Good News From The War On Terror 5/23

Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain two suspects, destroy IED factories in search for missing Soldiers

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained two personnel suspected of insurgent activities, while conducting an early-morning operation in search of three missing Soldiers on May 21, south of Baghdad.   The ISOF destroyed several trucks in a controlled detonation, which were fabricated as vehicle borne improvised explosive devices as well as several IED material caches.  No civilians were present during the detonation.   Iraqi and Coalition Forces received enemy-fire as they moved to their objective.   Iraqi forces returned fire and  suppressed the enemy and continued on their mission.  Weapons and ammunition were also seized at the objective from the two suspects who were detained.

 

Search nets weapons, suspects

BAGHDAD — Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., continued to find weapons caches and detain terror suspects during search operations for three missing Soldiers May 22. The 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT discovered a series of caches which contained five 57mm rocket rounds, two six-volt batteries, two spools of copper wire, two 58mm rocket rounds, a 120mm rocket round, and two complete DSHKA heavy machine guns. Batteries, artillery rounds and wire are some of the most basic materials used in the construction of improvised explosive devices. The battalion’s scout platoon discovered two AK-47s with five magazines, two ammunition vests, a hand grenade, four grenade fuses, four blasting caps, a stick of plastic explosive, an IED detonator, 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, a Kawasaki motorcycle, and over 150 homemade CDs labeled in Arabic. The caches were seized and the explosives destroyed by controlled detonation.

 

Second Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment seizes weapons, suspects in raids

BAGHDAD — The ongoing search for three Soldiers who disappeared in a May 12 attack near Yusufiyah, Iraq, continues to turn up caches of weapons and new suspects in the case. Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment conducted house-to-house searches southeast of Yusufiyah today, detaining 17 Iraqis and seizing a cache. The Soldiers found an AK-47, a 9mm pistol, five magazines, a gas mask, two bandoliers, three ammunition vests, ten magazines and five other weapons, three of which were hidden in tennis-racket cases. In another home the Soldiers found a modified cell phone, an AK-47, and another 9mm pistol, and next door, an AK-47 with an ammunition bandolier and five magazines, and in a nearby house, another bandolier, gas mask, and a bayonet. The detainees were taken to U.S. facilities for further questioning.

 

ISF, MND-B Troops Free Kidnapped Iraqi Soldier

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops freed an Iraqi soldier being held by a militia’s kidnap cell May 20 in the Rashid District of the city. Troops from 1st Battalion, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, and the “Black Lions” from Company D, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., rescued Mosher Ahmmaed Abdualrahman, during a pre-dawn cordon and search operation. “Two months of conducting combat operations with the Citadel Brigade (1-2nd Iraqi Army) have led us to develop exceptionally strong ties to our Iraqi partners,” said Lt. Col. Pat Frank, 1st Bn., 28th Inf. Regt. commander. “Finding their soldier alive was the main effort mission for the Black Lions.” The Iraqi Army soldier was abducted by a Jashya al-Mahdi kidnap cell May 17 in the Shurta neighborhood. Task Force Black Lion executed the operation, which rescued the soldier unharmed.

 

COALITION FORCES RAID SECRET CELL CACHE, DETAIN 19

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two terrorists, detained 19 suspected terrorists and uncovered a cache of Iranian money and bomb-making materials Wednesday morning in Sadr City. The individual targeted during the raid is suspected of facilitating weapons shipments from Iran to secret cell terrorist elements in Baghdad, Basrah and Maysan province. Coalition Forces searched 11 buildings during the operation.  As Coalition Forces moved to the site, four armed terrorists engaged them with small arms and automatic weapons.  The ground force, acting in self-defense toward the hostile threat, returned fire and confirmed two of the four terrorists were killed. As they continued to search the buildings, Coalition Forces found a large quantity of Iranian money, more than $6,000 in U.S. money and improvised explosive device-making materials.

 

FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED; TIED TO IED PRODUCTION

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed six terrorists in related raids targeting senior leaders of an al-Qaeda suicide attack cell and detained 23 others in operations around Iraq Wednesday morning. Based on intelligence gathered from a successful raid Apr. 11, Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist leader southeast of Baghdad.  As the ground force approached the objective, they encountered two armed men, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest.  Coalition Forces took appropriate self-defense measures in response to the hostile threat and engaged the two armed terrorists, killing them. One of the terrorists is believed to be an al-Qaeda regional leader, responsible for al-Qaeda personnel and operations in the Arab Jabour area, as well as coordinating foreign fighters and suicide attacks. In a related operation northwest of Taji, Coalition Forces targeted an individual suspected of supplying foreign fighters for suicide attacks.  Ground forces on the scene received small arms fire from four terrorists who took cover behind a bus.  Coalition Forces returned fire in self-defense and killed the four terrorists. When they searched the building, Coalition Forces found weapons and detained one suspected terrorist for his involvement with the al-Qaeda cell. In Mosul, Coalition Forces raided six buildings in an operation targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda network.  The ground force detained five suspected terrorists, including an alleged cell leader with subordinate groups that conduct assassinations and attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces. In three coordinated raids near Karmah targeting al-Qaeda cells, Coalition Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists, including an alleged cell leader in the area. Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists in Fallujah for their alleged direct ties to a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell there.

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Military, Coalition, Iraqi, Terrorists, Insurgents, al-Qaeda, al-Qaida

Amnesty International And The Silly Little Poll

While perusing the Drudge Report tonight, I caught a link for Amnesty International. It was about a poll they were conducting on their website.

Here's a screencap of the webpage:

                                                    (click to enlarge)

Yes, as you can see, I voted for Hobgoblin. He led the poll with 48% followed by Darth Vader at 36% and then Dick Cheney at 16%.

No matter who you vote for, you get the following message:

All joking aside, the U.S. government, once perceived as a beacon of hope and justice, no longer leads the world on human rights. The continuing allegations of U.S. torture, use of secret prisons, ghost detainees, and indefinite and unconstitutional detention at Guantanamo calls into question the U.S. commitment to fight torture and adhere to international law. The U.S. now lacks the credibility needed to improve human rights abroad. By violating some international laws, the United States undermines all international law and promotes the idea to other countries that some laws are acceptable to ignore in the pursuit of "security."

I sent Amnesty International this email after I saw this poll:

After finding your poll linked at Drudge Report, "Whose got the worst human rights record". I am now convinced that your useless little organization has no interest in REAL human rights violations. With the options of the Hobgoblin, Darth Vader, or Dick Cheney, it's obvious you have an agenda besides human rights violations. Your stupid poll didn't include anything about Darfur, where thousands of Christians have been slaughtered. Nor does it mention almost all the Middle-Eastern countries and the abuses of women and killing of innocents by using them as human shields. To name of few of those, Fatah, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, etc., all of which receive monies from state sponsors of terrorism (Iran, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian territory). At least it makes me happy to see "The Hobgoblin" has the worst human rights record with 48% (which I voted for), followed by Darth Vader with 36%.

You can email Amnesty International here: aimember@aiusa.org. Feel free to copy and paste the above email if you wish.

 

Technorati tags: Amnesty International, Human Rights, Liberal, Bias, Agenda, Cheney

Bodies Of All Three Kidnapped Soldiers Found

IraqSlogger

Babel, May 23, (VOI) - Iraqi police forces in Babel province found on Wednesday two bodies believed to belong to two of the kidnapped U.S. soldiers near al-Furat river in al-Musayab region, 50 km northwest of Hilla, a police source said. "Two bodies in U.S. uniform were found by Babel police forces near al-Furat river. They bore signs of torture," the source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). "The police handed the bodies to the U.S. army and cordoned off the area," he also said. No comment was available from the U.S. army on the incident. A police source had said earlier that police forces in Babel province found a body of a U.S. soldier who was kidnapped last week near al-Musayab river. "Babel police forces today found a body, believed to belong to one of the three U.S. soldiers who were kidnapped last week in al-Mahmodiya region, south of Baghdad," the source, who asked not to be named, told the (VOI).

Refer to the previous post about my thoughts. At least they weren't beheaded.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Military, Terrorists, Insurgents

Missing Soldier Found In Euphrates River

Yahoo! News

BAGHDAD - Iraqi police found the body of a man who was wearing what appeared to be a U.S. military uniform and had a tattoo on his left hand floating in the Euphrates River south of Baghdad on Wednesday morning. One Iraqi official said the body was that of an American soldier. The man had been shot in the head and chest, Babil police Capt. Muthana Khalid said. He said Iraqi police turned the body over the U.S. forces. The discovery of the body in Musayyib, about 40 miles south of Baghdad in Babil Province, came as U.S. troops and Iraqi forces continued their massive search for the three soldiers abducted May 12 in an ambush on their patrol near Mahmoudiya, about 20 miles south of Baghdad. The U.S. military said in an e-mail that it was looking into the report, but could not confirm it. The report of the body found was confirmed by a senior Iraqi army officer in the Babil area. He told The Associated Press that the body found in the river was that of an American soldier. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

I said before that there should be a trail of destruction while we search for those missing soldiers. Obviously something is wrong if our enemies do not fear repercussions from doing something like this. I'm guessing all the talk about timelines and redeployments have emboldened our enemies.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Terrorists, Insurgents, Military

Good News From The War On Terror 5/22

15 AL-QAEDA SUSPECTS DETAINED IN COALITION RAIDS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 15 suspected terrorists, including two alleged terrorist cell leaders, during raids around Iraq Tuesday morning targeting the al-Qaeda network. In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists, including an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader responsible for identifying Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police targets, and directing attacks against them. Using information from a successful raid May 21, Coalition Forces targeted associates of a suspected terrorist commander in Baghdad.  Two individuals were detained for their alleged involvement in the terrorist group, which conducts assassinations and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks. Coalition Forces conducted two coordinated operations in Anbar province, where they detained 10 suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement in the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in the area.

 

12 IRAQI HOSTAGES FREED IN FOLLOW-ON OPERATION

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces freed 12 Iraqis who were held captive and beaten by terrorists during a raid Tuesday morning on a site northeast of Karmah targeted for its ties to another terrorist detention facility. After five Iraqi hostages were freed May 21, intelligence reports indicated two buildings were being used for kidnappings and murders.  As Coalition Forces approached the first building, armed men engaged them with small arms fire.  In an appropriate response to the hostile threat from an organized force, ground forces returned fire and called in air support.  Five terrorists were killed by the ground forces and four were killed in an air strike. Coalition Forces then secured the building and discovered 12 Iraqis held captive in a locked room, three of whom appeared to have been beaten.  The ground force evacuated the 12 individuals and provided treatment for their injuries.  The hostages will be turned over to their respective tribal leaders for repatriation. The first building also contained a cache of weapons, including two rocket-propelled grenades, a sub-machine gun, rifles and 19 military-style assault vests.  The weapons were safely destroyed on site.  In the second building, Coalition Forces found stolen goods and detained three suspected terrorists there for their alleged ties to the kidnapping network.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Iraqi, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Military, Coalition, Terrorists, Insurgents, Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaida

Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran

The Blotter

The CIA has received secret presidential approval to mount a covert "black" operation to destabilize the Iranian government, current and former officials in the intelligence community tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, say President Bush has signed a "nonlethal presidential finding" that puts into motion a CIA plan that reportedly includes a coordinated campaign of propaganda, disinformation and manipulation of Iran's currency and international financial transactions.

Why do they think this is news? Of course we have cover operations against Iran. They commit acts of war daily against us in Iraq, they're state sponsors of terror, they're developing nuclear weapons, and they have stated several times they plan to wipe Israel off the map.

We've been enabling a proxy war with Iran for some time now. Of course we're using terrorists, but whatever works. The goal is to destabilize the regime. This is just phase two of that goal. If this doesn't work, a blockade may be in order. I'm sure this isn't the only place we have covert action taking place either.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, War on Terror, CIA, Covert, Iranian, Terrorist, State Sponsor, Terror, Bush, White House

Dems Surrender Again

But in a good way.

WASHINGTON, May 22 — Congressional Democrats relented today on their insistence that a war spending measure sought by President Bush also set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq. The decision to back down, described by senior lawmakers and aides, was a wrenching reversal for some Democrats, who saw their election triumph as a call to force an end to the war. A Democratic effort to include timelines prompted Mr. Bush’s veto of the original bill last month, producing a political impasse. “We don’t have a veto-proof Congress,” said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader. [...] The concession to the president was proving so difficult for the Democratic leadership that by this afternoon, the lawmakers had not yet publicly acknowledged that the timelines would disappear. House Democrats were preparing to advance two separate measures, to enable antiwar lawmakers to support popular domestic spending but not the money for the war. House Democrats were to review the proposal later this evening, but lawmakers were already predicting that many would not support the war spending.

Well, they finally did something right. They were playing politics with our military's lives. Their little game already set things back in Iraq. The military had to pull troops off training the Iraqi police and military in order to conserve money. Then in a few months those same surrender-monkey Democrats will be boasting about how the Iraqi forces had met training guidelines.

 

Technorati tags: Democrats, surrender-monkeys, Defeatocrats, Military, Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Appropriations, Senate, Politics

Democrats Starring In "The Wizard Of Oz"

From QubeTv

 

Technorati tags: Democrats, Surrender Monkeys, Defeatocrats, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Biden, Schumer, Reid, Senate, Wizard of Oz

Man Trying To Kill Girlfriend Killed By Train

Jerusalem Post

A man trying to kill his girlfriend by leaving her in a car parked on railroad tracks was himself killed when a commuter train launched the vehicle into him as he tried to flee, police said. The girlfriend survived. The man drove the car in front of a group of other vehicles stopped at a railroad crossing Monday in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Sunland, Officer Mike Lopez said. The driver, who was seen arguing with his girlfriend, parked the car on the tracks and jumped out, leaving her behind, Lopez said. A northbound Metrolink train hit the rear of the car, hurling it into the man. The girlfriend was taken to the hospital, where she was in stable condition, Lopez said.

Excuse me while I snicker.

 

Technorati tags: Murder, Girlfriend, Train, Idiot, Railroad

CCCI Convicts 37: Sentences 8 To Life, 3 To 30 Years Imprisonment

MNF-I

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) convicted 37 individuals from May 6 - May 12 for violations of the Iraqi Terrorist Law, Penal Code and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Orders enforced by the Iraqi judiciary.  Six Iraqi’s were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the CCCI May 8 for violating Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order 3/2003 for possessing illegal weapons.  Convicted were:  Khalid Uthman Ahmad, 22; Thamir Abbas Ahmad, 23; Muthana Jamil Hamid, 33; Ali Fayah Midkur, 24; Khalid Abid Mahmud, 23; and Mahmoud Mohammed Hayes Al Dolaimi, 34; all from Iraq. The six were part of a 20-person Al Qaeda terrorist group that attacked Multi-National Forces from the 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Feb. 27 in Sumalat.  Soldiers from the 2/5 killed six Al Qaeda in the attack and captured seven – including the six convicted.  The seventh captured terrorist died of wounds sustained from the firefight.  A Sumalat resident positively identified the six terrorists, and reported that the group had recently arrived to the area and had taken over three houses and a barn.  The Soldiers searched those buildings and discovered a large weapons cache that included surface to air missiles, rockets, rocket propelled grenade launchers, numerous automatic machine guns, ammunition and improvised explosive devise-making materials. The Central Criminal Court also convicted Majid Frayhan Hewal, 43, of Iraq, May 8 for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Majid was apprehended by Soldiers from the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division May 9, 2006 after the Soldiers searched his dump truck in North Baghdad and found twenty-eight 107mm Katyusha Rockets, 82 anti-personnel land mines, 43 rocket-propelled grenades, an RPG launcher, two complete mortar systems, mortar systems and  improvised explosive device components. Nasir Taha Abbas, 19, was also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment May 9 by the CCCI for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons.  Nasir was captured Jan. 27 by I Marine Expeditionary Force units in Modiq, near Ramadi while he was attempting to adjust the position of an improvised explosive device set near a local mosque.  After Nasir’s capture, IED activity in the area stopped for more than 30 days. The Central Court convicted and sentenced two Iraqis to 30 years imprisonment for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons.  Ahmed Mohamad Saibi Al Shujairi, 24, was captured by units from the 1st Cavalry Division Jan. 9 and Mohammed Sabee Hamadi Al Mousawi, 62, was caputed by 1st Cavalry units Jan. 19.  The individuals were captured as a result of a raid on Mohammed’s house in Dora after being informed the house was being used as an improvised explosive device factory.  Ahmed was captured during the raid on the home and Mohammed was captured during a later search of the area.  During the raid, 1st Cavalry Soldiers found two complete IEDs, blasting caps, electronic components, detonation cord, boat batteries, IED shrapnel ball bearings and nails, timers and IED initiators during the raid.  Soldiers also found a vehicle rigged as a Vehicle Borne IED, 23 artillery shells, C4 explosives and numerous grenades. Harbi Thabit Hassun, 26, of Iraq, was convicted and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment May 9 by the CCCI for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons.  Harbi was captured Jan. 23 in his home in Al Dora by Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 89th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division.  During a search of Harbi’s house, Soldiers found two AK 47 rifles, two grenades, 400 Dragonov sniper rifle rounds, and hundreds of AK 47 rounds.  The Soldiers found a mortar firing tube that smelled like it had just been fired and a mortar firing bipod in Harbi’s vehicle.  Harbi tested positive for explosives during an X-spray test.  The CCCI also convicted and sentenced Khalid Adwan Thamer, 28, to 20 years imprisonment May 6 for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons.  Khalid was captured Feb. 23 by 1st Cavalry units in Mugdadijah at a weapons cache site. Faiz Marzuq Al-Mutayri, 24, an Iraqi with Saudi Arabian citizenship, was convicted and sentenced by the CCCI May 8 to 16 years imprisonment for violating Article 10/1 of the Iraqi passport laws.  Faiz was apprehended Jan. 25, 2006 and he admitted he entered Iraq unlawfully to wage war against the Iraqi people and Multi-National Forces. The Central Criminal Court also convicted 12 Iraqis May 7 - 9 for violating CPA Order 3/2003 and sentenced each to 15 years imprisonment.  Two other Iraqis were convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment – one for violating Article 289 of the Iraqi Penal Code for using or taking advantage of someone else’s legal documents and the other for violating CPA Order 3/2003. Eight Iraqi’s were convicted of violating CPA Order 3/2003.  Six were sentenced to six years imprisonment and two were sentenced to two years imprisonment.  One Iraq was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for violating Article 292 and 298 of the Iraqi Penal Code for forging a fake identification card. Since its establishment under an amendment to CPA Order 13, in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 2,143 trials for suspected criminals apprehended by Coalition Forces.  The Iraqi Court proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,858 individuals with sentences ranging from imprisonment to death.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War, Terrorists, Insurgents, Central Criminal Court, Iraqi

Good News From The War On Terror 5/21

Paratroopers find seven IEDs

KALSU, Iraq — Paratroopers found and destroyed seven improvised explosive devices in the northern Babil province, south of Baghdad, Sunday. While conducting security patrols in the area, the paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division were able to find the IEDs before they could be used against Coalition Forces or Iraqi Security Forces, helping to secure the region. All of the devices were either destroyed in place or taken by explosive ordnance disposal teams for further investigation prior to destruction.

 

Locals stash dangerous cache, rid streets of weapons, munitions

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division discovered a large weapons cache during a security patrol May 16. The cache was found in eastern Baghdad. To their surprise, the cache was not found in an insurgents hiding area, but in a large container left by Coalition Forces to be used as an amnesty box.  The container was empty when the unit departed the area, and local residents started stock-piling munitions they found on the streets or within their neighborhood. Inside the container Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment, based out of Fort Carson, Colo., found two anti-tank mines, one anti-personnel mine, five rocket-propelled grenades, three 125mm artillery rounds, two 155mm artillery rounds, one 152mm round, one 122mm round; three 120mm mortar rounds; three 82mm mortar rounds, six 60mm mortar rounds, one rifle grenade, one 57mm rocket, one recoilless rifle round, one improvised explosive device and assortment of small arms ammunition and grenades.

 

Soldiers kill insurgent and seize deadly weapon

AL TARAQ, Iraq – Coalition Forces took an insurgent and his weapon off the streets of Al Taraq, Iraq during a combat operation May 19. Soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y.’s, 1st Platoon, Company A, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) thwarted a possible sniper attack while looking for evidence of three missing U.S. Soldiers who were abducted by insurgents May 12.

 

MND-B Soldiers find sizeable cache, detain one suspect near Al Hamdanyia

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers found a large weapons cache and detained one suspect May 19 near Al Hamdanyia, Iraq. While on a patrol, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment discovered a component often used for improvised explosive devices and traced it to a house which the troops subsequently searched. During the search, they uncovered the weapons cache. A suspect was found with the cache and detained.  The find yielded two AK-47 assault rifles, 1,000 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, several magazines, a video camera, six propane tanks and many components used in the making of roadside bombs. An hour after finding the cache, the troops also found an IED near the site.  The suspect is being held for further questioning.

 

Iraqi Army Forces detain 16 suspected Al Qaeda terrorists near Samarra

BALAD, Iraq  – Iraqi Army Forces detained 16 members of an alleged terrorist cell during early morning raids in Samarra May 20. The targeted individuals are alleged to be members of an Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) foreign fighter cell which is involved in anti-Iraq forces training activities in the Samarra area. Iraqi Forces seized a number of weapons and other materials including: •Two sniper rifles •One RPG with various rockets •Four AK-47 Assault Rifles •One 9mm pistol •60 ammunition magazines •Six cell phones •Body armor •ID cards The interdiction of the terror cells should result in a reduction of attacks and illegal checkpoints against Coalition and Iraqi Forces as well as residents in the area. No Iraqi or Coalition Forces were injured during this operation. Coalition Forces served as advisors during this operation.

 

3 SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA CELL LEADERS, 9 OTHERS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured three suspected al-Qaeda cell leaders during raids Monday morning in continued operations to thwart terrorist attacks in Iraq. Coalition Forces raided a building in western Baghdad searching for leaders within the al-Qaeda in Iraq network. The ground force detained three suspected terrorists, one of whom is allegedly a commander of a group that conducts assassinations and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks in the capital city. A suspected commander of an IED cell in Mosul and an alleged senior cell leader there were detained during Coalition Forces operations in the area.  Intelligence reports also indicate the alleged senior cell leader formerly led a sniper cell. Acting on information from successful raids on May 15, Coalition Forces targeted an area northeast of Karmah to further disrupt the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader network there.  Four individuals with suspected ties to the network were detained in the raid. Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists south of Fallujah for their alleged involvement with a regional al-Qaeda in Iraq commander.

 

FIVE IRAQI HOSTAGES FREED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Five Iraqis who were held captive and tortured by terrorists were freed Monday morning during a Coalition Forces raid on the site where they were imprisoned. Coalition Forces targeted the building northeast of Karmah during continued operations to disrupt the al-Qaeda network operating in the area.  After a thorough search of the building, ground forces found a padlocked room.  Inside were four men and a boy who had been kidnapped and severely beaten with chains, cables and hoses.  The four captives also showed signs of torture, and the boy stated the terrorists had hooked electrical wires to his tongue and shocked him. Coalition Forces evacuated the five individuals and provided treatment for their injuries.  The hostages indicated their captors were foreign fighters who spoke with different accents.  The hostages, who are from different tribes, will be turned over to their respective tribal leaders for repatriation.

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq war, War on Terror, Military, Terrorists, Insurgents, Al-Qaeda, Coalition

Edwards Charges $55,000 To Speak To UC Davis Students About Poverty

SFGate.com

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who as a Democratic presidential candidate recently proposed an educational policy that urged "every financial barrier" be removed for American kids who want to go to college, has been going to college himself -- as a high paid speaker, his financial records show. The candidate charged a whopping $55,000 to speak at to a crowd of 1,787 the taxpayer-funded University of California at Davis on Jan. 9, 2006 last year, Joe Martin, the public relations officer for the campus' Mondavi Center confirmed Monday.

And how many scholarships could be available to low-income students for $55,000? What a jackass. What do you expect for someone who champions the poor, yet worked for a hedge fund that specialized in predatory lending.

 

Technorati tags: Edwards, Poverty, Students, Presidential Candidate, Democrat, UC Davis, College, University, 55, 000, Speaking

Things Worth Knowing About Hillary Clinton Before 2008

There's things you know (Whitewater, Travelgate) and some you don't (Ethnic slurs, Cattle futures, Donations from drug smugglers)

There's too much to list. Read it all here

 

Technorati tags: Hillary Clinton, Presidential Candidate, 2008, Travelgate, Whitewater, Cattle Futures, Ethnic Slurs, Indictments, Lying, Drug Smugglers

Religious Quacks Urge Action On Global Warming

Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders are urging President George W. Bush and Congress to take action against global warming, declaring that the changing climate is a "moral and spiritual issue." In an open letter to be published on Tuesday, more than 20 religious groups urged U.S. leaders to limit greenhouse gas emissions and invest in renewable energy sources. "Global warming is real, it is human-induced and we have the responsibility to act," says the letter, which will run in Roll Call and the Politico, two Capitol Hill newspapers. "We are mobilizing a religious force that will persuade our legislators to take immediate action to curb greenhouse gases," it says. The letter is signed by top officials of the National Council of Churches, the Islamic Society of North America and the political arm of the Reform branch of Judaism. Top officials from several mainline Christian denominations, including the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church and Alliance of Baptists also signed the letter, along with leaders of regional organizations and individual churches.

This is why I no longer consider myself any religious denomination. I used to consider myself a Catholic. This is almost as stupid as when the Pope said, in reference to the border fence, that there should be no barriers to people. Last I knew, everyone was not permitted into heaven. You have to follow God's rules before you get into heaven, much like how we expect people to follow our rules for entering into the United States.

 

Technorati tags: Religion, Global Warming, Climate Change, Christian, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Islam, Muslim, Jewish

Iran's Secret Plan For Summer Offensive To Force US Out Of Iraq

The Guardian

Iran is secretly forging ties with al-Qaida elements and Sunni Arab militias in Iraq in preparation for a summer showdown with coalition forces intended to tip a wavering US Congress into voting for full military withdrawal, US officials say. "Iran is fighting a proxy war in Iraq and it's a very dangerous course for them to be following. They are already committing daily acts of war against US and British forces," a senior US official in Baghdad warned. "They [Iran] are behind a lot of high-profile attacks meant to undermine US will and British will, such as the rocket attacks on Basra palace and the Green Zone [in Baghdad]. The attacks are directed by the Revolutionary Guard who are connected right to the top [of the Iranian government]." The official said US commanders were bracing for a nationwide, Iranian-orchestrated summer offensive, linking al-Qaida and Sunni insurgents to Tehran's Shia militia allies, that Iran hoped would trigger a political mutiny in Washington and a US retreat. "We expect that al-Qaida and Iran will both attempt to increase the propaganda and increase the violence prior to Petraeus's report in September" [when the US commander General David Petraeus will report to Congress on President George Bush's controversial, six-month security "surge" of 30,000 troop reinforcements], the official said.

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Iraq, War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom, United States, Congress, Petraeus, Revolutionary Guard, Al-Qaeda, Qaida, Sunni, Shi'ite, Proxy War, Coalition