Iraq Embed – 2005
The 2005 Iraq Embed was sponsored by the generous readers of the The Fourth Rail.
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Bill in Ramadi |
Bill Roggio’s Embed in Iraq, November – December 2005
In November of 2005, Bill took a leave of absence from his job and embedded as a journalist with the Marines and soldiers in western Iraq. Bill spent a month in Iraq embedded with Marines in Husaybah on the Syrian border, Haditha, Haqlaniyah, Barwana, and Ramadi. Bill patrolled the streets of Iraq with Marines and Iraqi soldiers, drove in convoys, rode on the Euphrates River, met with the Azerbajani Army battalion at Haditha Dam, sat in on meetings with tribal leaders and military officers, went on an IED hunt in the city of Ramadi, and witnessed Iraq’s historic Parliamentary election on December 15th, 2005.
Photogalleries from Iraq:
Election Day in Barwana; the guns of Iraq’s insurgents; Haditha Dam, the Azerbaijanis and riding the Euphrates; patroling Haqlaniyah; Husaybah on the Syrian border; and Ramadi. Click the photo below to view.
Media Coverage of the Iraq Embed:
The Times Online: US Marines have recruited a blogger to report on Iraq
Courier-Post: Iraq-bound blogger to cover military
Courier-Post: S.J. blogger hails close-up view of Iraq
Posts and Articles from Iraq:
Missing Zarqawi
Coalition forces believe they “just missed” Zarqawi in Mosul.
Operational Issues
A wrap up of operations throughout Iraq.
Terrorist Toys for Tots
Iraqi soldiers discover a car with children’s dolls rigged with various forms of explosives.
Steel Curtain Unmasked
The inside baseball behind the final push to establish a permanent presence in the Al Qaim region.
The Hounds of Husaybah
My first nightime patrol with the Jackals of Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, of the 3/6 Marines.
Walking Husaybah
A day of foot patrols and a meeting with an al-Qaeda friendly sheikh.
Combined Forces
A day at Battle Position Beirut with U.S. Marines and Iraqi troops.
Operation Iron Hammer in Hit
A multi-battalion counterinsurgency operation down the river in Hit.
Transferring Control
Transfer of Command cerimony; General Casey and Defense Minister Dulaimi are present as the Iraqi-Syrian border is turned over to Iraqi security forces.
The Sulemani
The unnamed al-Qaeda friendly tribe we met earlier in the week attend the first meeting of the tribal sheikhs and leaders in the Qaim region.
The Ramadi Debacle
The media presents al-Qaeda propaganda of an attack in Ramadi as fact. The incident did not occur as reported.
The Teufelhunden of the 3/6
A look at the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and the battlion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Dale Alford.
After Rivergate
A look at the efforts of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment to secure the Triad region of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana.
On the Euphrates
A day with the boat crews of the Dam Security Unit at Haditha Dam.
Patrolling Haqlaniyah
Walking a Psyops Patrol with Marines and Iraqi soldiers.
On the Offensive in Ramadi
A look at continuing operations in Ramadi.
Afternoon with the Azerbaijani:
A day with our Coalition partners from Azerbaijan.
A Shift in Operations
A look at the mission of a Civil Affairs Team in Hit.
On Route Michigan
Hunting for roadside bombs on the most dangerous road in Ramadi, and perhaps Iraq. We found one.
An Interview with Major General Huck
A discussion with the Commander of the 2nd Marine Division.
Jihadis, Elections and Ramadi
Insurgent and terrorist groups take differing positions on how to deal with the upcoming election.
Voting in Barwana
A snapshot of Election Day in the Sunni Triangle town of Barwana.
Election Day on the Euphrates
An overview of Election Day in Iraq. The article was published at The Weekly Standard..
Election Reflections
A follow up to the Weekly Standard article on Election Day in Barwana.
al-Qaeda’s Democracy Problem
Terrorists are unable to deter democratic elections despite threats of violence.
Operation Moonlight, with a Twist
The Iraqi Army conducts its first independent counterinsurgency operation in the Qaim region.