Today in Iraq

War News for Monday, November 15, 2004 Bring ‘em on: Air strikes, artillery fire, ground fighting continue in Fallujah. Bring ‘em on: Heavy fighting breaks out in Baquba. Bring ‘em on: Insurgents attack police stations, ING base near Suwayrah, seven ING soldiers and police killed. Bring ‘em on: Heavy fighting continues in Ramadi. Bring ‘em on: Six ING soldiers killed as insurgents storm two police stations in Mosul. Bring ‘em on: Insurgents seize and destroy governor’s mansion in Mosul. Bring ‘em on: US air strikes reported near Baquba. Bring ‘em on: Oil wells ablaze near Kirkuk. Bring ‘em on: Insurgents destroy main highway bridge near Beiji. Bring ‘em on: Insurgents attack Polish embassy in Baghdad. Bring ‘em on: Central Baghdad hotels under rocket fire. Commentary Editorial: “Now that the election is over, it wouldn't hurt the White House to be more candid -- even apologetic -- for the misinformation and miscalculations that have committed this country to a war in which more than a thousand Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqis have died. Next, the Pentagon should come clean on what a realistic U.S. troop strength is to secure Iraq and how long it will take. Then, the White House should come up with a realistic price tag for a ramped-up troop commitment and a plan for recruiting those troops. It should take that plan to Congress, which in turn should authorize only the troops and funding that it feels are justified for a specific time frame. Blank checks are simply unaffordable, both financially and politically.” Analysis: “American commanders say they expected that the fight for Falluja, coinciding with the end of the holy month of Ramadan, would set off a surge in violence across the country. But the scope and size of the attacks in Mosul last Thursday stunned American officers who were scrambling Sunday to regain the initiative.” Casualty Reports Local story: Connecticut Marine killed in Iraq. Local story: Michigan Marine killed in Iraq. Local story: Indiana soldier killed in Iraq. Local story: New York soldier killed in Iraq. Local story: Maryland Marine killed in Iraq. Local story: Virginia Marine killed in Iraq. Local story: Wyoming Marine killed in Iraq. Local story: Georgia soldier killed in Iraq. Local story: Nebraska soldier killed in Iraq. Local story: Colorado Marine killed in Iraq. Local story: Nevada Marine killed in Iraq. Local story: New York Guardsman wounded in Iraq. Local story: Ohio Marine wounded in Iraq. Note to Readers I will be traveling to Chicago today to attend a memorial service for my sister on Wednesday. I will resume posting full updates on Friday morning, but I'll try to posat an open thread every day so alert readers can link to news stories. Thanks, YD