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RAMADI, Iraq - Captain John M. Costello, a U.S. military advisor for 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade of the 7th Iraqi Army Division patrols the streets of Tammim here Dec 15. The Iraqi soldiers accompanied by their U.S. military advisors provided a presence on the streets during Al Anbars provincial elections. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ryan S. Scranton - RAMADI, Iraq - Captain John M. Costello, a U.S. military advisor for 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade of the 7th Iraqi Army Division patrols the streets of Tammim here Dec 15. The Iraqi soldiers accompanied by their U.S. military advisors provided a presence on the streets during Al Anbars provincial elections. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ryan S. Scranton

21-year-old St. Charles, Mich., native Cpl. Anne Hedrington uses a hand-held metal detector to screen a female Iraqi voter in Husaybah, Iraq, December 15. Islamic culture requires that Muslim women be searched only by women. The vote today is being held in order to elect a permanent Iraqi government. - 21-year-old St. Charles, Mich., native Cpl. Anne Hedrington uses a hand-held metal detector to screen a female Iraqi voter in Husaybah, Iraq, December 15. Islamic culture requires that Muslim women be searched only by women. The vote today is being held in order to elect a permanent Iraqi government.

RUTBAH, Iraq ? An Iraqi man smiles as he makes his way toward a voting site here Dec. 15. In open defiance toward radical Islamist insurgents, tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens came out to the polls across the Sunni-dominated, Al Anbar province in Iraq, Dec. 15. In Rutbah, Iraqi troops provided security at polling sites with U.S. Marines from Task Force Highlander, Regimental Combat Team 2, standing by in case of any violent interference of the democratic process. - RUTBAH, Iraq ? An Iraqi man smiles as he makes his way toward a voting site here Dec. 15. In open defiance toward radical Islamist insurgents, tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens came out to the polls across the Sunni-dominated, Al Anbar province in Iraq, Dec. 15. In Rutbah, Iraqi troops provided security at polling sites with U.S. Marines from Task Force Highlander, Regimental Combat Team 2, standing by in case of any violent interference of the democratic process.

Second Lieutenant Ernest P. Abelson gives orders to Cpl. Chris W. Adair and other squad members after Iraqi Security Forces report a possible IED on the side of a road in Fallujah. - Second Lieutenant Ernest P. Abelson gives orders to Cpl. Chris W. Adair and other squad members after Iraqi Security Forces report a possible IED on the side of a road in Fallujah.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Lance Cpl. Deepak Natarajamurthi, an infantryman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, peeks out from behind a wall as he provides security for fellow Marines during a security and stability operations training exercise here Dec. 7. Third Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment is currently preparing for its second tour of duty in Iraq after having returned from Fallujah nearly four months ago. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Lance Cpl. Deepak Natarajamurthi, an infantryman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, peeks out from behind a wall as he provides security for fellow Marines during a security and stability operations training exercise here Dec. 7. Third Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment is currently preparing for its second tour of duty in Iraq after having returned from Fallujah nearly four months ago.

AR RAMADI, Iraq (December 14, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Cody Pollak, a rifleman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, is enjoying his time in Iraq because of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences and the opportunities to interact with a new culture. Photo by Cpl. Shane Suzuki - AR RAMADI, Iraq (December 14, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Cody Pollak, a rifleman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, is enjoying his time in Iraq because of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences and the opportunities to interact with a new culture. Photo by Cpl. Shane Suzuki

AR RAMADI, Iraq (December 14, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Evan Magallanes, a rifleman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, was eager to come to Iraq and serve with his fellow Marines to help eliminate the terrorist threat and do his part in creating a stable middle east. Photo by Cpl. Shane Suzuki - AR RAMADI, Iraq (December 14, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Evan Magallanes, a rifleman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, was eager to come to Iraq and serve with his fellow Marines to help eliminate the terrorist threat and do his part in creating a stable middle east. Photo by Cpl. Shane Suzuki

HAQLANIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 26, 2005) - Oconomowoc, Wis. native, Lance Cpl. Darin J. Wittnebel, takes the PSS-12 metal detector with him on every patrol he is on here. Recently Wittnebel, a rifleman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, used his metal detector to find an improvised explosive device outside of his firm base that could have been deadly to Marines or other people in the village. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam C. Schnell) - HAQLANIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 26, 2005) - Oconomowoc, Wis. native, Lance Cpl. Darin J. Wittnebel, takes the PSS-12 metal detector with him on every patrol he is on here. Recently Wittnebel, a rifleman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, used his metal detector to find an improvised explosive device outside of his firm base that could have been deadly to Marines or other people in the village. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam C. Schnell)

HAQLANIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 27, 2005) - Woodland, Calif. native, Lance Cpl. Chris P. Stabler, talks with children on a security patrol here Nov. 27. Stabler, a team leader with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, performs patrols in the city to make sure it is safe for the citizens to have normal lives and to be free of terrorism in the region. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam C. Schnell) - HAQLANIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 27, 2005) - Woodland, Calif. native, Lance Cpl. Chris P. Stabler, talks with children on a security patrol here Nov. 27. Stabler, a team leader with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, performs patrols in the city to make sure it is safe for the citizens to have normal lives and to be free of terrorism in the region. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam C. Schnell)