Thursday, August 28, 2003



BAGHDAD, Iraq — Gunmen opened fire with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades on a British convoy trapped between two angry crowds in southern Iraq, killing one soldier and wounding another, the British military said Thursday.



The soldiers were returning from a raid when about 30 people blocked their route in the town of Ali as-Sharqi on Wednesday night, British Lt. Cmdr. Richard Walters said.

The soldiers moved around that crowd, only to be stopped by a second group of people blocking the road near Fort Jennings, he said.

The soldiers got down from their vehicles and fired two warning shots to disperse the crowds when the Iraqis attacked, killing one soldier and wounding the second in the hand, he said.

The British arrested 10 people and withdrew to their base at al-Amarah, 75 miles north of Basra with protection from helicopters and additional rapid reaction troops called to the scene, he said.

The latest death brings the British toll in the war to 49, with 11 of them killed since May 1 when President Bush declared an end to major fighting. Since that date, 143 U.S. soldiers have died -- five more than during the fighting.

Two U.S. soldiers died Wednesday in separate attacks in Baghdad and Fallujah, 30 miles to the west, the U.S. military said. A third soldier reportedly died separately of a non-hostile gunshot wound.

The deaths brought to 281 the total number of American soldiers killed since the war began on March 20.

I am pretty sure that I have seen that picture some where else before. Its quite an old one.

Yes, maybe the IMC needs to get back on track with the

occupation of Iraq, but focusing on Sherman Austin also

shows how the war has definitely been brought home. Mr.

Austin is just one of the many growing incidents of state

suppression against U.S. citizens who are trying to

speak out. So let's not get petty here...

The IMC La needs an American body count also.

or an iraqis killed by iraqi terrorism and iraqi "friendly" fire (etc) body count?

..."Normal Human Being Brain Cells Killed by Peace Protestor's Moronic Signs" counter?

..."Normal Human Being Brain Cells Killed by Right Wing Talk Radio" counter?