Jane Arraf

Anytime they can point to something concrete, something that's happening, it helps them refute all the allegations, all the daily read more

Anytime they can point to something concrete, something that's happening, it helps them refute all the allegations, all the daily news that comes in on the ongoing violence and the more-structural problems,

Stability has been a concern here, but there is nothing to indicate any instability -- certainly there has been political read more

Stability has been a concern here, but there is nothing to indicate any instability -- certainly there has been political chaos.

They're in convoys, taking the same risks as the male solders and Marines,

They're in convoys, taking the same risks as the male solders and Marines,

Saddam Hussein (the Iraqi president) has guranteed the safety of the passengers aboard and will treat them as if they read more

Saddam Hussein (the Iraqi president) has guranteed the safety of the passengers aboard and will treat them as if they were Iraqi citizens.

It's one of the things that the Marines and the Army feel they're lacking right now, particularly the Marines, which read more

It's one of the things that the Marines and the Army feel they're lacking right now, particularly the Marines, which have very few women in those roles.