English translation of the name of the town, "Ramadi" or "Al
Ramadi"-needed by 9AM on 27 February 2006. Thanks.

Dear Pattermanifold, 

Ramadi means : 
(1) The colour grey, esp. light-grey, the colour of the ashes (Ramad means Ash)
(2) Ashes-like (usually in colour, like 1). 
(3) Grizzle. 

I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
clarification on this answer before you rate it. My search strategy:
An Arabic dictionary (off line, at home); however, if you can read
Arabic letters, also have a look at:

Babylon - Definition Gray 
<http://www.babylon.com/definition/gray/Other> 

Webster - Greyish 
<http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/gr/greyish.html> 

Answers.com - Grey
<http://www.answers.com/topic/gray-1>

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Request for Answer Clarification by pattermanifold-ga on 27 Feb 2006 02:39 PST

Thanks, but I wonder if the translation applies to the name of the
town. It's ar-ramadi...is there no doubt that it means something like
"place of ashes?"

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Clarification of Answer by politicalguru-ga on 27 Feb 2006 08:09 PST

Dear Pattermanifold, 

I wish you'd waited for me to respond :-) 

Al is "the" in Arabic; Jerusalem is "A(l)-Quds" (the holy); Syria is
A(l)-Sham (the north); and Al-Ramadi is "The grey/greyish one".

I would have appreciated an additional response to my clarification
request, but it was still a very complete, helpful answer.