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Andrew Tilghman / S&S Iraqi army soldiers prepare for a patrol in the neighborhoods surrounding the capital city’s International Zone. Andrew Tilghman / S&SIraqi soldiers frisk Sahad El Ani, a 30-year-old car salesman, at a temporary checkpoint in Baghdad, one of the few places in Iraq where the army operates with very little oversight from U.S. troops. BAGHDAD — It was midday in the traffic-choked city center when a team of Iraqi soldiers thought Sahad El Ani, a 30-year-old car salesman driving alone in a black Opel sedan, looked suspicious. Iraqi soldiers frisk Sahad El Ani, a 30-year-old car salesman,...

Training the Iraqi Army for future challenges BALAD, IRAQ – Coalition Soldiers are working around the clock to make sure their Iraqi counterparts are ready and capable of protecting Iraq and its citizens. U.S. Soldiers from the 1 st Battalion, 128 th Infantry are helping the Iraqi soldiers transition into overseeing the missions being conducted in their area of operations. At the Iraqi Army training facility at Forward Operating Base O’Ryan, the Iraqi soldiers are taught how to set up traffic control points, identify improvised explosive devices and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, conduct personnel searches, and distinguish between insurgents and...

I work with a fella named Dave who has twin step-sons in Iraq. One of the step-sons (Kris) and a buddy (Jason) are writing to Dave and keeping him abreast of activities in Iraq. I thought you might be interested in hearing their retelling of events as they live them and even send a letter to them if you'd like. I have been given the approval to go ahead and post the personal e-mails from the step-son (Kris) and his friend (Jason-the couch lover) if this idea is well received. Let me know if you're interested in my posting their...

MOSUL, Iraq - “Some of the people out there spit in our faces and others welcome us,” says a young Iraqi soldier newly deployed in Mosul, after the bodies of at least 10 of his fellow fighters were discovered in the northern city. Other soldiers confront Hussein Mohammed, 21, from the oil city of Kirkuk to the east, and urge him to stay quiet, as they start talking about their “duty to fight the terrorists who blow up innocent people.” “But it’s true, why should we pretend, a lot of people out there are not convinced yet about our role,”...

PIN A MEDAL ON ‘EM “In San Diego, a couple of teachers have been suspended for showing the pictures of American Nick Berg being killed by his Muslim captors in Iraq. Oh, the outrage that our delicate high schoolers would be subjected to reality. Far from suspending these teachers, we should give them medals (maybe the ones John Kerry threw away). They have done their students a big favor. They have introduced these soon-to-be-adults to the notion that it is a dangerous world out there. “...It is a mean, nasty, dreadful world out there, but one which we have managed...

Cutting to the chase: Reuters reports that Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, who is in charge of reforming the U.S. military detention system in Iraq, offered both an apology and a promise: "I would like to personally apologize to the people of Iraq for the actions of a small number of leaders and soldiers who have violated our policies," he said. And: "I will personally guarantee that this will not happen again in any of the operations we have for detention and intelligence gathering." All in all, we'd have to say the American system is working rather well. The abuses have...

US MILITARY BASE ATTACKED IN IRAQ A car bomb has exploded outside a US military base near Baghdad. At least six Iraqi soldiers have been injured, according to reports. More follows . .

BASRA, Iraq, May 24 — Iraqi soldiers complained bitterly today of the allies' plans to disband the country's armed forces, with some threatening to take up arms against occupying American and British troops unless their salaries were continued. About 50 Iraqi soldiers marched to one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces here in this southern city to air their grievances. They were turned away without incident by heavily armed British soldiers at the front gate. Similar complaints were raised by soldiers in Baghdad."If they don't pay us, we'll start problems," said Lt. Col. Ahmed Muhammad, 41, a 25-year navy veteran based...

Jewish World Review May 8, 2003 / 6 Iyar, 5763 Jack Kelly Dispatches from the Desert: Ammo boxes in trucks get attention of soldiers http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | WESTERN IRAQ It makes you feel like a proud father," said First Sgt. Jim Gowdy. "They do listen." Gowdy has four sons back home in Canon City, Colo., and 140 more in the enlisted ranks of the Army's Apache troop, Tiger Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. "It's funny how my guys can go from boys to men in a matter of minutes," Gowdy said. "This isn't something we practiced. But they did great." The...

SOUTHERN IRAQ — When snipers from the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment came upon a dug-in fighting position along the highway south of Nasiriyah, they were shocked at what they found. While the Iraqi soldiers were gone, they had left behind significant quantities of weapons, chemical protective gear, food stores and even unit rosters. The complexity of supplies suggests the Iraqi units are better supplied and trained than previously thought. “I’m shocked at how well-organized they are,” said Sgt. Fred Kittman, part of the sniper team that uncovered the trench line. “We were told that these Iraqi units down this...