Wolf Makes Ass Of Itself Over A Donkey

They're BFF's

It should have been a tasty treat for this hungry wolf - instead it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The wolf was captured four months ago in the northern Albanian mountains. And as part of its feeding programme, experts gave it live prey to eat. But when a donkey was put into its enclosure, instead of hunting it down and eating it, the wolf had other ideas. The animals have since become attached to each other, cohabitating in the cage for the last 10 days. This amazing sight has attracted curious villagers and local news hounds.

 

Technorati tags: Wolf, Donkey, Friends

Panty-Clad Man Tries Robbery With Lighter

You can't make this stuff up

INWOOD, W.Va. (AP) - A thief covered his face with a pair of blue women's underwear and used a pistol-shaped cigarette lighter in a botched robbery of a convenience store, police said. "I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried," State Police Sgt. T.C. Kearns told The Journal in Martinsburg. The cashier at first thought it was a joke and refused to give the man any money, so he ran to a Jeep Cherokee and drove away at about 4 a.m. Wednesday, Kearns said. A few minutes later, police stopped a vehicle matching that description and took two men into custody. Police later charged Steven Clay Stephenson, 34, of Ranson in the convenience story robbery. Kearns said police found a pistol-shaped lighter while searching Stephenson. The underwear was recovered nearby. Stephenson is charged with nighttime burglary, attempted robbery, first-offense driving under the influence, petit larceny and improper registration. He was being held Thursday at the Eastern Regional Jail. The Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney's Office had no record of a defense attorney being assigned yet to represent Stephenson.

Apparently, he was all out of stockings.

 

Technorati tags: Robbery, Panty-clad, Panties, West Virginia

DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for April

DefenseLink News Release

The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of April.   Active duty recruiting.  All services met or exceeded their recruiting goals in April.  Branch Army  Navy Marine Corps Air Force Accessions 5,804 2,718 1,899 2,040 Goal 5,400 2,718 1,345 2,040 Percent 107 100 141 100 Active duty retention.  The Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force are meeting or exceeding overall retention missions.

Looks like there's a whole lot of people that believe in the War on Terror. All of these people would have to realize that there is an almost certainty they will be going to war.

 

Technorati tags: Military, Armed Forces, Recruiting, Retention, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force

Farewell Mr. Blair

Sky News

Tony Blair has named the day when he will quit as Labour leader and stand down as Prime Minister after 10 years in office. He told supporters at Trimdon Labour Club in his Sedgefield constituency: "Ten years is enough for me - and the country." Mr Blair said he would leave Downing Street on June 27 after a new leader has been chosen. "I have been Prime Minister of this country for just over 10 years," he said. "In this job, in the world today, I think that is long enough for me, but more especially for the country." He defended his record, including Iraq, but said others would make the final judgement. In an emotional moment, he said: "Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right for our country." Mr Blair admitted he had made mistakes but boasted of his record on education, health, employment and crime. "There is only one Government since 1945 that can say all of the following: more jobs, fewer unemployed, better health and education results, lower crime, and economic growth in every quarter," he said. Mr Blair told the audience he had entered office with "high hopes, and I leave it with high hopes for Britain's future."

I have doubts the next PM of Britain will be as Pro-American as Mr. Blair. He has been a great ally and we owe him many thanks.

As one Pro-American head of state resigns, another one will be taking office. Hopefully, the new French President Nicolas Sarkozy, will be the one taking Mr. Blair's place as a European ally.

 

Technorati tags: Blair, Britain, British Prime Minister, Sarkozy, Europe, Pro-American

Uncle Sam Probes Michael Moore

The Smoking Gun

MAY 10--Director Michael Moore is being investigated by the Treasury Department for traveling to Cuba in violation of a U.S. trade embargo. In a May 2 letter, the Office of Foreign Assets Control informed Moore that he was the subject of a civil investigation stemming from the filmmaker's March trip to Cuba. Moore reportedly traveled there with 9/11 rescue workers who were seeking medical care. The trip was filmed as part of Moore's documentary "Sicko," which examines the U.S. health care industry (and premieres at the Cannes film festival on May 19). In the letter to Moore, a copy of which you'll find below, a Treasury official noted that the department had no record of Moore obtaining a license that authorized him to "engage in travel-related transactions involving Cuba." The letter, which the director released today, does not detail the penalties Moore might face for his Cuba trip, but notes that he is required by law to provide the government with a "detailed written report" about his travels. According to the letter, Goldflat Productions (which produced "Sicko") applied in October 2006 for permission for Moore and others to travel to Cuba. But apparently that request had not been acted on by Treasury officials by the time Moore went to Cuba earlier this year.

This is too good. I would love to seem him finally be held accountable for his actions. You can view the actual legal documents at thesmokinggun.com

 

Technorati tags: Michael Moore, Treasury Department, Cuba, Trade Embargo

What's Better Than A Dead Terrorist?

A REALLY dead terrorist!

 

 

 

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

Good News From The War On Terror 5/8-5/9

15 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists Monday during raids around the country targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq and its senior leaders. While targeting al-Qaeda in al-Hillah, Coalition forces conducted a raid and detained nine suspected terrorists, including one individual believed to be a leader in the network. Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists in an operation east of Balad where they were targeting al-Qaeda’s senior leadership. In Anbar province, Coalition forces detained three individuals with suspected ties to al-Qaeda senior leadership during two separate raids west of Taji. One suspected terrorist was detained when Coalition forces raided an area north of Fallujah.  The individual is believed to be in direct contact with senior al-Qaeda leaders.

 

13 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists Monday and Tuesday during raids around Iraq targeting al-Qaeda, foreign fighter facilitators and a chemical vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network. Information collected from previous raids, including one April 30 that uncovered several documents related to a chemical VBIED operation in Baghdad, led Coalition Forces to a target in the city.  One suspected terrorist was detained on the scene Tuesday morning for his alleged involvement in the VBIED cell. Coalition Forces detained seven suspected terrorists in a raid southwest of Tal Afar Monday night after intelligence reports indicated the presence of a known terrorist with key ties to a network facilitating the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq. Northeast of Karmah, two connected raids Monday afternoon targeted an individual suspected of coordinating anti-aircraft attacks against Coalition Forces.  Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists, including the targeted individual.

 

18 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces detained 18 suspected terrorists during raids around Iraq Tuesday and Wednesday, targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and their network by exploiting information from previous operations. Coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists southeast of Taji Wednesday morning for their ties to an alleged senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader.  Intelligence reports indicate the alleged senior leader is an explosives expert and has just been promoted to make up for the degradation of the network after several recent arrests by Coalition forces. Information gained from successful operations on Apr. 29 led Coalition forces to four individuals north of Karmah, who were detained for their suspected involvement with the al-Qaeda in Iraq command network.  In related operations near Baghdad and Ramadi, Coalition forces detained seven more suspected terrorists allegedly tied to the same network. Coalition forces detained three individuals in Mosul Tuesday afternoon for suspected ties to al-Qaeda senior leadership there.

 

CCCI convicts 33, sentences 1 to death, 1 to life, 6 to 30 years imprisonment

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) convicted 33 individuals from April 30 – May 5, 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 30 after being found guilty of violating Article 4/1 of the Iraqi Terrorist Law.  The individual was captured August 24, 2006 near Ramadi by Multi-National Forces and subsequently admitted to being a foreign fighter from Algeria, belonging to Jaysh Al-Islam, possessing a false identification card and conducting attacks against Coalition forces in Iraq.   The individual admitted to conducting an attack against an American convoy and personally shooting down an American helicopter.  He also admitted to participating in an attack against U.S. Marines around Haditha, Iraq, where his group killed seven Marines, and kidnapped a hostage, which was later killed. The CCCI sentenced another individual to life imprisonment April 30 after being found guilty of violating Article 4/1 of the Iraqi Terrorist Law.  The individual admitted he financed a ten-man insurgent group that was responsible for conducting at least six Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks against Multi-National Forces in Iraq.  The individual was captured Nov. 17, 2006. Twenty-one individuals were convicted for violating Coalition Provisional Authority Order 3/2003 - possession of illegal weapons.  Six were sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, two were sentenced to 20 years, three to 15 years imprisonment, six to 10 years imprisonment,  two to three years imprisonment and two to one year imprisonment with a 50,000 dinar fine. One individual was sentenced to 15 years for violation of Article 10/1/A of the Iraqi Passport Law. Six individuals were sentenced to one to six years imprisonment for Iraqi Penal Code violations for using or taking advantage of someone’s legal documents, illegal use of documents, and for violating Iraqi Residency laws. One individual was convicted of violating CPA Order 27/3, illegal weapons possession and was sentenced to two years imprisonment and a 100,000 dinar fine.  Two individuals were sentenced to three years imprisonment for violating Article 4/1 of the Iraqi Terrorist Law. Since its establishment under an amendment to CPA Order 13, in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 2,115 trials for suspected criminals apprehended by Coalition Forces.  The Iraqi Court proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,821 individuals with sentences ranging from imprisonment to death.

 

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

Faces of the Fallen: Iraq and Afghanistan Casualties

I receive several hits from searches from people searching for casualties from the war. It is my choice not to report deaths from the War on Terror. I feel that it is trumpeted loud enough in the media. However; I do realize that distant family and friends would like to find the information.

The Washington Post has a very tasteful tribute to our military men and women that were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The website is: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/. I'm not sure how often they update this. The latest date is 4/29.

After searching for the person, the results come up and show the info. There is a link that says "legacy.com tribute". When you click that it takes you to a tribute page for that particular person with a guest book you can sign.

I hope this is used for informative purposes only. I will be quite upset if some filthy pig anti-war lunatic uses it for something it was not intended.

Units Being Deployed Beginning August 2007

DefenseLink

DoD Announces Force Adjustments The Department of Defense announced today additional major units scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The announcement involves 10 brigade combat teams consisting of approximately 35,000 personnel. These units will deploy as replacement forces for formations currently operating in Iraq. The deployment window for these units will begin in August 2007 and continue through the end of the year. These deployments will provide commanders in Iraq the flexibility to maintain the appropriate level of effort based on their assessment of the security situation on the ground.  Specific units receiving deployment orders include: 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La. 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Stryker), Vilseck, Germany. 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany. These deployments reflect the continued commitment of the United States to the security of the Iraqi people. The Department recognizes the continued sacrifices of these units and their family members.  DoD will continue to announce major unit deployments as units are identified and given deployment orders. For information on the units announced today or other units involved in this rotation, please contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

Good luck and stay safe to all units deploying and those already there.

 

Technorati tags: Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Iraq, War on Terror, 3rd Armored, 101st Airborne, 10th Mountain, 4th Infantry, 3rd Infantry, 25th Infantry, 2nd Cavalry, Stryker, 1st Armored

Terrorists Arrested In Plot To Attack Fort Dix Army Base

FOXNews.com

At least five people were arrested on charges they plotted to attack the Fort Dix Army base and "kill as many soldiers as possible," federal authorities said Tuesday. The suspects were scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Camden later Tuesday to face charges of conspiracy to kill U.S. servicemen, said Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey. Five of them lived in Cherry Hill, about 10 miles east of Philadelphia and 20 miles southwest of Fort Dix, he said. "They were planning an attack on Fort Dix in which they would kill as many soldiers as possible," Drewniak said. The suspects were described as "Islamic radicals" by Greg Reinert, a spokesman for the United States Attorney's Office. A law enforcement source told FOX News that all of the suspects are recent converts and were not born Muslims. The source told FOX News that there were between five and six arrests; the exact number is unclear. The Associated Press reported that those captured were nationals of the former Yugoslavia, but the law enforcement source told FOX News that not all of them are of Albanian ethnicity. Federal sources also said the group is from the "Balkans."

Ft. Dix was used as a "refugee" camp for Albanians during the Kosovo war. When the war ended they were either allowed to go back or apply for citizenship. So, it looks like these filthy pigs are an ungrateful lot. We should have left them in Kosovo to play dodgeball with bombs.

Law enforcement officials said the attack was stopped in the planning stages and that the men were arrested while trying to buy automatic weapons in a sale set up by law enforcement authorities. "While the group's alleged actions are alarming, it may not have gone beyond the concept stage," a federal source told FOX News. Authorities believe the men trained for the attack in the woods in the Poconos and allegedly conducted surveillance at other area military institutions, including the Army's Fort Monmouth, the official said. Federal sources told FOX News the alleged targets went beyond military installations "to other targets of opportunity in the area." The official said the men had lived in the United States for some time and were arrested as part of a joint federal and local investigation.

Now that this has seemingly been ended, we need to find out the chain of events which led this to occur (i.e. mosques, imams, etc). If these people were refugees at the base, sometime between 1999 and now, they converted to a new religion and believed in it so deeply they would kill people over it.

 

Technorati tags: Terrorists, Islamic Radicals, Fort Dix, New Jersey, N.J., Albanian, Albania, Yugoslavia, Balkan, United States, Military Base

Good News From The War On Terror 5/7

AFGHAN CIVILIANS RID AREA OF MINITIONS CACHES

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Local Afghan civilians reported the location of a munitions cache found in the Jaji district of Paktya province May 5 to Afghan National Police and Coalition forces operating in the province.   The recovered cache consisted of an assortment of 75 mm recoilless rounds, 107 mm rockets, land mines, hand grenades, and cases of anti-aircraft and heavy machine gun ammunition. Elsewhere, just north in Nangarhar province, 32 munitions caches have been reported and recovered during the past five weeks to Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition Soldiers operating in the Jalalabad area.  Afghan civilians in Nangarhar have facilitated the removal of significant munitions caches from every district bordering Pakistan and nearly all 26 districts within the province. Afghan civilians who facilitate the recovery and turn-in of munitions caches are compensated for their efforts through the Small Rewards Program.  The SRP was created to encourage and compensate Afghan civilians for their efforts to rid the country of weapons used by extremist and foreign fighters.  Hundreds of 82 mm mortar rounds, 82 mm recoilless and rocket propelled grenade (RPG) rounds and considerable amounts of various explosives have been recovered since April 1.

 

POTENTIAL BUSINESS INVESTORS ARRIVE IN IRAQ

Erbil, Iraq - More than a dozen potential business investors arrived here today via a direct flight from Vienna to see for themselves the vast opportunities available for international business. The Kurdish Minister of Finance and Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Business Transformation and Director Task Force to Support Business and Stability Operations - Iraq, Mr. Paul Brinkley, held a joint press conference at the Erbil International Airport upon the arrival of the business executives.  The international businessmen will spend a week touring areas in northern Iraq to develop business relationships and meet factory managers.

 

OPERATION EAGLE TRIUMPH II DETAINS 40, FINDS CACHE

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - Coalition forces detained 40 local nationals and discovered a cache of terrorist supplies during Operation Eagle Triumph II May 6. Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division in conjunction with Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., conducted the operation north of Mahmudiyah, Iraq, beginning at about 6 p.m. local time. A cache was found which contained two AK-47s, 30 rounds of 9mm ammunition, batteries, a bag of plastic handcuffs, chemical light sticks, a 50-round magazine and a 30-round magazine, and assorted propaganda against coalition forces. The cache contents were seized by coalition forces. The detained men were taken to an Iraqi Army Compound for questioning.

 

IRAQI SPECIAL FORCES DETAIN NINE SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA MEMBERS NEAR BALAD

BALAD - Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured a suspected terrorist cell leader near Balad Air Base on 6 May. The suspect is accused of financing al-Qaeda members for terrorist activities and kidnapping operations. Iraqi SOF initiated the raid with coalition forces present as advisors.  Eight other individuals present during the operation were also detained. Iraqi SOF also confiscated a large amount of U.S. and Iraqi currency, cell phones and al-Qaeda propaganda. Iraqi forces moved to detain these individuals acting on intelligence gathered from local citizens. This action is aimed at disrupting the ability of the suspected terrorists to kidnap and extort innocent civilians in order to finance the construction of improvised explosive devices which are used against Iraqi and coalition forces. No Iraqi or coalition forces were injured during this operation.

 

TALIBAN MILITANTS, FACILITATORS DETAINED IN ZABUL

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Coalition forces detained five adult males after a raid on a compound in the Qalat district of the Zabul Province early this morning. Credible evidence led the forces to the compound, where the suspected militants had a man positioned on the roof with a two-way radio as a lookout.  Coalition forces entered the compound and two men fled the scene.  The forces took them into custody.  The detainees are suspected of fighting and working for militants; one is an admitted Taliban extremist. Coalition forces inventoried the house, finding two AK-47’s, an RPK machine gun, and two fragmentation grenades.  The weapons were removed to a safe place and destroyed. “Taliban fighters are working against the interest of peaceful Afghans, and their attempts to bring down the elected government will fail” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Coalition spokesman.  Warning shots were fired, but there were no injuries during the operation.

 

15 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists Monday during raids around the country targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq and its senior leaders. While targeting al-Qaeda in al-Hillah, Coalition forces conducted a raid and detained nine suspected terrorists, including one individual believed to be a leader in the network. Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists in an operation east of Balad where they were targeting al-Qaeda's senior leadership. In Anbar province, Coalition forces detained three individuals with suspected ties to al-Qaeda senior leadership during two separate raids west of Taji. One suspected terrorist was detained when Coalition forces raided an area north of Fallujah.  The individual is believed to be in direct contact with senior al-Qaeda leaders.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Taliban, Terrorists, Insurgents, Iraqi, Operation Eagle

The Troops Petition: Let's Finish the Job

USNews.com

A couple of military guys in Iraq have found a way to speak up for completing the mission there without getting into any trouble. Navy Lt. Jason Nichols and Staff Sgt. David Thul from the Minnesota Army National Guard have rolled out an Internet petition to finish the job. Nichols tells us that his colleagues "think the war is worth fighting but there wasn't a way for us to express that fact." Then they discovered that they could file a grievance with Congress, which in this case asks them to back the war. With appealforcourage.org, they've collected nearly 3,000 signatures and will deliver them to Congress this week. "I ... think we're winning the fight in Iraq on the ground," says Nichols, but frets over losing the political battle in Washington. "It's the responsibility of the military to prevent that."

It's actually very sad our military needs to do this. I think it speaks volumes on the inadequacy of our elected officials Democrats. The media is at least as responsible for the attitude toward the Iraq phase of the War on Terror. It's very easy to find good news about the war, but they just don't want to find it.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Troops, Military, Petition

600 Rioters Arrested Following French Election

BREITBART.COM

PARIS, May 7 (AP) - (Kyodo)— French police have arrested a total of 592 people across the country as bands of rioters protested conservative Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential election victory Sunday, French media reported. The police said a total of 730 vehicles were torched and 28 police officers were injured in violent incidents from Sunday night to Monday morning. Police fought stone-throwing rioters with tear gas, but it was not clear how many rioters were injured, according to Radio France. On Sunday night, about 5,000 people gathered at the Place de la Bastille, a favored gathering spot for right-wing supporters during the election. Other fights with the police broke out in Toulouse, Marseilles and Lyon.

I thought they were supposed to be a sophisticated people. I don't remember any riots following a presidential election here in the United States. Of course, there may be, if Hillary or Obama somehow manage to get elected.

 

Technorati tags: France, French, Riot, Youths, Presidential Election, Sarkozy

He Had Spiders In His Head!

FOXNews.com

ALBANY, Ore. — A 9-year-old boy who complained of an earache was a little surprised when the doctor told him that a pair of spiders had tried to make a home out of him. "They were walking on my eardrums," said Jesse Courtney. One of the spiders was still alive after the doctor flushed the fourth-grader's left ear canal. His mother, Diane Courtney, said her son insisted he kept hearing a faint popping in his ear — "like Rice Krispies" — before the earache sent them to the doctor. Dr. David Irvine said it looked like the boy had something in his ear when he examined him, but he could not immediately identify it. So he irrigated the ear, and the first spider came out, dead. The other spider took a second dousing before it emerged, still alive. Both were about the size of a pencil eraser. Irvine said it was a first for him as a physician. "It was the only time I ever pulled out an invertebrate," he said. Jesse was given the spiders — now both dead — as a souvenir. He has taken them to school and his mother has taken them to work. "It was real interesting, 'cause, two spiders in my ear — what next?" Jesse said.

WOW

 

Technorati tags: Spiders, Ear, Arachnid, Bugs

Good News From The War On Terror 5/5-5/6

Iraqi SOF detain six suspected al-Qaeda members during raid in Radwaniyah

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured six suspects linked to the al-Qaeda network in Radwaniyah, who carried out attacks on local civilians and troops, during an operation conducted May 4.  The operation was aimed at disrupting Al-Qaeda operations responsible for vehicle borne IED attacks in Baghdad. During the raid of several residences in Radwaniyah village nine miles west of central Baghdad, Iraqi SOF detained their primary targets without incident.  Seven other suspects who were also present during the operation were also detained. The primary targets of this operation are alleged to be involved in an insurgent network that is responsible for conducting attacks against local civilians, Iraqi Security Forces and coalition forces in the surrounding Radwaniyah and Baghdad areas. ISOF also destroyed a vehicle believed to contain a VBIED.  All civilians were cleared from the area prior to detonation.

 

MND-B troops thwart insurgent plans; discover truck bomb

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers stopped what might have been a costly attack May 4 in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital’s south side when they discovered and disposed of a large truck bomb. The members of the Fort Riley, Kan.-based Company C, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment “Black Lions,” currently assigned to Company A, 1st Bn. 77th Armored Regt. and operating with 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt., were conducting a routine patrol when they spotted a large blue tanker truck matching the description of a vehicle suspected of having been converted into a vehicular bomb. A search of the truck resulted in the discovery of 14 155mm artillery shells wired for detonation. After securing the area and cordoning off adjacent streets and neighborhoods to prevent any collateral damage, an explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the vehicle and munitions. “When proactive Soldiers are alert and understand their mission, everyone benefits,” said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. A second weapons cache was also discovered by the Black Lions troops. The Soldiers from Company C uncovered 27 120mm rounds and six 82mm mortar rounds. The additional munitions were placed at the controlled detonation site of the blue tanker truck by an EOD team and a second controlled detonation destroyed them.

Operation Eagle Dive II nets 33 suspected terrorists

YUSUFIYAH, Iraq – Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 33 suspected terrorists during a combat operation in Lutifiyah, Iraq April 26. Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division in conjunction with 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) of Fort Drum, N.Y., detained the terrorists during Operation Eagle Dive II, an operation intended to deny planned attacks on Patrol Base Lutifiyah. The suspects were captured in a house-to-house search. The detainees are being held for further questioning.

Rashid clearing continues: troops seize EFP construction cache

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Security Forces, along with Soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division continued clearing operations in the Rashid District of southwestern Baghdad May 5-6, detaining four suspected terrorists and confiscating several weapons caches, including one found at what is believed to be an explosively-formed projectile (EFP) construction site. Stryker troops from the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment “Tomahawks,” along with Iraqi national police and Iraqi Army troops, continued the fourth and fifth days of Operation Dragon Fire/Arrowhead Strike 10 to rid the Rashid District of terrorists and criminals and to protect the population. One of the caches discovered consisted of components used to build EFPs. “This is a significant find because of the threat EFPs pose,” said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, whose unit is responsible for the operational area within the Rashid District. “These components will never be assembled into something that can harm others.  It also shows how effective the (clearing) operation is at getting after those who aren’t acting in the best interests of a safe and secure Iraq.” Also discovered in two days of clearing operations were caches consisting of AK-47 assault rifles, an RPK machinegun, large amounts of 7.62mm ammunition and mortar rounds of varying calibers (81mm, 82mm and 120mm) The operation included about 200 Iraqi Army troops and national policemen and 1,100 U.S Army Soldiers working together to keep pressure on those conducting activities against the government and Coalition in Iraq.

 

Iraqi National Police coordinates with 1-15 Infantry to combat

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – U.S. Army Apache helicopters killed eight to 10 insurgents southeast of Salman Pak, Iraq, following a short clash between Iraqi National Police and extremists late Friday night. Extremists engaged Iraqi National Police with machine-gun fire and mortars at a checkpoint along a main thoroughfare outside of Salman Pak. Coalition AH-64 attack helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment were on site within minutes of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division relaying reports from the INP. The attack helicopters identified two trucks fleeing the scene, both with multiple armed occupants. The attack helicopters engaged the trucks destroying both vehicles and killing eight to 10 extremists. 1-15 Infantry is a part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Benning, Ga. and the 1-227th Aviation is part of the 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.

 

MNF-W finds weapons caches

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – Marines on patrol from Regimental Combat Team 6, found numerous weapons caches approximately six kilometers southwest of Camp Fallujah Friday.All items found were safely and successfully destroyed by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. The items found include: •    350 Mortar charges150 9 volt batteries •    54 Mortar rounds of various sizes •    20 Tank rounds •    19 Rocket propelled grenade rounds •    10 Loaded AK-47 magazines •    10 Blasting caps •    10 Waterproof flairs •    10 Dragonov sniper rifle rounds •    7 IED initiator systems •    5 Anti-aircraft guns of various calibers, one mounted in the bed of a truck •    4 Iraqi Army uniforms •    4 Spools of command wire •    3 Pressure plate IED initiators •    3 Recoilless rifle (anti-armor) rounds •    3 Machine guns of various caliber •    3 Rocket propelled grenade boosters •    2 Base stations •    1 Rocket motor •    1 RCA controller

 

13 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists Sunday during raids targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq, a foreign fighter facilitation network and improvised explosive device networks. Coalition Forces detained four individuals northeast of Karmah for their suspected involvement facilitating the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq. Four more suspected terrorists with alleged ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq network were detained in the town of Hit, and Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist in Ramadi, allegedly associated with the al-Qaeda network. Intelligence reports led Coalition Forces to a suspected weapons dealer in Baghdad, where they detained three suspected terrorists believed to transport weapons and facilitate foreign fighters. Coalition Forces targeted the Baghdad vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network, and detained one suspected terrorist in a raid in the city.

 

COALITION FORCES FIND TORTURE ROOM, DESTROY WEAPONS CACHE IN SADR CITY

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces destroyed a torture room, a large cache of weapons and improvised explosive device-making materials Sunday morning while targeting terrorists in Sadr City. Coalition Forces targeted the location based on intelligence reports that indicated the presence of suspected members of a secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training. During a search of the objective, Coalition Forces found a torture room and cache of over 150 mortar rounds, ammunition and IED-making materials. Because the explosive nature and instability of the materials, Coalition Forces cordoned off the area and an explosive ordnance team detonated the materials in place. When ground forces initially approached buildings at the targeted location, they began receiving heavy small arms fire, including rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons, from one of the buildings. Coalition Forces, using appropriate self-defense measures, returned fire. Four more armed men engaged Coalition Forces from behind a vehicle, which was struck when Coalition Forces returned fire, reacting to the hostile actions with appropriate self-defense measures and fired on it.  The vehicle was destroyed.

 

SEVERAL TALIBAN COMMANDERS BELIEVED KILLED NEAR SHINDAND

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Coalition and Afghan National Security Forces have received intelligence which indicates over 10 Taliban commanders were among those killed during fighting in the village of Parmekan, 23 kilometers (14.26 miles) south of Shindand, Herat Province, on April 27 and 29. One of the senior Taliban commanders reportedly killed was from Helmand Province and recently released with four other Taliban members in exchange for an Italian journalist who was taken hostage two months ago.  Two other senior Taliban commanders, believed to have been killed in the battles, were known enemies of the Afghan government for the past three years.  Reporting and intelligence suggests that most of the senior Taliban commanders and sub-commanders entered the Zerkoh Valley to reinforce enemy fighters in the village of Parmekan at the conclusion of the first battle against Coalition and Afghan National Police forces. They were later killed during the second battle. Following reports of civilian casualties during the operation, both Combined Joint Task Force-82 and NATO's International Security Assistance Force are working with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to make inquiries into the incident.

Technorati tags: Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Terror, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Terrorists, Insurgents, Coalition, Torture, Military