I had a serious incident I was dealing with today, thus, no posts. Things have finally settled down. I'm running on 2 1/2 hours sleep and my bed is calling my name. I will also be gone most of the day Sunday.
So, in the meantime, you can read my old crap or you can read about the ACLU and Amnesty International morons protesting the Guantanamo Bay Resort & Fitness Center at This Ain't Hell.
Coalition forces capture Special Groups facilitator, disrupt criminal networks
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected Special Groups facilitator early Thursday during operations to disrupt criminal element networks in the Baghdad area.
The targeted individual reportedly facilitated the training of numerous criminals in the use and construction of explosively formed penetrators in the Khan Bani Said area and in Baghdad. He was reportedly a weapons facilitator and arranged for the transportation and storage of EFPs and rocket propelled grenades. The wanted individual was also reported to be an associate of several other senior-level criminal element leaders who were involved in attacks on Coalition forces.Intelligence led ground forces to the target location where they captured the wanted individual without incident.
Coalition targets al-Qaeda leadership, media networks; two killed, 11 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 11 suspects today and Thursday during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
During an operation north of Samarra Thursday, Coalition forces targeted a suspected associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist operating in Samarra. The suspect is associated with numerous terrorist leaders operating in the Salah ah Din province, to include one who was killed during an operation Nov. 21 for his role in the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in Kirkuk.
During the operation, Coalition forces confirmed the presence of the wanted individual and a supporting aircraft were called. Two armed terrorists were killed during the operation. One of the terrorists was wearing a suicide vest armed with three initiation systems. In addition to the suicide vest, the ground force also found numerous explosives and weapons in a vehicle on site, all of which were safely destroyed to prevent further use for terrorist activity.
This morning in Tikrit, Coalition forces targeted a suspected terrorist believed to be involved in al-Qaeda media and propaganda operations, and to have ties to foreign facilitation networks operating in and outside of Iraq. Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists and found numerous media materials on site.
During an operation in Mosul today, Coalition forces detained nine suspected terrorists while targeting a suspected associate of the al-Qaeda senior leader for the region.
Insurgent munitions found hidden in school
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Police, along with Coalition forces, discovered a munitions cache hidden in a boy’s school in Oruzgan Province following a day-long battle yesterday.
The joint patrol, which had received a report of insurgent activity in the area, was attacked in the Deh Rawood district with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from insurgents in reinforced fighting positions on a hillside. ANP and Coalition soldiers immediately maneuvered to pinpoint the location of the insurgent attack.
Coalition aircraft dropped precision-guided munitions on the fighting positions eliminating the threat however reinforcements from a nearby village began firing on the ground forces.
A combined forces search of the immediate area, including the village, discovered the munitions hidden in the school. The cache consisted of 15 boxes of automatic machine gun ammunition and 20 rocket-propelled grenades.
I found some Arabic writing on this $100 bill. I'm trying to figure out what it says.
Remember a few months back when Israel went in and blew up a building, later confirmed to be an unfinished nuclear reactor? Well, it seems they are gonna give it a try again and are rebuilding it.
Syria has resumed construction at the site bombed by IAF jets in September 2007, a New York Times report said on Saturday morning.
In a satellite image released by a private Colorado company, DigitalGlobe, a building similar to the alleged partially-built nuclear reactor appears to be in the process of reconstruction.
Iraqi Air Force Training School graduates 116 new warrant officers
TAJI, Iraq – The Iraqi Air Force Training School graduated 116 new warrant officers from its basic military training course held in Taji Jan 8.
Iraqi Air Force Gen. Kamal, Iraqi Air Force commanding general and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Bob Allardice, Coalition Air Force Transition Team commanding general and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Bash, were in attendance.
The course lasted 60 days and focused on basic military training and professional military education.
This day also marked a first for the training school, as this was the first graduating class to be taught by Iraqi Air Force officers during their training.
From the basic military training course, the graduates will continue their training with technical training in the fundamentals of aircraft maintenance, also held in Taji.
Air strike engages suspected IED emplacers during Operation Phantom Phoenix
BAQUBA, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed four enemy personnel and wounded three more shortly after an engineer vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device during Operation Raider Harvest, which is part of the country-wide Operation Phantom Phoenix, Jan. 8 near Muqdadiyah, Iraq.
Soldiers from the 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division were struck by an IED while clearing a route in the Diyala province, a known al-Qaeda in Iraq safe haven. No CF Soldiers were injured in the attack.
An air weapons team operating in the area spotted several armed personnel running from the IED site into a nearby house. An air weapons team engaged the house with a missile, killing four and wounding three others.
Based on the extent of the explosion caused by the missile, military officials assess that the house was being used as an al Qaeda in Iraq safe house and weapons cache.
Air strikes hit more than 40 targets in Arab Jabour
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – More than 40 targets were hit Jan. 10 after precision air strikes destroyed reported al-Qaeda safe havens in Arab Jabour. Thirty-eight bombs were dropped within the first 10 minutes, with a total tonnage of 40,000 pounds.
The precision air strikes supported Operation Phantom Phoenix, the overarching operation that includes Operation Marne Thunderbolt.
A joint operation between the Air Force and Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division required extensive planning to prevent collateral damage and to deny the use of the area for attacks into Baghdad and against Coalition Forces.
Two B-1 Bombers and four F-16 fighter jets, directed bombs at three large target areas. Each bomber made two passes and the F-16s followed to complete the set. Coordination between the Army and Air Force was essential in making the operation a success.
Operation Marne Thunderbolt is an ongoing operation aimed at flushing out remaining al-Qaeda extremists operating in the southern Arab Jabour area, and to create conditions for improved security.
Soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division will join Iraqi Security Forces and Concerned Local Citizens to continue these offensive operations to keep pressure on the enemy.
Citizen tip leads Coalition to cache (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – Acting on a concerned citizen’s tip, Soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, reported finding a weapons cache in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad while returning from a patrol Jan. 9.
The cache contained copper plating, two explosively formed projectiles, two rocket-propelled grenades, one AK-47 assault rifle, five 105 mm mortar rounds, eight anti-personnel mines, wire and three artillery rounds of undetermined size.
BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq improvised explosive device specialists in separate raids Dec. 28.
The Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics team and U.S. Special Forces detained a suspected AQI terrorist believed to be a primary facilitator of improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
Additionally, the suspected terrorist is thought to have helped foreign fighters enter the country and facilitate suicide bombings in northern Babel province.
He is also believed to be responsible for the murder of numerous Iraqi citizens.
Near the city of Balad, Iraqi Special Operations Forces and U.S. Forces detained a suspected AQI terrorist who specializes in IED construction.
He is also believed to belong to a terror cell that is responsible for IED emplacement and weapons trafficking as well as the intimidation of Iraqi citizens.
This is probably the best news to come out of Iraq since Saddam was hanged. This area was all but lost prior to the "surge". Which, by the way, celebrates its one year anniversary. Yes, people, the surge started one year ago, and look at the gains made in Iraq.
Iraq's western province of Anbar, hotbed of the Sunni Arab insurgency for the first four years of the war, will be returned to Iraqi control in March, a senior U.S. general said Thursday.
In a telephone interview from Iraq, Marine Maj. Gen. Walter E. Gaskin, commander of the roughly 35,000 Marine and Army forces in Anbar, said levels of violence have dropped so significantly—coupled with the growth and development of Iraqi security forces in the province—that Anbar is ready to be handed back to the Iraqis.
Thus far, nine of 18 Iraqi provinces have reverted to Iraqi control, most recently the southern province of Basra in December. The process has gone substantially slower than the Bush administration once hoped, mainly because of obstacles to developing sufficient Iraqi police and army forces. But Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that he expects the process to continue.
Gates also said he was encouraged by security gains achieved in Anbar and Baghdad in the year since President Bush ordered an extra 30,000 U.S. troops to those areas of Iraq in what became known as a "surge." Gates said it has created new promise for long-delayed political reconciliation.
Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates is now pondering the thought of a "surge" in Afghanistan. With the success the surge has brought to Iraq, I don't see why it would take much thought. It would be tough in the short run, but having to deploy less troops later would benefit everyone.
This guy should be in the running for this years Darwin Awards. Even though he didn't die, the hilarity of it should qualify him.
A man who hid hunting knives in his pants to try to steal them from a western Michigan store tripped while fleeing and stabbed himself in the abdomen, police say.
The suspect was hospitalized after Monday night's attempted theft from a Meijer Inc. superstore in Grand Rapids and is expected to face a misdemeanor shoplifting charge, police say.
The wounds did not appear to be life-threatening, The Grand Rapids Press reported.
The man had put about $300 worth of hunting knives in his waistband, police told WZZM-TV. Police say he tried to leave the store, but Meijer employees confronted him and a scuffle followed.
The man then fell and was stabbed by the knives he had hidden in his clothing, police said. They said it happened about 5:40 p.m.
"The man was taken to the hospital," said Meijer spokesman Frank Giuliano. "We are cooperating with the investigation by police."
Police said the suspect has a record of retail fraud.
UPDATE: Coalition forces positively identify terrorist killed in operation Dec. 25
BAGHDAD, Iraq – A terrorist killed during an operation Dec. 25 has been positively identified as Haydar al-Afri.
Haydar al-Afri, also known as Imad Abd al-Karim, was a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the western region of Mosul, and a close associate of several terrorist senior leaders in northern Iraq. Haydar was involved in facilitating resources and planning attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces.
Haydar was killed during a Coalition forces operation in Mosul Dec. 25. During the operation, Coalition forces were engaged on two separate occasions by armed men as they attempted to clear target buildings in the area. The men charged at the Coalition forces’ position, and the ground force engaged the enemy, killing four terrorists.
As the ground force continued to clear the area, they were engaged by machine gun fire and grenades from underneath one of the structures. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces returned fire and called for supporting aircraft to engage. Once enemy fire ceased, the ground force assessed that an additional five terrorists were killed during the engagement. A total of nine terrorists were killed during the operation, including Haydar.
Haydar started out as an al-Qaeda in Iraq fighter and later assumed leadership positions in terrorist networks in various Mosul neighborhoods. He began leading the Islamic State of Iraq army in west Mosul after its previous leader detonated his suicide vest during a Coalition forces operation.
Haydar was closely associated with numerous al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders operating in the region, to include one detained Dec. 13 for his involvement in the Mosul network and his ties to the terrorist senior leader of northern Iraq.
Operation Iron Harvest clears al-Qaeda from northern Iraq
BAQUBA, Iraq – Multi-National Division – North Soldiers began Operation Iron Harvest to pursue al-Qaeda in Iraq and extremist elements from the region.
The operation, which looks to expand on the successes of Operation Iron Reaper, also focuses on disrupting funding sources and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device networks and denying enemy safe havens in northern Iraq.
Operation Iron Harvest is a part of Operation Phantom Phoenix, an overarching operation to defeat extremism throughout all of Iraq.
Iron Harvest operations began with the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and the 5th Iraqi Army Division clearing the Diyala Province of enemy fighters to end insurgent attacks. Operations are now being concentrated in Muqdadiyah.
Coalition forces target al-Qaeda leaders in northern Iraq, six detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained six suspects today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in northern Iraq.
During an operation in Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be involved in the al-Qaeda network operating in northwestern Iraq. The wanted individual is reportedly associated with a senior leader involved in foreign terrorist facilitation and connected to a group of terrorists responsible for improvised explosive device attacks. In addition to the wanted individual, three suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.
Coalition forces detained another two suspected terrorists during an operation in Hawija targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader believed to be operating in the area.
Dragons find five caches, detain three
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers found five caches and detained three suspected extremists during ongoing operations in the Rashid District Jan. 5.
While clearing a house in East Rashid “Cougars” of Company E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, attached to Task Force Dragon, found a five-gallon container filled with homemade explosives, a water bottle with wire and 20 shotgun shells attached and an improvised explosive device taped to a fuel can.
An hour later, “Warriors” of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, also attached to TF Dragon, found two pressure plates, five blasting caps and 15 feet of detonation cord during a patrol in the Doura neighborhood.
Also, during a joint patrol in Saydiyah, “Tuskers” of Company B, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, and Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, found three rocket-propelled grenades and a five-gallon drum of HME in an abandoned home.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel deemed moving the cache too dangerous and remotely detonated the structure. There were no casualties. Soldiers of Co. A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Dragon, and Co. B, 4th Bn., 64th Armor both found caches of three mortar rounds in two separate incidents in West Rashid. EOD personnel were called in to dispose of the caches.
Also that day, “Black Lions” of Company D, 1st Bn., 28th Inf., captured three men suspected of being members of a Shia extremist IED cell. The three were taken to a coalition base for questioning. “Though violence has largely subsided in the Rashid district, our Soldiers along with our Iraqi counterparts will continue to improve the security of the area by continuing to target extremist supplies and those who support them,” said Maj. Kirk Luedeke, Task Force Dragon spokesman.
MND-North Soldiers kill 4 extremists, destroy HBIED with air strikes (Khan Bani Sa’ad)
BAQUBA, Iraq – Multi-National Division – North Soldiers killed four extremists and destroyed a house-borne improvised explosive device near Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq, with air strikes Jan. 6.
Soldiers of Troop B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team operating at Patrol Base Key West spotted four individuals with RPGs and AK-47s operating in and around a nearby building.
The Soldiers watched them unroll wire around the building, possibly setting it up to be a HBIED.
The ground commander called in an air strike, and a Coalition Forces’ helicopter fired a hellfire missile at the building. Minutes later, Coalition Forces’ aircraft dropped two bombs on the structure.
After the second bomb, large secondary explosions and different kinds of smoke were observed at the site by the MND-N Soldiers. Exploitation of the site revealed wire around the building, confirming that the building was rigged as a HBIED.
Iraqi Army finds bomb making facility outside Baghdad (Al Baytara, Abu Ghraib)
AL BAYTARA, ABU GHRAIB, Iraq – Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3d Battalion, 3d Brigade, 6th Division and Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers found different weapons and explosives caches in a suspected bomb making facility in Al Baytara, Abu Ghraib, just outside of Baghdad Jan 7.
Based upon a tip from a local citizen, the Iraqi Army unit found a cache consisting of more than 5,000 rounds of machine gun ammunition, a sniper rifle, rocket propelled grenade launchers, mortar rounds, rockets, rocket tubes, tank rounds, artillery rounds, an artillery round filled with home made explosives, various components for improvised explosive devices, bomb making materials, grenades, and more than 50 galloons of liquid home made explosives and 120 pound of solid home made explosives.
The Nevada Republican Assembly held a Presidential Endorsing Convention on Sunday Jan 6, 2008, choosing to endorse Congressman Duncan Hunter.
The endorsement by NVRA by more than a two thirds majority is a significant statement about the character and principles of a living and practicing conservative Republican. Duncan Hunter's record as a 26 year member of Congress places him squarely at the lead of all the GOP contenders, as the standard bearer of conservative Republican example.
This is getting pretty ridiculous. Those people have squandered away money like it was coming out of a faucet. This includes the "victims" and the Louisiana / New Orleans government. How much money to they need to rebuild rat-infested shanties?
Hurricane Katrina's victims have put a price tag on their suffering and it is staggering — including one plaintiff seeking the unlikely sum of $3 quadrillion.
A whopping $3,014,170,389,176,410 is the dollar figure so far sought from some of the largest claims filed against the federal government over damage from the failure of levees and flood walls following the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane.
Of roughly 489,000 total claims, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it has received 247 for at least $1 billion apiece, including the one for $3 quadrillion.
"That's the mother of all high numbers," said Loren Scott, a Baton Rouge-based economist.
For the sake of perspective: A mere $1 quadrillion would dwarf the U.S. gross domestic product, which Scott said was $13.2 trillion in 2007. A stack of one quadrillion pennies would reach Saturn.
[...]
The corps released zip codes, but no names, for the 247 claims of at least $1 billion. The list includes a $77 billion claim by the city of New Orleans. Fourteen involve a wrongful death claim. Fifteen were filed by businesses, including several insurance companies.
Little is known about the person who claimed $3 quadrillion. It was filed in Baker, 93 miles northwest of New Orleans. Baker is far from the epicenter of Katrina's destruction, but the city has a trailer park where hundreds of evacuees have lived since the storm.
I wonder why nobody has asked "why hasn't Mississippi had the same problems?" After all; they took a direct hit. Everything was flattened. Could it be the competence of the governments? Mississippi had a Republican governor, Louisiana had a Democrat governor. I guess it could be said that once again, a Democrats solution to a problem is throw money at it.
h/t: AOSHQ
Coalition forces capture Special Groups leader; detain four suspects
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected Special Groups leader and detained three other suspects early today during operations to disrupt criminal networks in the Baghdad area.
The targeted individual was reportedly a Baghdad Special Groups leader who facilitated the training of numerous criminals in activities including murders and kidnappings. The wanted individual was also reported to be an associate of other senior-level criminal element leaders involved in attacks on Coalition forces.
Intelligence led ground forces to the target area where they captured the wanted individual and the three other suspected criminals without incident.
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations; three killed; 28 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 28 suspects yesterday and today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq networks in central and northern Iraq.
East of Mahmudiyah today, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the network in Arab Jabour. The targeted individual is reportedly responsible for an attack in Hawr Rajjab in November that killed two Iraqi police members.
As the ground force arrived in the area, they observed three armed men maneuvering around the target buildings. Coalition forces tracked the men to a static location and directed them to come out, but they did not comply. The men then began to maneuver in separate directions. One of the men threw a grenade at the ground force’s position, and they engaged the hostile threat, killing him. The ground force then engaged the remaining armed men in a separate location, killing them. Upon clearing the area, Coalition forces discovered three machine guns and military style assault vests. The ground force also detained six suspected terrorists.
In Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq media and propaganda network. The wanted individual allegedly replaced a suspect detained by Coalition forces Dec. 21, and is believed to have ties to numerous senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in the region. Two suspected terrorists were detained in addition to the wanted individual.
North of Manusuriyah, Coalition forces detained five suspects while targeting associates of the al-Qaeda in Iraq network operating in the northeast Diyala River Valley region. As the ground force cleared the area, they discovered numerous machine guns, military style assault vests and grenades which were safely destroyed on site.
During operations yesterday, Coalition forces detained 14 suspects in Baghdad and Mosul while targeting associates allegedly involved in al-Qaeda in Iraq media networks and assassination operations.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain extremist cell leader, 3 suspected extremists (Baghdad)
BALAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a known extremist cell leader and three additional suspected extremists Jan. 7 in the Zafaraniyah and Diyala areas of Baghdad.
The known extremist is said to lead a cell believed to be behind numerous improvised explosive device and indirect fire attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces as well as a wide range of criminal activities including kidnapping and murder.
The extremists are also said to threaten government and political figures.
Air strike destroys AQI safe house, reveals large cache (Busayefi)
BAGHDAD – U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets dropped two 500-pound bombs, destroying an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe house used to make and store improvised explosive devices near Busayefi Jan. 6.
After the structure was destroyed, a site survey was conducted by Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers and IED-making materials were found.
The remnants of the IED-making materials found in the rubble included one 122 mm projectile, one 120 mm mortar round, three 57 mm projectile rounds primed with detonation cord, 50 DSHKA large-caliber machine gun rounds, three spools of copper wire, two crush wire strips, 30 meters of command wire, three bundles of detonation cord and a video camera.
Here is the video of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats messing with the U.S. Navy.
Adhamiyah Iraqi Security Volunteers find weapons caches
BAGHDAD – Local Iraqi Security Volunteers discovered two large weapons caches Dec. 29 in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah neighborhood, adding to a spike in the number of weapons caches found since the ISV began operating in November.
The two new discoveries bring the total number of weapons caches found to 48 since early November when volunteers first began manning checkpoints and other guard positions in Adhamiyah.
The latest in a series of discoveries began Dec. 29, when volunteers manning a checkpoint position discovered a buried cache containing more than 85 57mm anti-aircraft projectiles. The volunteers notified U.S. Soldiers from the regiment, who responded to transport the weapons to a safe location.
Less than two hours later, another group of volunteers reported finding a cache buried in an open area behind the cemetery of the Abu Hanifa Mosque. The cache consisted of 20 anti-personnel mines, three 152mm projectiles, and one 120mm mortar round.
ISV units have helped uncover multiple caches in the vicinity of the Abu Hanifa Mosque over the last two months. The stockpiles are remnants from the time when the mosque was a safe haven for local Sunni insurgents and foreign fighters, according to Maj. Ike Sallee, the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cav’s operations officer.
Operations net explosives, weapons caches in Rashid
BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered a weapons cache during a patrol Jan. 2, while a joint patrol found another Jan. 1 during ongoing operations in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital.
‘Warriors’ from 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., found a cache of explosives while patrolling eastern Doura Jan. 2.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel detonated the cache which consisted of a 155 mm artillery round with detonation cord attached, four 107 mm rockets, three pineapple grenades, 170 pounds of homemade explosives, a satchel charge, two electronic initiators and 15 blasting caps.
While patrolling Saydiyah, Iraqi Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and ‘Tuskers’ from Company B, 4th Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment attached to Task Force Dragon, found a cache of five shotguns of various types, two black powder rifles, 14 flintlock pistols and six handguns, six knives of various lengths and sizes, a hatchet, a bow and two phone cards.
Iraqi law permits home owners to own an AK-47 assault rifle and a full magazine for home defense.
Coalition forces target al-Qaeda in Iraq leadership; six suspects detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists yesterday during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq networks along the Tigris River Valley.
During an operation in Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be the deputy al-Qaeda in Iraq leader for the network operating in the city. Reports indicate the suspect is responsible for approving targets for terrorist attacks and previously served as a judge of an illegal court system involved in ordering and approving abductions and executions. The wanted individual is also believed to be associated with several terrorists targeted by Coalition forces recently, to include a leader of the al-Qaeda network in west Mosul killed Dec. 25, and two other associates detained Dec. 13.
In Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be associated with the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in Rusafah. The wanted individual has close ties to an alleged terrorist attack coordinator who was recruited by the al-Qaeda senior leader in Baghdad. The two individuals were reportedly planning a suicide attack targeting Coalition forces and Concerned Local Citizens operating in the area. The ground force detained the wanted individual without incident along with another suspect assessed to be his brother.
Coalition forces detained three additional suspected terrorists during an operation in Tikrit targeting an alleged associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq network operating in the region. The targeted individual is reportedly involved in attacks against Coalition forces and has ties to improvised explosive device operations near Ad Dawr.
Iraqi Civil Defense Corps hands over large explosives cache to Kazakhstani Soldiers (Al Kut)
BAGHDAD – A cache of 1,369 unexploded ordnance was turned over to Coalition Forces based at Forward Operating Base Delta Jan. 3. Iraqi Civil Defense Corps personnel, an arm of the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior which handles explosives, delivered the unexploded ordnance and small arms cartridges to the Kazakhstani Soldiers, according to 1st Lt. Almaz Mukashev, the Kazakhstani liaison officer. Additionally, some of the ordnance were remnants of the Iran-Iraq War.
The cache contained 1,255 57 mm mortars, 51 120 mm mortar mines, 14 152 mm artillery rounds, 33 60 mm artillery rounds, 15 155 mm artillery rounds, one 82 mm mortar and 1,071 20 mm small arms cartridges.
Shkin ANP arrest IED cell in Paktika
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Police from Shkin arrested a two-man terrorist cell Jan. 5 in Bermel District, Paktika Province.
The two insurgents are suspected of being responsible for a remote-controlled improvised explosive device attack, which injured an Afghan National Army soldier and a support technician near Shkin Nov. 12. The Shkin ANP independently developed the intelligence identifying, locating and targeting the two-man cell. The same cell is also implicated in several other attacks using remote-controlled IEDs throughout Bermel District.
During the raid of the insurgent’s compound, ANP investigators found evidence of their involvement in several IED attacks. Several IED components, weapons, cell phones and documents were discovered.
Before the operation, ANP leaders coordinated with the provincial governor and Coalition forces. Afterward, a shura was held with village elders to present evidence against the criminals.
...for the BCS National Championship game. OSU vs LSU
GO BUCKS!!!
***UPDATE #1***
I demand legislation be passed that allows for anyone who massacres the National Anthem, be hung, drawn, & quartered! IT'S NOT A FRIGGIN' R&B SONG!!!
***UPDATE #2***
HALFTIME. The Buckeyes went up by 10 points, then felt that was enough and the defense decided to nap until halftime. The result...24-10 LSU
TBDBITL (The best damn band in the land) performed their halftime show. They performed songs from the Armed Forces.
***UPDATE #3***
UGH!!! Once again, the Buckeyes lose the National Championship 38-24
They should've blown them out of the water when they didn't heed the first call to stand down. They were threatening the U.S. Navy and we shouldn't lose sailors because of being reluctant to go to war with Iran.
In what U.S. officials called a serious provocation, Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats harassed and provoked three U.S. Navy ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, threatening to explode the American vessels.
U.S. forces were on the verge of firing on the Iranian boats in the early Sunday incident, when the boats turned and moved away, a Pentagon official said. "It is the most serious provocation of this sort that we've seen yet," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said: "We urge the Iranians to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future."
The incident occurred at about 5 a.m. local time Sunday as a U.S. Navy cruiser, destroyer and frigate were on their way into the Persian Gulf and passing through the strait — a major oil shipping route.
Five small boats began charging the U.S. ships, dropping boxes in the water in front of the ships and forcing the U.S. ships to take evasive maneuvers, the Pentagon official said.
There were no injuries but the official said there could have been, because the Iranian boats turned away "literally at the very moment that U.S. forces were preparing to open fire" in self defense.
The official said he didn't have the precise transcript of communications that passed between the two forces, but said the Iranians radioed something like "we're coming at you and you'll explode in a couple minutes."
Local tip leads Iraqi SWAT to weapons cache
MUQDADIYAH, Iraq – Iraqi Police discovered a weapons cache after receiving a tip from local citizens in Muqdadiyah Jan. 4.
Thirteen mortars of various sizes, including two 60 mm mortars, several rockets, ammunition of different calibers, an anti-tank mine, initiators, propellants and other bomb-making materials were confiscated.
The cache was found in a suspected extremist’s home.
Several makeshift attack, observation and sniper positions were found littered with shell casings. Upon further investigation of the area, several barrels were unearthed revealing more ammunition and a machine gun.
Soldiers of the 293rd Military Police Company, 728th MP Battalion, 18th MP Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division assisted the IPs in finding the cache and conducting searches of the area.
Multiple caches found, destroyed by Coalition forces
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Multiple weapons caches were seized and destroyed by the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division throughout the Mada’in Qada Jan. 2.
Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, secured a cache found by Concerned Local Citizens in the Al Bawi area of the Mada’in Qada. The Mada’in Qada is a portion of the Baghdad province and is home to almost 900,000 Iraqis.
The cache was brought by CLCs to a local sheik’s house where Soldiers of the 789th Ordnance Company, attached to the 3rd HBCT, collected and destroyed the munitions. The cache, consisting of two 130 mm mortars, two strands of crush-wire, five rocket-propelled grenade warheads and one 82 mm mortar.
In a separate incident, the CLCs of Al Zatia informed Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Soldiers of a cache consisting of one 155 mm round and one 157 mm round found during a CLC patrol. Battery A Soldiers and members of the 789th Ordnance Co. moved to the CLC headquarters in Al Zatia to secure and destroy the rounds.
In Jisr Diyala, an Iraqi citizen provided a tip to Iraqi Security Forces at the Joint Security Site that led to the discovery of a cache near Al Arifiyah. Soldiers from Company D, 1-15th Inf. Regt. and the 789th Ordnance Co. secured the cache of munitions. The cache consisted of three 60 mm high-explosive mortars, one 82 mm HE mortar, and several Iraqi Police uniforms and patches.
MND-Center Soldiers capture weapons trafficker
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – A suspected distributor of car bombs and a weapons trafficker for al-Qaeda in Iraq was captured 25 miles south of Baghdad Jan. 1.
The detainee is the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division’s No. 1 most wanted individual.
Prior to the raid, Soldiers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, part of Task Force 1-76 out of FOB Kalsu, watched the target for hours with a Predator drone and OH-58D Kiowa observation helicopters.
Shortly after the individual stopped at his house, Soldiers from Co. B boarded helicopters and landed in a field next to the house. Within minutes, the target was in custody.
CLCs uncover large cache in Tuwaitha
BAGHDAD – On Jan. 1 Concerned Local Citizens in Tuwaitha, a village southeast of Baghdad, discovered one of the largest weapons caches since the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team deployed to the Mada’in Qada nine months ago.
The cache consisted of two five-gallon jugs of homemade explosives, seven 85 mm rockets, one 73 mm rocket, ten 82 mm mortar rounds, two 57 mm mortar rounds, two 60 mm mortar rounds, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers and two 40 mm explosive projectiles.
Airstrikes kill three suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq
BAGHDAD – Two Apache helicopter airstrikes killed three suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq extremists near Maderiyah during Operation Marne Thunderbolt on the night of Jan. 4 and the morning of Jan. 5
In the first strike Jan. 4, Soldiers from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, saw two suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq members digging and emplacing weapons caches in a canal.
Battery B called for air support from 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade. When the extremists heard the Apaches overhead, they fled to a nearby building.
The helicopters engaged the extremists with machine guns. A reconnaissance of the area confirmed both extremists were killed.
The following day, Soldiers reported another man digging in numerous spots in the same area on the canal. The man was identified as an extremist and was engaged by Apache helicopters.
Hellfire missiles were fired, into the area where the extremist was digging, to destroy any possible caches or explosives buried beneath the ground. The missiles produced secondary explosions confirming that munitions were emplaced there.
Paktya villagers turn-in weapon caches
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces, working with villagers in Paktya Province, turned-in hundreds of weapons discovered throughout the province during the month of December.
In December, villagers of Paktya Province turned-in more than 700 weapons and various types of ammunition. So far, ANSF and Coalition forces have collected 247 rocket-propelled grenades and three launchers, 99 hand grenades, 124 anti-personnel mines, 11 82mm recoilless rifle rounds, 14 82mm mortars, 10 anti-tank mines, 200 anti-tank mine fuses, three remote-controlled improvised explosive devices, four Kalashnikov automatic machine guns and two RPD automatic machine guns.
Afghan Border Police and Afghan National Police have led the effort to rid the area of illegal weapons commonly used by insurgents. The combined force has actively engaged with tribal leaders, village elders and Afghan citizens throughout the province to convince them to root out weapons stores.
Most weapons caches were discovered when villagers alerted ANSF during security patrols in the province. Other times, villagers brought the weapons to a military outpost in Chamkani District shared by ANSF and Coalition forces.
Flip-Flopper Romney won it. The guy who hires Hezbollah/open borders sympathizers and felons came in second.
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney scored a morale-boosting victory in the Wyoming nominating contest here Saturday ahead of next week's crunch New Hampshire primaries, results showed.
Romney, desperate to get his campaign back on track after being trounced by rival Mike Huckabee in last Thursday's Iowa caucuses, won eight of the 12 delegates up for grabs in the sparsely populated state.
Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson won three and California's Duncan Hunter won one, results on the Wyoming Republican Party website showed.
It was awesome. I highly suggest it. It can be offensive to some who refuse to realize what animals these terrorists are in reality. There is suicide bombings, car bombs, innocent people gunned down, etc. There is an upside though, lots of terrorists get to meet Allah.
Here is the plot outline.
When a terrorist bomb detonates inside a Western housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an international incident is ignited. While diplomats slowly debate equations of territorialism, FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury quickly assembles an elite team and negotiates a secret five-day trip into Saudi Arabia to locate the madman behind the bombing. Upon landing in the desert kingdom, however, Fleury and his team discover Saudi authorities suspicious and unwelcoming of American interlopers into what they consider a local matter. Hamstrung by protocol-and with the clock ticking on their five days-the FBI agents find their expertise worthless without the trust of their Saudi counterparts, who want to locate the terrorist in their homeland on their own terms. Fleury's crew finds a like-minded partner in Saudi Colonel Al-Ghazi, who helps them navigate royal politics and unlock the secrets of the crime scene and the workings of an extremist cell bent on further destruction. With these unlikely allies sharing a propulsive commitment to crack the case, the team is led to the killer's front door in a blistering do-or-die confrontation. Now in a fight for their own lives, strangers united by one mission won't stop until justice is found in The Kingdom.
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda networks in Diyala, Mosul; two killed, 12 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 12 suspects today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces conducted two coordinated operations north of Muqdadiyah targeting associates of the al-Qaeda in Iraq network operating in the northeast Diyala River Valley region. The targeted individuals are associated with the leader allegedly responsible for directing a large terrorist group that conducts executions in the region. Intelligence reports indicate the group recently executed two people and has been engaged in numerous fire fights with Coalition forces over the last few weeks.
During one of the operations, the ground force engaged and killed two terrorists. In a separate operation, a man displayed what appeared to be fresh wounds from a previous engagement. He was treated on site and subsequently detained along with one other suspect. Coalition forces also destroyed one building in the area that was assessed to be a safe house for terrorist operations.
During an operation in Sadiyah, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be involved in an al-Qaeda in Iraq media cell north of Muqdadiyah. The wanted individual is also allegedly associated with numerous terrorists operating in the Diyala River Valley region. During the operation, the wanted individual identified himself to the ground force and was subsequently detained along with three suspected terrorists.
Southwest of Kifri, Coalition forces captured an alleged Ansar al Sunna leader for the network operating in the Diyala region. The wanted individual is allegedly responsible for numerous attacks against Coalition forces. Reports also indicate the suspect was previously injured during an Iraq forces operation, and he allegedly escaped from the hospital with the help of other terrorists, killing five Iraqi policemen during the escape.
Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces detained five suspects while targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader involved in weapons facilitation and kidnapping operations.
IA, CF Soldiers kill, capture al-Qaeda operatives
BAQUBAH, Iraq – Coalition Forces and Iraqi Army Soldiers detained nine individuals and killed one enemy combatant during a joint operation in Abu Tamur Jan. 3.
One of the detainees is a known al-Qaeda in Iraq operative wanted by the Iraqi Army for stealing weapons.
Soldiers of Company B and Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., were clearing the village when they were engaged with small arms fire by enemy forces. One U.S. Soldier was wounded. The troops returned fire, killing one enemy combatant.
The wounded Soldier was air-evacuated to Balad for medical treatment.
Five Iraqi Army Soldiers were killed and two wounded when a house-born improvised explosive device exploded in the house they were clearing. The wounded Iraqi Soldiers were taken to Forward Operating Base Warhorse.
A cache was found in the area containing four AK-47s, six AK-47 magazines, a PKC, PKC drum and PKC ammo belt.
Coalition forces capture Special Groups facilitator; disrupt criminal network
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected Special Groups facilitator early Saturday during operations to disrupt criminal element networks in the Qasarin area, north of Baghdad.
The targeted individual was reportedly a financial facilitator in the Qasarin area and aided in the planning of attacks on Coalition forces throughout the Diyala Province. The wanted individual was also reported to be an associate of other senior-level criminal element leaders involved in financial facilitation and attacks on Coalition forces.
Intelligence led ground forces to the target area where they captured the wanted individual without incident.
Coalition forces target weapons facilitators, media networks; 18 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 18 suspects today during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks in central Iraq.
North of Samarra Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be an associate of the terrorist network in the region. The suspect is allegedly involved in weapons facilitation and media and propaganda operations in the Tigris River Valley. Reports also indicate the wanted individual is associated with a suspect detained during an operation Nov. 15 for his ties to al Qaeda in Iraq senior leadership. The individual identified himself to the ground force and was subsequently detained along with three other suspects.
Ten suspects were detained north of Habbaniyah during another operation targeting associates of al Qaeda in Iraq media and propaganda operations. As the ground force cleared the target area, they discovered ID making materials, several machine guns, rifles and ammunition.
During an operation in Sadiyah, Coalition forces captured another wanted individual believed to be involved in the facilitation of weapons for terrorist activities in the region. Reports indicate the wanted individual is associated with numerous al-Qaeda members operating in the Diyala River Valley network who have recently been involved in engagements with Coalition forces. In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained three suspects on site, and safely destroyed one vehicle assessed to be used for terrorist activities.
Coalition forces capture Special Groups leader; detain nine suspects
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a suspected Special Groups leader and detained eight other suspects early Thursday during operations to disrupt criminal element networks in the Huwaysh area, north of Baghdad.
The targeted individual reportedly aided in attacks on Coalition forces throughout the Diyala Province as an intelligence source and financial facilitator. The wanted individual was also reported to be an associate of several other senior-level criminal element leaders involved in attacks on Coalition forces.
Intelligence led ground forces to the target area where they captured the wanted individual and detained eight other suspected criminals without incident. During the operation, Coalition forces also discovered body armor, two assault rifles, five pistols and five shotguns.
Iraqi Security Forces detain 4 known extremists in Barrah
BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained four known extremists Jan. 3 in an operation in Barrah.
The extremists are said to be part of a counterfeiting and smuggling cell in and around villages near Barrah.
They are reported to be involved in the smuggling and distribution of counterfeit U.S. and Iraqi currency, weapons and explosives, as well as reporting Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces movements to foreign fighters.
Iraqi Security Forces detain 4 suspected extremists (Mahmudiyah)
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two suspected extremists and two extremist cell leaders in separate raids Jan. 4.
In Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained two suspected extremists who are believed to be responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi citizens, weapons trafficking as well as attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
During the course of the operation, the assault force received small arms fire from an individual near the target objective. Iraqi and U.S. Forces engaged the individual, killing him.
In a separate operation, an Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics Team from Ninewah detained two extremist cell leaders in western Mosul.
The two suspects are believed to be responsible for financing and planning attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces along with smuggling weapons for extremists in the region.
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain four suspects in separate operations (Balad)
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq terror cell leader, a suspected criminal weapons supplier and two suspected terrorists in separate operations Jan. 4 and 5.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leader near the city of Balad Jan 5.
The suspect is believed to lead a cell that is responsible for numerous mortar and improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces stationed at Logistical Support Area Anaconda.
The operation was the latest in a series of operations over the last 40 days, targeting extremists and extremist cells that are responsible for indirect fire and improvised explosive device attacks against LSA Anaconda.
In all, 17 extremists have been detained and two have been killed during the operations, resulting in a decrease of indirect fire attacks against LSA Anaconda.
In Diwaniyah, Iraqi Forces detained a suspect believed to have been transporting weapons and providing financing to extremists operating in the region.
In Keshkul Kabir, near As Sa’ Diyah, Iraqi Forces detained two suspected extremists and six other persons of interest. The operation targeted an extremist network involved in kidnapping and improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi civilians in the Keshkul Kabir area.
ANSF, Coalition forces arrest suspected insurgents in Kandahar Province
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces, supported by Coalition forces, arrested several suspected insurgents Jan. 2 near Mushan Village, Panjway District, Kandahar Province.
Arresting these individuals will impact insurgent activities throughout the province, said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesman.
When the ANSF-led combined force entered the compound, insurgents attacked with small-arms fire, placing several women and children residing in the compound in danger.
After neutralizing the threat, the combined force secured the compound and detained several suspected insurgents with ties to the Taliban. A search of the area discovered fully-loaded weapons and additional ammunition. Several documents were also seized that will provide analysts with useful intelligence on insurgent activities throughout western Kandahar Province.
