White House Said to Debate ’08 Cut in Iraq Troops by 50%

New York Times

WASHINGTON, May 25 — The Bush administration is developing what are described as concepts for reducing American combat forces in Iraq by as much as half next year, according to senior administration officials in the midst of the internal debate. It is the first indication that growing political pressure is forcing the White House to turn its attention to what happens after the current troop increase runs its course. The concepts call for a reduction in forces that could lower troop levels by the midst of the 2008 presidential election to roughly 100,000, from about 146,000, the latest available figure, which the military reported on May 1. They would also greatly scale back the mission that President Bush set for the American military when he ordered it in January to win back control of Baghdad and Anbar Province. The mission would instead focus on the training of Iraqi troops and fighting Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, while removing Americans from many of the counterinsurgency efforts inside Baghdad.

I don't think there's anything here to comment about. I'm sure many ideas of various thought processes are being tossed around. However; if this becomes a reality, I'm voting for the Constitution Party.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, War, Military, Bush, White House, Troop Reduction, Retreat, Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaida, Terrorists, Insurgents

Good News From The War On Terror 5/24-5/25

IRAQI ARMY, POLICE DISCOVER UNDERGROUND CACHE

MOSUL, Iraq - Iraqi army and police, supported by Coalition Forces, discovered a weapons cache in northern Mosul, located in Nineveh Province, during a planned operation Monday afternoon. Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, supported by Iraqi police officers from Northeast 1 station, and CF Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, made the cache discovery, which was concealed under an inoperable toilet. "This is another example of Iraqi Security Forces' adept efforts to maintain a secure, safe environment for the citizens of Mosul," said Lt. Col. Michael Boden, acting commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the site as Iraqi police secured the cache which contained three improvised hand grenades, 12 rifles with approximately 3,000 rounds of ammunition, more than 80 rocket-propelled grenades, seven RPG launchers, three dozen mortar rounds, 10 pounds of explosives and one suicide bomber's vest. The EOD team secured the explosives for safe disposal and the rifles, ammunition and mortars were turned over to ISF.

 

COALITION FORCES FIND EXPLOSIVES CACHE, DETAIN 15

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 15 suspected terrorists and destroyed a cache of explosives during operations Thursday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq. Coalition Forces called in an air strike near Salman Pak after they raided a house there and found a cache of mortars, dynamite and jihadist media.  They were targeting individuals known to supply foreign fighters to suicide attack cells in Baghdad.  A search of the buildings revealed no people were present, and the ground force cordoned off the area, where the explosives were safely destroyed. Information from successful operations in the last five days led Coalition Forces to three buildings in Karmah, where they targeted an al-Qaeda leader.  Near the first target, Coalition Forces found four suspected terrorists hiding outside the building and detained them.  In the other buildings, they found six more suspected terrorists.  All were detained for their alleged association with a suspected al-Qaeda emir and anti-aircraft attacks. Coalition Forces raided a building east of Ameriyah while targeting an improvised explosive device cell in the area.  Four individuals were detained for their suspected involvement in the cell. In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained a suspected terrorist who is allegedly the leader of an al-Qaeda group in the area.

 

GIANT CACHE COMPLEX, EXPLOSIVE FACTORY FOUND DURING SEARCH FOR TROOPS

CAMP STRIKER, IRAQ - Coalition troops searching for the Soldiers captured in the May 12 attack, discovered a huge weapon cache complex and an explosives factory in an isolated area between Iskandariyah and the Euphrates River Friday. After conducting a company-sized air assault into the area known as the 'fish farms' due to the prevalence of man-made ponds used to harvest fish, Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment (Strikers) discovered the complex of 13 weapons caches and a facility to prepare homemade explosives. The explosive factory contained approximately 1,000 pounds of homemade explosives stored in grain bags. The cache complex contained eight 155 mm artillery rounds, three 130 mm artillery rounds, a 120 mm artillery round, 850 mortar fuses, 7 rocket propelled grenade launchers with five sighting assemblies, 34 RPG boosters, 46 RPG warheads, 1000 12.7 mm heavy machine gun rounds,  4000 14.5 mm heavy machine gun rounds, and 200 25 mm anti-tank rounds. Also found were a 122 mm rocket, 1000 9 mm rounds, six hand grenade fuses, 17 fragmentary hand grenades, 205 30 mm anti-aircraft artillery rounds, 60 57 mm anti-aircraft artillery rounds, two 2.75 mm rockets, 215 blasting caps, 1000 small arms ammunition primers, 500 shotgun rounds, 1000 feet of detonation cord, 7400 7.62 mm machine gun rounds, a 40 mm high explosive grenade, various small arms and sub machine gun magazines, eight pre-cut lengths of wire (presumably used as IED initiators) and five former regime Iraqi army helmets. After processing the site for evidence relating to the missing Soldiers, the caches were destroyed by explosive ordnance personnel. In other developments, the 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division detained 22 individuals believed to have information in the attacks. This air assault was the 35th conducted by 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division since May 12.

 

IRAQI ARMY FINDS WEAPONS CACHES NEAR ABU GHRAIB

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Two Iraqi Army battalions found several weapons caches near Abu Ghraib, Iraq May 23. During a combined cordon and search in Abu Ghraib's Mencia area, troops from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division discovered caches near an apartment complex and in an abandoned house. The caches yielded six mortar rounds, ten AK-47 assault rifles, three PKC sniper rifles, six hand grenades, several explosives, six rocket-propelled grenade rockets, three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 10 improvised explosive devices and numerous IED-making materials. In a subsequent search on the same day, troops from the 3rd Bn., 3rd Bde., 6th IA Div., working off tips from a concerned Iraqi citizen, found an AK-47, two PKC sniper rifles and a box of PKC ammunition in a vehicle. Iraqi Security Forces are investigating to find those responsible for the caches.

 

SEVEN HOSTAGES RESCUED IN BAQOUBA

AQUBAH, Iraq - During a three-day operation in Chibernat, a village north of Baqouba, Iraqi and Coalition Forces rescued seven kidnapped victims Wednesday; and discovered more than 10 caches, reduced nine improvised explosive devices and detained 11 suspected insurgents throughout the course of the operation. Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division; and 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted the target-driven operation to eliminate the insurgents' perceived safe havens throughout the area and secure the population of Chibernat. "We continue to aggressively target the enemy, destroying the insurgents' perceived power base and depleting their supplies," said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala. "They offer nothing but death and destruction, and will be brought to justice." While clearing the neighborhood, Soldiers from Company B, 5-20 Inf. Regt., rescued seven local residents, to include an Iraqi Police captain, who were been held hostage. As the Soldiers conducted a cordon and search, they entered a house, discovering the seven hostages in a room which was locked from the outside. Approximately 100 meters from the house, the Security Forces discovered nine civilians who were killed prior to their arrival. The freed hostages were taken to the Provincial Joint Coordination Center to provide a detailed account of their experience. According to the victims, who were taken from Muqdadiya, Balad Ruz and Baqouba, insurgents associated with the Islamic State of Iraq were responsible for their kidnapping and the killing of the other nine citizens in the house. During an interview, the freed hostages said if the Soldiers would have arrived "an hour later," they would have been killed by the terrorists. Also during the cordon and search, the security forces unearthed 11 weapons caches to include rocket-propelled grenade munitions, small-arms weapon systems, approximately 200 loaded AK-47 magazines, IED-making materials, grenades, mortar rounds, and a suicide vest and belt. The detainees were transferred to a facility for further questioning.

 

AFGHAN BORDER POLICE DETAIN NANGARHAR TALIBAN LEADER

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan Border Police, advised by Coalition forces, detained a Taliban leader in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province during an operation May 24. After receiving information on the whereabouts of Sayed Gulab, a notorious Nangarhar Taliban area commander and improvised explosive device cell facilitator, ABP members quickly moved to the village of Shir Wagan and detained him.  Gulab is currently being held for questioning in a Coalition detention facility. No Afghan civilians or ABP members were injured during the successful operation.    Gulab has been responsible for emplacing IED’s in the Pachir Wa Agam district resulting in the injuries and deaths of innocent Afghan civilians and Afghan National Security Forces.  He is also known to have extensive connections with other senior Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership in Nangarhar and Pakistan.

 

IRAQI SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES KILL INSURGENT COMMANDER

BALAD - Iraqi Special Operation Forces and Coalition Forces killed Wisam Abd Adbul, also known as Wisam Abu Qadir, the suspected commander of the militia group Jaysh al-Madhi (JAM) in Basrah and his bodyguard while attempting to detain him on May 25. ISOF and Coalition Forces were manning a vehicle checkpoint when the targeted individual's vehicle approached the checkpoint. Despite signals to pull over, the targeted subject failed to do so. The ISOF fired warning rounds to disable the vehicle, but the vehicle sped forward for another 800 meters. Three individuals then exited the vehicle and aimed weapons at ISOF and Coalition Forces. The ISOF took appropriate self-defense measures, engaging two of the insurgents and killing them. The third individual, the vehicle driver, ran away. Both during and after the incident, ISOF and Coalition Forces came under attack from small-arms fire; rocket propelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices (IED). Qadir has a long history of violence in the region. He managed operations to murder and intimidate local Iraqis and is credited with ordering attacks on U.S. and Coalition Forces. He also instructed new recruits on terrorist methods as well as the construction and detonation of IEDS. Additionally, Qadir was allegedly involved in weapons trafficking, theft, the procurement of rocket propelled grenades, IEDs, and conventional explosives from terrorists in Iran.

 

MILITANT DETAINED IN AFGHANISTAN

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces detained a suspected Taliban militant in an operation early Friday against Taliban forces in Nahr Surkh district of Helmand Province.  The combined force acted on credible intelligence that led to the compound suspected of housing local Taliban fighters.  A limited firefight broke out during the operation, resulting in the deaths of three enemy fighters.  There were no civilian or coalition casualties. The detainee will be questioned as to his involvement in militant Taliban activities.

 

COALITION FORCES NAB 20 SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA TERRORISTS

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces detained 20 suspected terrorists during several raids targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq around the country Friday morning. In Baghdad, Coalition Forces raided a house looking for a suspected al-Qaeda battalion commander.  The ground force detained three suspected terrorists at the targeted location, including the alleged leader. Intelligence reports indicate he is responsible for numerous attacks in Baghdad, including assassinations, attacks on news media and attacks on the city's infrastructure. Coalition Forces detained 11 suspected terrorists in an operation southwest of Baghdad targeting al-Qaeda leadership.  One of the individuals detained is allegedly a close associate of a Libyian who facilitates the movement of foreign fighters in the area. In continuing operations to disrupt the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network in Baghdad, Coalition Forces targeted a known explosives expert associated with the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.  The individual is also known to have knowledge of explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, and was recently promoted within the network. Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists from the target location. In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists linked to an al-Qaeda weapons dealer allegedly involved in an IED network there. Two suspected terrorists were detained during a Coalition Forces raid targeting al-Qaeda leadership in Baghdad.  Ground forces found a small cache of weapons, which they safely destroyed on site.

 

ARRESTS MADE IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEARCH FOR SOLDIERS

CAMP STRIKER, IRAQ - As the search for the missing 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Soldiers continues, several arrests were made for other crimes. Soldiers from Company D, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment detained two local national males at approximately 10:20 p.m., Wednesday, believed to be responsible for a rocket attack on Patrol Base Inchon that killed an interpreter.  They were detained one kilometer from the May 12 attack site. A patrol from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment detained two Iraqi males at about 10:40 p.m. attempting to flee a house being searched eight kilometers northwest of Yusufiyah.  Found in the house was a weapons cache consisting of two AK-47s hidden in a tennis racquet case, an SKS assault rifle, 50 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, a cell phone with foreign phone numbers programmed into it and a rocket propelled grenade night sight. Soldiers from Company B, 4-31 detained three individuals near Rushdi Mullah and about 1:20 am, Thursday.  They were wanted for attacks against the Iraqi army, local civilians and Coalition Forces.

 

Technorati tags: Iraqi, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraq War, Iraq, Terrorists, Insurgents, Taliban, Military, Coalition

Cape Buffalo v. Lions v. Crocodile

AOSHQ

Something interesting happens about 3/4 of the way through. I've never seen it on any wildlife show I've ever watched.

 

 

Technorati tags: Buffalo, Lions, Crocodile, Safari, Africa, Animals, Vengence, Revenge

Where Does The Taxes From Illegal's Go? Back To The Company

So, I'm listening to Rush today. He was talking about taxes from illegal's and where it goes. Everyone would assume that it goes to the government. Rush thought the same thing. Not so says a listener. Those illegal's are using fake social security numbers. When the company sends the payroll taxes out, usually quarterly, they include the S.S. numbers of those employees. If those S.S. numbers don't exist, it gets kicked back to the company. Not only are they paying the illegal's a lower wage, but they also take out taxes, which is returned back to the company. It's like an added bonus to hire illegal's.

I have always thought and still think one of the best ways to crack down on illegal immigration is to fine the companies. Except, I don't think it should be a flat fine. A $5000 fine is nothing to Wal-Mart, but could put a small business, out of business. I think it should be a percentage of gross sales for each company, using a previous years' tax return. That way it would affect all businesses equally.

If you make companies stop hiring them, it's one less reason for them to come here.

 

Technorati tags: Illegal Immigrants, Immigration, Taxes, Government, Business, Social Security, Employment

Courts: Your Organs Belong To The Government

KIRO Seattle

SEATTLE -- If you marked "organ donation" on your driver's license, you may have given consent for something you can't imagine. Over the past year, KIRO Team 7 Investigators have repeatedly exposed how the King County Medical Examiner’s Office traded hundreds of human brains to a research lab, collecting $1.5 million along the way. Dozens of families say King County failed to get proper consent. Four sued. [...] A King County judge has just ruled that "heart-mark" allows your organs not just to be transplanted into a living person, but also your corpse donated to science. your family can't do anything to stop it. 21-year-old Jesse Smith was a proud organ donor. He signed the back of his driver’s license and told his mom that if he died, maybe he could save someone else's life. Jesse's chance came far sooner than anybody is comfortable with. [...] Within hours of Jesse's sudden cardiac death, Nancy Adams learned her son's organs could not be used for live transplant. However, what she didn't know was that his brain, liver and spleen were being removed down at the King County Medical Examiner's Morgue and mailed to an outside research company. “Our son's organs were taken without his permission and without our permission and sent to a medical research institute back in Maryland who we had never heard of.” Last year, KIRO Team 7 Investigators discovered Smith's body parts ended up at the Stanley Medical Research Institute. Jesse's entire brain was used as a "normal control" sample in a study on schizophrenia. Smith's family sued, saying King County didn't get proper consent. Their attorney, Steve Bulzomi recently spoke with Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne about the case Halsne: "Had Jesse ever expressed an interest in donating his deceased body parts for medical research?" Bulzomi: "Never. He expressed a very firm conviction that he wanted it to be used for transplantation. To help living persons. He had no contemplation of his donation being used to advance the study of mental illness.” A King County Superior Court judge now says ‘too bad.’ County attorneys successfully argued in court that Jesse Smith's " Designation as an Organ Donor on his Driver's License, authorized the donation to Stanley and "the donation of Smith's brain did not require the consent of Nancy Adams.. or anyone else." According to Bulzomi, the message is alarming. “If you've made the gift, your body is open for anybody to take your parts.” [...] As for those of you who already have that heart on your license, unless you contact the living-legacy registry to limit your organ donation, your body parts can legally be handed over to universities, science labs, even government-related research projects.

This is truly amazing. I had no idea that they could sell your body parts. I always assumed when you donated your organs, they went to a person that needed a transplant. The idea of someone playing around with my body parts doesn't sit well with me.

For those of you in the Northwest, go to living-legacy registry. For everybody else, go to donate life. You can choose your state from the drop-down menu and see if they have special provisions for organ donation.

If your state doesn't have special provisions for organ donation, next time you renew your license, choose to be a non-donor. In the event of your death, your family will be asked if your organs can be donated. At this time it can be specified how the organs are to be used.

 

Technorati tags: Organ, Donation, Drivers License, Research, Transplant, Body Parts, Living-Legacy

Torture, al-Qaeda Style

Head over to The Smoking Gun Website and see the torture manuals from al-Qaeda. If you needed any more evidence to prove we are at war with animals, there it is.

 

Technorati tags: al-Qaeda, al-Qaida, Islamic Radicals, Islam, Terrorists, Torture, War on Terror

Iran to Israel: Don't Attack Lebanon

BREITBART.COM

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's hard-line president warned Israel on Thursday that other nations in the region would "uproot" the Jewish state if it attacked Lebanon in the summer. "If you think that by bombing and assassinating Palestinian leaders you are preparing ground for new attacks on Lebanon in the summer, I am telling you that you are seriously wrong," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a rally in the city of Isfahan. "If this year you repeat the same mistake of the last year, the ocean of nations of the region will get angry and will uproot the Zionist regime."

I doubt Israel is concerned with the ranting's of the Iranian madman. They learned some hard lessons during the war with Hezbollah last year and will probably not make those mistakes again. The "ocean of nations of the region" tried once before to "uproot the Zionist regime". As for that, I have three simple words for them:

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Terrorists, Islam, Zionist, Jewish, Ahmadinejad, Hezbollah

Good News From The War On Terror 5/23

Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain two suspects, destroy IED factories in search for missing Soldiers

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained two personnel suspected of insurgent activities, while conducting an early-morning operation in search of three missing Soldiers on May 21, south of Baghdad.   The ISOF destroyed several trucks in a controlled detonation, which were fabricated as vehicle borne improvised explosive devices as well as several IED material caches.  No civilians were present during the detonation.   Iraqi and Coalition Forces received enemy-fire as they moved to their objective.   Iraqi forces returned fire and  suppressed the enemy and continued on their mission.  Weapons and ammunition were also seized at the objective from the two suspects who were detained.

 

Search nets weapons, suspects

BAGHDAD — Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., continued to find weapons caches and detain terror suspects during search operations for three missing Soldiers May 22. The 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT discovered a series of caches which contained five 57mm rocket rounds, two six-volt batteries, two spools of copper wire, two 58mm rocket rounds, a 120mm rocket round, and two complete DSHKA heavy machine guns. Batteries, artillery rounds and wire are some of the most basic materials used in the construction of improvised explosive devices. The battalion’s scout platoon discovered two AK-47s with five magazines, two ammunition vests, a hand grenade, four grenade fuses, four blasting caps, a stick of plastic explosive, an IED detonator, 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, a Kawasaki motorcycle, and over 150 homemade CDs labeled in Arabic. The caches were seized and the explosives destroyed by controlled detonation.

 

Second Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment seizes weapons, suspects in raids

BAGHDAD — The ongoing search for three Soldiers who disappeared in a May 12 attack near Yusufiyah, Iraq, continues to turn up caches of weapons and new suspects in the case. Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment conducted house-to-house searches southeast of Yusufiyah today, detaining 17 Iraqis and seizing a cache. The Soldiers found an AK-47, a 9mm pistol, five magazines, a gas mask, two bandoliers, three ammunition vests, ten magazines and five other weapons, three of which were hidden in tennis-racket cases. In another home the Soldiers found a modified cell phone, an AK-47, and another 9mm pistol, and next door, an AK-47 with an ammunition bandolier and five magazines, and in a nearby house, another bandolier, gas mask, and a bayonet. The detainees were taken to U.S. facilities for further questioning.

 

ISF, MND-B Troops Free Kidnapped Iraqi Soldier

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops freed an Iraqi soldier being held by a militia’s kidnap cell May 20 in the Rashid District of the city. Troops from 1st Battalion, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, and the “Black Lions” from Company D, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., rescued Mosher Ahmmaed Abdualrahman, during a pre-dawn cordon and search operation. “Two months of conducting combat operations with the Citadel Brigade (1-2nd Iraqi Army) have led us to develop exceptionally strong ties to our Iraqi partners,” said Lt. Col. Pat Frank, 1st Bn., 28th Inf. Regt. commander. “Finding their soldier alive was the main effort mission for the Black Lions.” The Iraqi Army soldier was abducted by a Jashya al-Mahdi kidnap cell May 17 in the Shurta neighborhood. Task Force Black Lion executed the operation, which rescued the soldier unharmed.

 

COALITION FORCES RAID SECRET CELL CACHE, DETAIN 19

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two terrorists, detained 19 suspected terrorists and uncovered a cache of Iranian money and bomb-making materials Wednesday morning in Sadr City. The individual targeted during the raid is suspected of facilitating weapons shipments from Iran to secret cell terrorist elements in Baghdad, Basrah and Maysan province. Coalition Forces searched 11 buildings during the operation.  As Coalition Forces moved to the site, four armed terrorists engaged them with small arms and automatic weapons.  The ground force, acting in self-defense toward the hostile threat, returned fire and confirmed two of the four terrorists were killed. As they continued to search the buildings, Coalition Forces found a large quantity of Iranian money, more than $6,000 in U.S. money and improvised explosive device-making materials.

 

FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED; TIED TO IED PRODUCTION

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed six terrorists in related raids targeting senior leaders of an al-Qaeda suicide attack cell and detained 23 others in operations around Iraq Wednesday morning. Based on intelligence gathered from a successful raid Apr. 11, Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist leader southeast of Baghdad.  As the ground force approached the objective, they encountered two armed men, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest.  Coalition Forces took appropriate self-defense measures in response to the hostile threat and engaged the two armed terrorists, killing them. One of the terrorists is believed to be an al-Qaeda regional leader, responsible for al-Qaeda personnel and operations in the Arab Jabour area, as well as coordinating foreign fighters and suicide attacks. In a related operation northwest of Taji, Coalition Forces targeted an individual suspected of supplying foreign fighters for suicide attacks.  Ground forces on the scene received small arms fire from four terrorists who took cover behind a bus.  Coalition Forces returned fire in self-defense and killed the four terrorists. When they searched the building, Coalition Forces found weapons and detained one suspected terrorist for his involvement with the al-Qaeda cell. In Mosul, Coalition Forces raided six buildings in an operation targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda network.  The ground force detained five suspected terrorists, including an alleged cell leader with subordinate groups that conduct assassinations and attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces. In three coordinated raids near Karmah targeting al-Qaeda cells, Coalition Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists, including an alleged cell leader in the area. Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists in Fallujah for their alleged direct ties to a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell there.

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Military, Coalition, Iraqi, Terrorists, Insurgents, al-Qaeda, al-Qaida

Amnesty International And The Silly Little Poll

While perusing the Drudge Report tonight, I caught a link for Amnesty International. It was about a poll they were conducting on their website.

Here's a screencap of the webpage:

                                                    (click to enlarge)

Yes, as you can see, I voted for Hobgoblin. He led the poll with 48% followed by Darth Vader at 36% and then Dick Cheney at 16%.

No matter who you vote for, you get the following message:

All joking aside, the U.S. government, once perceived as a beacon of hope and justice, no longer leads the world on human rights. The continuing allegations of U.S. torture, use of secret prisons, ghost detainees, and indefinite and unconstitutional detention at Guantanamo calls into question the U.S. commitment to fight torture and adhere to international law. The U.S. now lacks the credibility needed to improve human rights abroad. By violating some international laws, the United States undermines all international law and promotes the idea to other countries that some laws are acceptable to ignore in the pursuit of "security."

I sent Amnesty International this email after I saw this poll:

After finding your poll linked at Drudge Report, "Whose got the worst human rights record". I am now convinced that your useless little organization has no interest in REAL human rights violations. With the options of the Hobgoblin, Darth Vader, or Dick Cheney, it's obvious you have an agenda besides human rights violations. Your stupid poll didn't include anything about Darfur, where thousands of Christians have been slaughtered. Nor does it mention almost all the Middle-Eastern countries and the abuses of women and killing of innocents by using them as human shields. To name of few of those, Fatah, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, etc., all of which receive monies from state sponsors of terrorism (Iran, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian territory). At least it makes me happy to see "The Hobgoblin" has the worst human rights record with 48% (which I voted for), followed by Darth Vader with 36%.

You can email Amnesty International here: aimember@aiusa.org. Feel free to copy and paste the above email if you wish.

 

Technorati tags: Amnesty International, Human Rights, Liberal, Bias, Agenda, Cheney

Bodies Of All Three Kidnapped Soldiers Found

IraqSlogger

Babel, May 23, (VOI) - Iraqi police forces in Babel province found on Wednesday two bodies believed to belong to two of the kidnapped U.S. soldiers near al-Furat river in al-Musayab region, 50 km northwest of Hilla, a police source said. "Two bodies in U.S. uniform were found by Babel police forces near al-Furat river. They bore signs of torture," the source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). "The police handed the bodies to the U.S. army and cordoned off the area," he also said. No comment was available from the U.S. army on the incident. A police source had said earlier that police forces in Babel province found a body of a U.S. soldier who was kidnapped last week near al-Musayab river. "Babel police forces today found a body, believed to belong to one of the three U.S. soldiers who were kidnapped last week in al-Mahmodiya region, south of Baghdad," the source, who asked not to be named, told the (VOI).

Refer to the previous post about my thoughts. At least they weren't beheaded.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Military, Terrorists, Insurgents

Missing Soldier Found In Euphrates River

Yahoo! News

BAGHDAD - Iraqi police found the body of a man who was wearing what appeared to be a U.S. military uniform and had a tattoo on his left hand floating in the Euphrates River south of Baghdad on Wednesday morning. One Iraqi official said the body was that of an American soldier. The man had been shot in the head and chest, Babil police Capt. Muthana Khalid said. He said Iraqi police turned the body over the U.S. forces. The discovery of the body in Musayyib, about 40 miles south of Baghdad in Babil Province, came as U.S. troops and Iraqi forces continued their massive search for the three soldiers abducted May 12 in an ambush on their patrol near Mahmoudiya, about 20 miles south of Baghdad. The U.S. military said in an e-mail that it was looking into the report, but could not confirm it. The report of the body found was confirmed by a senior Iraqi army officer in the Babil area. He told The Associated Press that the body found in the river was that of an American soldier. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

I said before that there should be a trail of destruction while we search for those missing soldiers. Obviously something is wrong if our enemies do not fear repercussions from doing something like this. I'm guessing all the talk about timelines and redeployments have emboldened our enemies.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Terrorists, Insurgents, Military

Good News From The War On Terror 5/22

15 AL-QAEDA SUSPECTS DETAINED IN COALITION RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 15 suspected terrorists, including two alleged terrorist cell leaders, during raids around Iraq Tuesday morning targeting the al-Qaeda network. In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists, including an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader responsible for identifying Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police targets, and directing attacks against them. Using information from a successful raid May 21, Coalition Forces targeted associates of a suspected terrorist commander in Baghdad.  Two individuals were detained for their alleged involvement in the terrorist group, which conducts assassinations and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks. Coalition Forces conducted two coordinated operations in Anbar province, where they detained 10 suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement in the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in the area.

 

12 IRAQI HOSTAGES FREED IN FOLLOW-ON OPERATION

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces freed 12 Iraqis who were held captive and beaten by terrorists during a raid Tuesday morning on a site northeast of Karmah targeted for its ties to another terrorist detention facility. After five Iraqi hostages were freed May 21, intelligence reports indicated two buildings were being used for kidnappings and murders.  As Coalition Forces approached the first building, armed men engaged them with small arms fire.  In an appropriate response to the hostile threat from an organized force, ground forces returned fire and called in air support.  Five terrorists were killed by the ground forces and four were killed in an air strike. Coalition Forces then secured the building and discovered 12 Iraqis held captive in a locked room, three of whom appeared to have been beaten.  The ground force evacuated the 12 individuals and provided treatment for their injuries.  The hostages will be turned over to their respective tribal leaders for repatriation. The first building also contained a cache of weapons, including two rocket-propelled grenades, a sub-machine gun, rifles and 19 military-style assault vests.  The weapons were safely destroyed on site.  In the second building, Coalition Forces found stolen goods and detained three suspected terrorists there for their alleged ties to the kidnapping network.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Iraqi, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Military, Coalition, Terrorists, Insurgents, Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaida

Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran

The Blotter

The CIA has received secret presidential approval to mount a covert "black" operation to destabilize the Iranian government, current and former officials in the intelligence community tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, say President Bush has signed a "nonlethal presidential finding" that puts into motion a CIA plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran's currency and international financial transactions.

Why do they think this is news? Of course we have cover operations against Iran. They commit acts of war daily against us in Iraq, they're state sponsors of terror, they're developing nuclear weapons, and they have stated several times they plan to wipe Israel off the map.

We've been enabling a proxy war with Iran for some time now. Of course we're using terrorists, but whatever works. The goal is to destabilize the regime. This is just phase two of that goal. If this doesn't work, a blockade may be in order. I'm sure this isn't the only place we have covert action taking place either.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, War on Terror, CIA, Covert, Iranian, Terrorist, State Sponsor, Terror, Bush, White House

Dems Surrender Again

But in a good way.

WASHINGTON, May 22 — Congressional Democrats relented today on their insistence that a war spending measure sought by President Bush also set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq. The decision to back down, described by senior lawmakers and aides, was a wrenching reversal for some Democrats, who saw their election triumph as a call to force an end to the war. A Democratic effort to include timelines prompted Mr. Bush’s veto of the original bill last month, producing a political impasse. “We don’t have a veto-proof Congress,” said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader. [...] The concession to the president was proving so difficult for the Democratic leadership that by this afternoon, the lawmakers had not yet publicly acknowledged that the timelines would disappear. House Democrats were preparing to advance two separate measures, to enable antiwar lawmakers to support popular domestic spending but not the money for the war. House Democrats were to review the proposal later this evening, but lawmakers were already predicting that many would not support the war spending.

Well, they finally did something right. They were playing politics with our military's lives. Their little game already set things back in Iraq. The military had to pull troops off training the Iraqi police and military in order to conserve money. Then in a few months those same surrender-monkey Democrats will be boasting about how the Iraqi forces had met training guidelines.

 

Technorati tags: Democrats, surrender-monkeys, Defeatocrats, Military, Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Appropriations, Senate, Politics

Democrats Starring In "The Wizard Of Oz"

From QubeTv

 

Technorati tags: Democrats, Surrender Monkeys, Defeatocrats, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Biden, Schumer, Reid, Senate, Wizard of Oz

Man Trying To Kill Girlfriend Killed By Train

Jerusalem Post

A man trying to kill his girlfriend by leaving her in a car parked on railroad tracks was himself killed when a commuter train launched the vehicle into him as he tried to flee, police said. The girlfriend survived. The man drove the car in front of a group of other vehicles stopped at a railroad crossing Monday in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Sunland, Officer Mike Lopez said. The driver, who was seen arguing with his girlfriend, parked the car on the tracks and jumped out, leaving her behind, Lopez said. A northbound Metrolink train hit the rear of the car, hurling it into the man. The girlfriend was taken to the hospital, where she was in stable condition, Lopez said.

Excuse me while I snicker.

 

Technorati tags: Murder, Girlfriend, Train, Idiot, Railroad

CCCI Convicts 37: Sentences 8 To Life, 3 To 30 Years Imprisonment

MNF-I

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) convicted 37 individuals from May 6 - May 12 for violations of the Iraqi Terrorist Law, Penal Code and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Orders enforced by the Iraqi judiciary.  Six Iraqi’s were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the CCCI May 8 for violating Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order 3/2003 for possessing illegal weapons.  Convicted were:  Khalid Uthman Ahmad, 22; Thamir Abbas Ahmad, 23; Muthana Jamil Hamid, 33; Ali Fayah Midkur, 24; Khalid Abid Mahmud, 23; and Mahmoud Mohammed Hayes Al Dolaimi, 34; all from Iraq. The six were part of a 20-person Al Qaeda terrorist group that attacked Multi-National Forces from the 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Feb. 27 in Sumalat.  Soldiers from the 2/5 killed six Al Qaeda in the attack and captured seven – including the six convicted.  The seventh captured terrorist died of wounds sustained from the firefight.  A Sumalat resident positively identified the six terrorists, and reported that the group had recently arrived to the area and had taken over three houses and a barn.  The Soldiers searched those buildings and discovered a large weapons cache that included surface to air missiles, rockets, rocket propelled grenade launchers, numerous automatic machine guns, ammunition and improvised explosive devise-making materials. The Central Criminal Court also convicted Majid Frayhan Hewal, 43, of Iraq, May 8 for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Majid was apprehended by Soldiers from the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division May 9, 2006 after the Soldiers searched his dump truck in North Baghdad and found twenty-eight 107mm Katyusha Rockets, 82 anti-personnel land mines, 43 rocket-propelled grenades, an RPG launcher, two complete mortar systems, mortar systems and  improvised explosive device components. Nasir Taha Abbas, 19, was also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment May 9 by the CCCI for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons.  Nasir was captured Jan. 27 by I Marine Expeditionary Force units in Modiq, near Ramadi while he was attempting to adjust the position of an improvised explosive device set near a local mosque.  After Nasir’s capture, IED activity in the area stopped for more than 30 days. The Central Court convicted and sentenced two Iraqis to 30 years imprisonment for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons.  Ahmed Mohamad Saibi Al Shujairi, 24, was captured by units from the 1st Cavalry Division Jan. 9 and Mohammed Sabee Hamadi Al Mousawi, 62, was caputed by 1st Cavalry units Jan. 19.  The individuals were captured as a result of a raid on Mohammed’s house in Dora after being informed the house was being used as an improvised explosive device factory.  Ahmed was captured during the raid on the home and Mohammed was captured during a later search of the area.  During the raid, 1st Cavalry Soldiers found two complete IEDs, blasting caps, electronic components, detonation cord, boat batteries, IED shrapnel ball bearings and nails, timers and IED initiators during the raid.  Soldiers also found a vehicle rigged as a Vehicle Borne IED, 23 artillery shells, C4 explosives and numerous grenades. Harbi Thabit Hassun, 26, of Iraq, was convicted and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment May 9 by the CCCI for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons.  Harbi was captured Jan. 23 in his home in Al Dora by Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 89th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division.  During a search of Harbi’s house, Soldiers found two AK 47 rifles, two grenades, 400 Dragonov sniper rifle rounds, and hundreds of AK 47 rounds.  The Soldiers found a mortar firing tube that smelled like it had just been fired and a mortar firing bipod in Harbi’s vehicle.  Harbi tested positive for explosives during an X-spray test.  The CCCI also convicted and sentenced Khalid Adwan Thamer, 28, to 20 years imprisonment May 6 for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons.  Khalid was captured Feb. 23 by 1st Cavalry units in Mugdadijah at a weapons cache site. Faiz Marzuq Al-Mutayri, 24, an Iraqi with Saudi Arabian citizenship, was convicted and sentenced by the CCCI May 8 to 16 years imprisonment for violating Article 10/1 of the Iraqi passport laws.  Faiz was apprehended Jan. 25, 2006 and he admitted he entered Iraq unlawfully to wage war against the Iraqi people and Multi-National Forces. The Central Criminal Court also convicted 12 Iraqis May 7 - 9 for violating CPA Order 3/2003 and sentenced each to 15 years imprisonment.  Two other Iraqis were convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment – one for violating Article 289 of the Iraqi Penal Code for using or taking advantage of someone else’s legal documents and the other for violating CPA Order 3/2003. Eight Iraqi’s were convicted of violating CPA Order 3/2003.  Six were sentenced to six years imprisonment and two were sentenced to two years imprisonment.  One Iraq was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for violating Article 292 and 298 of the Iraqi Penal Code for forging a fake identification card. Since its establishment under an amendment to CPA Order 13, in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 2,143 trials for suspected criminals apprehended by Coalition Forces.  The Iraqi Court proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,858 individuals with sentences ranging from imprisonment to death.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Terrorists, Insurgents, Central Criminal Court, Iraqi

Good News From The War On Terror 5/21

Paratroopers find seven IEDs

KALSU, Iraq — Paratroopers found and destroyed seven improvised explosive devices in the northern Babil province, south of Baghdad, Sunday. While conducting security patrols in the area, the paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division were able to find the IEDs before they could be used against Coalition Forces or Iraqi Security Forces, helping to secure the region. All of the devices were either destroyed in place or taken by explosive ordnance disposal teams for further investigation prior to destruction.

 

Locals stash dangerous cache, rid streets of weapons, munitions

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division discovered a large weapons cache during a security patrol May 16. The cache was found in eastern Baghdad. To their surprise, the cache was not found in an insurgents hiding area, but in a large container left by Coalition Forces to be used as an amnesty box.  The container was empty when the unit departed the area, and local residents started stock-piling munitions they found on the streets or within their neighborhood. Inside the container Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment, based out of Fort Carson, Colo., found two anti-tank mines, one anti-personnel mine, five rocket-propelled grenades, three 125mm artillery rounds, two 155mm artillery rounds, one 152mm round, one 122mm round; three 120mm mortar rounds; three 82mm mortar rounds, six 60mm mortar rounds, one rifle grenade, one 57mm rocket, one recoilless rifle round, one improvised explosive device and assortment of small arms ammunition and grenades.

 

Soldiers kill insurgent and seize deadly weapon

AL TARAQ, Iraq – Coalition Forces took an insurgent and his weapon off the streets of Al Taraq, Iraq during a combat operation May 19. Soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y.’s, 1st Platoon, Company A, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) thwarted a possible sniper attack while looking for evidence of three missing U.S. Soldiers who were abducted by insurgents May 12.

 

MND-B Soldiers find sizeable cache, detain one suspect near Al Hamdanyia

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers found a large weapons cache and detained one suspect May 19 near Al Hamdanyia, Iraq. While on a patrol, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment discovered a component often used for improvised explosive devices and traced it to a house which the troops subsequently searched. During the search, they uncovered the weapons cache. A suspect was found with the cache and detained.  The find yielded two AK-47 assault rifles, 1,000 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, several magazines, a video camera, six propane tanks and many components used in the making of roadside bombs. An hour after finding the cache, the troops also found an IED near the site.  The suspect is being held for further questioning.

 

Iraqi Army Forces detain 16 suspected Al Qaeda terrorists near Samarra

BALAD, Iraq  – Iraqi Army Forces detained 16 members of an alleged terrorist cell during early morning raids in Samarra May 20. The targeted individuals are alleged to be members of an Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) foreign fighter cell which is involved in anti-Iraq forces training activities in the Samarra area. Iraqi Forces seized a number of weapons and other materials including: •Two sniper rifles •One RPG with various rockets •Four AK-47 Assault Rifles •One 9mm pistol •60 ammunition magazines •Six cell phones •Body armor •ID cards The interdiction of the terror cells should result in a reduction of attacks and illegal checkpoints against Coalition and Iraqi Forces as well as residents in the area. No Iraqi or Coalition Forces were injured during this operation. Coalition Forces served as advisors during this operation.

 

3 SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA CELL LEADERS, 9 OTHERS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured three suspected al-Qaeda cell leaders during raids Monday morning in continued operations to thwart terrorist attacks in Iraq. Coalition Forces raided a building in western Baghdad searching for leaders within the al-Qaeda in Iraq network. The ground force detained three suspected terrorists, one of whom is allegedly a commander of a group that conducts assassinations and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks in the capital city. A suspected commander of an IED cell in Mosul and an alleged senior cell leader there were detained during Coalition Forces operations in the area.  Intelligence reports also indicate the alleged senior cell leader formerly led a sniper cell. Acting on information from successful raids on May 15, Coalition Forces targeted an area northeast of Karmah to further disrupt the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader network there.  Four individuals with suspected ties to the network were detained in the raid. Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists south of Fallujah for their alleged involvement with a regional al-Qaeda in Iraq commander.

 

FIVE IRAQI HOSTAGES FREED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Five Iraqis who were held captive and tortured by terrorists were freed Monday morning during a Coalition Forces raid on the site where they were imprisoned. Coalition Forces targeted the building northeast of Karmah during continued operations to disrupt the al-Qaeda network operating in the area.  After a thorough search of the building, ground forces found a padlocked room.  Inside were four men and a boy who had been kidnapped and severely beaten with chains, cables and hoses.  The four captives also showed signs of torture, and the boy stated the terrorists had hooked electrical wires to his tongue and shocked him. Coalition Forces evacuated the five individuals and provided treatment for their injuries.  The hostages indicated their captors were foreign fighters who spoke with different accents.  The hostages, who are from different tribes, will be turned over to their respective tribal leaders for repatriation.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq war, War on Terror, Military, Terrorists, Insurgents, Al-Qaeda, Coalition

Edwards Charges $55,000 To Speak To UC Davis Students About Poverty

SFGate.com

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who as a Democratic presidential candidate recently proposed an educational policy that urged "every financial barrier" be removed for American kids who want to go to college, has been going to college himself -- as a high paid speaker, his financial records show. The candidate charged a whopping $55,000 to speak at to a crowd of 1,787 the taxpayer-funded University of California at Davis on Jan. 9, 2006 last year, Joe Martin, the public relations officer for the campus' Mondavi Center confirmed Monday.

And how many scholarships could be available to low-income students for $55,000? What a jackass. What do you expect for someone who champions the poor, yet worked for a hedge fund that specialized in predatory lending.

 

Technorati tags: Edwards, Poverty, Students, Presidential Candidate, Democrat, UC Davis, College, University, 55, 000, Speaking

Things Worth Knowing About Hillary Clinton Before 2008

There's things you know (Whitewater, Travelgate) and some you don't (Ethnic slurs, Cattle futures, Donations from drug smugglers)

There's too much to list. Read it all here

 

Technorati tags: Hillary Clinton, Presidential Candidate, 2008, Travelgate, Whitewater, Cattle Futures, Ethnic Slurs, Indictments, Lying, Drug Smugglers

Religious Quacks Urge Action On Global Warming

Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders are urging President George W. Bush and Congress to take action against global warming, declaring that the changing climate is a "moral and spiritual issue." In an open letter to be published on Tuesday, more than 20 religious groups urged U.S. leaders to limit greenhouse gas emissions and invest in renewable energy sources. "Global warming is real, it is human-induced and we have the responsibility to act," says the letter, which will run in Roll Call and the Politico, two Capitol Hill newspapers. "We are mobilizing a religious force that will persuade our legislators to take immediate action to curb greenhouse gases," it says. The letter is signed by top officials of the National Council of Churches, the Islamic Society of North America and the political arm of the Reform branch of Judaism. Top officials from several mainline Christian denominations, including the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church and Alliance of Baptists also signed the letter, along with leaders of regional organizations and individual churches.

This is why I no longer consider myself any religious denomination. I used to consider myself a Catholic. This is almost as stupid as when the Pope said, in reference to the border fence, that there should be no barriers to people. Last I knew, everyone was not permitted into heaven. You have to follow God's rules before you get into heaven, much like how we expect people to follow our rules for entering into the United States.

 

Technorati tags: Religion, Global Warming, Climate Change, Christian, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Islam, Muslim, Jewish

Iran's Secret Plan For Summer Offensive To Force US Out Of Iraq

The Guardian

Iran is secretly forging ties with al-Qaida elements and Sunni Arab militias in Iraq in preparation for a summer showdown with coalition forces intended to tip a wavering US Congress into voting for full military withdrawal, US officials say. "Iran is fighting a proxy war in Iraq and it's a very dangerous course for them to be following. They are already committing daily acts of war against US and British forces," a senior US official in Baghdad warned. "They [Iran] are behind a lot of high-profile attacks meant to undermine US will and British will, such as the rocket attacks on Basra palace and the Green Zone [in Baghdad]. The attacks are directed by the Revolutionary Guard who are connected right to the top [of the Iranian government]." The official said US commanders were bracing for a nationwide, Iranian-orchestrated summer offensive, linking al-Qaida and Sunni insurgents to Tehran's Shia militia allies, that Iran hoped would trigger a political mutiny in Washington and a US retreat. "We expect that al-Qaida and Iran will both attempt to increase the propaganda and increase the violence prior to Petraeus's report in September" [when the US commander General David Petraeus will report to Congress on President George Bush's controversial, six-month security "surge" of 30,000 troop reinforcements], the official said.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, United States, Congress, Petraeus, Revolutionary Guard, Al-Qaeda, Qaida, Sunni, Shi'ite, Proxy War, Coalition

Immigration Bill Put On Hold

Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON - Senate leaders agreed Monday that they would wait until June to take final action on a bipartisan plan to give millions of unlawful immigrants legal status. The measure, which also tightens border security and workplace enforcement measures, unites a group of influential liberals, centrists and conservatives and has White House backing, but it has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. In a nod to that opposition, Senate leaders won't seek to complete it before a hoped-for Memorial Day deadline. "It would be to the best interests of the Senate ... that we not try to finish this bill this week," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid D-Nev., as the chamber began debate on the volatile issue. "I think we could, but I'm afraid the conclusion wouldn't be anything that anyone wanted." The bipartisan compromise cleared its first hurdle Monday with a bipartisan Senate vote to begin debate on a separate immigration measure. Still, it faces significant obstacles as lawmakers seek dozens of modifications to its key elements. Republicans want to make the bill tougher on the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Democrats want to change a new temporary worker program and reorder priorities in a merit-based system for future immigration that weights employability over family ties.

I'm guessing this is more of a political ploy than an effort to work things out. In a few months they're probably hoping people forget about it. They will have a late night vote on it and when people wake up the next morning they realize they have just been screwed.

 

Technorati tags: Immigration, Senate, Congress, White House, Amnesty, Pardon

Sen. Jeff Sessions: Immigration Bill Is Worse Than You Think

HumanEvents.com

I am going to take some time tonight to inform my colleagues about some of the problems with the legislation before us. It is worse than you think, colleagues. The legislation has an incredible number of problems with it. Some, as I will point out tonight, can only be considered deliberate. Whereas on the one hand it has nice words with good sounding phrases in it to do good things, on the second hand it completely eviscerates that, oftentimes in a way that only the most careful reading by a good lawyer would discover. So I feel like I have to fulfill my duty. I was on the Judiciary Committee. We went into this. We tried to monitor it and study it and actually read this 614-page bill, and I have a responsibility and I am going to fulfill my responsibility. I think the things I am saying tonight ought to disturb people. They ought to be unhappy about it. It ought to make them consider whether they want to vote for this piece of legislation that, in my opinion, should never, ever become law.

Sen. Sessions has a lot more to say about this immigration bill. You can read all of it here.

 

Technorati tags: Immigration, Amnesty, Congress, White House, President, Jeff, Sessions

Good News From The War On Terror 5/19-5/20

COALITION FORCES DETAIN NINE IN SEARCH FOR MISSING SOLDIERS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 11 individuals during operations Friday and Saturday, including nine suspected of involvement in the May 12 kidnapping of three U.S. Soldiers. Coalition Forces continued to follow tips and information leads in the disappearance of three U.S. Soldiers, raiding a building near Amiriyah Saturday morning.  During the raid, Coalition Forces detained nine individuals suspected of involvement in the kidnappings. Friday, intelligence reports led Coalition Forces to a site in Baqubah where they detained two individuals allegedly associated with the command network of al-Qaeda in Iraq. In other operations Saturday morning, Coalition Forces discovered two weapons caches.  One cache south of Baghdad contained weapons, magazines and assault vests, and another northeast of Habbiniyah housed eight rockets.  The weapons were safely destroyed on site.

 

Iraqi Forces detain alleged leader of terrorist group in Salah Din Province

BALAD – Acting on tips received from the local population, Iraqi Forces on May 18 detained the alleged leader of an Al-Qaeda affiliate group in Salah Din Province. Iraqi forces also detained eight other suspicious individuals during the operation. Iraqi Forces also seized weapons and materials used in making improvised explosive devices (IED). This operation is aimed at disrupting terrorist networks in Salah Din Province. Iraqi Forces conducted the search with Coalition Forces acting as advisors. No Iraqi or Coalition Forces were injured during this operation.

 

Terrorist safe house destroyed in southern Baghdad

BAGHDAD –Multi-National Division Baghdad forces launched a precision strike against an abandoned building being used by terrorist forces as a safe house and weapons cache site in southern Baghdad May 19. The house, located in the area of Radwaniyah, was destroyed by aircraft-delivered precision munitions in a late-morning attack. MND-B and Iraqi Security Forces cordoned off the area to prevent any casualties from occurring as the result of collateral damage. In recent weeks, multiple caches of munitions and bomb-making materials had been found on the premises, and MND-B troops obtained information from local nationals that Al Qaeda of Iraq (AQI) was using the building as a safe house for operatives. Additionally, a blue tanker truck that had been rigged as a vehicular bomb had been discovered parked outside the house and was disposed of before it could be used against the populace or coalition forces.

 

Coalition and Iraqi Forces knock enemy off balance during Operation Harris Ba’sil

CAMP RIPPER, AL ASAD, Iraq –  Regimental Combat Team 2 and elements of the Iraqi Army’s 7th Division completed Operation Harris Ba’sil after eight weeks of interdicting and disrupting enemy routes and safe havens outside of the major cities of the Euphrates River valley in western al Anbar province. The operation, dubbed “Valiant Guardian”, involved nearly 4,000 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors covering most of the 30,000 square miles of RCT-2’s operating area. “We uncovered over 250 caches, arrested over 250 suspected insurgents and discovered over 100 improvised explosive devices,” said Lt. Col. Michael Manning, operations officer for RCT-2. “We clearly surprised them, the number of caches and detainees attest to that but more importantly, we let the enemy know that they can’t hide from us.” This marked the first large scale operation for RCT-2 this year, supporting Multi National Force - Iraq’s Operation Farhd al Qanoon and utilizing the surge battalions sent to the Anbar Province. RCT-2’s operating area stretches from the Syrian border city of Al Qa’im down to the town of Hit, located northwest of Ramadi.

 

8 TERRORISTS KILLED, 34 DETAINED IN OVERNIGHT RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists and detained 34 suspected terrorists during operations Sunday morning to disrupt the al-Qaeda command network. Six terrorists were killed northeast of Karmah during continued Coalition operations to disrupt the al-Qaeda senior leader network.  As Coalition Forces advanced toward a targeted building, the six terrorists emerged from a nearby vehicle, armed with automatic weapons and military-style assault vests.  Coalition Forces, perceiving a hostile threat from an organized force, engaged the six men with an air strike, killing them. Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists within the targeted building for their alleged ties to al-Qaeda senior leaders. Coalition Forces approached a target southwest of Baghdad and were blocked by two armed men in tactical positions near the objective.  Coalition Forces perceived a hostile threat and reacted appropriately, engaging the two terrorists and killing them. Ground forces proceeded to secure the building and detained 14 individuals suspected of ties to al-Qaeda.  At two other locations southeast of Fallujah, Coalition Forces detained 16 individuals suspected of being tied to the same network.

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Iraq War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Military, Coalition, Terrorists, Insurgents