REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Ambushing Coalition troops can be hazardous to your health, as a group of insurgents learned to their dismay. After bushwhacking a supply convoy and wounding three American soldiers, more than 30 insurgents were taken down by ten MPs.

• In an earlier brief, we mentioned a student strike against brutality committed by al Sadr's thugs in Basrah. It appears their is a lot to be accomplished with regards to the new government enforcing the law.

• At Security Watchtower, we learn of massive raids in Karbala by Iraqi 8th Division soldiers and US Forces, which netted a total of 330 insurgents and some pretty significant weapons caches. The security sweeps are being carried out due to concerns of attacks on Shiite Holy sites during the Shiite holiday of Arba'een.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Here are a few of this week's Iraq reconstruction highlights: Workers are installing lift pumps and pouring concrete foundations as work moves forward on the refurbishment of a water treatment plant in Karbala. A technical university in Baghdad now boasts a brand new internet center that includes 20 new computers, an integrated main server network, an internet satellite dish, and an instructor office. An Iraqi women’s non-governmental organization delivered a basic business skills training seminar for Iraqi businesses in As Sulaymaniyah. Two Iraqi universities are implementing a research project with USAID support to find preventative procedures for B-Thalassemia, a blood disease prevalent throughout Iraq. Total USAID Assistance to Iraq 2003-2005: $4,824,991,862.00.

• The Associated Press has a dim view of postwar Baghdad, but Arthur Chrenkoff neatly fisks their slant.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Democracy doesn't end when the ballots are counted. Mohammed at Iraq the Model reports on what Iraqis are learning from their elected representatives work in building the new Iraqi government.

• Gregory Djerian points out that Iranian influence over Iraq's internal politics is somewhat less than advertised.

• The latest Carnival of the Liberated is up at Dean's World.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• 450 Australian infantrymen are heading for Iraq to work with British and Japanese forces in southern Iraq, another vital part of the Coalition of the Willing. Members of a proud corps, the Aussies can be counted on to work hard to improve conditions in their sector of Iraq, and to terminate any insurgents who get in their way.

ETCETERA

• Taps is played for Milblogger SPC Francisco (Frank) G. Martinez - a 13 Foxtrot deployed from South Korea. His girlfriend, Mirela, posted the news on his blog on March 22nd. You can send condolences to his family via Mirela at mirella059 AT yahoo.com - Hat Tip: Assumption of Command.

• Thunder6 is adept at showing the underlying importance of the calibre of our heros overseas and how teaching Iraq's youth is probably the most important mission we have in Iraq.

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire $5 purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families! Please join us to give back to these brave people in their time of need.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!

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