Articles 11.22.2005 - 11.30.2005
The Lufkin Daily News, TX, reports that a scholarship at Sam Houston State University has been established in the memory of SFC Todd Gibbs, of the 1-506th, who was killed in Khalidiyah in December, 2004. SFC Gibbs was a graduate of Sam Houston State, and the Todd Gibbs Memorial Scholarship will be based in the school's criminal justice department.
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Updates on Ramadi:
The Washington Post reports on a meeting in Ramadi between Marines and Sunni tribal leaders. The article described the meeting as "the largest meeting yet between those suspected of supporting the Iraqi insurgency and the U.S. forces battling them." The Sunni's wanted withdrawal, and "We're committed to withdrawing," responded Brig. Gen. James L. Williams of the 2nd Marine Division, "as soon as we have strong units" in the Iraqi army to replace U.S.-led forces."
A few quotes:
- "[General] Williams said he had discussed the planned gathering since July with Mamoun Sami Rashid Alwani, the third governor of Anbar to take office so far this year. One of Rashid Alwani's predecessors was killed in a U.S. firefight with insurgents; the other quit after his sons were kidnapped.
- "The American pitch was simple: Encourage tribal members to join the military, so that Iraq's national forces can build to a strength that would allow U.S. forces to withdraw, and to discourage attacks on American and Iraqi forces. The Anbar elders' demands were equally straightforward: Allow the tribes to build up their own army division for Anbar. Leave, and the attacks will stop."
- "Thus prodded, Marines and tribal leaders reached an agreement: Anbar's elders would come up with a plan that would satisfy U.S. conditions for security and allow U.S. troops to pull out of Ramadi, and Williams would try to pitch it to Baghdad. Despite the disconnect, both sides had gotten across enough of their points to satisfy, at least to a degree."
The St. George Daily Spectrum, UT has an article on the 2nd Bn, 22nd Field Artillery of the Utah National Guard, which is based at Camp Blue Diamond near Ramadi. A few quotes:
- "Coalition civil affairs units have had key successes restoring telephone and Internet service to the city (the insurgents had cut the lines), and re-opening a glass factory that was one of Ramadi's major employers and is now again providing 2,300 jobs."
- "It's also clear from military statements that coalition forces have accelerated the "ops-tempo" around Ramadi in the last couple of months, mounting a series of local operations to destroy the insurgent network and clean out the toughest sections of the city. Operation Mountaineers in October, then Operations Panther, Bruins and Bowie, and now Operation Tigers, have essentially merged into a continuous push."
==========
Updates on Ramadi:
The Washington Post reports on a meeting in Ramadi between Marines and Sunni tribal leaders. The article described the meeting as "the largest meeting yet between those suspected of supporting the Iraqi insurgency and the U.S. forces battling them." The Sunni's wanted withdrawal, and "We're committed to withdrawing," responded Brig. Gen. James L. Williams of the 2nd Marine Division, "as soon as we have strong units" in the Iraqi army to replace U.S.-led forces."
A few quotes:
- "[General] Williams said he had discussed the planned gathering since July with Mamoun Sami Rashid Alwani, the third governor of Anbar to take office so far this year. One of Rashid Alwani's predecessors was killed in a U.S. firefight with insurgents; the other quit after his sons were kidnapped.
- "The American pitch was simple: Encourage tribal members to join the military, so that Iraq's national forces can build to a strength that would allow U.S. forces to withdraw, and to discourage attacks on American and Iraqi forces. The Anbar elders' demands were equally straightforward: Allow the tribes to build up their own army division for Anbar. Leave, and the attacks will stop."
- "Thus prodded, Marines and tribal leaders reached an agreement: Anbar's elders would come up with a plan that would satisfy U.S. conditions for security and allow U.S. troops to pull out of Ramadi, and Williams would try to pitch it to Baghdad. Despite the disconnect, both sides had gotten across enough of their points to satisfy, at least to a degree."
The St. George Daily Spectrum, UT has an article on the 2nd Bn, 22nd Field Artillery of the Utah National Guard, which is based at Camp Blue Diamond near Ramadi. A few quotes:
- "Coalition civil affairs units have had key successes restoring telephone and Internet service to the city (the insurgents had cut the lines), and re-opening a glass factory that was one of Ramadi's major employers and is now again providing 2,300 jobs."
- "It's also clear from military statements that coalition forces have accelerated the "ops-tempo" around Ramadi in the last couple of months, mounting a series of local operations to destroy the insurgent network and clean out the toughest sections of the city. Operation Mountaineers in October, then Operations Panther, Bruins and Bowie, and now Operation Tigers, have essentially merged into a continuous push."
posted by Ryan Kirk @ 1:35 PM
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