A Deadly Month in Iraq
(Todd Mullins, Staff Reporter)

The month of November holds the record for the deadliest month for the U.S. Military since the war�s inception in March, and Mississippians have suffered record losses.

77 U.S. Servicemen and women have died in November. The death toll for September and October combined reached only 73. Two Mississippians were killed in a Black Hawk Helicopter crash in November. 9 have died since the start of the war. The death toll of Mississippians reaches twice the national average. Census figures indicate that military service is more common in the southeast. The 10 states of the southeast account for 30% of deaths in Iraq. These states, however, make up only 26% of the national population.

The War Hits Close to Home
(Krystal Harper, Staff Reporter)

The War hits close to home, as 9 Mississippians have been killed in Iraq. The most recent deaths were just a few days after Thanksgiving.

The families of Jeremiah Digiovanni and Damian Heidelberg are grieving from the deaths of their sons. The two soldiers died together and will be buried just a few miles apart.

Jeremiah�s mother, Mona Randall, says, �Jeremiah always dreamed of flying a helicopter, and he realized his dreams before he died.�

Heidelberg and Digiovanni were among 17 troops who died when the 2 Black Hawk Helicoptors collided.

Iraqi Governing Council in Crisis
(Ross Crumbley, Staff Reporter)

Iraqi Governing Council.

The Iraqi Governing Council is in a serious crisis. The council which was set up by the United States to help the people of Iraqi setup a democratic government, may be trying to slow the process of giving the power back to the people. The twenty-four-member council has three major problems.

First, the council can�t decide on how elections will be handled. Second, the people of Iraqi blame them for the lack of power and increased violence across the country. And finally, the people feel that the council is beginning to look after the interests of themselves and not the people.

These problems are not good since the United States agreed to plans to make Iraq complete sovereignty by July 1st 2004. The main issue is that the council can�t decide on how to handle elections. Presently, the council feels that there should be indirect elections. But this upsets the majority of the Iraqi people, especially the Shiites who make up 60% of the country, because they feel that they will not fully represented. Another issue is that council wants to have some sort of roll in the official government. This is holding up the election process because the council was supposed to dissolve after the first election. Already, the council has a 75% disapproval rating and the people feel that the council is shielded from the increased problems of the country and don�t know what the people really want.

With all of these problems, the Iraqi council must get its act together so that Iraq can be a prosperous country for many years to come.

Home for the Holidays in Iraq
(Laura Buchtel, Staff Reporter)

Holiday plans are in full swing for our soldiers overseas, although it�s not all stockings and mistletoe for our defenders.

After President Bush�s recent visit to our troops, much focus has been on those brave men and women who are away from their families, especially during this time of year.

2nd Lt. Jeff Brewster of the U.S. military says, �I'll miss the real turkey, the cranberry sauce, stuffing and the pumpkin pie. But we�re here for a reason, and a job to do. And I'm worried, because there's more of a threat there right now."

However, some plans are being made to help brighten the soldier�s holidays. With planned visits by Britney Spears and Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, there seems to be something to look forward to this season.