U.S., Iraqi Forces Fight Ramadi Insurgents

RAMADI, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces fought an hour-long gunbattle with insurgents Saturday in this city west of the Iraqi capital, firing automatic weapons from rooftops at small guerrilla teams maneuvering around them in alleyways and an abandoned fairground.

U.S. commanders said four insurgents were killed and two Iraqi soldiers wounded in the gunfight in eastern Ramadi — one shot through the calf and evacuated by U.S. medics, another with a minor facial wound.

As Iraqi forces swept through houses, troops from the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment entered several residential buildings, climbing to rooftops to secure the rest of the patrol.

With families of men and women huddling in rooms downstairs, U.S. gunners firing light machine guns picked off several gunmen firing at their positions.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060422/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_ramadi_fighting

Washington Post link

The insurgents control the country in much the same way Charlie controlled Vietnam. Our troops are largely confined behind secure zones, only venturing out when it is absolutely necessary.

How many more times will our troops return to Ramadi before a President pulls the plug on this wasteful and unnecessary war.