Articles 5.7.2005
The Mount Pleasant News, IA, has an article on the 224th Iowa National Guard Engineer Battalion building a memorial for fallen 2nd BCT soldiers at Camp Ramadi, which the National Guard Unit shares with 2nd BCT units. According to the article, "When the memorial is complete it will consist of standing trees that flower, a small pond made from half of a gray water tank, a fountain in the pond, decking around the pond and a gazebo on each end of the pond to "quietly reflect." The area was formerly used by Iraqis to garden. It is crisscrossed with irrigation ditches that supply water to raised beds." The idea originated from a civilian contractor working in the area. Soldiers of the 44th Engineer Battalion are also helping with the project.
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The Washington Post has a long article on the use of Shiite forces to help police the Sunni town of Ramadi. The article is the most informative news-piece to come out of Ramadi in months. Capt. Bart Nagle, an Intelligence Officer in the 1/5 Marines, Maj. Steven Alexander, Operations Officer of the 2nd BCT, and Maj. Greg Sierra, Executive officer of the 1-503rd, as well as Iraqi officials, are quoted in the article.
Several key points and quotes:
- "Fearful of or complicit with insurgents, it disbanded before January's national elections and now consists of a handful of traffic officers. As a result, hundreds of predominantly Shiite forces -- including ad hoc militia groups such as the Defenders of Baghdad -- are flowing into Ramadi as part of the latest strategy by Iraq's central government and the U.S. military to stem insurgent violence here."
- "by pitting Iraqis from different religious sects, ethnic groups and tribes against each other, the strategy also aggravates the underlying fault lines of Iraqi society, heightening the prospect of civil strife, U.S. military analysts said."
- "the influx of outside forces totals at least 1,500 troops in five battalions, including Public Order forces and irregular militias such as the 2nd Special Police Commandos and the Defenders of Baghdad, according to U.S. military officials."
- "Ramadi's violent reputation has led some Iraqi commanders to call the city hell. Last month, a Public Order battalion from Baghdad saw 200 men -- a third of its force -- desert when it was ordered to go to Ramadi, U.S. military officers say."
- 50% of Ramadi residents are unemployed, and there is still a 8 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew in the city.
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Reporters Without Borders has an article on reporters detained by coalition forces in Iraq. One quote: "Two journalists who work for AFP are also reportedly among those being held. AFP said the army has confirmed the arrest of only one of them, Ammar Daham Naef Khalaf, who was detained on 11 April by US soldiers at his home in Ramadi (west of Baghdad). The army said he was transferred on 26 April to Abu Ghraib prison, where he will not be able to receive visits for 60 days." No details were given on the nature of the arrest.
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Other articles from the region:
- Reuters: U.S. leans more on Iraq troops to fight insurgents
- LA Times (reg req'd): From Sorrow to 60 in 5.8 Seconds
- CNN.com: Rumsfeld: Base closings may be reduced
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The Washington Post has a long article on the use of Shiite forces to help police the Sunni town of Ramadi. The article is the most informative news-piece to come out of Ramadi in months. Capt. Bart Nagle, an Intelligence Officer in the 1/5 Marines, Maj. Steven Alexander, Operations Officer of the 2nd BCT, and Maj. Greg Sierra, Executive officer of the 1-503rd, as well as Iraqi officials, are quoted in the article.
Several key points and quotes:
- "Fearful of or complicit with insurgents, it disbanded before January's national elections and now consists of a handful of traffic officers. As a result, hundreds of predominantly Shiite forces -- including ad hoc militia groups such as the Defenders of Baghdad -- are flowing into Ramadi as part of the latest strategy by Iraq's central government and the U.S. military to stem insurgent violence here."
- "by pitting Iraqis from different religious sects, ethnic groups and tribes against each other, the strategy also aggravates the underlying fault lines of Iraqi society, heightening the prospect of civil strife, U.S. military analysts said."
- "the influx of outside forces totals at least 1,500 troops in five battalions, including Public Order forces and irregular militias such as the 2nd Special Police Commandos and the Defenders of Baghdad, according to U.S. military officials."
- "Ramadi's violent reputation has led some Iraqi commanders to call the city hell. Last month, a Public Order battalion from Baghdad saw 200 men -- a third of its force -- desert when it was ordered to go to Ramadi, U.S. military officers say."
- 50% of Ramadi residents are unemployed, and there is still a 8 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew in the city.
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Reporters Without Borders has an article on reporters detained by coalition forces in Iraq. One quote: "Two journalists who work for AFP are also reportedly among those being held. AFP said the army has confirmed the arrest of only one of them, Ammar Daham Naef Khalaf, who was detained on 11 April by US soldiers at his home in Ramadi (west of Baghdad). The army said he was transferred on 26 April to Abu Ghraib prison, where he will not be able to receive visits for 60 days." No details were given on the nature of the arrest.
=========
Other articles from the region:
- Reuters: U.S. leans more on Iraq troops to fight insurgents
- LA Times (reg req'd): From Sorrow to 60 in 5.8 Seconds
- CNN.com: Rumsfeld: Base closings may be reduced
posted by Ryan Kirk @ 7:02 AM
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