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NORTH OF NASSIRIYA, Iraq - Marines here have developed a grudging respect - and deep hatred - for their Iraqi enemies. "I didn't take this personally till the ambush," said Lance Cpl. Buck Flowers, 22, of Dallas, referring to the slayings of nine of his colleagues this week when Iraqi militiamen faked a surrender. "I know they were just trying to drop our morale, but what they did just really made me mad." And doubly determined. The Marines pressed on toward Baghdad yesterday after the blinding sandstorm stopped their convoy for more than 12 hours overnight - and after dodging...

U.S. Troops Guard Against Fake Surrenders By ELLEN KNICKMEYER .c The Associated Press ON THE ROAD TO BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The U.S. Marines, M-16s pointed, forced the Iraqi men out of their vehicle, questioned them, and shoved them down onto the rocky sand - slashing their tires first to ensure they wouldn't tail a convoy again any time soon. After the hoped-for popular welcome in Iraq turned out to be deadly ambushes by ruse, U.S. forces heightened their vigilance Monday of a people they hoped to win over. ``It felt great when we came in, with the crowds waiting...

<p>CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — Attempting to rally, Iraqi troops used tactics such as ambushes and even fake surrenders to kill and capture U.S. troops Sunday, inflicting the first significant casualties on the allied forces driving toward Baghdad.</p> <p>Despite the setbacks, U.S. war leaders declared the invasion on target.</p>

Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar-AP -- U-S military officials say troops are encountering some deceptive tactics by Iraqis. They say in one case, a group of Iraqis displayed a surrender flag -- and then, when U-S troops moved to accept the surrender, the Iraqis opened up with artillery fire. They say in another episode, some Iraqi troops dressed in civilian clothes appeared to welcome the arriving coalition forces -- and then ambushed them. Military commanders say the tactics are dangerous to coalition troops -- but that they won't stand in the way of the success of the mission in Iraq.