Ramadi

Marines take to skies to hunt insurgents Lance Cpl. Adam A. Ramirez, squad automatic weapon gunner for the scout snipers, runs off the CH-53 Sea Stallion toward the objective. The Marines only have a short time on the ground so they move fast to ensure they can get everything they need done at each site. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Day 25 July 07 By Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Day 2nd Marine Division (FWD) Ramadi, Iraq -- The scout-sniper platoon from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, left the ground behind as they took to the skies to hunt for weapon caches and insurgents. As part of the aeroscout mission, the Marines travel by helicopter to areas not normally checked because of their remote locations. “The average size group for this type of mission is usually two platoons. We’re doing it with about half,” said 1st Lt. Jordan D. Reese, the executive officer for Weapons Company, 3/7. “We train constantly, so that we are comfortable with each other. The Marin

Iraqi Army Takes Security Lead 24 July 07 By Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Day 2nd Marine Division (Forward) RAMADI, Iraq— As the evening sun started to set, the Iraqi army geared up. After looking over each other’s equipment thoroughly, they prepared to step off. On July 21, the 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, led Marines on a foot patrol through the ghetto of Ramadi to identify local populace needs and how their basic utilities were working “This area of Ramadi used to be one of the most dangerous,” said one local citizen. “Every day there were bombs and insurgents fighting the coalition. Now, this area is so quiet that it may even be considered the best in the city.” One of the local residents claimed, “I believe that most of this is due to the Iraqi army patrolling this area constantly. Bad guys would walk these streets as if they owned them. Then the Iraqi army started patrolling here, and they haven’t been back since.” With

More good news that will no doubt inruriate the Democrats who only want more death and pain so they can declare ever loudly how we have lost. It must really suck to be so invested in defeat. ~RJH Redstate article link The State Of RamadiBy Pejman Via Patterico, we have this cheering report.Read on . . .Call it Neighborhood Watch, Iraqi-style. As recently as two months ago, U.S. forces didn't dare stake out the Al Tash neighborhood of this insurgent stronghold in Al Anbar province. Enter 22-year-old Saif Sahed, a go-getter recruit for the Provincial Security Force, a new auxiliary police unit that offers hope for at least a bit of stability in the mean streets of Ramadi. Sahed lives in Al Tash, the kind of neighborhood where everyone knows everyone and newcomers are immediately noticed -- and in recent years often have been insurgents. "If I find strangers or strange cars, I go to tell my officer. Last week we found some who were insurgents and they were detained," Sahed said

This story confirms what I've said before: The insurgents are nothing but bullies; they have no superior technologies or armaments and never win a battle (unless you call blowing up children some kind of tactical achivement). Their only weapon is terror and, therefore, scaring people is the equivilent of taking a hill for a normal army. The situation is like a town besieged by gang violence. That is, whenever the people decide to resist the terrorists' desired effect upon them, stand up, and fight back, the bad guys will inevitably fail. Such is the case, apparently, in Ramadi where, thank God, the people have gotten the message. When this attitude spreads, a more peaceful Iraq will emerge. As it applies to us, all we need to do is provide Iraq enough time for this attitude to harden. Hopefully, this can be accomplished before I have to go back. Police cut violence in Ramadi By TODD PITMAN, Associated Press Writer RAMADI, Iraq - A year ago, Ramadi's police force had virtua

SUICIDE TRUCK BOMB CAPTURED IN RAMADI Release Date: 3/25/2007 Release Number: 07-01-03P Description: RAMADI, IRAQ-Iraqi Police apprehended a suicide truck bomber and captured his vehicle, containing a large quantity of chlorine and explosives, when it failed to detonate in Ramadi March 23. At approximately 1:30 p.m., a white cargo truck came to a halt near the entrance to the Jezeera police station, located about 150 meters from a water treatment plant. The police approached the truck for further investigation and detained the driver when they discovered the truck was rigged with explosives and the driver was attempting to detonate the vehicle. Upon further investigation, the truck contained an unknown number of 55-gallon drums, which were used to camouflage five 1000-gallon barrels filled with chlorine and more than two tons of explosives. The driver is being held for further questioning and all explosives were removed from the truck and destroyed by demolition exper