Articles 2.23.2005

The Gaylord, MI, Herald Times has a follow-up article on wounded 1-503rd soldier Pfc. Derrick Harden. Pfc. Harden, who was wounded on 1.17.2005, is facing another round of surgery after doctors found additional shrapnel embedded in his neck. He has started basic physical therapy, and his mother says she is encouraged by his positive attitude.
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The Stars & Stripes carries an article on a walkathon fundraiser at the Seoul American High School for a "scholarship fund for children of soldiers who have died serving in Iraq and Afghanistan." Special tribute will be paid to the 42 2nd BCT, 2nd ID soldiers killed in Iraq. A teacher leading the drive has even received contributions from soldiers in Iraq.
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Again, there is sparse news on the on-going Operation River Blitz. Reuters indicates that a car bomb struck a checkpoint in the Sofiya district of Ramadi, but but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The BBC has an article on Marines entering the town of Haqlaniya, northwest of Ramadi. One quote: ""We're going into the city and we're staying," Lt Col Greg Stevens of the 1st Marines Expeditionary Force told Reuters news agency. "The situation in Anbar has gone too far which is why we enacted River Blitz. "We don't want to present a weak spot to the insurgent," he said, referring to this week's operation."
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Other articles from the region:
- Associated Press: What Next for Iraq's Government
- Associated Press: Al-Jaafari Led Anti-Saddam Fight for Years
- Reuters: Iraqis Wrangle Over Shape of New Government
- Newsday: Extreme Conversion: A jihadist’s journey
- NY Times: Shiite Alliance in Iraq Wants Islamist as the Prime Minister