REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Bill Roggio reports on counter IED tactics in Ramadi, one of the deadliest cities in Iraq. IED remain the biggest threat to Coalition troops, and countering them is critical to making Iraq safe for her citizens again.

• Despite vast improvements, Lance Corporal Erik Silvas says, "Regular food is better, no matter who cooks it."

• The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) has assumed command and control responsibilities in North Central Iraq from the 42nd Infantry Division. The accomplishments of the outgoing unit are impressive.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• The US is beginning to make payments to Iraqi contractors with checks for dinars instead of issuing stacks of dollars - in an effort to increase confidence in Iraqi banks, among other things.

• Take a look at this week's reconstruction highlights: Eight government workers from three Iraqi ministries received intensive training to become the first employees of the new Iraq Investment Promotion Agency, the independent organization created to encourage foreign direct investment in Iraq. Forty small business owners attend seminar on microfinance loans and business plan development. Twenty officials of Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture received a briefing from trade experts to build capacity for agriculture-related decisions they will have to make as Iraq seeks membership in the WTO. Construction of water storage facilities underway in Ninewa and Dahuk. 2004-2005 Potato Crop Demonstration Program to improve potato cultivation techniques successful. The State University of New York Center for International Development (SUNY/CID) conducted a workshop on ‘Administrative Transparency’ for 30 staff members of the National Assembly. Universities discuss Centers for Excellence (CFE) to increase cross cultural understanding. Internet center in Wassit benefits Persons with Disabilities. Fifty-eight teachers, supervisors, and administrators attend training to improve teaching methods. A community center in northern Iraq, established to assist returning refugees, receives help in facilitating a training series.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Five political coalitions have been formed to present their political philosophies for the upcoming elections in Iraq on December 15th:

1) The Shia are represented by The United Iraqi Alliance - which is primariily made up of the religious based groups Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), and the Dawa party. The Sadrists have joined the alliance in recent months.

2) The Kurds are represented by an alliance of the Democratic Kurdistan Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan However the Islamic Union of Kurdistan has is planning to run separately.

3) The mostly secular Iraqi National List - headed by former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi is an alliance of communists, Allawi's Iraqi National Accord, and supporters of certain Sunni leaders, as well as a mixture of other secular groups.

4) The Iraqi Concord Front, made up of three political groupings of Sunni Arabs - a group which largely boycotted the general elections last January.

5) Ahmed Chalabi has broken from the Shia Alliance and formed his own political party.

An interesting note - Ayatollah Ali Sistani has stated he would officially back none of the lists -- unlike January, when he openly backed the Shia United Iraqi Alliance.

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

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• The first flight from Baghdad to Tehran in 25 years landed 69 passengers in Tehran Sunday, marking the continuing thaw in relations between the two nations.

• Two Moroccan embassy employees were kidnapped by al-Zarqawi's group and will face "trial" by an "Islamic" court.

ETCETERA

• Muqtada al Sadr's militia, known as al-Mahdi, has been taking "police activities' into its own hands.

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire 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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