Should Republicans go ahead and add Supreme Court Justices to head off Democrats

Stories the national media ignores in Iraq

El Paso Times:

On short notice, a reserve Marine artillery battery from El Paso learned a new specialty and then earlier this year headed to Iraq where its members worked in military prisons, guarded convoys and provided security for a major Marine operations base.

Despite the hazardous duty, the 150-member unit suffered no casualties and received only two Purple Heart Medals. About 80 percent of the battery, which returned in September and October, is from the El Paso area.

"Their performance across the board was outstanding," said Maj. Charles Ellis, commander of Delta Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment.

After an abbreviated military police training, the unit -- split into three platoons -- deployed in March. One platoon guarded the Military Expeditionary Force Headquarters in Fallujah, one ran a detention facility in Ramadi and the third, based in Taqaddum, traveled throughout Iraq protecting convoys and major transportation routes.

...

The regional detention facility was used to hold suspected insurgents for about two weeks before they were either released or sent to the Abu Ghraib prison, said Sgt. Michael Lawrence, from Alamogordo, who was based at Camp Ar Ramadi.

"They processed over 2,600 detainees in seven months and there were no escapes and no incidents of maltreatment," said Ellis, who was in charge of the prison. "They consistently treated the detainees with dignity in accordance with the (standard operating procedure) and the Geneva Convention."

Lawrence said working in the prison provided an opportunity to learn about the Iraqis.

"We were able to learn quite a bit about their culture through the interpreters," he said. "They would tell us a little bit about their customs and culture and we would tell them a little bit about ours."

...

Curliss said his unit had a few engagements with enemy forces early on, but as the insurgents discovered the Marines' presence, they relied more on roadside explosives. He said the improvised explosive device design evolved from detonation by wires, to remote control to trip wires. The trip wires allowed insurgents to set the bomb and leave the area.

"They used all kinds of explosives," Curliss said, adding that searches off the roads even yielded World War II-era ordnance made in Germany.

...

So much for the argument that the US troops are the primary targets in Iraq.