While we've been distracted by Katrina and Rita, events in Iraq have been moving towards key turning points.
The title's not exactly accurate, but it's much closer to the truth than it ever has been before. No country of 26 million is going to be death or even violence free on any given day, but the number of civilian and military casualties is going down, terrorists are becoming increasingly ineffective and marginalized and life in Iraq is looking remarkably normal. While we've been worrying about other things here in the US, life in Iraq has gone on, moving step by step towards normality.…
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276 - MCH
Honor the Fallen
"Marine Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec, 34, of Albuquerque, N.M.; assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps National Capital Region, Henderson Hall, Arlington, Va.; died May 11 while conducting combat operations in Baghdad."
Zembiec is survived by his wife, Pam Zembiec, and their one-year-old daughter, Fallyn.
277 - MCH
Honor the Fallen
"Army Sgt. Bruce E. Horner, 43, of Newport News, Va.; assigned to the 127th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Support Command, Fliegerhorst, Germany; died June 1 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire."
www.militarycity.com/valor
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"Ed Horner and his wife have previously been active in opposing the war, and the death of their son has inspired them to further their anti-war movement.
"We're going to make sure to join some group that is opposing the war to help to end this slaughter," said Ed Horner, who is also an activist against the death penalty.
"The hardest part is when you reach that point in life that you don't expect to bury your kids," he said. "If you could ask the president, 'Why?' Why are we sending the kids in an area where we're involved in another civil war? We should've learned from Vietnam. There doesn't seem to be a military solution. We need to talk with our enemies."
www.morningjournal.com/site/news
278 - REMF
HONOR THE FALLEN
"Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey L. Chaney, 35, of Omaha, Neb.; assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.; died July 17 as a result of enemy action while conducting combat operations in Salah Ad Din Province, Iraq. Also killed was Chief Petty Officer Patrick L. Wade."
(on the Military City web site)
279 - REMF
HONOR THE FALLEN
"Army 1st Lt. Jonathan W. Edds, 24, of White Pigeon, Mich.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Aug. 17 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his vehicle using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire."
- From the military city (valor) web site
280 - REMF
HONOR THE FALLEN
"Marine Gunnery Sgt. Herman J. Murkerson Jr., 35, of Adger, Ala.; assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.; died Oct. 1 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq."
- From the Military City web site (valor)
281 - REMF
Honor the Fallen
"Army Sgt. 1st Class Justin S. Monschke, 28, of Krum, Texas; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Oct. 14 in Arab Jabour, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on patrol during combat operations."
(from the military city web site, "valor")
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Cost of Iraq War: $460.9 billion;
Americans killed in action: 3,829;
Wounded in action: 27,753;
and counting...
282 - SeeBeyondNavel
This just in.....
"George Bush warns of impending World War III"
I wonder who will start it?
283 - Martin Lav
Question:
Who's quote is this, Nalle or Bush?
"Today, Anbar is a really different place. The level of violence is down, local governments are meeting again, police are more in control of the city streets, and normal life is returning. The people of this province are seeing that standing up to the extremists is the path to a better life, that success is possible. And soon I'm going to meet with some of the leaders here in Anbar province who have made a decision to reject violence and murder in return for moderation and peace."
284 - Dave Nalle
Well, it's not me. I haven't been to Anbar in more than 30 years. But I can confirm that it really is a 'different' place. I do have fond recollections of visiting the ruins of a roman villa there and finding a handful of old brass Roman coins.
BTW, according to reports Anbar has had about the most remarkable turnaround of any area in Iraq.
Dave
285 - Martin Lav
"'the White Houses' desperation is that they appear to now be recruiting suicide 'bloggers' by kidnapping young men in neighboring countries, drugging and brainwashing them and sending them out half-conscious to"
endlessly write half-truths, full lies and trivial dribble. In a vain attempt to spin this war into a republican forged courageous venture.
286 - REMF
HONOR THE FALLEN
"Army Sgt. Alfred G. Paredez Jr., 32, of Las Vegas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Nov. 20 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device."
(from the militarycity web site, "valor")