AAAARGH! Pirates Snag French Luxury Yacht Off Somalia Coast

 They surrendered the yacht immediately.

Pirates seized control of a French luxury yacht carrying 30 crew members Friday in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's coast, the French government and the ship's owner said.

Attackers stormed the three-mast Le Ponant as it returned without passengers from the Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean, toward the Mediterranean Sea, said officials with French maritime transport company CMA-CGM.

[...]

Pirates seized more than two dozen ships off Somalia's coast last year.

Denmark's government paid a ransom to win the release in August of the crew of a Danish cargo ship that was hijacked by Somali pirates some two months after they were taken captive.

The U.S. Navy has led international patrols to try to combat piracy in the region. Last year, the guided missile destroyer USS Porter opened fire to destroy pirate skiffs tied to a Japanese tanker.

Good News From The War On Terror 3/31-4/2

Iraqi Army, MND-B Soldiers kill 7, detain 4 criminals

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers engaged and killed 7 criminals in separate engagements March 30.

At approximately 12:10 p.m., Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, were conducting a route clearing operation when the vehicle they were traveling in was struck by an improvised explosive device in eastern Baghdad. 

After the IED strike, Soldiers were attacked by small-arms fire as they secured the damaged vehicles and prepared to move. Soldiers returned fire and killed five criminals. No Soldiers were injured.

Two other vehicles were also struck by IEDs within ten minutes of the first strike.

At approximately 6:45 p.m., Iraqi Army soldiers from 7th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division were attacked by small-arms fire in southeastern Baghdad. The Soldiers returned fire and killed two criminals and detained four others.

 

Coalition forces destroy 24 weapons caches near Baqouba Forces also uncover 12 booby-trapped homes, bunkers, hideouts

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed three terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda in Iraq and uncovered two dozen weapons caches during a five-day operation targeting bomb-making cells in the Diyala River Valley.

Coalition forces discovered 12 house-borne improvised explosive devices (HBIED) and anti-aircraft weapons while patrolling an area near Khan Bani Sa’ad Mar. 23 to 28 that had been used as a safe area by terrorists.

During the operation, one terrorist was observed hiding in an area of reeds.  The assault force repeatedly instructed the individual to come out but he refused to comply with the ground forces’ instructions. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged the terrorist and killed him.  Another suspect, hiding in a similar area, was detained when he followed instructions to surrender.

Surveillance teams observed two armed men digging in the road. Intelligence indicated the men were digging up a weapons cache and they were removing weaponry from the cache when, perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged and killed the terrorists.  Two other suspected terrorists were wounded in the gun battle and were detained, treated on site and then taken to military medical facilities for further treatment.

Residents of the area told the ground force that al-Qaeda in Iraq had forced Shia families out of their homes and advised other locals to stay out of the houses.  Other residents reported family members had been murdered within the previous 24 hours.  Residents also guided Coalition forces to the body of an alleged terrorist and said many more bodies were buried in the area.

The HBIEDs had each marked on the outside with a bloody handprint or other markings.  Coalition forces moved residents to a safe area and called in supporting fixed-wing aircraft to destroy the booby-trapped houses.

Hidden near one fighting position, Coalition forces found anti-aircraft weapons, ammunition and vehicles with mounts for the weapons.  In another area, terrorists had hidden vehicles prepared as car bombs and placed two IEDs along the road.

Coalition forces also discovered weapons caches, bunkers and hidden fighting positions, some of which were reinforced with concrete.  The caches contained rockets, mortar rounds and launching devices, bomb-making materials, weapons and ammunition.  The ground force also found several Iraqi police and military uniforms, body armor, license plates and other documents.  A Coalition explosives team safely destroyed the caches on site.

 

Iraqi Special Operations Forces kill 14 criminals in Basra

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Special Operation Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, killed 14 criminals March 31.

The operation was directed by senior Iraqi leaders in the port city of Basra.

The ISOF planned and conducted the mission to capture and arrest the criminals in an abandoned school.

According to recent intelligence information, these criminals planted improvised explosive devices along the roads leading to the school.

They also set up defensive fighting positions around the facility.

The school was a staging point for armed assaults against Iraqi Security Forces as well as a storage facility for illegal weapons, ammunition and explosives.

The ISOF received small arms fire throughout the operation. Both ISOF and U.S. SF returned fire while a Coalition aircraft provided additional requested close-air support. During the operation, 14 armed individuals were killed.

While clearing buildings next to the school, ISOF also found and released six ISF members who were being held at the compound.

 

15 caches, IED factory discovered in northern Iraq

TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army and Coalition force Soldiers discovered 15 weapons caches and an improvised explosive device factory in northern Iraq April 1.

The weapons and ammunition discovered included one 155mm and three 120mm rounds, one 122mm Illumination round, 14 107mm rockets, 58 82mm and 12 60mm mortars, along with other small-arms munitions.

More than 60 pounds of explosives and improvised explosive device making materials were also discovered among the caches, while the IED factory contained more than 3,500 pounds of additional explosives.

The caches were found in both Diyala and Salah ad Din Provinces, and the IED factory was discovered in Ninewah.

 

Coalition forces detain 12 suspected terrorists

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces detained a dozen suspected terrorists today while targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, including the propaganda and suicide bombing networks.

Coalition forces captured three suspected terrorists, two of whom are believed to facilitate the movement of foreign terrorists into Iraq, during operations in Baghdad and Qayyarah. East of Taji, Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – senior leaders and detained two suspected terrorists.

Coalition forces targeted the same Baghdad car-bombing network targeted during operations Tuesday and captured two more suspected terrorists. Farther north, Coalition forces continued operations against the AQI propaganda network. Two suspected terrorists were detained in Mosul, and three were detained northwest of Samarra.

New Absolut Vodka Ad, Mexico Conquers America

A new Absolut vodka ad in Mexico shows Mexico taking over the West and Southwest.

The latest advertising campaign in Mexico from Swedish vodka maker Absolut promises to push all the right buttons south of the U.S. border, but it could ruffle a few feathers in El Norte.

The billboard and press campaign, created by advertising agency Teran\TBWA  and now running in Mexico, is a colorful map depicting what the Americas might look like in an "Absolut" -- i.e., perfect -- world.

The U.S.-Mexico border lies where it was before the Mexican-American war of 1848 when California, as we now know it, was Mexican territory and known as Alta California.

Following the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo saw the Mexican territories of Alta California and Santa Fé de Nuevo México ceded to the United States to become modern-day California, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. (Texas actually split from Mexico several years earlier to form a breakaway republic, and was voluntarily annexed by the United States in 1846.)

The campaign taps into the national pride of Mexicans, according to Favio Ucedo, creative director of leading Latino advertising agency Grupo Gallegos in the U.S.

Ucedo, who is from Argentina, said: “Mexicans talk about how the Americans stole their land, so this is their way of reclaiming it. It’s very relevant and the Mexicans will love the idea.”

But he said that were the campaign to run in the United States, it might fall flat.

 

Who needs Absolut when there is plenty of other vodkas, including some made in the United States. Skyy, Blue Ice, Shakers, 360, and Tito's are just a few.

San Francisco Scams The Federal Government, Gets Busted

A city which is more than 500 miles from the Mexican border requested grant money for Southwest bordering states to fight the war on drugs. The requirement for the grant is that the cities must prosecute drug cases referred to them by the federal gov't. San Francisco claimed to have handled 2,241 of these cases, yet a federal audit finds that they had ZERO. Now, the fed's want their money back. It should be with interest. As a sanctuary city, San Francisco deserves every ill that comes with illegal immigration.

The U.S. Department of Justice wants San Francisco to repay $5.4 million in grant money earmarked to help fight the war on drugs in states bordering Mexico because federal auditors found the city was not eligible for the funding.

San Francisco had sought the grant under the Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative, which compensates law enforcement agencies in California and other border states for the costs of handling prosecutions in lieu of federal authorities.

As of March of last year, the city claimed it had handled more than 2,241 such cases, but a federal audit released this week found that none of the cases had been referred by federal officials to District Attorney Kamala Harris' office as required under the program.

NATO Allows Missile Defense Shield, Denies Membership To Fmr. Soviet Countries

NATO has contradicted itself by denying Ukraine and Georgia membership because they didn't want to stir-up tensions with Russia.

NATO leaders promised Ukraine and Georgia on Thursday they would one day join the Western defense alliance after rebuffing U.S. demands to put the former Soviet republics on an immediate path to membership.

Germany, France and smaller NATO states withstood pressure from U.S. President George W. Bush to offer the two countries a Membership Action Plan (MAP), a first step towards entry, saying neither was ready and such a move would risk provoking Russia.

But NATO leaders softened the blow by making a vaguer pledge to invite the two to join the alliance at some point in the future and saying former Cold War foe Moscow should have no influence on membership decisions.

 

Yet, they approve the missile defense shield for Poland and Czech Republic, which will stir-up tensions with Russia.

President Bush won NATO's endorsement Thursday for his plan to build a missile defense system in Europe over Russian objections. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called it a "breakthrough agreement" for the military alliance.

"Now it is clearly understood in the alliance that the challenges of the 21st century, the threats of the 21st century, make it necessary to have missile defense that can defend the countries of Europe," Rice told reporters at the NATO summit.

Progress on missile defense represented perhaps the biggest boon to Bush from the NATO summit. Russia has fiercely opposed it.

Rice also noted that NATO has "also asked Russia to stop its criticism of the alliance effort and to join in the cooperative efforts that have been offered to it by the United States."

A NATO statement calls on the alliance to explore ways in which the planned U.S. project, to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic, can be linked with future missile shields elsewhere. It says leaders should come up with recommendations to be considered at their next meeting in 2009.

The U.S. plan calls for 10 interceptor missiles based in Poland and a tracking radar site in the Czech Republic.

Good News From The War On Terror 3/29-30

MND-B Soldiers target criminals; 23 killed

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers engaged and killed 23 criminals in separate engagements in Baghdad March 28.

Soldiers from 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), killed one criminal in northeastern Baghdad after seeing the individual with a rocket propelled grenade launcher in an alleyway during a patrol.

At approximately 4 p.m., a 3rd BCT, 4th Infantry Division vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in northeastern Baghdad. A number of criminals then fired on the soldiers while they attempted to recover the vehicle. Soldiers spotted and engaged two of the attackers, killing them both.

Iraqi security forces and Coalition soldiers were attacked during the early evening at a checkpoint in northwestern Baghdad. An air weapons team was called in to assist the ground force. The air weapons team fired one hellfire missile from the helicopter, targeting 10 criminals who were armed with RPG launchers and automatic weapons. All 10 were killed in the engagement.

Soldiers from 4th BCT, 1st Infantry Div., were attacked with small arms fire in southern Baghdad while on a combat patrol later in the evening. Soldiers returned fire in self defense, killing nine terrorists.

An hour later, a criminal armed with an RPG launcher attacked soldiers from 2-101 Abn. Div., striking an M1A1 Abrams. Soldiers spotted the terrorist and killed him in an exchange of gun fire.

 

MND-B Soldiers kill 9 supporting ISF

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers supported Iraq Security Forces operations around Sadr City March 28-29.

The two operations resulted in 9 terrorists killed.

During checkpoint inspections at approximately 11 p.m., March 28, militants attacked Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division with small-arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. The Soldiers returned fire and killed seven.

At approximately 1 a.m., Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division identified two roadside bomb emplacers. The Soldiers killed the emplacers in an exchange of gun fire.

 

Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces patrol attacked; 13 criminal fighters killed

BAGHDAD – A patrol consisting of 8th Iraqi Army Division Scouts and U.S. Special Forces Soldiers was attacked by criminal elements in southeastern Suwayrah March 29. Iraqi and U.S. Forces repelled the attack, killing 13 enemy fighters.

Iraqi and U.S. Forces conducted a presence patrol in Suwayrah. During the patrol, an Iraqi woman approached the patrol and told them a criminal member lived in a nearby house. Iraqi and U.S. Forces searched the house, finding nine rocket propelled grenades and criminal propaganda.

Shortly after continuing their patrol, a U.S. SF Soldier identified six armed individuals exiting a cargo truck, posturing to attack the patrol with RPGs. The U.S. SF Soldier immediately engaged the individuals as Iraqi and U.S. vehicles maneuvered to gain a tactical advantage. At this time, the patrol began to receive small arms and RPG fire from another location.

Iraqi and U.S. Forces continued to maneuver and after a short firefight, neutralized the enemy threat.

Shortly after continuing their patrol, Iraqi and U.S. Forces were again attacked by hostile forces with small arms and RPG fire. The patrol engaged and neutralized the threat.

Approximately 45 minutes later, the patrol received small-arms fire and observed an individual armed with an RPG positioning to attack the patrol. Iraqi and U.S. Forces fired to suppress enemy small arms-fire and the individual with the RPG.

In addition to the 13 enemy fighters killed, two cargo trucks were destroyed.

 

Iraqi Special Operations Forces engage, kill 22 in Basra

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces engaged and killed several criminal fighters in Basra March 29.

The operation was conducted in support of the Government of Iraq’s efforts to secure and stabilize the city.

The ISOF conducted the operation in a known criminal stronghold in western Basra to disrupt criminal activities and capture criminal leaders.

En route to their target, the ISOF were engaged multiple times by small arms and rocket propelled grenades. Upon arrival at the target, and under fire, the ground assault force entered a building and killed four enemy fighters. Ground forces cleared the structure, finding two women and five children who were unharmed.

While at the target location, ISOF came under enemy fire from ground level and roof-top locations. They killed two enemy fighters on an apartment roof.

While engaged with hostile forces, ISOF and a supporting U.S. Special Forces team identified additional armed criminal elements in the area.

A supporting Coalition forces aircraft identified enemy forces on three roof-tops and engaged with precision gunfire after being cleared by ground forces. Initial reports indicate 16 criminal fighters were killed.

 

MND-B Soldiers kill 11 in Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers engaged and killed 11 criminals in separate engagements in Baghdad March 29.

An MND-B aerial weapons team killed a criminal after a ground patrol was attacked by SAF in eastern Baghdad at approximately noon.

In another incident, Soldiers from 2nd BCT, 101st Airborne Division, killed a criminal fighter after the patrol observed the combatant emplacing a mortar tube in northwestern Baghdad at approximately noon.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, killed a criminal after the patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire in eastern Baghdad.

MND-B Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, killed six criminals after their patrol was attacked by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in eastern Baghdad at approximately 4 p.m.

In an earlier event Soldiers from 4th BCT, 10th Mtn., Div., killed two criminals in eastern Baghdad after their patrol was attacked by small-arms fire at approximately 3:30 pm.

China Turns Over Iran Nuke Intel To IAEA

The Iranians must have ticked-off the Chinese for them to turn over intelligence about Iran's nuclear weapons program. Of course, I won't be holding my breath for something to come out it.

China gave the International Atomic Energy Agency intelligence about Iran's nuclear program despite Beijing's opposition to harsh U.N. Security Council sanctions on Tehran, according to diplomats familiar with the matter.

China and Russia have acted as a brake within the Security Council, consistently watering down a U.S.-led push to impose severe penalties on Tehran. A Chinese decision to provide information for a probe into Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program could be a sign of growing international unease about the Islamic republic's denials that it never tried to make nuclear weapons.

The new development was revealed to The Associated Press by two senior diplomats who closely follow the IAEA probe of Iran's nuclear program.

The IAEA declined comment and no one answered the phone Wednesday at either the Chinese or Iranian missions to the IAEA.

The diplomats — who requested anonymity because their information was confidential — said China was the most surprising of a substantial list of nations that have recently forwarded information that could be relevant in attempts to probe past or present nuclear weapons research by Iran.

Good News From The War On Terror 3/27-28

24 terrorists killed in Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers killed 24 terrorists March 26 in Baghdad.

Soldiers combined with their Iraqi counterparts to conduct precision, intelligence-based operations in the capital. These terrorists and militant elements were increasing their attacks against civilians, the Government of Iraq, and Iraqi and U.S. security forces.

Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, killed a terrorist during rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire attacks on a checkpoint in eastern Baghdad at approximately noon.

Abna al-Iraq, or Sons of Iraq, killed a terrorist approximately 4:30 p.m.

The SOI apprehended the man northwest of Baghdad. The terrorist had admitted to killing an MND-B Soldier earlier in the day and then tried to escape custody. As the terrorist attempted to escape, he was shot. Coalition forces performed medical care on the scene, but he died of wounds.

National Policemen from 5th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division killed one terrorist at approximately 5 p.m. after he fired at their guard tower with SAF in southern Baghdad.

At 7:45 p.m., an MND-B air weapons team positively identified 20 to 30 terrorists moving north of Baghdad. They received clearance to fire and killed four terrorists.

Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, killed six terrorists in southern Baghdad at approximately 8 p.m. after coming under attack from SAF and RPGs.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, killed one terrorist after he attacked a joint combat patrol with SAF in eastern Baghdad.

Another air weapons team killed five terrorists armed with RPGs and RPK rifles in eastern Baghdad at approximately 11 p.m. Several improvised-explosive devices had been emplaced in the immediate vicinity of the terrorists’ location in the past week.

An air weapons team killed two terrorists at 11:30 p.m. after Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment were attacked from a building in northeastern Baghdad.

Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, with assistance from an air weapons team, killed three terrorists.

They also wounded and detained another at approximately 11:30 p.m. in western Baghdad. The terrorists attacked the Soldiers with RPGs and SAF.

In the last 24 hours, militants and terrorists conducted ten indirect fire attacks, ten attacks against civilians and 47 attacks against ISF and CF.

 

Coalition forces kill five terrorists, capture car bomb cell leader

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces conducted operations throughout Iraq Tuesday and Wednesday targeting suspected terrorists who are believed to be associated with al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leadership and others suspected of organizing suicide bombings for the terrorist group.

In Tikrit, intelligence sources led Coalition forces to a building and called for the occupants to come out. When the occupants did not comply, the ground force approached the building and came under a heavy small-arms attack. Coalition forces called in supporting aircraft to suppress the fire. Numerous large secondary explosions came from the building, indicating stored weapons or explosives, ultimately destroying it.

In the northern part of the country, intelligence reports led Coalition forces to Mosul where they captured an alleged terrorist suspected to be a suicide bomb cell leader with strong ties to terrorists in that area. He is believed to have a role in recent suicide attacks in Mosul. Coalition forces also detained two other suspected terrorists in that operation.

West of Samarra Tuesday, Coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists during an operation targeting associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.

 

ISF, CF defend checkpoint, kill 8 militants

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers killed eight militants after they were attacked at an Iraqi Army checkpoint with rocket propelled grenades and small-arms fire in northern Baghdad at approximately 2:30 p.m. March 27.

An MND-B aerial weapons team provided air support and engaged the terrorists, killing eight.

 

Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces engage criminal elements in Hillah, al-Kut

BALAD, Iraq – Hillah’s Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics unit, advised by U.S. Special Forces, engaged Special Groups criminals in Hillah, killing 14 and wounding 20 March 26.

Criminals armed with AK-47 assault rifles, rocket propelled grenades and automatic machine guns attacked two companies of Hillah SWAT as they were securing a road intersection. As a firefight developed, a U.S. Special Forces team arrived and, fighting alongside SWAT, began engaging the armed individuals.

The criminal group broke contact after delivering intense RPG and automatic weapons fire, and was seen by an Air Weapons Team regrouping in three groups of 20 to 30 men near a mosque.

The AWT, from 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, reported the armed individuals were maneuvering back toward SWAT and the U.S. SF team, and, due to the hostile intent of the act, engaged the threat from the air.

One Hellfire missile was fired, killing five.

After the strike, the AWT reported the remaining group of individuals dispersed and were no longer a threat.

Also March 26 in Al Kut, an Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics unit advised by U.S. SF conducted a combined presence patrol to counter recent violence in the area.

The patrol took small-arms and RPG fire in the Old Izza and Karamiyah districts.

Both times, the patrol returned fire suppressing the enemy fighters.

As the patrol left the Old Izza and Karamiyah districts, they linked up with Iraqi Police and 8th Division Iraqi Army Scouts.

The group then patrolled the Sharkiyah district, also receiving small-arms fire from a vehicle with four armed individuals.

The patrol engaged the vehicle, killing two individuals.

After eliminating the threat in the area, the patrol departed for the Al Kut SWAT headquarters and was attacked by an improvised explosive device. One vehicle was damaged, but the attacks resulted in no injuries.

The Al Kut patrol killed 11 enemy fighters.

 

Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition forces target terrorists, kill 26

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers killed 26 terrorists during operations March 27 in Baghdad.

While patrolling in Adhamiyah, soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment were attacked by small arms fire. The soldiers returned fire in self-defense, killing five terrorists and wounding an additional five terrorists. The wounded were treated and detained by Iraqi National Police.

Later, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, reported receiving indirect fire at a combat outpost in New Baghdad, and immediately following the initial attack, soldiers were attacked with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Coalition forces returned fire and killed two terrorists.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, also came under a small arms fire attack while patrolling north of Baghdad. One terrorist was killed in the engagement.

Soldiers from 2-16 Inf. Regt. killed three terrorists in New Baghdad. The ground force was conducting a dismounted patrol when they saw the suspects, who were armed with illegal weapons. Perceiving hostile intent, the soldiers engaged the men, killing three.

Soldiers from 1-2 SCR were attacked by small arms fire by two terrorists while patrolling on the outskirts of Sadr City. An air weapons team in a rotary wing aircraft conducting surveillance positively identified the terrorists and killed them.

In Kadhamiyah, Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, were attacked while manning a checkpoint in the area. An air weapons team flying a rotary wing aircraft was called in to assist the ground force. The air weapons team fired one hellfire missile was fired, killing three terrorists. Thirty minutes later, the checkpoint came under a second, heavier attack by terrorists. The air weapons team engaged with 30mm rounds, killing an additional 10 terrorists.

 

Coalition targets al-Qaeda financial and suicide bombing networks; two terrorists killed, 17 suspects detained

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 17 suspects during operations today targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq elements in central and northern parts of the country.

Using intelligence gained from an operation Mar. 18, Coalition forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – financial manager in Tuz Khurmatu. One man at the target building refused to comply with the ground forces’ instructions and surrender.  Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged the man, killing him. In the same area, an armed man barricaded himself in a building and engaged the ground force with small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned fire in self-defense, killing the armed terrorist. Six suspects were detained during the operation.

In a related operation in Tuz Khurmatu, Iraqi and Coalition forces caught a suspected leader in a suicide bombing cell. The individual was allegedly planning attacks on Sons of Iraq groups near Baqouba.

In Baghdad, Coalition forces conducted two precision operations, capturing a suspected car bomber and an individual allegedly tied to AQI senior leaders.

Coalition forces north of Bayji captured a suspected terrorist who allegedly coordinates and conducts bombing attacks. Intelligence reports indicate he and his associates are responsible for attacks in the Bayji and Sharqat areas.

Coalition forces continued to target associates of AQI senior leaders in Mosul, detaining seven suspected terrorists during coordinated operations in the city.

 

MND-B Soldiers kill 13 terrorists

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers engaged and killed 13 terrorists in separate engagements in Baghdad March 28.

At approximately 4 a.m., terrorists attacked Soldiers from the 237th Engineer Battalion using small-arms fire in eastern Baghdad. An air weapons team responded. The AWT engaged the enemy forces and killed four terrorists.

At approximately 7 a.m., Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, positively identified men in a vehicle armed with rocket-propelled grenades in Adhamiyah a district in northeast Baghdad. An air weapons team identified the vehicle. The AWT destroyed the vehicle, killing two terrorists.

At approximately 10 a.m., a 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division M1126 Stryker vehicle struck an improvised-explosive device in northeast Baghdad. Soldiers observed the terrorist’s spotter. He was killed in an exchange of fire. No MND-B Soldiers were injured in the attack.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., a terrorist attacked Iraqi Security and Coalition forces with small-arms fire in Kadamiyah, a district in northwest Baghdad.

Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, returned fire and killed the attacker. One Soldier suffered minor wounds in the attack.

Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, killed five terrorists after an attack on their patrol by a rocket-propelled grenade at approximately noon in New Baghdad, a district in eastern Baghdad.

 

Coalition targets terrorist leaders, propaganda network; eight killed, 17 detained

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives and leaders Thursday, killing eight terrorists and detaining 17 suspects during ground operations and an air strike in northern Iraq.

Intelligence confirmed the location of a targeted individual reported to be the al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – leader of a local village operating in a remote area of the Hamrin Mountains southwest of Tuz. The targeted individual and six other armed men were observed conducting suspicious activities in the area. Supporting fixed-wing aircraft were called to conduct an air strike, which killed all seven terrorists.

Coalition forces continued to target the AQI propaganda network, after intelligence reports led a Coalition ground force to a building west of Samarra. When the ground force requested that occupants exit the targeted building, two men exited the building, but refused to follow Coalition forces’ instructions and demonstrated hostile intent. Subsequently, coalition forces engaged one man, killing him. The other man then complied and was detained with nine additional suspected terrorists.

Two operations in the Mosul area targeted associates of AQI leaders. A precision operation in the city yielded the capture of a suspected terrorist believed to be associated with AQI senior leaders in the area. Southwest of Mosul, Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists during an operation targeting associates of AQI senior leaders.

 

MND-B Soldiers destroy rocket site, kill 12 terrorists

BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Division – Baghdad aerial weapons team engaged and destroyed a terrorist rocket site after observing several terrorists removing rocket rails from an attack site in eastern Baghdad March 28.

After observing the terrorists flee the scene, the aerial weapons team destroyed the attack site, followed the terrorists and destroyed a get-away vehicle which contained rockets in the trunk.

In a separate attack in eastern Baghdad, MND-B Soldiers killed two terrorists after their patrol was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire at approximately 4 p.m.

In a third attack in eastern Baghdad, MND-B Soldiers killed ten terrorists after a joint security station was attacked by small-arms fire.

There were no Coalition force or Iraqi civilian casualties as a result of these attacks.

Fitna Debuts And Muslims Seethe

For those of you that don't know, "Fitna" is a movie exposing Islam. As you can imagine, several companies refused to produce this movie for fear of terrorist reprisals. It spread across the internet quickly and almost as fast, is being shut down.

The movie was released on internet video sharing service Live Leak on March 27th. Since then, Live Leak has decided to remove the movie after significant threats to their staff.

Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, Liveleak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers.

This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to place the safety and well being of our staff above all else. We would like to thank the thousands of people, from all backgrounds and religions, who gave us their support. They realised LiveLeak.com is a vehicle for many opinions and not just for the support of one.

Perhaps there is still hope that this situation may produce a discussion that could benefit and educate all of us as to how we can accept one anothers culture.

We stood for what we believe in, the ability to be heard, but in the end the price was too high.

Some had already snagged the Live Leak copy and uploaded to YouTube. It has already been flagged and will be removed shortly. If you want to watch it, you better act quick.

Fitna Part I

Fitna Part II

You will need to create a profile (if you haven't already) and log in.

Should the videos be removed, I have them saved on my computer. I haven't decided if I'm going to upload the videos here. I received a healthy response to my "Islamo-fascists gone wild" post featuring the dreaded cartoons of blasphemy and I'm not sure I want to deal with that again.

If anyone would like a copy and has broadband, you can leave a comment here or use the email button on the right. Leaving a comment gives me your email address that is only viewable by me.

***UPDATE 03/31/08 1:44PM***

After upgrading security, Live Leak has restored the video.