Good News From The War On Terror 11/20-21

Coalition forces find detention facility and weapons cache; 12 killed, including senior Mosul al-Qaeda leader, five detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 12 terrorists, detained five suspects and found two bodies Sunday and Monday during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks along the Tigris River Valley in Iraq. During coordinated operations east of Samarra, Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq propaganda operations and several senior terrorist leaders. As the ground force approached the target area, they were immediately engaged by armed men. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft, who engaged the enemy, killing five terrorists. During the firefight, several armed men maneuvered inside a nearby building and continued firing on Coalition forces. The ground force returned fire in self-defense, killing five terrorists. Upon further investigation, the ground force discovered an al-Qaeda in Iraq detention facility, which contained the bodies of two additional men bound in shackles and believed to have been executed prior to Coalition forces’ arrival. Information on the individuals held in the detention facility is not available at this time. Coalition forces also found suicide vests on three of the killed terrorists and a weapons cache, including rocket propelled grenades, rockets and anti-aircraft weapons. Coalition forces detained one suspect during the operation. During operations In Mosul, Coalition forces killed a wanted individual believed to have been a senior leader in Mosul's terrorist security network. Reports indicate the wanted individual planned attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces, which included multiple suicide car-bombing attacks.  Reports also indicate he purchased weapons and explosives for the terrorist network. As Coalition forces approached the target building, an armed man emerged. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged, killing the terrorist, who was later identified as the wanted individual by one of the building’s occupants. Two suspects were also detained during the operation. Coalition forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq car-bombing network facilitator during operations south of Baghdad late Sunday. Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft to engage a vehicle associated with the targeted individual. The vehicle was safely destroyed and Coalition forces assessed one terrorist was killed by the precision air strike. In another operation south of Baghdad, Coalition forces detained two suspects while targeting members of al-Qaeda in Iraq in Arab Jabour believed to be responsible for attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces.

 

Coalition forces target al-Qaeda foreign terrorist facilitators, financier, courier and propagandist; five killed, 11 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 11 suspects late Sunday through Tuesday during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq. Southwest of Baqubah, Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq and foreign terrorist facilitators during a 24-hour operation Sunday and Monday. Coalition forces observed several men maneuvering toward their position and, perceiving hostile intent, called for supporting aircraft to engage the men, killing four terrorists. Coalition partners in the area discovered weapons, including missiles and grenades, ammunition and an improvised explosive device. Coalition forces conducted operations Monday and Tuesday in Rabiyah and northern Samarra. During the operation northwest of Samarra, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual while targeting al-Qaeda financial and courier operations. The captured individual is believed to be associated with propaganda operations and senior terrorist leaders. During the operation, Coalition forces saw one individual maneuver into the palm groves. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force called for supporting aircraft to engage, killing the terrorist. Coalition forces detained three suspects, in addition to the wanted individual. North of Samarra, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a courier for senior al-Qaeda leaders. During the operation, one suspect received minor wounds. He received medical care on site before being detained by Coalition forces. In addition to the wanted individual and the wounded suspect, the ground force detained two suspects without incident. During the operation in Rabiyah Monday, Coalition forces captured an alleged former al-Qaeda in Iraq leader believed to be a planner of car-bombing attacks in Mosul. Coalition forces detained two other suspects, in addition to the wanted individual.

 

MND-B troops capture explosively formed penetrators, rocket cache

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops captured two individuals believed to be part of a terrorist cell and a cache of explosively formed penetrators, rockets and other munitions in southern Baghdad Nov. 17. Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment “Black Lions,” 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, conducted the successful operation after several individuals were observed fleeing from a suspected point of origin of a rocket attack in the Aamel neighborhood of West Rashid. They were tracked to a house and immediately detained. A subsequent search of the building revealed the sizeable cache. Confiscated by troops assigned to Attack Company were six complete EFPs, three 107mm Iranian-made rockets, more than 30 mortar rounds of various calibers, 12 57mm projectiles and other explosives and bomb-making materials. The suspects are being held for further questioning. Soldiers assigned to the 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment “Tuskers,” working closely with Iraqi Security Volunteers in the Saydiyah neighborhood of West Rashid, seized four separate caches of weapons and explosives after receiving tips from area resident Nov. 18. The troops seized a complete 82mm mortar system, more than 40 pounds of homemade explosives and several AK-47 assault rifles and pistols.

 

Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 7 in overnight operations

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured five suspected terrorists and two extremists Nov. 18 in three separate operations targeting illegal cells operating within Iraq. Iraqi and U.S. Forces disrupted al-Qaeda in Iraq activity in the Samarra and Tikrit areas, targeting individuals responsible for small-arms fire attacks and multiple improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. Five terrorist suspects, alleged to be part of an improvised explosive device cell, were detained. The 8th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. Forces also targeted illegal activity near Diwaniyah, specifically an extremist cell believed to be involved in several improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces.  Also targeted were extremists who are believed to be responsible for sniper attacks, improvised explosive device emplacement and convoy ambushes in Diwaniyah. Two suspected extremists were detained during operations there.

 

Six killed, 10 detained as Coalition forces target al-Qaeda leadership, foreign terrorist facilitators

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 10 suspects Tuesday and Wednesday during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in central and northern Iraq. Coalition forces killed two wanted terrorists during operations Tuesday south of Baghdad.  Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to the individuals’ location, and they called supporting aircraft to engage. An air strike was conducted, killing the two terrorists, who were reported to be leaders in the Arab Jabour region, responsible for numerous attacks on Coalition forces and maintaining weapons caches. During the operation, Coalition forces detained six suspects and destroyed one vehicle. Coalition forces killed two wanted terrorists during operations Wednesday north of Hawija. As the ground forces approached the target area they called for the building’s occupants to come out, but they did not comply. The individuals were armed and attempted to fire on Coalition forces. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged, killing four terrorists, including the two wanted individuals.  Reports indicate the wanted individuals killed were an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in Kirkuk and the car-bombing leader for the city. Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during operations west of Kirkuk while targeting weapons and foreign facilitators. The wanted individual was associated with acquiring weapons and materials for attacks on Coalition forces and smuggling foreign terrorists into the region. Coalition forces approached the target building and called for the building’s occupants to come out and they complied. The ground force detained four suspects without incident, including the wanted individual who identified himself to Coalition forces.

 

Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 6 in separate operations

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured six extremists Nov. 19 in early morning raids. In Rahmaniya, Iraqi Army Scouts, along with U.S. Special Forces, conducted a cordon and search operation targeting five extremists believed to be part of an improvised explosive device and weapons facilitation cell that has attacked Iraqi and U.S. Special Forces. All five extremists were detained during the raid. In a separate operation, the Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics team and U.S. Special Forces detained one extremist suspected of being part of a cell responsible for attacking U.S. facilities through indirect fire, weapons smuggling and conducting explosively formed penetrator attacks against Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces in Hillah.

 

Iraqi Security Forces detain 81 suspected extremists, confiscate weapons caches

CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, assisted by Coalition Forces, detained 81 suspected extremists and confiscated several weapons caches in Diwaniyah, Iraq, during Operation Lion Pounce Nov. 17 to 19. Maj. Gen. Othman Ali Farhood, 8th Iraqi Army Div. Commander, outlined the successes of Lion Pounce in a press conference at Camp Echo, Iraq, Nov. 19. He further highlighted the IA’s success by stating there have been no casualties or equipment damage associated with the operation to date. Maj. Gen. Tadeusz Buk, Multi-National Division – Central South Commander, said Operation Lion Pounce was the first large-scale operation led by an Iraqi Army general (Farrod), who commanded not only IA Soldiers, but also Iraqi Police units.  Sheikh Hussein Al Bderi, Chairman of the Provincial Security Committee, highlighted sound cooperation between local government, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces as key to the operation’s success.

 

ANSF-led forces continue to inflict heavy insurgent losses in Oruzgan province

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), advised by Coalition forces, killed a large group of insurgents after a botched ambush by the Taliban near Sarsina village, Oruzgan province today. The combined force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol when a large group of insurgents engaged the patrol with small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades.  The combined force immediately returned accurate small arms and machine gun fire, putting the enemy on the defensive.  The company-size group of insurgents attempted to out-maneuver the combined force and moved into a nearby structure and trench line forcing innocent Afghan citizens to flee the area. Moments later, the combined force fixed the insurgents in their position and several precision air strikes effectively eliminated the Taliban insurgents who were trying to reinforce the enemy positions.

 

Nov. 19 airpower summary: EC-130J supports OIF, OEF

 

Nov. 20 airpower summary: Aircrew help airdrop, resupply

China Refuses To Allow Hong Kong Port Entry By USS Kittyhawk

Our "friends" the Chinese are once again flexing their gimpy little arms. I think retaliation should involve sending lead based toys to China, of course, Chinese kids have no time to play while working in sweat-shops.

China has refused permission for a U.S. aircraft carrier and accompanying vessels to visit Hong Kong for a long-planned Thanksgiving holiday visit, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. The Kitty Hawk group and its crew of 8,000 U.S. airmen and sailors had been expected in Hong Kong on Wednesday, but will now spend the holiday on the South China Sea. Hundred of relatives of crew members of the USS Kitty Hawk had flown to Hong Kong to celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones. Hong Kong has been a regular port of call for U.S. sailors on "R & R" (rest and recuperation) since the Vietnam War. The Chinese move comes as a surprise just weeks after a visit to China by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, which he said he hoped would lead to a long-term dialogue. "At present, it appears the USS Kitty Hawk strike group will not be making a port call in Hong Kong as previously planned as a result of a last minute denial by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs," State Department spokeswoman Nicole Thompson said. The United States was pressing China for an explanation and to reconsider its decision, she added.

Duncan Hunter Thanksgiving Message

VIA EMAIL

"For the past six years, our nation has been involved in a long battle against those who seek to destroy us. Many brave Americans have fallen during this time, and more than a million have served their country in the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan . "Their sacrifice for our nation is added to the long and distinguished list of those who served their country in battlefields all across the world from Bunker Hill to Gettysburg , from Bellawood to Normandy , from Chosin Reservoir to Khe Sanh, from the rooftops of Fallujah to Kabul , Mosul , Tikrit, and a thousand other places of danger. "On this Thanksgiving, we express our gratitude to God, for not only giving us this blessed land of freedom, but also the brave men and women willing to leave the security of their homes and families to protect us while we are in our homes with our families. "On this Thanksgiving Day, the Hunter family will also give thanks for another special blessing, the return of Marine Captain Duncan D. Hunter from Afghanistan . We welcome him home with open arms and a thankful heart. May God bless those who serve and may God continue to bless America ."

Troops DO NOT Have To Return Enlistment Bonus Money

I read about this a few days ago and It sounded too ridiculous to be true.

U.S. troops wounded in Iraq are being ordered to repay the bonuses they got for signing up, after war injuries cut short their service. Troops, their families, veterans, and lawmakers are calling the practice disgraceful.

 

Fox News Channel had "breaking news" about this today. According to a spokesperson, they have not asked anyone to return enlistment bonus money. A phone number was shown so anyone who did return bonuses could get their money back. I cannot find the article or the number yet. I will look again later and hopefully I can find it.

 

This is from an earlier story regarding the requests to return bonuses.

A spokeswoman for the Missouri National Guard said its enlistment agreements already guarantee bonuses to troops wounded during service, combat or no combat, provided the injuries did not result from misconduct. Military policy specifically prohibits the recoupment of bonus pay from wounded troops, unless the pay results from misconduct. Still, Fox got the letter. Most cases of this type have to do with the practice of discharging troops for pre-existing "personality disorders", instead of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. The military will then often stop bonus payments and even try to recoup payments already made to the troops. But the presidential commission on care for wounded troops led by veteran and former Senator Bob Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donn Shalala identified the "personality disorder" issue as a problematic practice in need of review.

 

***UPDATE 11/26/07 9:26PM***

Here is the following statement from the Dept of Defense regarding enlistment bonuses.

If you are wounded in combat and discharged as a result, you will not have to pay back your enlistment bonus, Defense Department officials said here today. “Bonuses are not recouped simply for one's inability to complete an enlistment or re-enlistment agreement through no fault of the military member,” a policy statement said. Pentagon officials re-stated their policy after a wounded soldier in Pennsylvania received a bill from the Army. Jordan Fox was a private first class in Baqouba, Iraq, when he was wounded in the explosion of an improvised explosive device. Fox suffered vision troubles in his right eye and suffered a back injury when the bomb went off in May. Fox was medically discharged and went home to his town near Pittsburgh. The Army sent him a letter asking him to repay $2,800 of his $7,500 enlistment bonus. He received a second letter telling him the Army would charge interest if he didn't make a payment within 30 days. “Department policy prohibits recoupment when it would be contrary to equity and good conscience, or would be contrary to the nation's interests,” according to the Defense Department policy statement. “Those circumstances include, for example, an inability to complete a service agreement because of illness, injury, disability, or other impairment that did not clearly result from misconduct.” Department policy on recoupment also establishes that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the secretaries of the military departments “shall remit or cancel any and all theater debt incurred by military members who were medically evacuated from a combat zone due to injury or illness, except in the event of clear misconduct.” Army officials said Fox will not be required to pay back any enlistment money he received. “By all accounts, his case seems to be an isolated one,” Army officials said. Anyone who does have an issue can call the Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline at 1-800-984-8523.

American Jobs For American Troops (Duncan Hunter Video)

 

 

***UPDATE 11/20/0 3:41PM***

More on Duncan Hunter over at Stop The ACLU.

Good News From The War On Terror 11/18-19

Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda foreign terrorist and propaganda operations; 27 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 27 suspects today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq. Coalition forces captured three wanted individuals during operations in Baghdad while targeting foreign terrorist and weapons facilitators. Reports indicate al-Qaeda in Iraq members were trying to establish a foreign terrorist network in the city. In addition to the wanted individuals, Coalition forces detained four suspects without incident. In Bayji, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in the city, who is also associated with foreign terrorists. Coalition forces detained one other suspect during the operation. During continued operations targeting foreign terrorist facilitators, Coalition forces detained seven suspects in Mosul without incident. In a series of coordinated operations around Samarra and Baghdad, Coalition forces captured one wanted individual and detained 10 other suspects while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq's media network. During one of the operations, Coalition forces found two sets of homemade body armor vests and two sets of armor plates, which they safely destroyed to prevent further use by terrorists.

 

Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain two extremists in As Sa’diyah

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Army Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two suspected extremists and killed one extremist in a cordon and search operation Nov. 16 in As Sa’diyah. The operation was conducted to counter increased activity by al-Qaeda in Iraq in the area, including small-arms fire attacks, multiple car-bomb, suicide-vest and other improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi Army checkpoints. During the operation, the Iraqi Forces establishing the cordon were attacked, resulting in the death of one Iraqi Soldier and the wounding of another. An aerial weapons team identified and engaged the enemy responsible for the attack, resulting in one enemy killed. No U.S. forces were injured. In a separate operation Nov. 16, Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Special Forces detained an alleged extremist during a raid targeting extremist activity in Diwaniyah. The detainee is believed to belong to an extremist group responsible for selling weapons and murdering Iraqi Army Soldiers.

 

Coalition forces find execution site, large cache; eight killed, 13 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed eight terrorists, detained 13 suspects and found an alleged execution site, torture room and 16 weapons caches between Nov. 6 and 10 during a multi-day operation in the Diyala River Valley. Nov. 7, Coalition forces observed several armed men maneuvering away from their location. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force called for supporting aircraft to engage the armed men, killing five terrorists. The ground force discovered a small cache of AK-47s, a pistol, grenade and ammunition at the suspects location. Later that day in two separate areas, Coalition forces were engaged by armed men. Responding in self-defense, the ground force engaged the armed men, killing three terrorists. Coalition forces also detained 13 suspects during the four-day operation. During operations Nov. 9, Coalition forces discovered what appeared to be an execution site. As they cleared the area they found the remains of approximately five individuals, as well as several 9mm casings believed to be used in the executions. Over the course of the multi-day operation, Coalition forces located and destroyed 16 weapons caches to include: 13 complete anti-aircraft weapons, mounts, rounds and equipment; a World War II-era Russian T34 Cannon; 24 TOW missiles; 14 Saggar missiles; anti-personnel mines; 40 NBC masks; several machine guns and mounts; three jugs of homemade explosives; 10 anti-personnel mines; 35,200 feet of detention cord; one 25-pound bag of ammonium nitrate; several dozen mortars, tubs, fins, fuses and rounds; rifles; grenades and rocket propelled-grenades; ammunition; improvised explosive device-making materials; and two military-style vests. Two of the anti-aircraft weapons systems were found welded to the bed of a truck. The ground force also discovered several buildings used for terrorist operations to include an alleged torture facility complete with chains, shackles, heavy-duty locks similar to those found in detention cell bunkers, windows cemented closed, terrorist propaganda materials, and kerosene heaters. Coalition forces found another building they believed to be an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe house containing additional terrorist propaganda and an alleged terrorist medical clinic with supplies, weapons and a hidden compartment in the floor. Nearby, they discovered what appeared to be a building used to create false IDs, complete with numerous ID-making materials and a small media cache. Reports indicate several of the rooms, including the torture room were recently inhabited. Coalition forces also found an improvised explosive device making facility inside one of the buildings, with numerous cylinders, tanks, tubes and car parts believed to be used in the production of IEDs.  The ground force called for supporting aircraft to conduct an air strike to safely destroy the building to prevent further use by terrorists.

 

Coalition forces capture senior criminal element leader, disrupt terrorist network (Baghdad)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected senior Special Groups leader and detained another suspected criminal during operations late Sunday near Baghdad, in the Adhamiyah area. The targeted individual was reportedly responsible for smuggling and storing weapons used in attacks against Coalition forces, and supported Special Groups criminal elements through funding and training. The suspected criminal was also reportedly an associate of several other senior-level Special Groups members from Diyala to Baghdad who were involved in attacks on Coalition forces.

 

Nov. 17 airpower summary: A-10s fly CAS missions

 

Nov. 18 airpower summary: F-15Es support operations