In part one of a four part series, Michael Yon tell us of the “Ghosts of Anbar.”

Our Anbar-war can be said to have begun after the invasion in 2003, and for most of its duration, Fallujah has been the crucible Anbar city. In the beginning, in this city of mosques, the people of Fallujah had not resisted. But friction bred of perceived injustices seethed steadily, until the light fighting of 2003 exploded early in 2004, when on the final day of March in that year, four contractors were murdered and mutilated in Fallujah. The spokesmen for the killers called it an act of revenge, justice even. They called the murdered contractors mercenaries; their charred corpses dangling from what soldiers and Marines now call “Blackwater Bridge.”

This segment is presented with some fascinating pictures of gravestones from years gone by.

As always, Michael dispatches a concise, unbiased report.