Northern Alliance fighters point out Taliban positions to William Branigin during the war in Afghanistan. Branigin is now with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq. (The Washington Post)
I N T H E F I E L D
William Branigin is a reporter on the Virginia desk of the Washington Post. He was embedded with the 3rd Infantry Division.
Honoring a Fallen Hero The U.S. Army seeks to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, who is credited with saving dozens of his fellow soldiers' lives in the April 4 Baghdad battle that took his life. Attack Sets Arms Depot In Iraq Afire A fire set off a chain of explosions at a U.S.-controlled munitions dump, sending ordnance shrieking into residential areas, killing at least six.
Ties to U.S. a Boon and a Barrier A Bitter War for Iraq's Officers A Brief, Bitter War for Iraq's Military Officers Standing in what was once a grove of date palms, Omar Khalidi stares at the huge crater, easily 20 feet deep and 40 feet across. Had he arrived a few minutes sooner one night earlier this month, it could have been his grave. Beyond it is a missile launcher, now a hulk of melted metal. Weapons Proliferate in Baghdad Bazaar Weapons of war are for sale to anyone with a little cash, with no questions asked on either side and little interference from the U.S. forces.
In Basra, Spoils of Looting Fill Market Among Casualties Of War: Sleep The first casualty of war, so the saying goes, is the truth.
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