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Yes, everything is a bed of roses in Iraq, its only the media drumming up false info. No we don't have our troops dying on a daily basis.

Via CNN Pentagon reporter stating that they are now seeing an organized attempt to ambush U.S. military. U.S. Soldier Killed, Another Wounded in Iraq Attack

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One American soldier was killed and another critically wounded on Tuesday when they were attacked with rocket-propelled grenades as they collected arms at a checkpoint in Baghdad, the U.S. Central Command said.

ONE OF ELEVEN PHOTOS** A U.S. Army soldier walks over the body of an Iraqi dressed in civilian clothing in Baghdad, April 9, 2003. The soldiers from the A Company 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment had fired into the building after being shot at by rocket propelled grenades or RPGs.

At least 40 U.S. troops have now been killed by assailants in Iraq since the capital fell to American forces on April 9. A U.S. soldier was shot to death at a checkpoint near the Syrian border late on Sunday.

"One paratrooper from the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team was killed and a second injured Tuesday afternoon in a rocket-propelled grenade attack while operating a weapons collection point in southwest Baghdad," the military's Central Command said in a release from the region.

"The soldiers were evacuated to a field medical facility for treatment and one soldier later died of his injuries. The injured soldier is listed in critical condition," it said.

The command said the soldiers were manning the weapons collection point when a van with four passengers stopped in a nearby alleyway approximately 250 yards from their location.

"Two attackers exited the van, and each fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the squad. One RPG struck a vehicle and the other landed short of the soldiers' location. Eyewitnesses at the scene of the attack said the attackers fled down the alleyway," the release said.

U.S. forces increased patrols and searches in the area in an effort to find the attackers, the command added.

Names of the dead and wounded soldiers were withheld pending notification of next of kin.

U.S. forces are currently operating weapons collection points throughout Baghdad in accordance with a policy that allows Iraqis to turn in weapons under an amnesty.

A total of 183 American troops have now died in Iraq -- including 127 in "hostile fire" -- since the beginning of the U.S.-led war that ousted missing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Since Baghdad fell on April 9, 40 have been killed in hostile action.

Israel Punishes Officer in Press Shooting

JERUSALEM - The Israeli military has reprimanded an officer for firing at an Associated Press photographer in an armored car bearing press markings in the West Bank City of Hebron 19 months ago.

The photographer, Elizabeth Dalziel, was not hurt in the shooting, which occurred on Oct. 5, 2001, after Israeli troops took over the Palestinian-controlled part of the city in response to what the army said was Palestinian shooting from the area.

Dalziel had passed an Israeli military checkpoint about 9 a.m. and entered the neighborhood of Abu Sneineh, where she encountered two Israeli armored personnel carriers and a tank.

Yes, everything is a bed of roses in Iraq, its only the media drumming up false info. No we don't have our troops dying on a daily basis.

I'm sorry, Kat. Does this help?

BL, I'm sure you have some homeboys knocking around Central Iraq, what are you hearing?"

That they want more cookies and snacks ... more CARE packages. Other than that, little else. They aren't even complaining about the heat, as it's not that much different than here at Fort Hood.

As always, soldiers raise the art of griping and complaining to a fine art. So it's hard for someone who has not been in the military to differentiate between normal grousing and b*tching and honest heartfelt complaints that actually refer to a problem. But the guys I've been "hanging out" with from 4ID, the 82nd, and the 101st .. (I don't know anyone in the 3rd ID) .. haven't said anything serious yet in regards to complaints about the situation there.

Also, anyone who makes an "anonymous" complaint deserves the derision that results. If someone .. particularly an NCO or an officer .. isn't willing to tie their name and reputation to an official complaint, then what they're complaining about ain't serious enough and they've simply shown themselves to be moral cowards.

54 posted on 06/03/2003 12:44 PM EDT by BlueLancer (Der Elite Møøsenspåånkængruppen ØberKømmååndø (EMØØK))

I have to agree...no complaints from my hubby or his men....he just wants more baby powder and foot cream....when he called Sunday night he told me that there hasn't been a day where a Kuwaiti or Iraqi hasn't thanked him and the US for what they are doing...he is proud to be a part of the liberation of Iraq.

61 posted on 06/03/2003 12:56 PM EDT by mystery-ak (The War is not over for me until my hubby's boots hit U.S. soil.)

EVENING SERENADE — Soldiers of A Company 2d Battalion, 187 Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division, (Air Assault) relax after dinner on June 5. They are about to go out on a night patrol of Al Bajar, Iraq, located near the Iraq/Syrian border. A U.S. compound was attacked a week earlier resulting in curfews for Al Bajar. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Stephens More News Photos (5)