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Last week, I had an opportunity to interview Michael Fumento, who has now been embedded in Iraq three times and has recently returned from a trip to Ramadi. If you're looking for someone in the media with the ground experience in Iraq, you couldn't do much better than Michael Fumento. Now, on to the interview, which has been edited. Now, Michael, you were just embedded with the troops out in the field in Ramadi. There are not a lot of reporters who do that. Why do you think that is and do you think reporters over there lose perspective if...

Excerpt - BAGHDAD, Nov. 25 — The insurgency in Iraq is now self-sustaining financially, raising tens of millions of dollars a year from oil smuggling, kidnapping, counterfeiting, corrupt charities and other crimes that the Iraqi government and its American patrons have been largely unable to prevent, a classified United States government report has concluded. ~ snip ~

MUDIQ, Iraq, Nov. 21 2006 — Iraqis now drive on safe roads thanks to the Marines who set up vehicle checkpoints here on a daily basis. That credit goes to Marines of Jump Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. "It's making it harder for insurgents to move any contraband through the main routes of travel," said Sgt. Robert E. Mitterando, platoon sergeant for Jump Platoon. "If you were a car thief or burglar and you saw your friend getting 'rolled up,' you'd think, 'Damn, these guys mean business. We're not playing around. If you work with...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2006 -- Iraqi security forces searched the Fallujah general hospital yesterday as part of their continuous operations to maintain the security and safety of the citizens of Fallujah. Elsewhere, Iraqi and coalition forces have captured dozens of insurgents in recent days. The hospital was searched after intelligence indicated it was being used as a potential safe haven for insurgents. The Iraqi troops with support from coalition forces entered the hospital to ensure that the facility continues to be a safe place for the people of Fallujah to receive medical treatment, U.S. officials said. No insurgent activity...

The target was an insurgent cell responsible for numerous roadside bomb attacks. ABU AJIL, Iraq, Nov. 1, 2006 — The Iraqi soldiers and U.S. Paratroopers passed the afternoon hours before their mission double-checking radios and performing last-minute inspections of their vehicles and weapons. Despite the language barrier and cultural differences, they shared conversations accentuated with cigarette smoke and laughter. Soon, the cheerful mood would shift to serious and mission-focused. The sun would set, and the illumination of the quarter-moon would be all that was left of light in the town of Abu Ajil. The rural farming area is about 2.5...

A Marine's Eye-View of Fallujah All: I haven't written very much from Iraq. There's really not much to write about. More exactly, there's not much I can write about because practically everything I do, read or hear is classified military information or is depressing to the point that I'd rather just forget about it, never mind write about it. The gaps in between all of that are filled with the pure tedium of daily life in an armed camp. So it's a bit of a struggle to think of anything to put into a letter that's worth reading. Worse, this...

Soldier survives attack; captures, medically treats sniper (Video) During a routine patrol in Baghdad June 2, Army Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a medic, was shot in the chest by an enemy sniper, hiding in a van just 75 yards away. The incident was filmed by the insurgents. Tschiderer, with E Troop, 101st “Saber” Cavalry Division, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was knocked to the ground from the impact, but he popped right back up, took cover and located the enemy’s position. After tracking down the now-wounded sniper with a team from B...

AL ASAD — Despite sustaining a severe a wound during an insurgent attack earlier this month, a prominent Iraqi police chief vows to continue his fight to keep Iraq’s western Al Anbar province safe. Col. Shabban Barzan al-Ubaidi of the Baghdadi Police Force says the fact that he survived the attack is “proof the enemy cannot take (his) life away, only God can, and God is not on the enemy’s side.” Despite the attack, his police forces remain undeterred and Iraqis in the Al Anbar province are still willing to join Ubaidi’s police forces, he said. Baghdadi is a town...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2006 – Iraqi police and coalition forces captured two insurgents Oct. 9 in Samarra, Iraq, and Iraqi police shut down an insurgent financial operation Oct. 9 in Tikrit, military officials in Iraq reported. Iraqi police and coalition forces conducting a joint patrol captured two suspected insurgents who were attempting to enter Samarra by vehicle through a gap in the city’s surrounding berm. A search of the suspects’ vehicle revealed a sniper rifle. The individuals were detained for questioning. The combined patrol also apprehended an individual after receiving small-arms and indirect fire at a checkpoint. After determining the...

Task Force Grizzly soldiers prepare for a night operation in Pashmul, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, in mid September. Operation Medusa, which lasted approximately 20 days, was a successfully operations that effectively pushed enemy insurgents from this region of the country. Army photo by Sgt. Mayra Kennedy Task Force Grizzly Soldiers Eliminate Insurgents Operation Medusa which lasted approximately 20 days, was a successful operation that effectively pushed enemy insurgents from this region of Afghanistan. By U.S. Army Sgt. Mayra Kennedy 345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment PANJWAYI, Afghanistan, Oct. 10, 2006 -- A small number of soldiers from the 207th Infantry Brigade...

The new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq said that more than 4,000 foreign insurgents have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. The claim was made in an audiotape posted on the Internet. The man speaking on the tape identified himself as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir - also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri - the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, although the voice could not be independently identified. The Arabic word he used indicated he was speaking about foreigners who joined the insurgency in Iraq, and not coalition troops. It was believed to be the first major statement...

SAQLAWIYAH — “America’s Battalion” is already familiarizing itself with locals in its new area of operations, meeting with local Iraqis and strengthening trust and relations. The Marines new found relationships show how winning hearts and minds can lead to winning the war against insurgents. Over the last weeks, Marines from F Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment patrolled Saqlawiyah and took a census of the area, conducting a show of force and gathering information on insurgents. “The census helps us get a feel for the area,” said Lance Cpl. Christopher R. Hipkins, a 22-year-old team leader from Wilmington, Del. “It’s...

The Guardian of Islamic Extremism http://www.aina.org/news/20060921100346.htm ................................................................................................... Churches Firebombed By Members Of The "Religion of Peace" http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary/article_21240687.shtml ...................................................................................................If Islam is the religion of peace, it should act like it http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/092006/09212006/223419 The Free Lance-Star, VA - Sep 21, 2006... My next complaint is the lame argument that says something along the lines of "Islam (the religion of peace) doesn't promote violence; remember Christians are ......................................................................................................Death threats from the 'religion of peace' http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52078

Muslims want Pontiff out Clerics, scholars call for Benedict removal after controversial Islam remarks by AP LAHORE, Pakistan -- About 1,000 Muslim clerics and religious scholars meeting yesterday in eastern Pakistan demanded the removal of Pope Benedict for making what they called "insulting remarks" against Islam.

If you call me a killer one more time, I'm gonna kill ya http://moonagewebdream.blogs.com/moonage_political_webream/2006/09/if_you_call_me_.html September 20, 2006 If you call me a killer one more time, I'm gonna killa ya. `Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Those are the words Pope Benedict uttered that has caused quite a stir. Those words were originally uttered in the 14th century by the Byzantine Emporor Manuel II. Now, contrary to the replies from Muslim fanatics, Byzantine was...

Muslims, Islam, Pope Benedict Religion of Peace Dying to Kill Again Al Qaeda terror commander hints at big attack on N.Y., Washington... The new al-Qaeda field commander recently interviewed in Afghanistan, is calling for Muslims to leave the U.S. -- particularly Washington and New York -- in anticipation of a major terror attack to rival Sept. 11, says the Canada Free Press story. Like most peace loving free people of the western world, I'd like very much to believe that Islam is indeed a peaceful religion seeking a peaceful coexistence with all peaceful peoples of the world. It's just hard...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2006 – Iraqi army soldiers freed a man who was being held and tortured by members of an illegal armed group in Diwaniyah, Iraq, during a raid today, U.S. military officials said. The captive had been beaten, tortured and bound. He said he had been held for the past three days. He also stated that the four people abusing him fled just prior to the arrival of Iraqi assault forces. The man was immediately treated by medical personnel and then evacuated, officials said. The four suspects are thought to be members of a group engaged in sectarian...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2006 – Iraqi police detained three suspected insurgents and discovered a makeshift bomb near a mosque in Mosul, Iraq, Sept. 11, U.S. military officials said. The insurgents fired on coalition forces near a cemetery in western Mosul, then fled into a mosque and continued to attack from inside after coalition forces pursued them. Coalition forces cordoned off the area and notified Iraqi police of the situation. The Iraqi police searched the mosque and surrounding area, leading to the capture of the three insurgents and the discovery of a prepared makeshift bomb. Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal personnel destroyed...

An Iraqi Police dog attacks a mock insurgent. Department of Defense photo by Navy Journalist 2nd Class John J. Pistone. BAGHDAD -- It may appear to some that the task of restoring law and order to the streets of Baghdad is too daunting a job for the Iraqi Police. However, the officers of BaghdadÂ’s Rusafah Police Directorate believe that through proper training, hard work and advanced technology they can rid the city of insurgency and terrorism. The directorate recently unveiled some of its tools, showcasing a bomb-sniffing dog and a new secure communications system. The police also demonstrated an advanced...