A Soldiers Blog

Iraq War News
Annan Warns U.S., Britain, Iraq on Falluja Assault (Reuters): "Reuters - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned the United States, Britain and Iraq that an assault on Falluja could further anger Iraqis and undermine planned January elections, U.N. officials said on Friday."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Two U.S. Marines Killed in Volatile Western Iraq (Reuters): "Reuters - Two U.S. Marines have been killed and four wounded in action in a volatile area west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Friday."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



U.S. Tells Civilians to Flee Rebel Iraqi City: "U.S. troops urged civilians to fleeFalluja on Friday and launched air strikes on the rebel cityahead of an assault seen as critical to attempts to pacify Iraqbefore January elections. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Allawi Warns Fallujah Rebels of Deadline: "Insurgents killed two American Marines and wounded four others in fighting west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said Friday, as Iraq's prime minister warned that the "window is closing" for a peaceful settlement to avert a mass assault on the insurgent-held city of Fallujah. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Three British soldiers killed in Iraq; U.S. prepares for assault: "BAGHDAD, Iraq - Three British soldiers were killed and eight were wounded in a suicide bomb and mortar barrage south of Baghdad just days after they gave up the relative safety of southern Iraq for the more dangerous mission of helping U.S. troops in violence-wracked central Iraq."

In Modesto Bee: Iraq



Brothers In Arms: "On Friday's The Early Show, co-anchor Harry Smith reports on two soldiers who both lost their legs within hours of arriving in Iraq. They have helped and inspired each other through their long and difficult recoveries."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Lawyer in Abu Ghraib case says official recommends against a court martial: "SAN DIEGO â?? A Navy SEAL accused of severely beating and abusing a prisoner at Abu Ghraib prison may avoid a court martial, partially because of problems with evidence in the case."

In kgw.com: Iraq News



Arafat in grave condition...Military targets Fallujah... in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror

Iraq War News
Black Watch set for Iraq patrols: "The Black Watch prepared to begin active patrols around the Iraqi city of Fallujah as Prime Minister Tony Blair called on militants in the rebel stronghold to lay down their arms."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



FALLUJAH-RAMADI AREA OPERATION CONTINUE in CENTCOM: News Release



Marine says he was ordered to grab Iraqi prisoner's neck: "Marine Cpl. Christian Hernandez said he was struggling to move a sick and listless prisoner out of a holding room at the Camp Whitehorse jail in Iraq when he heard an order: "Grab him by the neck.""

In San Diego Union-Tribune: In Iraq



U.S. jets pound parts of Fallujah: "BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. jets pounded parts of Fallujah on Thursday, targeting insurgents in a city where American forces were said to be gearing up for a major offensive."

In Modesto Bee: Iraq



U.S. Embassy in Syria closes: "The U.S. Embassy in Damascus closed Thursday for security reasons, an official said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Mom of Marine killed in Iraq supports war: "WASHINGTON (AP) - As the wife of a 25-year Air Force veteran, Debra Bascom has long dreaded the day that word would arrive on her doorstep that her husband had died on a distant battlefield."

In Fresno Bee: Iraq



Iraqi National Guard patrol hit by car bomb in central Iraq in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Italy says it will keep troops in Iraq as long as they're wanted in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Arafat has repeatedly lost consciousness: "Palestinian officials said Thursday that Yasser Arafat lost consciousness repeatedly in recent hours, a day after he was rushed to an intensive care unit at a French military hospital."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Chief rivals to Hamid Karzai concede election defeat in Afghanistan in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Militants threatening to kill U-N hostages allow time for talks in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Peace Corps expands in Muslim world: "When Jennifer Peterson joined the Peace Corps in 2000, she wanted to go to the Middle East. That left her with just one option - Jordan, where she spent two years teaching English to girls."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Iraq War News
Gunmen slay Official : Car Bomb near Airport: "

From the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) :

The US military says a car bomb has exploded near a checkpoint on the road to Baghdad international airport.

They say there are reports of Iraqi casualties.

Earlier, gunmen killed a senior Iraqi Oil Ministry official as he left his home in the south of Baghdad.

"

In Command Post: Irak



4 Jordanian Truck Drivers Kidnapped: "

From the AFP via ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) :

Four Jordanian truck drivers were kidnapped in Iraq, government spokeswoman Asma Khodr said late Tuesday, according to state-run Petra news agency.

Khodr did not say when they were abducted but said Jordan â??will seize the opportunity of the presence in Jordan (Wednesday) of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to make more efforts to win the release of the hostagesâ??, Petra reported.

The Government spokeswoman also said that two other Jordanians had come under fire in the volatile Ramadi region west of Baghdad.

â??One of them was injured and the other was (briefly) detained,â?? she said, citing their relatives.

"

In Command Post: Irak



in



in



in



Major's court-martial in Iraqi's death starts: "It was stiflingly hot, many of the Marines at Camp Whitehorse had been stricken with diarrhea, and to make matters worse, Maj. Clarke Paulus needed to get a cell cleared for a high-profile detainee, an Iraqi sheik."

In San Diego Union-Tribune: In Iraq



Iraqi kidnappers threaten CARE worker: "BAGHDAD, Iraq â?? The kidnappers of aid worker Margaret Hassan are threatening to hand her over to al-Qaida-linked militants notorious for beheading hostages unless Britain agrees within 48 hours to pull its troops from Iraq, an Arabic television station reports."

In kgw.com: Iraq News



Sharon's Gaza pullout plan faces key vote: "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon marched forward with his Gaza withdrawal plan on Wednesday, with parliament set to vote on providing compensation for the 8,800 settlers to be uprooted under the plan."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Gunmen seize five in two Iraq kidnappings: "Gunmen abducted a Lebanese-American contractor who worked with the U.S. Army from his Baghdad home, Iraqi officials said Wednesday, while four Jordanian truck drivers were seized by assailants in a separate kidnapping."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Saddam lawyer sacked: "Disputes among the ex-Iraqi ruler's defence team leads to the sacking of its Jordanian head, Mohammad Rashdan."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq (UK Edition)



Captors threaten Hassan handover: "Gunmen holding aid worker Margaret Hassan threaten to hand her over to militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq (UK Edition)



Senior Iraqi oil official killed: "Gunmen shoot dead a senior Iraqi oil ministry official, as police says a US citizen was kidnapped overnight."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq (UK Edition)



Gunmen seize six hostages: "A US citizen, a Nepali and four Iraqis are kidnapped as gunmen storm an office in central Baghdad."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq (UK Edition)



Militants Say Behead Iraqi Army Officer -Web Site (Reuters): "Reuters - A militant group said it beheaded a man it called a senior member of Iraq's armed forces and posted a video of the killing on its Web site on Wednesday."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Whoever wins US election will be Iraq's friend: Allawi (AFP): "AFP - Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said he hoped nothing would change in the role the US-led coalition plays in Iraq whoever wins the US presidential election."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



US-Lebanese contractor kidnapped in Baghdad: police (AFP): "AFP - A US-Lebanese man working for Iraq's transport ministry was kidnapped overnight from his house in the smart Baghdad neighbourhood of Mansour."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Black Watch: "850 British troops from the Black Watch are moving into central Iraq for 30 days to free up 1000 US soldiers for a planned assault on the rebel town of Fallujah. Leaks from the British forces indicate that political opposition at home could stop the Black Watch being replaced by soldiers from the Scots Guard at the end of their tour of duty in the Iskandariyah triangle."

In Electronic Iraq



Official declares Karzai winner in Afghan election in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Afghan Election URGENT in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Iraq's northern oil exports halted as fires rage near sabotaged wells (AFP): "AFP - Fires raged near major oil wells in northern Iraq after a series of devastating attacks on a pipeline network halted exports from Kirkuk to Turkey."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Decapitated remains of Iraq hostage return to Japan (AFP): "AFP - The decapitated remains of Japanese tourist Shosei Koda returned to Japan after Tokyo failed to save him from Islamist kidnappers who were demanding a withdrawal of Japanese troops from Iraq."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq

Iraq War News
Kidnappers Release 2 of 4 Iraqi Guards: "Kidnappers have released two of four Iraqi guards abducted along with an American and a Nepalese from the Baghdad compound of a Saudi company, police said Tuesday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Uncle Sam's New Recruit Drive: "The Army National Guard - which has fallen short of its recruiting goals - is trying new marketing tactics in an effort to boost its ranks. They include signing bonuses, T-shirts and free hunting and fishing licenses."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Filipino hostage's brother makes plea for his release in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Lawyers for Australian Taliban member ask for case dismissal in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Judge excludes medical evidence in court-martial of Marine: "The judge presiding over the Camp Pendleton court-martial of a Marine Corps officer in charge of a makeshift jail where an Iraqi prisoner died last year has excluded most of the medical evidence from the case."

In San Diego Union-Tribune: In Iraq



Marines Say Cameraman for Reuters Died in Firefight (Reuters): "Reuters - The U.S. military said on Tuesday a cameraman killed in the Iraqi city of Ramadi while on assignment for Reuters had died in a gunbattle between Marines and insurgents."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Gunmen Seize American, 3 Others in Iraq: "Two Iraqi guards abducted along with an American and Nepalese by armed gunmen from their Baghdad compound have been released, police said Tuesday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Car Bomb Kills Five in Baghdad on U.S. Election Day: "A car bomb brought fresh carnage to thestreets of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least five people,two of them women, at the Education Ministry. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U.S. Forces Step Up Pressure on Falluja, Ramadi (Reuters): "Reuters - Ten people were killed in fighting between U.S. Marines and rebels in Iraq's western city of Ramadi, local hospital officials said on Tuesday."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Hundreds flee Fallujah after night of US air strikes: "Hundreds of people fled the Iraqi rebel-held Fallujah after a heavy night of US air strikes, while an Iraqi cameraman working for Reuters was killed during clashes in the nearby hotspot of Ramadi. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Japan to Tighten Security at Military Camp in Iraq (Reuters): "Reuters - Japan is to tighten security at its military camp in Iraq after a rocket shell landed inside the facility, the latest sign of a worsening security situation that is fueling demands in Japan that the troops be pulled out."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Car bomb explodes at Baghdad intersection in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror

Iraq War News
Kidnappers Release 2 of 4 Iraqi Guards: "Kidnappers have released two of four Iraqi guards abducted along with an American and a Nepalese from the Baghdad compound of a Saudi company, police said Tuesday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Uncle Sam's New Recruit Drive: "The Army National Guard - which has fallen short of its recruiting goals - is trying new marketing tactics in an effort to boost its ranks. They include signing bonuses, T-shirts and free hunting and fishing licenses."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Filipino hostage's brother makes plea for his release in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Lawyers for Australian Taliban member ask for case dismissal in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Judge excludes medical evidence in court-martial of Marine: "The judge presiding over the Camp Pendleton court-martial of a Marine Corps officer in charge of a makeshift jail where an Iraqi prisoner died last year has excluded most of the medical evidence from the case."

In San Diego Union-Tribune: In Iraq



Marines Say Cameraman for Reuters Died in Firefight (Reuters): "Reuters - The U.S. military said on Tuesday a cameraman killed in the Iraqi city of Ramadi while on assignment for Reuters had died in a gunbattle between Marines and insurgents."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Gunmen Seize American, 3 Others in Iraq: "Two Iraqi guards abducted along with an American and Nepalese by armed gunmen from their Baghdad compound have been released, police said Tuesday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Car Bomb Kills Five in Baghdad on U.S. Election Day: "A car bomb brought fresh carnage to thestreets of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least five people,two of them women, at the Education Ministry. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U.S. Forces Step Up Pressure on Falluja, Ramadi (Reuters): "Reuters - Ten people were killed in fighting between U.S. Marines and rebels in Iraq's western city of Ramadi, local hospital officials said on Tuesday."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Hundreds flee Fallujah after night of US air strikes: "Hundreds of people fled the Iraqi rebel-held Fallujah after a heavy night of US air strikes, while an Iraqi cameraman working for Reuters was killed during clashes in the nearby hotspot of Ramadi. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Japan to Tighten Security at Military Camp in Iraq (Reuters): "Reuters - Japan is to tighten security at its military camp in Iraq after a rocket shell landed inside the facility, the latest sign of a worsening security situation that is fueling demands in Japan that the troops be pulled out."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Car bomb explodes at Baghdad intersection in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror

You Can Help
[Please read the entire post as more options are developing to help Sergeant Bozik]

Sergeant Joseph Bozik, an Airborne Soldier with the 118th MP Company (Airborne) from Ft. Bragg, was recently wounded. He has lost both legs and an arm from a landmine, is not not conscious and has many medical complications. On Monday, Sergeant Bozik will be flown into Walter Reed from Landstuhl (Germany).

Unfortunately, the family doesn't have enough money to maintain themselves in a hotel (let alone buy food) for an extended period. The Army paid for airfare for 2 family members and Soldiers' Angels paid for airfare for 2 two more. The Angels can cover hotel expenses for only three days. Fisher House is full so they have to stay at a hotel.

We need your help. You can donate directly to a fund set up to assist the family with caring for Joe. You can send donations to the address or call the phone number below.

SGT Bozik Fund
c/o Centura Bank
ATTN Aiko Raynor
14615 US HWY 17 PO BOX 74
HAMPSTEAD NC 28443

910 772 8930
BLACKFIVE: You Can Help

LISTEN AMERICA

I have been listening to the report about the WMD’s by Mr. David Kay. Now, all of you in the West must know that as far as we, the Iraqis, are concerned, we care very little that stocks of WMD’s existed or not at the time of liberation. For us Saddam and his regime were in themselves, the most lethal WMD that cost our people hundreds of thousands of victims not to mention the destruction of the economy and the very fabric of society in our afflicted country. That regime was a dead end for our people and with its continuation there was no hope whatsoever for the future. Mr. David Kay did mention something about this, and he should know, since he spent so much time in Iraq and has intimate knowledge of the situation. Saddamism is a cancer that we have yet to recover from. Western intervention lead by the U.S.A. was a God send to us, despite all the pain and misery that accompanied the operation and the repercussions that continue to rock the process of recuperation and rebirth of the nation. The U.S. soldiers are bravely standing in the thick of the turmoil and contributing with their blood and sweat not to mention the treasure of their land, towards curing us from the remaining ulcers of the disease after having performed the main surgery which no one else even dared even to think of.

Perhaps, the interests of our people were not the main consideration that led to that action; nevertheless, that does not change anything about the importance and implications for the people of Iraq of this tremendous historical act. Yes there is pain, chaos and loss; yet on the other hand, there is possibility of hope, and a clearly discernible “light at the end of tunnel�, to use this worn out phrase.

Were we better off during Saddam’s time? - A question to which many outsiders are very keen to know our answer. Well, in many respects the streets are much more insecure, yet the security that existed in Saddam’s days was like someone quietly waiting for certain death; like a cancer stricken individual carrying the disease in his guts with no hope or attempt at cure. Yes, the pain and torture may be much more terrible when the surgeon has operated and the disease is tackled; but at least there is hope of recovery and healing, and the prospect of life saving. And this is not allegory, nor a parable; this is coming from someone whose house has been standing in the midst of bombs and explosions for so long now, protected by none but the mercy and grace of the Lord; from someone who has suffered robbery, kidnapping and constant daily danger.

And here we are, trying to organize elections, trying to control the security situation, trying to restart the reconstruction, able to talk, able to think, able to watch satellite T.V., use the internet, the mobile etc. – in short everything that we have been forbidden to do before. And without the slightest hesitation, we hail with Love and Gratitude our giant U.S. friend and his allies, standing with us shoulder to shoulder, braving the elements, braving death, calumny and hatred, shedding blood; to help us heal, to help us reach the shores of safety. And make no mistake, the campaign is winning and will achieve its objectives. Make no mistake; you have already created an allied nation in the very heart of the M.E. despite all appearances, which will produce all the long term benefits and consequences so many times reiterated by President Bush, to the ridicule and insults of the profoundly mistaken, of the profoundly hating.

America, stay the course - God, Decency, Honor, Hope and everything that is virtuous and right is on your side, beside the majority of the Iraqi people. America do not waiver, for you have never waged a more noble and just campaign in your entire history. America, we are winning, God’s willing, and Victory is coming sooner than many might think.

Salaam
AlaaTHE MESOPOTAMIAN

American kidnapped from Iraq office Nov 1 2004







An American and three other foreigners were kidnapped from their Baghdad office after "an exchange of fire," the Iraqi Interior Ministry said.

One American, an Asian and two non-Iraqi Arabs were seized in the operation, which took place in Mansour - the Baghdad district where beheaded Briton Ken Bigley was abducted in September.

Colonel Adnan Abdul-Rahman said first reports indicated shots were fired but he didn't know by whom.

He said the victims were believed to be working for a Saudi company, but he had no further details.

ic Coventry - American kidnapped from Iraq office

- THE SOLDIER PAGE - Soldiers' Angels
Thank you Norma Wright
Hello, my name is Norma E. Wright and I am a Christian Poet located in Jacksonville, Florida. God has blessed me with the gift of poetry, and it is my desire to use this gift to spread the gospel of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, thus accomplishing the "Great Commission" in the New Testament.

Originally from Augusta, Georgia (Home of the Masters Golf Tournament), I have, for quite a few years, been employed in the travel industry. For several years, I operated "The Wright Travel Group" as a tour business owner. I planned and escorted tours for Christian, political and middle-school groups. In addition, I put together tour packages for church groups to attend the Bill Gaither concerts. I've experienced a lot of fun and met many wonderful people; however, due to the instability within the travel industry, God is leading me down a different path.
The Freedom Page

US Marines of the 1st Division train in an abandoned primary school outside Fallujah, Iraq , Monday, Nov. 1, 2004. American forces are preparing for a major assault on Fallujah in an effort to restore control to a swath of Sunni Muslim towns north and west of the capital ahead of crucial national elections due by Jan. 31. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) Yahoo! News - World Photos - AP

US Marines of the 1st Division clean their guns prior to a mission outside Fallujah, Iraq , Monday, Nov. 1, 2004. American forces are preparing for a major assault on Fallujah in an effort to restore control to a swath of Sunni Muslim towns north and west of the capital ahead of crucial national elections due by Jan. 31. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) Yahoo! News - World Photos - AP

Heavy Clashes in Ramadi as U.S. Troop Buildup Begins: "U.S. forces battled rebels in Ramadiand shelled Falluja on Monday, but there was no sign that anall-out American-led offensive to retake the insurgent-heldcities had begun on the eve of the U.S. presidential election. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq armed group takes Polish woman hostage: TV: "Arabic television station Al-Jazeera broadcast a video in which an armed group in Iraq said it had kidnapped a Polish woman. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Fresh American Troops Arrive in Iraq: "U.S. troops clashed with Sunni insurgents west of the capital Monday, and gunmen assassinated Baghdad's deputy governor as fresh American soldiers arrived in the capital â?? reinforcements that will push U.S. military strength in Iraq to its highest level since the summer of 2003. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraqi president opposes Fallujah assault, accuses Iran: "Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar accused Iran of orchestrating attacks in his country and declared his opposition to a threatened assault on the rebel hotbed of Fallujah. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Suicide bomber strikes market in Tel Aviv: "A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded outdoor market in central Tel Aviv on Monday, killing at least three bystanders and wounding 32, medics and police said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Not Much Choice in Plans for Iraq (Los Angeles Times): "Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON â?? No single campaign issue has defined the presidential candidates' differences more clearly than the war in Iraq. Yet it seems that whoever wins Tuesday's election will steer a remarkably similar course in the troubled country."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



US Troops Fight Rebels in Iraq's Ramadi, Three Dead (Reuters): "Reuters - Three people were killed on Monday in some of the fiercest fighting in weeks between U.S. troops and insurgents in the rebel stronghold of Ramadi, witnesses and hospital officials said."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



Iraq rebuilding efforts slowed in IraqWar.info



Baghdad Deputy Governor assassinated in IraqWar.info



Iraqi freelance cameraman reported killed: "An Iraqi freelance television cameraman was killed Monday while filming clashes between U.S. troops and insurgents in a city west of Baghdad, police and hospital officials said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U-S embassies issue terror threat warning in northern Europe in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Reaching Out at Fallujah Outpost (washingtonpost.com): "washingtonpost.com - NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq, Oct. 31 -- The road, sticky with mud from an overnight downpour, passed through a narrow alley of blast walls and into a heavily guarded U.S. military compound. Inside, a battle-worn Marine staff sergeant pruned the miniature roses that ringed a small grassy courtyard, where a fountain burbled in the middle."

In Yahoo! News: Iraq



US warplanes pound Fallujah as Iraqi PM issues ultimatum: "US war planes bombed insurgent targets in the rebel-held Iraqi city of Fallujah, a US military spokesman said, as the country braced for an all-out assault. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

You Can Help
Sergeant Joseph Bozik, an Airborne Soldier with the 118th MP Company (Airborne) from Ft. Bragg, was recently wounded. He has lost both legs and an arm from a landmine, is not not conscious and has many medical complications. On Monday, Sergeant Bozik will be flown into Walter Reed from Landstuhl (Germany).

Unfortunately, the family doesn't have enough money to maintain themselves in a hotel (let alone buy food) for an extended period. The Army paid for airfare for 2 family members and Soldiers' Angels paid for airfare for 2 two more. The Angels can cover hotel expenses for only three days. Fisher House is full so they have to stay at a hotel.

We need your help. You can donate directly to a fund set up to assist the family with caring for Joe. You can send donations to the address or call the phone number below.

SGT Bozik Fund
c/o Centura Bank
ATTN Aiko Raynor
14615 US HWY 17 PO BOX 74
HAMPSTEAD NC 28443

910 772 8930

Update 10-31-04: Kelly the Patriette is connected to this story and has an article link about Sergeant Bozik. Be sure to read the link.

“He felt like he was doing the right thing,” she said. “If that meant risking his life to save millions more, he was going to do it.”
Thanks to Kelly, Fred and Michelle for linking to this call for help.

BLACKFIVE

Yahoo! News - World Photos - AP


A US Marine of the 1st Division gestures during a patrol outside Fallujah, Iraq, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004. American forces are preparing for a major assault on Fallujah in an effort to restore control to a swathe of Sunni Muslim towns north and west of the capital ahead of crucial national elections due by Jan. 31. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

I chose a prayer from Psalms that I have recited to all of my soldiers, and I pray for their safety in the event things don't turn out as well as I hope. I have put it on the bottom of the page so you can read it. This will test all my abilities as a person and as a leader, I know I am ready. This will not be like the everyday combat that goes on here, the rules of engagement are clear, anyone left in the city is a terrorist.
From a hero approaching Falluja

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He follows me through the green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your comfort and love, they protect me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my
life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Iraq's Patience Running Out in Fallujah

By SAMEER N. YACOUB
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's interim prime minister said Sunday that efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in Fallujah have entered their final phase and warned that "our patience is running thin," vowing to clear the city of militants who have carried out some of the bloodiest attacks in Iraq.

Ayad Allawi's strong comments signaled that the start may be near for a major assault on Fallujah that U.S. forces have been preparing. Allawi warned there would likely be civilian casualties if an offensive takes place.

U.S. commanders say Allawi will give the final order to launch the assault, which would aim to restore control to Sunni Muslim towns north and west of the capital ahead of Jan 31 elections.


Speaking to reporters in Baghdad, Allawi vowed that the elections, a key step in plans to move Iraq toward democracy "will take place on schedule." The country's deteriorating security situation has led to doubts that nationwide voting can take place in Iraq.

Allawi said there was no deadline for talks with Fallujah leaders aimed at finding a peaceful resolution. But he said if no deal is reached, "I have no choice but to secure a military solution."

"I will do so with a heavy heart, for even with the most careful plan there will be some loss of innocent lives," he said. "But I owe, owe it to the Iraqi people to defend them from the violence and the terrorists and insurgents."

"The terrorists and insurgents continue to use Fallujah and the Fallujah people as a shield for their murderous acts," Allawi said. "Some of the most incredible crimes have been committed in Fallujah and out of Fallujah by these terrorists."

Fallujah, west of Baghdad, is considered the strongest bastion of Sunni insurgents who have carried out a spiraling campaign of bombings, ambushes and kidnappings. Allawi's warning came after a particularly bloody day even by the standards of this conflict-ravaged country.

In all, at least 30 people died Saturday in politically motivated violence across Iraq _ stark evidence of a security situation threatening to spiral out of control.

Among them were eight Marines killed by a car bomb near Fallujah. The U.S. military earlier said a ninth Marine was also killed but later corrected the report, confirming the death toll of eight.

Also, early Sunday, the Japanese government confirmed that the decapitated body of a young Asian male _ found wrapped in an American flag and dumped in an insurgent-infested neighborhood of Baghdad _ was that of Japanese hostage Shosei Koda, 24, said Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura.

Koda's abduction was claimed by the al-Qaida in Iraq group, led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who Iraqi and U.S. leaders claim is in Fallujah. Allawi has demanded Fallujah's city leaders hand over al-Zarqawi to avoid an attack, thought the leaders deny he is there.

Allawi said he had met with tribal leaders from the area Saturday and told them "the window for such peaceful settlement is closing."

"I explained that I hoped that the peaceful citizens of the areas where the terrorists are based will help the government to arrest them," he said. "They assured me that they would work with my government to achieve this."

Allawi also said authorities have arrested 167 Arab foreign fighters, who are in Iraq's custody.

U.S. commanders have estimated that up to 5,000 Islamic militants, Saddam Hussein loyalists and common criminals are holed up in the insurgent bastion.

U.S. Marines carried out a three-week siege of Fallujah in April, but when hundreds of people were killed, the military was forced to back down. Insurgents have since tightened their grip on the city, and several other cities in the Sunni Triangle north and west of Baghdad have fallen under their sway.

For the second straight day, clashes erupted Sunday between U.S. forces and insurgents in the town of Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad, leaving seven people dead, according to hospital officials. The fighting broke out in the eastern and central part of the city. Sporadic gunfire could be heard near City Hall. Shops and schools in the area have been closed for days due to the deteriorating security situation, residents said.

On Saturday, U.S. forces pounded insurgent positions on the outskirts of Fallujah in some of the heaviest skirmishes in weeks. Marines and guerrillas traded mortar and artillery fire, and U.S. jets bombed positions inside the city.

The Marine deaths came when a car bomb went off next to a truck southwest of Baghdad, between the capital and Fallujah, said Maj. Clark Watson of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. It was the biggest number of American military deaths in a single day since May 2, when nine U.S. troops were killed in separate mortar attacks and roadside bombings in Baghdad, Ramadi and Kirkuk.


.: Corvallis Gazette-Times :. AP World News

Body identified as Japanese man: "Japan's government confirms a headless body found in Iraq is that of backpacker Shosei Koda."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq (UK Edition)



Some 3,000 'gunmen' arested in Iraq in recent days: Iraqi PM: "Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said some 3,000 gunmen have been detained in Iraq in recent days who had been working for a deputy of ousted president Saddam Hussein. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq Detains 167 Militants, 3,000 Baathists-Allawi: "Iraqi interim Prime Minister IyadAllawi said on Sunday authorities had arrested 167 suspectedIslamist militants in the past few weeks, most of themnon-Iraqi Arabs. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq PM: Fallujah Diplomacy in Final Phase: "Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said Sunday that Iraq is entering the "final phase" of efforts to resolve the Fallujah situation peacefully, but warned that "our patience is running thin." (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



The winner is... US conservatism (31 Oct 04) in Radio Free USA



It's the war, stupid (31 Oct 04) in Radio Free USA



Officials say bin Laden tape contains no specific threat in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Video shows three foreign election workers kidnapped in Afghanistan in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Afghan Kidnap Video URGENT in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror