From the NY Times:

By DEXTER FILKINS

AGHDAD, Iraq, April 7 — The scene at the foot of the bridge over the Diyala River was one of utter desolation, with the ground littered with smoldering Iraqi bodies. Burning vehicles sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky. The air stank from the smell of so much afire. Only the stray dogs, nosing around the flesh and flames, seemed alive.

Thousands of American marines poured into the Iraqi capital today after capturing the bridge in a daylong firefight, and crossing at two other points as well. Battling tenacious opposition, the marines moved about a mile into the southeastern corner of the city, securing a foothold and silencing most Iraqi opposition by nightfall.

"It's a little sobering," said Capt. Sal Aguilar, standing in a field with dead Iraqis all around him. "When you're training for this, you joke about it, you can't wait for the real thing. Then when you see it, when you see the real thing, you never want to see it again."