdad, and opened fire on the troops." A U.S. forces spokesman confirmed that there was an attack in Ramadi, but gave no details. 5 civilians were reported killed and two wounded, and "it was not clear if any US troops or gunmen were hurt".
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Cincinatti Enquirer has a letter to the editor from a marine in Baghdad on overlooked good news in Iraq. As an example, he mentions a program, "Kicks for Kids", that an Army reservist, Sgt. Addie Collins, established to collect shoes for Iraqi children. The article says that "today, 10,000 pairs later, Collins is outfitting an entire Ramadi community with sneakers, sandals and boots."
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Knight Ridder news has an article on troubles facing the upcoming elections. One quote: "The major Sunni party has withdrawn its ticket of candidates. There are neither voter registration centers nor any registered voters in the Sunni strongholds of Fallujah and Ramadi."
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Other articles from the region:
- LA Times (reg req'd): Fallujah residents Return to All They Lost
- Washington Post (reg req'd): Baghdad Governor Slain by Insurgents
- Christian Science Monitor: If Sunnis won't vote, then what?
- Chicago Tribune: Army Reserve overextended, general says
- Chicago Tribune: War tests recruiters' pitch
- Boston Globe: Study urges bigger role for State Dept.