Good News From The War On Terror 4/24-4/26

AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR APRIL 23

AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR APRIL 24

AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR APRIL 25

NORTHEASTERN MILITANT KILLED IN COALITION AIR STRIKE

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Coalition aircraft killed a key northeastern Taliban leader during an air strike conducted April 20 in the Alishang District of Laghman Province. Fateh Gul Haqparast, an important militant organizer and leader with extensive ties to the Hekmatyar Gulbuddin network, as well as Taliban extremists, died during the U.S. Air Force strikes. Coalition sources described Haqparast as a significant regional Taliban leader involved in assassinations, improvised explosive device attacks and assaults on Afghan and Coalition facilities in Laghman and Kapisa provinces. The militant leader orchestrated attacks against the Mehtar Lam Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Alishang District Center as well as bombings of civilian and military targets.

AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ SECURITY EMIR KILLED

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces positively identified a terrorist killed in an operation April 20 northwest of Baghdad. Muhammad Abdullah Abbas al-Issawi, also known as Abu Abd al-Sattar and Abu Akram, was a known al-Qaeda terrorist leader known to operate in Karmah and Ameriyah areas and was the al-Qaeda in Iraq Security Emir of the eastern Anbar Province. Coalition Forces were conducting operations targeting associates of a known senior leader within al-Qaeda in Iraq. During the operation the terrorists engaged ground forces with small arms fire. Coalition Forces used appropriate self-defense measures and engaged the armed men, killing two and detaining one. One of the terrorists killed has been positively identified as Abu Abd al-Sattar. Coalition Forces recovered assault vests, weapons, hand grenades and suicide vests at the site. Abu Abd al-Sattar had links to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and was reported to have been in contact with him since late 2004, up to al-Zarqawi's death. He was also a weapons supplier to insurgent forces fighting against the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police and Coalition Forces, and had links to the recent surge in chlorine VBIED attacks across Iraq. Intelligence reports also indicate that his VBIED cell used 12- to 13-year-old children as VBIED drivers.

HAND OVER OF SHAIBAH LOGISTICS BASE TO THE IRAQI ARMY

Basra, Iraq - Shaibah Logistics Base on the outskirts of Basra City was handed to the Iraqi Army on 24 Apr 07. This follows the handover of the Old State Building (20 Mar) and the Shatt al-Arab Hotel (8 Apr) (both in Basra City) and forms part of an undertaking made by the UK Prime Minister in February 2007. The handover ceremony was held in Camp DANEVANG, part of the Shaibah Logistics Base and was attended by General Habib - the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 10th Division Iraqi Army, Brigadier Paul Jaques- Commander Force Support, Multi-National Division (South East) (representing the GOC) and Colonel Kim B. Petersen - Commander of the Danish Battalion. A flag changing ceremony signified the formal handover of the camp which will become the home of 10th Division's newly formed 5th Brigade and its Divisional Training Centre.

10 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED, CACHE FOUND

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 10 suspected terrorists and uncovered a cache of weapons in several operations in central Iraq Tuesday. Three coordinated Coalition Forces raids apprehended 10 individuals suspected of operating with al-Qaeda in Iraq and facilitating foreign fighters southeast of Fallujah. In Baghdad, Coalition Forces discovered a weapons cache containing rockets, mortars, terrorist propaganda and improvised explosive device-making materials. Explosive ordnance disposal teams neutralized the cache.

THREE TERRORISTS KILLED DURING OPERATIONS IN SADR CITY

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists Thursday morning during an operation in Sadr City targeting a network that trains terrorists for operations in Iraq. Four armed terrorists engaged Coalition Forces with small arms fire, and Coalition Forces exercised proper self-defense measures, killing one. A vehicle approached Coalition Forces during the engagement, which occurred during curfew hours. Vehicle movement is not allowed during curfew, and Coalition Forces disabled the vehicle. The vehicle caught fire and the two occupants ran into a nearby building. Four more armed terrorists entered the area and hid behind a stationary vehicle while they engaged Coalition Forces with small arms fire. Coalition Forces returned fire with automatic weapons, killing two terrorists and destroying the vehicle.

CCCI Convicts 41, Sentences 4 to death, 3 to life imprisonment

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) convicted 41 individuals from April 1 - 14, for violations of the Iraqi Terrorist Law, Penal Code and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Orders enforced by the Iraqi judiciary. The trial court sentenced an individual to death April 4 after being found guilty of violating Article 4/1 of the Iraqi Terrorist Law. The individual was also convicted of violating Article 24 of the Iraqi Penal Code for crossing the border illegally and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for that offense. Iraqi Police captured the individual July 16, 2005 with a suicide vest made up of explosives, a trigger device, battery and ball bearings. The individual admitted he was in Iraq to kill Americans. The CCCI sentenced a self-admitted member of the 20th Century Revolutionary Brigade and a foreign fighter to death April 10 after being found guilty of violation of Article 4/1 of the Iraqi Terrorist Law for participating and planning terrorist operations. The convicted individuals were captured by Multi-National Forces Aug. 31, 2006. The 20th Century Revolutionary Brigade member admitted to personally participating in four mortar attacks on the International Zone and two mortar attacks near Baghdad Airport. The member also admitted to providing refuge for foreign fighters. A self-admitted Al Qaeda cell leader was sentenced to death by CCCI April 11 for violating Article 4/1 of the Iraqi Terrorist Law for planning and participating in terrorist operations. The individual admitted to being an Al Qaeda cell leader and to rigging a house with explosives targeting Multi-National Forces. Three individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment for violating Article 4/1 of Iraqi Terrorist Law and 14 individuals were sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possession of illegal weapons. Ten other individuals were convicted for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possession of illegal weapons, and were sentenced to six to ten years imprisonment. Four individuals were convicted of violating Article 4/1 of the Iraqi Terrorist Law and were sentenced to ten to 20 years imprisonment. One individual was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code, organizing, heading, leading or joining an armed group. One individual was sentenced to 15 years for violation of Article 10/1/A of the Iraqi Passport Law. One individual was awarded two sentences to be served consecutively, one for five years for violating Article 292 of the Iraqi Penal Code for using or taking advantage of someone’s legal documents and the other for three years for violating Article 298 of the Iraqi Penal Code, illegal use of documents. One individual was convicted of violating CPA Order 27/3, illegal weapons possession and was sentenced to one year imprisonment. Another individual was sentenced to six years for violating Article 292 of the Iraqi Penal Code for using or taking advantage of someone’s legal document. CCCI also convicted another individual and sentenced him to two years for violating Article 298 of the Iraqi Penal Code for illegal use of documents. Since its establishment under an amendment to CPA Order 13, in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 2,084 trials for suspected criminals apprehended by Coalition Forces. The Iraqi Court proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,788 individuals with sentences ranging from imprisonment to death.

Maysan security now in Iraqi hands

CAMP SPARROWHAWK — Iraq passed another important milestone on the road toward self-reliance when the security of another province was transferred to Iraqi control at a ceremony here April 18. Maysan province, the fourth of 18 Iraqi provinces to be transferred to Iraqi control from the Coalition Force, lies within the British-led Multi-National Division-South East area of operations.

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Military, Terrorists, Insurgents

172 Militants Planning Attack On Saudi Oil Fields Arrested

FOXNews.com

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia  —  Police have arrested 172 militants who were plotting to attack Saudi Arabia's oil fields, storm its prisons to free the inmates and use aircraft in their attacks, the Interior Ministry said in a statement Friday. The militants planned to carry out suicide attacks against "public figures, oil facilities, refineries ... and military zones." The statement said some of the military targets were outside the kingdom, but it did not elaborate. Some of the militants were being trained to fly aircraft in their attacks, the statement added, raising the spectre of more attacks like Sept. 11, 2001 in which Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked passenger planes and flew them into buildings in New York and Washington. These militants had been "sent to other countries to study flying in preparation for using them to carry out terrorist attacks inside the kingdom," the statement said. The Saudi state TV channel Al-Ekhbariah broadcast footage of a large quantity of weapons discovered buried in the desert. The arms included AK-47 rifles and other rifles, brickettes of plastic explosives, AK-47 magazines, handguns and rifles wrapped in plastic sheeting.

The Saudi's created this monster and now they are unable to control it. Wahhabism is the "reform" of the Islamic religion. It's the religion that creates animals like Osama Bin Laden. The Saudi's have actively spread this religion to other parts of the world, including the United States. They spend millions of dollars per year on literature and building mosques for this extremist religion.

 

Technorati tags: Saudi Arabia, Terrorist, Oil, Wahhabism, Islam

Senate Dems Pass Surrender Bill; Time For Veto

Al-Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In an unprecedented slap at President George W. Bush's war policy, the U.S. Congress on Thursday approved legislation that links withdrawal of combat troops to paying for the war, ensuring a certain veto. Nonetheless, by a vote of 51-46, the Senate joined the House of Representatives in backing the hotly contested bill that would provide about $100 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year while setting a deadline to withdraw U.S. forces over the next 11 months.

The Defeat-ocrats have once again turned their back on the country. They are soiling the sacrifices of our men and women who died or were injured. They are basically saying, your risk was for nothing because we won't wait for the final result.

I have several friends and family that have served in Iraq, thankfully all of them returned safe. Another is currently in his second deployment and I wish for him to return safely as well. None of them "wanted" to go, but they want to be successful and complete the mission.

Here is the roll call vote from the Senate:

Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Byrd (D-WV) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Clinton (D-NY) Conrad (D-ND) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL)

Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA) Hagel (R-NE) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lincoln (D-AR) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD)

Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Obama (D-IL) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Salazar (D-CO) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Smith (R-OR) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR)

As you can see, it was a party line vote with two traitors giving Yes votes. Hagel is no surprise though. He always was and always will be a RINO. It's interesting to note that three senators did not vote. They were, Graham (R-SC), Johnson (D-SD), and McCain (R-AZ). I would like to point out that the worthless senator McCain didn't vote! This man wants to be president and he can't even bother to vote on something as important as this! He truly is pathetic.

Technorati tags: Republicans, Democrats, Iraq, War on Terror, Roll Call, Appropriations, Retreat, Surrender

Democrats Pass Retreat Bill

FOXNews.com

WASHINGTON —  A sharply divided House brushed aside a veto threat Wednesday and passed legislation that would order President Bush to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq by Oct. 1. The 218-208 vote came as the top U.S. commander in Iraq told lawmakers the country remained gripped by violence but was showing some signs of improvement. Passage puts the bill on track to clear Congress by week's end and arrive on the president's desk in coming days as the first binding congressional challenge to Bush's handling of the conflict now in its fifth year. "Our troops are mired in a civil war with no clear enemy and no clear strategy for success," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Republicans promised to stand squarely behind the president in rejecting what they called a "surrender date" handed to the enemy. "Al-Qaida will view this as the day the House of Representatives threw in the towel," said Rep. Jerry Lewis of California, ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee.

This will give those pathetic losers one of their two choices for defeat in Iraq. If Bush veto's the bill, which he has said he will, they will get Murtha's "Slow Bleed" defeat. If he doesn't veto, they get the "Cut and Run" defeat. Either way they are begging for our American military to be defeated in Iraq. I hope every single person that voted for these animals suffers because of it. If we have another attack on our soil, I hope it's at a Democrat convention.

They should be held accountable for their actions and suffer the consequences of their decision.

The following table is the YES votes for the Iraq emergency appropriations bill.

 

Abercrombie Ackerman Allen Altmire Andrews Arcuri Baca Baird Baldwin Bean Becerra Berkley Berman Berry Bishop (GA) Bishop (NY)  Blumenauer Boswell Boucher Boyd (FL) Boyda (KS) Brady (PA) Braley (IA) Brown, Corrine Butterfield Capps Capuano Cardoza Carnahan Carney Carson Castor Chandler Clarke Clay Cleaver Clyburn Cohen Conyers Cooper Costello Courtney Cramer Crowley Cuellar Cummings Davis (AL) Davis (CA) Davis (IL) DeFazio DeGette Delahunt DeLauro Dicks Dingell Doggett Donnelly Doyle Edwards Ellison Ellsworth Emanuel Engel Eshoo Etheridge Farr Fattah Filner Frank (MA) Giffords Gilchrest Gillibrand Gonzalez

Gordon Green, Al Green, Gene Grijalva Gutierrez Hall (NY) Hare Harman Hastings (FL) Herseth Sandlin Higgins Hill Hinchey Hinojosa Hirono Hodes Holden Holt Honda Hooley Hoyer Inslee Israel Jackson (IL) Jackson-Lee (TX) Jefferson Johnson (GA) Johnson, E. B. Jones (NC) Jones (OH) Kagen Kanjorski Kaptur Kennedy Kildee Kilpatrick Kind Klein (FL) Langevin Lantos Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Levin Lipinski Loebsack Lofgren, Zoe Lowey Lynch Mahoney (FL) Maloney (NY) Markey Matsui McCarthy (NY) McCollum (MN) McDermott McGovern McIntyre McNerney Meehan Meek (FL) Meeks (NY) Melancon Miller (NC) Miller, George Mitchell Mollohan Moore (KS) Moore (WI) Moran (VA) Murphy (CT) Murphy,Patrick Murtha Nadler

Napolitano Neal (MA) Oberstar Obey Olver Ortiz Pallone Pascrell Pastor Payne Pelosi Perlmutter Peterson (MN) Pomeroy Price (NC) Rahall Rangel Reyes Rodriguez Ross Rothman Roybal-Allard Ruppersberger Rush Ryan (OH) Salazar Sánchez, Linda T. Sanchez, Loretta Sarbanes Schakowsky Schiff Schwartz Scott (GA) Scott (VA) Serrano Sestak Shea-Porter Sherman Shuler Sires Skelton Slaughter Smith (WA) Snyder Solis Space Spratt Stupak Sutton Tanner Tauscher Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Tierney Towns Udall (CO) Udall (NM) Van Hollen Velázquez Visclosky Walz (MN) Wasserman Schultz Watson Watt Waxman Weiner Welch (VT) Wexler Wilson (OH) Wu Wynn Yarmuth

 

All, except two, are Democrats. The traitors are Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) and Walter Jones (R-NC). I should note that some Democrats voted No on this bill, among them is Dennis Kucinich (L-OH). The L stands for Lunatic. This man has lost his mind. He voted No because he wants to pull out now. His parents should've done the same thing.

The Dems that voted No on the bill: John Barrow (D-GA), Dan Boren (D-OK), Barbara Lee (D-CA), John Lewis (D-GA), Jim Marshall (D-GA), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Gene Taylor (D-MS), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). I'm not sure how many of these Dems voted no because it was the right thing to do, or because they want an immediate retreat.

 

Technorati tags: Democrats, Iraq, War on terror, H.R. 1591, Roll Call, Appropriations, Retreat, Surrender

Charges May Be Dropped Against Haditha Marines

NewsMax.com VIA Hot Air 

This officer, described by senior Marine Corps superiors as one of the best and most dedicated intelligence officers in the entire Marine Corps, was in possession of evidence which provided a minute-by-minute narrative of the entire day's action — material which he had amassed while monitoring the day's action in his capacity as the battalion's intelligence officer. That material, he says, was also in the hands of the NCIS. Much of that evidence remains classified, but it includes videos of the entire day's action, including airstrikes against insurgent safe houses. Also included was all of the radio traffic describing the ongoing action between the men on the ground and battalion headquarters, and proof that the Marines were aware that the insurgents conducting the ambush of the Kilo Company troops were videotaping the action — the same video that after editing ended up in the hands of a gullible anti-war correspondent for Time magazine. When asked by the prosecution team to give his copies of the evidence to the prosecution, he told NewsMax.com that he was reluctant to do so, fearing it would again be suppressed or misused, but later relented when ordered by his commanding general to do so. Confronted by the massive mounds of evidence that Marine Corps sources tell NewsMax proves conclusively that the cases against the Haditha Marines are baseless, the prosecutors were forced to postpone the Article 31 against Lt. Col. Chessani and two of the enlisted men in an attempt to regroup. By granting immunity to the officer on the scene of the house-clearing effort, the prosecution, lawyers say, has further weakened its case.

I hope this is true. I think it's ridiculous that our military has to not only fight the enemy, but overzealous lawyers and the media. I thought it was odd when this whole Haditha bit surfaced that no one was defending the Marines. About a month ago, one of the Marines did an interview on 60 minutes. What he had to say made more sense than what they are accused of.

I posted the interview on March 16. Here is the interview: Haditha Marine Speaks Publicly

 

Technorati tags: Haditha, Marines

Pelosi Won't Attend Iraq Briefing

ABC News

WASHINGTON, Apr. 24, 2007— As the House and Senate prepare to vote this week on the final conference report on the $124 billion troop funding bill — which would also mandate that U.S. combat troops begin withdrawing from Iraq on Oct. 1 at the latest — Gen. David Petraeus is scheduled to come to the Hill tomorrow to brief lawmakers on the progress of the recent troop escalation. ABC News has learned, however, that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will not attend the briefing.

What would the General know that Pelosi hasn't already heard about from CNN or MSNBC? They already know how things are, there's no reason to believe the man in charge of the Iraq phase of the War on Terror. Of course she could be just like "Dingy" Harry Reid and say it doesn't matter what Gen. Petraeus says, the "War is Lost".

 

Technorati tags: Pelosi, Reid, Petraeus, Iraq, War on Terror, Democrats

Airmen MIA From Vietnam War Are Identified

DefenseLink News Release

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Col. Norman D. Eaton, of Weatherford, Okla., and Lt. Col. Paul E. Getchell, of Portland, Maine, both U.S. Air Force. Eaton will be buried April 25 at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., and Getchell will be buried later this spring at Arlington. On Jan. 13, 1969, Eaton and Getchell crewed a B-57B Canberra bomber participating in a nighttime attack on targets in Salavan Province, Laos. The target area was illuminated by flares from a C-130 aircraft; however, the flares dimmed as the B-57 began its third bombing run on the target. The crew was low on fuel, but decided to continue the attack run without illumination. The C-130 crew received a radio transmission indicating that the B-57 was off target and seconds later, the plane crashed. Eaton and Getchell could not be recovered at the time of the incident. In 1995, a joint U.S.-Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated the incident and interviewed a Laotian citizen who recalled the crash. Another joint U.S.-L.P.D.R. team surveyed the site and found wreckage and crew-related materials consistent with the citizen’s report.    In 2003, a joint U.S.-L.P.D.R. team excavated the crash site and recovered Eaton’s identification tag. The team was unable to complete the recovery and subsequent teams re-visited the site five more times between 2004 and 2005 before the recovery was complete. As a result, the teams found Getchell’s identification tag, human remains and additional crew-related items.         Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains.

It's sad that these brave men died during combat, but at least the families can now have some closure and a proper burial.

 

Technorati tags: Missing in Action, MIA, Vietnam, Military

Reid Vows Not To Believe Gen. Petraeus If He Reports Progress In Iraq

Hot Air VIA LGF 

He’s willing to compromise. Unlike some Democrats, he’ll hear Petraeus out; he’ll just simply refuse to believe anything he says that doesn’t fit the left’s narrative.

There's video on Hot Air of him saying this, so it's not make-believe. He tries to cover it up by saying Gen. Petraeus said the same thing. Gen. Petraeus said, "The war cannot be won militarily". The military cannot make people stand up to terrorists and participate in the government. However; they can eliminate those terrorists and make it safer for the Iraqi people to conduct business and not fear death because of their name. When the military is able to establish relationships with Iraqi's, the Iraqi's are more likely to give tips about terrorist hideouts and operations.

I think it's safe to say that nothing will stop Harry Reid from believing the "War is Lost" and doing everything he can to make sure that happens. Maybe I am mistaken, but I don't recall a "Gen." prefix to Harry's name. I do recall a "Sen." prefix though.

Don't anybody dare question their patriotism!

 

***UPDATE***

No sooner did I publish this post, I see on Fox News Senator Biden standing on his soapbox screaming that if Pres. Bush veto's the "Iraq emergency spending bill", it will be his fault the military doesn't get the money they need. This is the same bill full of pork barrel projects that has nothing to do with the war and also includes the timeline for retreat. This isn't the first time I've heard lunatics use this statement. It must be in the Democrat talking points handbook.

But...You can't question their patriotism.

 

Technorati tags: Democrats, Harry Reid, Gen. Petraeus, Iraq, War on Terror

Dem's Reach For Their Teddy Bear

Big surprise here. The Democrat Candidates for president have committed to a debate on MSNBC. They've pulled out of two scheduled debates on Fox News because...they might be mean to them. In order for the Democrats to not actually have to answer any questions of importance, such as, their qualifications for president, they go to MSNBC so they can get softball questions. The Republicans will have a debate on MSNBC next week. It will be interesting to note the differences in questions and attitude.

If they were so qualified to be president, they should have no problem debating on a cable news outlet that is not blatantly liberal. They should be able to answer the tough questions and be held liable for any past decisions or decisions that my come in the future.

 

This just screams bias.

Aside from the news nets, online is getting into the act. Yahoo!, the Huffington Post and Slate announced they, too, would host a debate, conducted online and moderated by PBS's Charlie Rose.

Technorati tags: Democrats, Debate, MSNBC, Cowards

Good News From The War On Terror 4/21-4/23

AFGHAN, COALITION FORCES ENGAGE MILITANTS IN NANGARHAR

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces captured nine militants and killed one other while engaging anti-Afghan government forces early Saturday in the Bati Kot area of Nangarhar Province. Credible information led to the compound, where militants are suspected of facilitating several suicide attacks against Coalition forces and innocent Afghan people in recent weeks. During the operation, a militant grabbed a weapon and was shot and killed by combined forces. There were no injuries to any Afghan or Coalition forces.

 

COALITION FORCES ELIMINATE POTENTIAL VBIED STOREHOUSE

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces raided a building southeast of Fallujah where terrorists had been operating and uncovered two dump trucks and materials to make improvised explosive devices. In addition to the dump trucks, Coalition Forces found twenty 20-pound bags of sodium sulfate and 76 five-gallon drums of nitric acid, materials that are used to make explosives. The materials were destroyed at the site.

 

15 TERRORISTS KILLED, SEVEN SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD – Coalition Forces killed 15 terrorists and detained seven more individuals suspected of kidnapping, facilitating foreign fighters and working with the al Qaeda in Iraq network Sunday. Coalition Forces conducted air strikes on a known al Qaeda meeting location south of Baghdad that killed fifteen terrorists.  Later in the operation, ground forces killed three terrorists loading a vehicle carrying an anti-aircraft weapon. The raid also uncovered several weapons caches and a second anti-aircraft machine gun. Northwest of Taji, Coalition Forces detained an individual suspected of ties to kidnapping operations and al Qaeda in Iraq. “Fifteen dangerous terrorists are no longer a threat to the Iraqi people or the security of the country,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.  “Coalition Forces will continue to pursue terrorists wherever they may hide.”

 

19 TERRORISTS DETAINED IN COALITION RAIDS

Coalition Forces detained 19 suspected terrorists associated with facilitating foreign fighters, working with al-Qaeda in Iraq and operating a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network Monday. South of Karmah, Coalition Forces captured six suspected foreign fighter facilitators connected to the al-Qaeda in Iraq network. In Anbar province, nine individuals suspected of working with al-Qaeda in Iraq were detained in three separate Coalition raids. Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists south of Taji for their alleged involvement in a network responsible to making and placing VBIEDs. "The success of coalition operations continues to disrupt al-Qaeda's operations in Iraq.  These captures help restrict their freedom of movement and reduce the organization's manpower pool, diminishing their ability to attack innocent civilians as well as Iraqi and Coalition Forces," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Military

Good News From the War On Terror 4/18-4/20

OPERATION EAGLE LIGHTNING NETS TERRORISTS, WEAPONS CACHES AND IEDS

BAGHDAD – Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 33 suspected terrorists, discovered six weapons caches and five improvised explosive devices during a combat operation in the Shaka area, just south of Baghdad, Monday. Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) and the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi army Division participated in the operation, dubbed Operation Eagle Lightning, as part of an effort to disrupt anti-Iraqi forces within the Shaka area and to deny enemy forces safe haven within that area. The six caches consisted of a 14.5mm anti-aircraft gun, 250 14.5mm rounds, a sniper rifle, five empty artillery canisters, an artillery round, a canister with homemade explosives, five IEDs, eight rocket propelled grenade launchers, 200 loose rifle rounds, an RPG launcher, three ski masks, three magazine racks, two AK-47s, two flak vests, 12 AK-47 magazines, a grenade, a large caliber weapon with ammunition and an insurgent propaganda videotape. During the operation a total of 33 suspected terrorists were detained. Of the five IEDs, one was discovered to be an anti-tank mine. The contents of the cache were destroyed during a controlled detonation conducted by the Explosive Ordnance Team. The detainees were held for further questioning.

 

FIVE KILLED, 30 DETAINED IN RAID NEAR FALLUJAH

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Five terrorists were killed, four suspected terrorists were wounded and 26 more were detained Wednesday morning during an operation near Karmah, a rural area northeast of Fallujah.  Coalition Forces raided a group of buildings known to be used by terrorists and found explosive materials in one of the buildings.  A helicopter used precision-guided munitions to strike the contents of the building.  Secondary explosions at the site confirmed the material inside was explosive. During the operation, Coalition Forces were engaged by a group of armed men and returned fire in self-defense, killing five and wounding four. The wounded were taken to military medical facilities for treatment. Twenty-six additional suspected terrorists were detained during the operation.  Women and children were present, but no civilians were injured in the operation. "Terrorists continue to operate among women and children, putting innocent Iraqis in danger," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

 

SUSPECTED CHLORINE-BOMB TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq - One terrorist was killed and eight suspected terrorists linked to al-Qaeda foreign fighters and improvised explosive device networks were detained Wednesday in two separate Coalition Forces raids. One armed terrorist was killed and Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists west of Taji.  The suspected terrorists are believed to be tied to al-Qaeda in Iraq and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network known to use chlorine in its attacks.  They are also allegedly involved in facilitating foreign terrorist movements. "This capture disrupts a threat to the people of Iraq as well as Coalition Forces," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson "Terrorists continue to disregard the safety of all Iraqis, and we will persist in dismantling their networks that undermine the security of the Iraqi people." In Mosul, three suspected terrorists with ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq network were detained.

 

ANA AND US SPECIAL FORCES PUMMEL TALIBAN FIGHTERS IN SANGIN

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Four Taliban fighters attacked a combined Afghan National Army and Coalition forces combat patrol in the northeast corner of the Sangin District area, Helmand Province, with small arms fire just before nightfall yesterday. 1st Kandak, 209th ANA Corps soldiers combat advised by U.S. Special Forces, quickly identified the enemy threat and begin engaging with direct and indirect fire.  ANA and Coalition forces later detained three Taliban fighters after conducting a search of the enemy position.   The combined ANA and Coalition forces then received intelligence about enemy activity involving an estimated 40 Taliban fighters.  After maneuvering to gain contact with the enemy force, U.S. Special Forces requested Coalition air support to engage the Taliban fighters as they were attempting to establish ambush positions.  Approximately 24 Taliban fighters were killed and four vehicles destroyed during the prolonged seven-hour battle. Two Coalition forces members were wounded during the engagement and were medically evacuated to a nearby treatment facility.  They were treated for their minor injuries and are listed in stable condition. There were no injuries to Afghan civilians reported.  “Afghan National Army and Coalition forces have broken the spirit of the Taliban fighters in Sangin District,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesperson.  “The Afghan populace, ANA, and Coalition forces will no longer tolerate heavy-handed and terrorist tactics from Taliban fighters.”

 

CHLORINE TANKS DESTROYED, TERRORISTS KILLED IN RAIDS

BAGHDAD - Coalition Forces further disrupted terrorist cells using improvised explosive devices Friday morning when eight terrorists were killed and 41 suspected terrorists were detained during operations around Iraq. Near Mahmudiyah, Coalition Forces detained eight suspected terrorists. Another raid uncovered a building containing seven tanks of chlorine, which Coalition Forces destroyed. Seven armed terrorists were killed after they fired upon Coalition Forces entering a building.  Forces on the scene detained 15 suspected terrorists who are allegedly tied to al-Qaeda in Iraq. One armed terrorist was killed when Coalition Forces entered a building in Baghdad to conduct an operation to disrupt the Baghdad vehicle-borne IED network.  Six suspected terrorists were detained, and Coalition Forces found VBIED components in the building. Another operation in Baghdad netted two individuals with suspected ties to the Baghdad IED network.  Near Mosul, Coalition Forces detained 10 suspected terrorists in two separate operations to disrupt the al-Qaeda network in northern Iraq.  "Terrorists continue to endanger the Iraqi people and security forces by using explosives, and we will continue to disrupt their networks across the country," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

 

MND-B SOLDIERS ATTACKED FROM MOSQUE; TWO INSURGENTS KILLED

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers came under small arms from a mosque in a southwestern Baghdad neighborhood April 20.  Two insurgents were killed in the firefight. An element from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division came under attack from small arms fire at approximately 9:45 a.m.  The gunshots came from the site of the Husayniayh al-Bayaa Mosque. Additional Soldiers arrived to assist, cordoning off access roads and securing the area.  Aviation support also arrived at the scene of the fighting, but did not engage any targets. After two insurgents were killed in the incident, Soldiers searched nearby buildings and found chemicals in a house believed to be bomb-making materials.  One suspect was detained from the search. Iraqi Army troops from the 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 2nd Iraqi Army Division entered the mosque at approximately 2:30 p.m.  No other suspects or weaponry was uncovered from this search.  No U.S. troops entered the mosque. There were no U.S. or coalition casualties taken from this engagement.

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Military

This Had Me Laughing

Secret Democrat Objective

 

Technorati tags: Democrats, Howard Dean, Political, Objective

Marine From Ramadi: “I Got A Message For That Douche Harry Reid”

Pat Dollard | Young Americans

This Email To Me, Harry, And America, Direct From A Grunt On The Front Lines Of Ramadi, Is Just Hours Old. Today, from Corporal Tyler Rock in an outpost in downtown Ramadi. His first sentence is in response to an email from me: “yeah i know how you feel. its going to be very weird leaving this place and going back to america. weve been here for almost an entire year and have lived in the center of it the whole time. its crazy that when we got here it was so hectic and now its calmed down so much. so it was awesome to be able to see that turn out. yeah news worth reporting…. well ramadi was once dubbed by everyone as the worst city in the world. but we have done such a great job here that all the families in the area have worked with us on driving out the insurgency and that we work directly with the IA and the IP’s. the city has been cleaned up so well that the IP’s do most of the patrols now and we go out with them to hand out candy and toys to the children. you can tell that the people want us here to protect them from the thugs and gangs (insurgents). granted they would rather have peace and quit but they know that if we arent here they will be thrown around by the insurgents. a good example is this one mission we did. long story short we got blown up in multiple buildings and had to run into a families house. i spent my christmas holidays covered in ash from the mortar fire and the IED’s, sleeping under a dirty rug i found in the house. everyone was sleeping way to close for comfort just to stay warm. anyways. a family was there and they obviously didnt want us there. atleast at first. the daughters were very sick so our corpsman treated them. they didnt have electricity so we got them a generator for power, they were cold so we got them gas heaters, we got them food and water and then we gave them $500. by the end of the week long visit with them we were drinking tea with them. when we left we cleaned their house better than it was when we got there. i even have pictures with the family. they told us that they liked marines and they would help us as much as they could and they gave us some information on the insurgents in the area. we ended up catching a HUGE target down the road from there house because of it. yeah and i got a qoute for that douche harry reid. these families need us here. obviously he has never been in iraq. or atleast the area worth seeing. the parts where insurgency is rampant and the buildings are blown to pieces. we need to stay here and help rebuild. if iraq didnt want us here then why do we have IP’s voluntering everyday to rebuild their cities. and working directly with us too. same with the IA’s. it sucks that iraqi’s have more patriotism for a country that has turned to complete shit more than the people in america who drink starbucks everyday. we could leave this place and say we are sorry to the terrorists. and then we could wait for 3,000 more american civilians to die before we say “hey thats not nice” again. and the sad thing is after we WIN this war. people like him will say he was there for us the whole time. and for messages back home. i have a wife back home who is going through a tough time. i just cant wait to be back home and see everyone. haha and i cant wait to go back home and get some starbucks. i love it when those people serve me. hahaha”

 

It must be extremely difficult for our military now. If not for outstanding motivation, what's to keep these men and women from gradually stop trying as hard as they can? Imagine if someone kept telling you you weren't doing your job good enough. I would think that would make me stop trying. What's the point if no matter what you do, it's still not good enough? It could be summarized like this. Other people tell you you're doing a good job (i.e. conservatives, other's on the ground), but because someone hates you (i.e. media and liberals) they give you bad performance reviews thus effecting the general population's view.

Myself, along with other Conservative blogs, attempt to show the good being done in Iraq and try to prove that we ARE winning. Unfortunately, it's like a needle in a haystack as we are drowned out by the MSM.

Back to the email...this email is liked to Drudge so it is under a barrage of traffic now. The page loads really slow. If you happen to get through, there is several comments on there that is absolutely disgusting. Hopefully, someone with common sense will know some of those people posting those comments and punch them in the face for being such an ungrateful idiot.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Marine, Haditha, Email, Harry Reid, War on Terror

Russian Radio: America Is The Enemy

New York Times

MOSCOW, April 21 — At their first meeting with journalists since taking over Russia’s largest independent radio news network, the managers had startling news of their own: from now on, they said, at least 50 percent of the reports about Russia must be “positive.” In addition, opposition leaders could not be mentioned on the air and the United States was to be portrayed as an enemy, journalists employed by the network, Russian News Service, say they were told by the new managers, who are allies of the Kremlin.

Actually, I see very little difference between the NY Times and this radio station, which is now "state-owned". The NY Times portrays America as the enemy also and dedicates more than 50% for positive news about terrorists.

 

Technorati tags: Russia, America, New York Times, NY Times, Radio, Enemy

Blackwater To Set Up Training Camp In California

The Blotter

A controversial private security contractor is planning to expand to California, sparking outrage among local residents and lawmakers. North Carolina-based Blackwater USA, which provides security personnel and training services to the U.S. military in Iraq and elsewhere, plans to set up an 800-acre training camp dubbed "Blackwater West" in a rural community east of San Diego, pending the San Diego County Board of Supervisors' approval.    Local residents of Potrero where the facility is to be built are outraged.

Depending on the location of the camp, in respect to surrounding homes, I cannot see why people would object. I can understand if it close to homes. I wouldn't want to constantly hear gunshots. If their motives for objecting is nefarious, such as being a dirty liberal scumbag, than they deserve it.

Here is some of the ridiculous mentality of tree huggers in the form of comments to the above article:

why are these people opposed to the facility????.... c'mon thats a no brainer - the real question is why do we need to train so many soldiers in the US?.... or even why is there not enough opposition here to stop the momentum of this destructive consciousness and behavior?... the death side of life its not as if blackwater is creating an organic farm or building a solar powered generator or something that just may contribute to the life side of death clearly there is an agenda here that is born in violence and can only end in violence - would you want that in your community? Posted by: homeboy | Apr 20, 2007 3:29:14 PM

["posted by" link removed because of fake email addy]

It's clearly evident here that the person that wrote the above comment is useless to society. He's more concerned about organic farms and solar powered generators than the safety of Americans in war zones. They also want to pick and choose what businesses operate and where. This is kind of like when a strip club wants to open. Everyone has a fit about it, but those same people will either enjoy it, or benefit from it (i.e. taxes). I will come back to this in my thoughts on the last comment.

And the difference between these facilities in the US and terrorist training camps in the middle east, besides a bigger budget, is what? Whose side they're on? Posted by: Zach | Apr 20, 2007 10:38:31 PM

The short answer, YES. It's no secret we have used terrorist groups and/or opposition groups for proxy wars against various enemies.

 

And the best one of all

Military posts are closing down all over the place. Instead, paid to hire mercenaries are expanding operations openly in order to provide "security personnel and training services to the U.S. military in Iraq and elsewhere". It has always been my understanding that the US military was our nation's security personnel and also happened to be the best trained military in history. When did our security require security? These "contractors" are in the field autonomously, accountable to no one, able to disregard all and any internationally recognized conventions or accepted rules of engagement and basically carry out their missions with the same zeal and wrong-headedness as any other terrorist group from anywhere at all. Why are people opposed to this training facility? Maybe it's just wrong and unsafe in the long run. And then there's the possibility that our next Bin Laden could very well come from one of these special ops contractors, stateside. Posted by: Zach | Apr 21, 2007 6:31:52 PM

Blackwater is more than a "mercenary" organization. They provide security for contractors building schools, hospitals, various infrastructure projects, and oil pipelines/production facilities. I'm sure they also do the jobs that our enlisted military doesn't really need to do. Does our military really need to man checkpoints, or is it something that could be left to a military trained organization? The people who started and are employed by Blackwater did not just fall out of bed one day and decide they were better than the military. Blackwater requires applicants (exception of support staff) to be honorably discharged and a copy of their military records. So, if you take members of the military, which are "the best trained military in history", and they go to work for Blackwater, how does Blackwater automatically become a lesser organization? The only difference would be the bureaucracy associated with the U.S. Military.

They are also held accountable. The government pays them to do a job, if they fail to that job, they lose the contract. Following rules and regulations would not only be the moral thing to do, but also economically the best choice.

Enough of my opinion, you can read the facts from Blackwater USA:

Blackwater was founded in 1997 from a clear vision developed from an understanding of the need for innovative, flexible training and operational solutions to support security and peace, and freedom and democracy everywhere. Our founder is a former U. S. Navy SEAL. He created Blackwater on the belief that both the military and law enforcement establishments would require additional capacity to train fully our brave men and women in and out of uniform to the standards required to keep our country secure. Blackwater USA consists of nine separate business units: Blackwater Training Center (the largest private firearms and tactical training center in the U. S.), Blackwater Target Systems, Blackwater Security Consulting, Blackwater Canine, Maritime Security, manufacturing of custom Armored Vehicles, Parachute Jump Team, Aviation, and Raven Development Group. We also have relationships with our strategic partners, Aviation Worldwide Services and Greystone Ltd. We are not simply a "private security company." We are a professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations firm who provides turnkey solutions. We assist with the development of national and global security policies and military transformation plans. We can train, equip and deploy public safety and military professionals, build live-fire indoor/outdoor ranges, MOUT facilities and shoot houses, create ground and aviation operations and logistics support packages, develop and execute canine solutions for patrol and explosive detection, and can design and build facilities both domestically and in austere environments abroad. Blackwater lives its core values of excellence, efficiency, execution, and teamwork. In doing this, we have become the most responsive, cost-effective means of affecting the strategic balance in support of security and peace, and freedom and democracy everywhere.

 

Wouldn't this be part of the solution to our military being stretched too thin?

 

Technorati tags: Blackwater, Military, California, Security, Contractors