Garden of Remembrance
Today my wife Julie and I visited the Garden of Remembrance in Seattle and left some flowers by the Persian Gulf panel. Similar to the Vietnam Memorial, the Garden includes a wall with the names of all Washington State servicemen and women that have lost their lives since 1941. Christopher Bunda and Jacob Herring were among the most recent names added to the wall. Provided below are a few photos we took.
Iraq Report 5/31
Winds of Change has published its most recent Iraq Report with links to the latest developments there. Plenty of good information this week.
Taking pains to make friends in Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
By Charlie Coon, Stars and Stripes
MUSHADA, Iraq — The convoy of trucks and armored Humvees kicked up dirt as it rumbled down the one-lane road into the village.
“Sometimes you wonder what they think,” said Maj. Karen Ryan. “Can you imagine rolling in like this to the place where you lived?”
Task Force Olympia Soldier Dies of Wounds
The news doesn't get any easier this Memorial Day.
MOSUL, Iraq - A Soldier assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, died May 30 from wounds following a mortar attack the previous day.
The Soldier had been transported to the 31st Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad following the attack.
The identity of the Soldier is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
Release #040531c
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Michael J. Wiesemann, 20, of North Judson, Ind., died May 29, at Forward Operating Base Q-West (Quyarrah Air Base, Iraq) of non-combat related injuries. Wiesemann was assigned to the Army's 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Memorial Day
"Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men." -- Pericles (c. 600 B.C.E.)
Our coverage of Memorial Day continues below.
Hero's unadorned grave now marked by monument
Here's a story about one of the Stryker vehicle's namesakes.
THROOP, N.Y. -- Robert F. Stryker was a Vietnam war hero who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration.
In 2002, the Army further honored him by naming its new Interim Armored Vehicle, the "Stryker."
Zapper Lifts Morale
Thanks to Mike and Karen for sending us this story.
[Link to Full Article]
By STEVEN ISBITTS
PALM HARBOR - With a bid of $5.24, Army Sgt. Marcus Barton won an Internet auction for a bug zapper that is the envy of his 3rd Brigade Stryker Combat Team stationed near Mosul, Iraq.
The portable electric pest killer allows Barton the freedom to sleep without a thick, mesh mosquito net covering his cot, and it doubles as a powerful blue night light, undetectable by night vision goggles used by the enemy.
WWII Memorial Dedication
The new World War II Memorial was officially dedicated today. Provided below are two articles describing the festivities. According to the WaPo, "about 150,000 were expected to attend the ceremony...the country's largest organized gathering of surviving veterans in 60 years."
"WWII Veterans Honored for Sacrifice, Service" - The Washington Post
"'Greatest Generation' gets its due as World War II Memorial is dedicated" - Stars & Stripes
Stryker soldier dies in non-hostile action
I have not seen any additional details other than what is included in this brief article.
[Link to Full Article]
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MOSUL, Iraq -- An American soldier from the Stryker Brigade has died from non-hostile causes, the U.S. military said Saturday.
The soldier died Friday, the military said in a statement.
No further details were released.
UPDATE: Provided below is the official Army press release.
Iraq picks interim leader
[Link to Full Article]
HAMZA HENDAWI; The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi Governing Council chose a longtime anti-Saddam Hussein exile to become prime minister of Iraq's interim government, making the surprise announcement Friday despite U.N. concerns over his ties to the United States and the CIA.
The selection of Iyad Allawi - a Shiite Muslim council member who headed an exile group made up of former Saddam military officers - was an assertion of influence by the U.S.-picked body.
Adopt A Stryker Soldier
Marilyn wanted to let everyone know about a group organizing an adoption program for Stryker soldiers. Click on over to Adopt-A-Stryker Soldier for more information if you're interested in adopting a soldier, or want to submit a soldier's name to be adopted.
Operation "Support Our Troops"
A couple weeks ago we linked to an article about a VFW post in Michigan that, along with a project manager for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, decided to adopt the Stryker Brigade. Keith Whitten, the project manager, sent us an email yesterday to give us an update on the group's progress. To date Support Our Troops has shipped 1,848 pounds of goods, which are now en route to the brigade from Germany. Keith said he would forward photos of the donations arriving in Iraq.
This is an ongoing effort so if you happen to live near St. Clair Shores or Warren, Michigan and would like to get involved, we've provided contact information below. Thank you Support Our Troops for your efforts, they are much appreciated.
Stryker Gun 'On Glide Path' To Production Decision
This article was sent to us via email, but we can't link to it because it is for subscribers only. We can't publish the entire story either, but an excerpt is provided below.
By Nathan Hodge, Defense Today
After ironing out kinks in the system, the Army this month successfully
concluded an important series of tests on the Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS),
Defense Today has learned.
According to an Army source, the MGS is now "on a glide path" toward approval of low-rate production, a decision that is due in August or September.
Possible Downtime
We have been notified by our web host provider that there is a possibility that our site could be down for 6-12 hours this weekend as it moves our server to a new datacenter. If this happens the downtime will likely be on Saturday. Consequently, don't be alarmed if you try to access the site and find it unavailable.
This sounds like a good opportunity for all of us to step away from the computer for a bit. In the event that the downtime is longer than 12 hours, check in at my old site and I'll let you know what's going on.
Smiles From Iraq
We've put together a collection of photos from our gallery that illustrate a different side of life in Iraq that perhaps doesn't get the attention it deserves. All of the photos were taken by soldiers in the Stryker Brigade and Task Force Olympia currently operating in the Mosul region. Take a few minutes to browse the album titled Smiles From Iraq.
United States Central Command Briefing 5/28
The SBCT and TFO get a mention in this briefing as well.
GEN. SATTLER: [...] We've got the Task Force Olympia, the Stryker Brigade up to the north, mainly focused in the Mosul area, continuing to patrol the main supply routes to ensure they stay open. And they're conducting quite a bit of work with the Iraqi security forces in the north.
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/28
Just a brief excerpt today.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern area of operations this morning coalition forces conducted cordon and search south of Hammam al Alil targeting anti- coalition forces associated with Khalid and Rayeed Ayeed Ahmad al- Jaburi (ph). Six suspects were detained, along with several documents, CDs and papers.
Iraqis Pay Tribute to U.S. Service Members
[Link to Full Article]
By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service
ARLINGTON, Va., May 27, 2004 — As the sound of "Taps" wailed from Army Sgt. Major Henry Sgrecci's bugle today, seven Iraqi citizens pressed their new prosthetic hands against their hearts at the Tomb of the Unknowns here to honor U.S. service members who have given their lives in Iraq.
The Coalition Scimitar 5/28
The May 28 edition of The Coalition Scimitar is now available.
The Coalition Scimitar is a weekly paper published by the Multi-National Force - Iraq and Multi-National Corps - Iraq Joint Public Affairs Office. It is distributed throughout the Baghdad area inside the Stars & Stripes every Friday. It is also available here in PDF format.
I saw one article about the SBCT.
Iraqi Border Patrol wounds terrorist near border
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 28, 2004) – The Iraqi Border Patrol reported being attacked with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire Thursday southwest of Bajar. They returned fire, wounding one of the attackers. No injuries were suffered by the Iraqi Border Patrol and no equipment was damaged.
Also on Wednesday, soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained a total of eight individuals suspected of anti-Coalition activities and destroyed an improvised explosive device in the Mosul area.
Some bases appear safe despite cutbacks
[Link to Full Article]
By ROBERT BURNS, AP MILITARY WRITER
WASHINGTON -- From the moment Congress grudgingly accepted the Pentagon's request for a new round of base closings in 2005, military officials have insisted that no base would get a free pass. It doesn't matter how big the base is or where it's located.
"All installations are on the table," the Pentagon's lead official on base closings, Raymond DuBois, told reporters on Dec. 20, 2002. "All installations are going to be judged equally."
Frontline Photos 5/27
Shannon let us know that Frontline Photos has some pictures of the SBCT today (One, Two, and Three).
Memorial Day Calendar
The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs has a nice calendar of events for the Memorial Day weekend. Of particular interest is the unveiling of the names of 16 state residents that have been added to the Persian Gulf panel at the Garden of Rememberance outside Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle. Christopher Bunda and Jacob Herring will be among those names. For more information, please see this press release. Let me know if any of you plan on attending.
D-Day Stories?
This site is proud to be a member of the MilBlogs Web Ring, which is a collection of military-related weblogs. In anticipation of the 60th Anniversary of D-Day on June 6th, the MilBlogs group is collecting stories of people directly or indirectly involved in the invasion. Do you know of any family or friends that participated in some measure? Would you be willing to share their story with others? Or perhaps you served with a unit whose lineage can be traced to D-Day?
Our goal is to post any submissions on June 3rd so they can be shared in advance of the anniversary. Matt at Blackfive will be posting links to the various MilBlogs that collect stories. If you would like to participate please send me an email (todd at strykernews.com). Thanks for your consideration.
Wires from the front line: Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
The information is dated but it sounds like the BBC will be airing footage today.
Article contains a nice pic of the soldier profiled showing 2id patch in Mosul.
Juan Alvarado
By Dodge Billingsley
Video producer in Iraq
Private Juan Alvarado, almost 19 years old, from central California, joined the army after his tumultuous teen years, where he found himself in and out of trouble.
However, he does not believe it was because of his situation that he joined the army. Rather, he says he just felt like doing it. He is not overwhelmingly vocal about patriotism. He says he did not join the military for that reason either.
Good News - Part 2
Last week we linked to a summary of good news from Iraq. Here is Part 2.
(via Blackfive)
A Different Street Fight in Iraq
Interesting article regarding reconstruction efforts in Baghdad.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By Scott Wilson, Washington Post Foreign Service
BAGHDAD, May 26 -- The American counterinsurgency effort in Iraq's largest urban war zone is being fought in the sewers. Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, an earnest tank officer who recalled that he once dreamed of commanding "large mechanized formations across vast open deserts," is instead knee-deep in a very different fight.
Coalition detains two
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 27, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) wounded one terrorist and detained two others wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Thursday in Northern Iraq.
Contract flights to resume for R&R
[Link to Full Article]
By Joe Burlas
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 26, 2004) -- The Army plans to resume military contract rest and recuperation flights from the Central Command area of operations to the United States on or about June 15, according to officials.
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/26
We'll highlight some good news.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern zone of operations, coalition Public Works Team delivered over $1.1 million U.S. worth of USAID donated and CERP funded equipment and supplies to the Nineveh water and sewer department in order to repair breaking infrastructure.
Today 156 former regime police officers graduated from the three- week transition integration program course in Mosul. To date, 14,628 police officers have been retrained. The TIP training educates former policemen and reenforces democratic policing methods, emphasizing respect for the rule of law, as well as training, professional standards of conduct.
CERP stands for Commander's Emergency Relief Program.
NetCentric Conference
Aviation Week will be sponsoring a NetCentric Conference in June to examine the topic of, "Battlefield Strategies: Transforming Theory into Reality". The reason I mention this is because the Stryker Brigade concept will be a topic of discussion. According to the conference website:
Iraq News
There have been quite a few developments in Iraq this week. Provided below are links to various news stories of interest.
Michael Gilbert Q&A - Part 1
Michael Gilbert, The News Tribune journalist who was embedded with the Stryker Brigade last fall and winter, graciously agreed to participate in a question and answer session. Visitors to our bulletin board submitted questions, which we then forwarded to Michael. Provided below are his initial responses - there were too many to answer all at once.
Thanks Michael for participating. We appreciate it!
‘On Point’ shares OIF lessons learned
[Link to Full Article]
By Joe Burlas
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 26, 2004) -- A little more than a year after the end of major hostilities, the Army released May 25 its first major study on operations that liberated the Iraqi people.
Hard copies of “On Point: The United States Army in Iraqi Freedom” is available through regular Army publication channels, and an online version can be view at http://onpoint.leavenworth.army.mil.
Guardsman Talks About Experience in Iraq
Here's an update on one of the National Guardsmen injured in a convoy attack near Mosul last month.
[Link to Full Article]
By Shae Crisson
A National Guardsman injured in Iraq is sharing his story of survival. Lieutenant Matthew Delk is back home with his family and friends in Halifax County.
Five weeks ago he was critically burned in a convoy attack in the town of Mosul. Eyewitness News sat down with him to find out more about how he made it out alive. "I was sitting right here," said Lt. Matthew Delk, pointing at a photograph. "By that time the roof had blown off. Everything that my Kevlar did not cover was burned around my eyes, nose and chin."
Soldier receives Purple Heart
[Link to Full Article]
By Bill Cissel, Journal Staff Writer
RAPID CITY — Fighting back tears and speaking with a voice choked with emotion, a Rapid City reserve officer accepted his Purple Heart and Army Commendation medals Tuesday during a ceremony at VFW Post 22.
Lt. Jeff Allen, an Army Reserve anesthetist with the 348th Combat Support Hospital in Albany, N.Y., was awarded the medals after being wounded in Iraq on April 6. Allen received shrapnel wounds to both legs. The blast also blew out his right eardrum and left eight pieces of metal around his right eye.
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/25
An excerpt from the latest CPA briefing in Baghdad:
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern area of operations, coalition forces executed two cordon-and-searches in western Mosul against a former regime cell leader and weapons dealer. Two of the primary targets were detained.
And two days ago coalition forces conducted a cordon-and-search in eastern Mosul, targeting a former regime cell leader responsible for attacks against Iraqi security forces. That target, too, was detained.
Bush pitches handover plan to UN
Yesterday the US and Britain submitted a new Iraq resolution for review by the UN's Security Council.
[Link to Full Article]
By Howard LaFranchi, The Christian Science Monitor
WASHINGTON – The United States and Britain face little mystery over the prospects of the Iraq resolution they began circulating in the United Nations Security Council Monday.
The resolution, ending the coalition occupation by specifying what US officials say will be "full sovereignty" for Iraq, is expected to win broad support even among countries that opposed the war.
Top US General in Iraq to Be Replaced
U.S. defense officials say the Pentagon will replace Army Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez as the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the move does not reflect the general's handling of the prisoner abuse scandal at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.
81st BCT Photo
Lori found this photo of a soldier with the 81st BCT (WA Army NG) on patrol near Balad, Iraq. The caption reads:
Sgt. James Heaney conducts a patrol near Balad, Iraq. Heaney is an infantryman assigned to the 81st Brigade Combat Team, Washington Army National Guard, operating from Logistical Supply Area Anaconda in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo by Department of Defense.
Iraq Reconstruction Moving Ahead Again
[Link to Full Article]
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2004 -- Security challenges in Iraq put a significant wrinkle into reconstruction efforts in early spring, but work is once again progressing rapidly on $5 billion in contracts awarded in March, the U.S. head of reconstruction in Iraq told Pentagon reporters May 24.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. David J. Nash, director of the Iraq Program Management Office in Baghdad, said rebuilding continued throughout the tumultuous April 9 timeframe, even when 75 percent of the Iraqi workforce stopped showing up for work due to security concerns. [...]
U.S. Forces Move Into Stronghold Of Cleric
The following article provides a good summary of recent coalition activity in the southern Iraqi cities of Najaf, Karbala and Kufa.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By Daniel Williams and Scott Wilson
Washington Post Foreign Service
KARBALA, Iraq, May 23 -- U.S. forces expanded an offensive against rebel cleric Moqtada Sadr on Sunday by pushing into his stronghold of Kufa for the first time, as his armed followers vanished from the streets of this Shiite holy city.
Photo Essay
Defend America has another great photo essay highlighting the work of Comanche Company, 1-23 INF - this time they're handing out school supplies. When you contrast these images with the previous photo essay you see the full spectrum of responsibilities given to these soldiers. Pretty incredible.
Military hustles so troops can vote
[Link to Full Article]
By Guy Taylor, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Military officials are hustling to ensure that troops deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere abroad know their widely varying state rules on absentee ballots, the result of the Pentagon's abandoning plans to have them vote via the Internet.
With deadlines and procedures varying considerably depending on the home state of a given soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, the process is more complicated than it sounds.
Iraq Briefing 5/24
Winds of Change has published its latest Iraq Report with links to, and analysis of, recent developments. Of particular interest is a link to the Carnival of the Liberated, a weekly roundup of opinions from Iraqi bloggers.
SBCT Photo
The Army website has another photo of a C Co., 1-23 INF soldier. Thanks to Lori for the link. The photo caption reads as follows:
A Soldier provides security with a 50 caliber machine gun in Mosul, Iraq. He is assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson.
Reaching for Power
This month National Geographic has an in depth feature on the Shiites of Iraq. Although the full article is only available in print, the NG website has a summary with links to a variety of supplemental information.
Iraq Can Decide On Keeping Troops
[Link to Full Article]
Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS - The United States says it will give Iraq's new interim government a decisive voice in whether a multinational force remains in the country, and has agreed with other Security Council members to transfer full sovereignty to the Iraqis on June 30.
The extent of the caretaker government's powers has been a subject of intense discussion among members of the U.N. Security Council as they await a new resolution dealing with the end of U.S.-British occupation and the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty. [...]
Coalition detains four
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 23, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained four people wanted for anti-Coalition activities while Iraqi Police foiled two improvised explosive device attacks Saturday in Northern Iraq.
Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and search in the neighborhood of Tahreer and detained one suspect wanted for smuggling foreign fighters into Iraq. The suspect is in Coalition custody and no soldiers were injured during the search.
GIs, IMs & e-mail
[Link to Full Article]
By Jay Davis
BELFAST (May 23, 2004): When he was a soldier in Vietnam, Mike Gallant called his mother collect when he was on R and R in Taiwan.
He heard from her later: "Son, I love you, but $17 for three minutes; don't do that again."
Soldier awarded posthumous award at graduation
COBLESKILL, N.Y. -- An Army sergeant who died in an explosion in Iraq earlier this year was awarded a posthumous degree Saturday from SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill.
Army Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, 27, of Schenectady, was killed Feb. 9 while disposing of explosives at an ammunition dump near Sinjar, Iraq. Robbins was a Calvary scout with Fort Lewis Stryker's 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment.
Photo Essay
Defend America has a new photo essay of a cordon and search operation conducted by Comanche Company, 1-23 INF on May 13. Coincidentally, the same unit just created a new photo album in our gallery.
Madigan plays key role for injured soldiers
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
Sgt. 1st Class Eric Ford's injury - shrapnel wounds to his left forearm - doesn't sound so bad in the context of all the traumatic things that are happening to U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
Not bad, that is, until one gets a close look at the two wicked scars that run from his elbow to his wrist. Or until one sees the powerfully built platoon sergeant struggle in therapy to pinch open a clothespin with his left hand.
Every day Jake Hausman is in Iraq...
"...his aunt ties a ribbon to her tree that's become a sea of yellow"
[Link to Full Article]
By Jarid Shipley/Daily Sun staff writer
Everything is ready for Jake Hausman to return. He has a car that he has never driven, a family ready to hug him and trees full of yellow ribbons to cut off.
Spc. Hausman joined the Army even before he turned 18, during a time when war was imminent, and has spent the last 177 days in and around Mosul in northern Iraq.
For every day he is gone, his aunt, Teresa Hausman, ties another yellow ribbon on the trees in her front yard.
Overload
My email account has been rejecting messages since last night because my inbox was too full (Doh!). The problem has been fixed, so please resend any messages if you tried to reach me recently.
8 to 10 percent won’t get leave
More R&R info.
[Link to Full Article]
By Steve Liewer, Stars and Stripes
The loss of thousands of Rest and Recuperation slots for troops in the Middle East during May and June has been met mostly with stoic resignation, say some deployed soldiers and family readiness group leaders in Germany. [...]
On April 25, Coalition Joint Task Force 7 — the name of the unit overseeing allied military operations in Iraq until it was realigned last week as Multi-national Force-Iraq/Multi-national-Corps-Iraq — quietly notified units it would be dramatically cutting back R&R slots between May 1 and June 15.
Congratulations From Iraq
Here's a great story involving a Task Force Olympia soldier.
When high school graduates walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, moms and dads are usually there. For Athens Bible School senior Jonathan Jett, having both parents around was not possible. However, his childhood friend made sure Jonathan's dad was still a part of the celebration.
During Thursday night's commencement, the school played a slide show with photos of each graduating senior during different stages of their lives. When Jonathan's turn came, his dad popped up on the big screen.
The Evolution of a Soldier
Sgt. Hook's website is one of my favorites. Although currently deployed in Afghanistan, he continues to publish well written narratives that always share his hard-earned wisdom. Here's a recent series describing his entry into the Army.
Part 1 - "Marking Time"
Part 2 - "Welcome to the Army"
Part 3 - "On Discipline"
Part 4 - "On Leadership"
Part 5 - "Seventeen Years of Soldiering"
Part 6 - "On Compassion"
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/21
Here is an excerpt from the latest CPA briefing in Baghdad.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern area of operations, coalition forces conducted four cordon and searches in eastern Mosul targeting individuals of executing attacks against coalition forces. Three individuals were detained and numerous small arms were confiscated.
Forty-eight police officers from Najaf completed advanced skills training at the Erbil police academy yesterday. These graduates developed additional capabilities and exchanged tactics, techniques and procedures with their colleagues in another part of Iraq.
Sergeant escapes drugs, violence
We must have missed this one when it was first published.
[Link to Article] (Full text provided below, but the original includes a photo.)
Sgt. Corey Reeves grew up surrounded by drugs and constant violence, but he was able to escape and is now serving his country in Iraq as a team leader in the Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
“When I was just a kid, I knew people getting killed by gangs,” said Reeves from southwest Oklahoma City. “It was hard growing up in that kind of environment, but I knew I didn’t want to be around it for the rest of my life.”
Where moms get their news about the war
Another editorial that many of you can probably relate to.
[Link to Full Article]
by Tim Chavez
Don't come up to Jamie Young, Martha Morris or Donna Clemons and ask these local mothers what they think about the war in Iraq.
That's a stupid question.
MercyMe Receives Emotional Letter
I've never heard of this band before, but obviously many others have.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning band MercyMe has recently announced that the June 22nd release of the I CAN ONLY IMAGINE gift book by J Countryman publishers will include a letter the band received from Lt. Col. Joseph Piek, currently stationed in Mosul, Iraq with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the U.S. Army's first Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
In Iraq, key US ally falls from grace
This is certainly an interesting development. I'll be anxious to see how this one plays out.
[Link to Full Article]
By Annia Ciezadlo, The Christian Science Monitor
BAGHDAD – A year ago, Ahmed Chalabi was the darling of American policymakers, a political powerhouse with unprecedented access to the highest levels of the Pentagon. [...]
But Thursday, US troops raided his house and the offices of his Iraqi National Congress political party. Earlier this week, his party's monthly US stipend of $340,000 was abruptly cut off.