Articles 3.26.2005

The Arizona Republic has a follow-up article to a 3.12.2005 plea from a Marine mother seeking contributions to provide gift bags for the returning 2/5 Marines. More than 500 people responded, contributing over $22,000 in cash and gift cards, as well as 1200 long-distance phone cards (including 850 from Qwest). The response was more than needed, so the remaining goods will be saved for another battalion returning home this fall. The 2/5 Marines return home to Camp Pendleton on Sunday.
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The Washington Post has a few more details on the 3.24.2005 suicide car bomb in Ramadi. The article cites Cpt Jeffrey Pool, a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Division, saying that the attack killed 11 members of the 2nd Iraqi Special Police Commandos, and wounded 2 U.S. soldiers and 11 Iraqi civilians and commandos. Checkpoints were set up in late February "to screen trucks, cars, horse carts, cyclists and pedestrians moving in and out of Ramadi in an effort to halt the flow of guns and bombs into Anbar province." A 2nd bomb exploded "on Ramadi's outskirts" on Friday. Two men jumped from a vehicle seconds before it exploded, then escaped in another vehicle. There were no injuries.
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Other news from the region:
- NY Times (reg req'd): Delay and Uncertainty Hamper Day-to-Day Efforts of Iraqi Ministries
- NY Times (reg req'd): Vital Signs of a Ruined Falluja Grow Stronger