Initial Iraqi Government Benchmark Report

This is going to be brief. There is a whole lot of information that I am not able to put here. For the entire report, go to WhiteHouse.gov. You can read in full detail about the benchmarks and the assessments.

As of now the Iraqi government has reached 7 3/4 of the required 18 benchmarks. One of the benchmarks haven't been shown to be needed (amnesty). Another one is too early to tell yet. The rest have been shown to have unsatisfactory progress.

*Bold print designates a benchmark with satisfactory progress.*

 

(i) Forming a Constitutional Review Committee and then completing the constitutional review.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward forming a Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) and then completing the constitutional review.

 

(ii) Enacting and implementing legislation on de-Ba’athification reform.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has not made satisfactory progress toward enacting and implementing legislation on de-Ba’athification reform.

 

(iii) Enacting and implementing legislation to ensure the equitable distribution of hydrocarbon resources to the people of Iraq without regard to the sect or ethnicity of recipients, and enacting and implementing legislation to ensure that the energy resources of Iraq benefit Sunni Arabs, Shi’a Arabs, Kurds, and other Iraqi citizens in an equitable manner.

Assessment: The current status is unsatisfactory, but it is too early to tell whether the Government of Iraq will enact and implement legislation to ensure the equitable distribution of hydrocarbon resources to all Iraqis.

 

(iv) Enacting and implementing legislation on procedures to form semi-autonomous regions.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward enacting and implementing legislation on procedures to form semi-autonomous regions.

 

(v) Enacting and implementing legislation establishing an Independent High Electoral Commission, provincial elections law, provincial council authorities, and a date for provincial elections.

Assessment: There are multiple components to this benchmark, each deserving its own assessment:

• Establishing the IHEC Commission: The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward establishing an IHEC Commission. The Commission has been established.
• Elections Law: The Government of Iraq has not made satisfactory progress toward establishing a provincial elections law. Drafting of the law has just begun.
• Provincial Council Authorities: The Government of Iraq has not made satisfactory progress toward establishing provincial council authorities. The COR is working on legislation, which has had its second reading; however, the COR committee continues to work on revisions to the draft law, and it remains unclear when the legislation will come to a third and final vote by the full COR.
• Provincial Elections Date: The Government of Iraq has not made satisfactory progress toward establishing a date for provincial elections. Legislation required for setting the date has not been enacted.

 

(vi) Enacting and implementing legislation addressing amnesty.

Assessment: The prerequisites for a successful general amnesty are not present; however, in the current security environment, it is not clear that such action should be a near-term Iraqi goal.

 

(vii) Enacting and implementing legislation establishing a strong militia disarmament program to ensure that such security forces are accountable only to the central government and loyal to the constitution of Iraq.

Assessment: The prerequisites for a successful militia disarmament program are not present.

 

(viii) Establishing supporting political, media, economic, and services committees in support of the Baghdad Security Plan.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward establishing supporting political, media, economic, and services committees in support of the Baghdad Security Plan.

 

(ix) Providing three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad operations.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward providing three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad operations.

 

(x) Providing Iraqi commanders with all authorities to execute this plan and to make tactical and operational decisions in consultation with U.S. Commanders without political intervention to include the authority to pursue all extremists including Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has not made satisfactory progress toward providing Iraqi commanders with all authorities to execute this plan and to make tactical and operational decisions in consultation with U.S. Commanders without political intervention to include the authority to pursue all extremists including Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias.

 

(xi) Ensuring that Iraqi Security Forces are providing even-handed enforcement of the law.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has not at this time made satisfactory progress in ensuring that Iraqi Security Forces are providing even-handed enforcement of the law; however, there has been significant progress in achieving increased even-handedness through the use of coalition partnering and embedded-transition teams with Iraqi Security Force units.

 

(xii) Ensuring that, as Prime Minister Maliki was quoted by President Bush as saying, “the Baghdad Security Plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation.”

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress in ensuring the Baghdad Security Plan does not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of their sectarian or political affiliations.

 

(xiii) Reducing the level of sectarian violence in Iraq and eliminating militia control of local security.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq ‑‑ with substantial Coalition assistance ‑‑ has made satisfactory progress toward reducing sectarian violence but has shown unsatisfactory progress towards eliminating militia control of local security.

 

(xiv) Establishing all of the planned joint security stations in neighborhoods across Baghdad.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq -- with substantial Coalition assistance -- has made satisfactory progress toward establishing the planned JSSs in Baghdad.

 

(xv) Increasing the number of Iraqi security forces units capable of operating independently.

Assessment: The Iraqi Government has made unsatisfactory progress toward increasing the number of Iraqi Security Forces units capable of operating independently.

 

(xvi) Ensuring that the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature are protected.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward ensuring that the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature are protected.

 

(xvii) Allocating and spending $10 billion in Iraqi revenues for reconstruction projects, including delivery of essential services, on an equitable basis.

Assessment: The Iraqi Government is making satisfactory progress in allocating funds to ministries and provinces, but even if the full $10 billion capital budget is allocated, spending units will not be able to spend all these funds by the end of 2007.

 

(xviii) Ensuring that Iraq’s political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against members of the ISF.

Assessment: The Government of Iraq has made unsatisfactory progress in ensuring that Iraq’s political authorities are not undermining or making false accusations against members of the ISF.

 

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Iraqi Government, Benchmarks, Initial Benchmark Assessment Report

Good News From The War On Terror 7/10

Operation Four Brothers nets detainees, weapons

ARAB JABOUR, Iraq — Paratroopers netted numerous detainees and munitions July 6 in Operation Four Brothers. Paratroopers from Bravo Troop, 1st Battalion, 40th Cavalry Regiment, from Fort Richardson, Alaska, conducted the operation finding caches of weapons, money, cell phones and numerous types of media as well as detaining 13 suspected insurgents.  One individual, who was briefly detained and released, agreed to write a sworn statement against other detainees being held. During the operation the paratroopers discovered various weapons caches containing three Iranian hand grenades, military type uniforms, and 40 mortar casings ranging from 40 millimeter to 81 millimeter. The munitions were confiscated and turned over to the Iraqi police for destruction. The paratroopers also found 9,000,000 Iraqi Dinar, the equivalent to $6,000 in US currency. There were also several items from two different coalition patrol bases that had been stolen. These items included razor wire, ladders and lumber. The Paratroopers are currently attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Ga.

 

17 suspected terrorist operatives, bombers detained in Coalition raids

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 17 suspected terrorists during raids in central and northern Iraq Tuesday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq operatives and terrorist bombing cells. Coalition Forces captured an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq cell member believed to be a link between terrorist operations in the Northern and Southern Belts.  During the raid, the ground forces detained three more suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement with al-Qaeda in Iraq. In Mosul, Coalition Forces captured a targeted individual suspected of having ties to a senior leader in al-Qaeda in Iraq.  The raid also netted two additional suspects who are allegedly tied to the terrorist group.  During a raid west of Taji, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists allegedly tied to a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who procures and distributes weapons for terrorist activity. In a raid on three separate buildings south of Baghdad, Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists allegedly tied to the Baghdad vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network.  In southern Baghdad, Coalition Forces raided three buildings targeting a suspected member of the Baghdad VBIED network and detained two suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement in a bombing cell.

 

Iraqi Special Operations Forces capture twelve suspected insurgents

DIWANIJAH – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained twelve insurgents linked to a rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia during two separate intelligence driven operations in Baghdad June 8. These insurgents are allegedly responsible for attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. With Coalition Forces along as advisors, ISOF detained the targeted individuals without incident. In the first operation, ISOF detained 11 targeted individuals believed responsible for attacks using explosively formed penetrators against Iraqi and Coalition Forces in the Hay al-Aamel area. In the second operation the ISOF detained the alleged leader of a cell responsible for direct and indirect fire, and improvised explosive devices attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces. His capture will disrupt this cell’s ability to carry out death squad activities against innocent civilians. ISOF seized weapons and ammunition, cell phones and assorted documents during these operations. No Iraqi or coalition forces were injured during this operation.

 

Three insurgents killed, four detained in attack

BAGHDAD — An air weapons team killed three insurgents July 7 in Jisr Diyala, Iraq. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment were securing a youth center for a medical assistance operation when they received small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. An air weapons team responded to the attack engaging insurgents and a vehicle containing a mortar tube. Four individuals were detained in the attack. One insurgent was wounded and treated.

 

Tipsters lead to capture south Baghdad’s most wanted terrorist, cache

AL-DHOUR, Iraq — With two well-timed phone calls, Iraqi civilians made some Soldiers’ day July 9. The first tipster called Troop C, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., and alerted them to a cache south of the village of Al-Dhour, Iraq, south of Baghdad. The troop responded, located the buried weapons, and was only five minutes into the process of digging them up when they got another call. A man claimed he had the 2nd BCT’s top high-value target and would deliver him to coalition custody. The man and Capt. Adam Sawyer, Troop C commander, agreed on a pickup site. The Soldiers hastily re-buried the cache and moved out, and when the vehicle arrived, they stopped it and took the most wanted man and two other men into custody. Some of the Soldiers were still able to see the cache from their vantage point - and were surprised to see a civilian pickup truck stop there and begin hastily loading the weapons into the bed of the truck. They engaged the vehicle with an M-240 machine gun, and the men tried to flee, but the Troop C Soldiers detained them all – and called an explosive ordnance disposal team to destroy the weapons. Sawyer a native of Reading, Penn., was jubilant about the operation. The primary target is allegedly responsible for shooting down an AH-64 helicopter in April 2006, the abductions of two Soldiers in June 2006, and complex attacks on patrol bases and terrorist acts against both Coalition Forces and Iraqi civilians. Additionally, he is believed to be the leader of an al Qaeda network, known to prey on the general public through intimidation and murder against those resisting compliance to the AQI demands and decrees One of the detainees had been wounded in a previous engagement, and was taken to a coalition hospital for treatment. The other six are being held for further questioning.

 

 

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

When Playing Cop, Do Not Pull Over A Real One

A NY man who was impersonating a police officer pulled over a real police officer. Idiot.

A driver posing as a police officer tried to pull off a bogus traffic stop, but he ran into trouble when the other motorist turned out to be a real off-duty detective, police said. Robert Lane, 25, was to be arraigned Wednesday after being arrested on charges of criminal impersonation and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, Suffolk County police said. Driving an SUV fitted out with flashing lights, Lane stopped the New York police detective on the Sunrise Highway on Tuesday afternoon, Suffolk police said. They said Lane told investigators the detective had cut him off. The detective became suspicious after Lane drove up alongside him, identified himself as an officer and flashed a small police badge, Suffolk police said. The detective showed his own police ID, told Lane to pull over, followed him when he didn't and called authorities, according to police. The detective's name was not released.

 

 

Technorati tags: Police, Impersonator, New York, Long Island, Cop

Fred! With Sean Hannity At the Freedom Concert

 

 

 

Technorati tags: Fred!, Fred Thompson, Sean Hannity, Freedom Concert, Republican, Conservative, Presidential Candidate

Trouble In The McCain Camp; Manager and Chief Strategist Gone

This has freefall written all over it. This is what happens when you support amnesty for millions of illegals.

John McCain's campaign manager and chief strategist are gone from their leadership roles, according to two officials with knowledge of the staff changes. One official said Terry Nelson resigned as campaign manager for the Republican presidential candidate and John Weaver stepped down from his post of chief strategist on Tuesday. But another official said Nelson was fired. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the shake-up has not been made public.

 

Technorati tags: McCain, Campaign, Presidential Candidate, Republican, RINO

Hijab; A Religious Headscarf Or iPod Concealer

British juror faces time in the pokey for listening to an iPod under her Hijab during a trial. Her religion probably demands that she be beaten or stoned to death.

A female Muslim juror has been arrested in Britain after allegedly listening to an MP3 player under her hijab headscarf during a murder trial, police said Monday. The woman in her early 20s was spotted by a fellow juror listening to music as she was meant to be helping try the case of a pensioner accused of bludgeoning his wife to death after 50 years of marriage. She could now be charged with contempt of court and, if convicted, may be punished with an indefinite jail sentence and an unlimited fine. Details emerged after the defendant was convicted and Judge Roger Chapple lifted a reporting restriction which prevented previous publication of the details for fear of disrupting proceedings. The woman had repeatedly arrived late for hearings at Blackfriars Crown Court, central London, and prosecuting lawyer Peter Clarke asked for her to be dismissed. The judge initially refused, saying it was not necessary, but a day later, he received a note from another juror suggesting that the woman may have been listening to music during the defendant's evidence.

 

 

Technorati tags: Hijab, Britain, Headscarf, iPod, Trial, Courts

Operation Arrowhead Ripper Update

‘Arrowhead Ripper’ continues to deny terrorists resources

BAQOUBA, Iraq – Iraqi army and Coalition Force Soldiers from Task Force Lightning continued offensive operations in and around the capital of Diyala province, Iraq, as Operation Arrowhead Ripper continued to deny resources to al-Qaida terrorists during its twentieth day in the area. Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, and 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, discovered and disabled five vehicles being prepared as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and caches containing pipe bombs, sniper rifles and other explosives and IED-making materials. During another joint operation in western Baqouba, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, and 2-5th IAD, disabled three IEDs and discovered a cache of small-arms. Also included in this discovery was an al-Qaida safe house containing a large amount of medical supplies and equipment. The medical supplies taken from this safe house were taken and distributed to the local civilian population. “In western Baqouba Arrowhead Ripper has met our initial tactical objectives and then some,” said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, deputy commanding general for operations, Task Force Lightning and Multinational Division-North. “Not only have we cleared out the active al-Qaida operatives in the western part of the city, but more importantly started to return fundamental life and normalcy to the citizens in that part of the city – food, water, fuel – those things that are essential to the trust and confidence of the people in their government.” IA and CF Soldiers continue to conduct successful engagements throughout the capital denying al-Qaida operatives resources and safe havens. In the Buhriz neighborhood of Baqouba, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 14th Cavalry Regiment, and 2-5th IA Soldiers, engaged and killed five terrorists after they launched a mortar attack from nearby palm groves. Local citizens provided accurate information to the joint forces enabling the successful engagement. In a separate engagement in old Baqouba, Soldiers from 1-12th Cav. detained 34 suspected terrorists after following tips from local citizens. “The true measure of success is in talking to the Iraqis who are starting to return to a sense of normalcy in western Baqouba,” said Bednarek.  “The fact that you have people coming out of their houses, starting to walk to the markets, (talking) with each other, riding bicycles, playing soccer in the streets, allowing the return of fundamental goods and services.” Since the beginning of Operation Arrowhead Ripper, at least 60 al-Qaida operatives have been killed, 215 have been detained, 55 weapons caches have been discovered, 124 improvised explosive devices have been destroyed and 24 booby-trapped structures have been destroyed.

 

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

Good News From The War On Terror 7/9

Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain insurgent cell members in Baghdad

DIWANIJAH – Iraqi Special Operations Forces, with Coalition Forces as advisors, detained seven suspected members of a rogue Jaysh al-Madhi JAM) militia in Baghdad July 7 during an intelligence driven operation to disable a network involved in death squad activities, kidnapping and assassination activities. The ISOF captured their targets without incident. They also seized an automatic rifle and ammunition, one pistol, cell phones, ID cards and computer equipment.

 

Iraqi Security Forces kill insurgent; detain eight others

BALAD – Iraqi Security Forces killed one insurgent and detained eight individuals during an intelligence driven operation in northwest Iraq July 7. The insurgents are allegedly responsible for providing a safe haven and weapons for other insurgents in the Ba’aj and Bulayji areas of Iraq. With Coalition advisors present for support, Iraqi forces raided several residences and detained their primary objectives. Iraqi Forces received enemy fire from a sniper on one house in the neighborhood. Iraqi Forces killed the insurgent. The primary objectives of this operation are alleged to be responsible for establishing a transitional area for weapons, supplies and foreign fighters smuggling in the cities of Ba’aj and Bulayji. Iraqi Security Forces also found a weapons and ammunition cache at one local residence. Two vehicles with explosives inside and one suicide vest were destroyed in a controlled area.

 

EFP cell detained, insurgent attack thwarted in Doura

BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, following a tip, captured an explosively-formed penetrator cell in the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital July 7. Company D, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment “Black Lions,” 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., received a tip from a local citizen that there was an EFP emplaced along a major thoroughfare and immediately acted, finding the device and followed the command wire back to a nearby house. Inside the house the Black Lions discovered a trigger device, four Motorola radios, a video camera, an Iranian Type-85 sniper rifle, a pistol, a spool of wire, three EFP tubes and three EFP plates.  Three suspected cell members were detained in the operation. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called in and neutralized the device. Earlier in the day, two patrols from the 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. “Warriors” were attacked by insurgents in the Doura area of East Rashid. In the ensuring small arms engagements, three insurgents were killed.  A fourth insurgent was wounded and detained for further questioning.

 

Five EFPs uncovered in eastern Baghdad

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq  — Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, uncovered five arrayed Explosively Formed Projectiles in the eastern Baghdad New Baghdad District July 5. Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Brigade, Special Troops Battalion found the arrayed EFPs and called in an explosive ordnance disposal team to detonate them in place.

 

Iraqi Forces repel attack, kill nine insurgents in Diwaniyah

BALAD – The 1st Battalion 8th Iraqi Army Division and the Iraqi Hillah SWAT, responded to a small arms attack while conducting an intelligence driven operation for a senior leader of a rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia loyal to Iran July 7 near Diwaniyah. The Iraqi forces, with Coalition Forces as advisors, killed nine insurgents linked to rogue JAM elements and detained four others. Coalition Forces provided air support, destroying two vehicles and damaging two buildings being used by the insurgents for cover and concealment during their attack. Iraqi Forces later detained four suspicious individuals during the operation. Rogue JAM elements have targeted Iraqi and Coalition Forces with rocket and mortar attacks near Diwaniyah, including a July 2 attack that wounded one Coalition Forces soldier.  Rogue JAM elements fired more than 50 rockets during the attack.

 

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

"Quote Of The Day", Brought To You By RFK Jr.

He's such an idiot. What has he done? He would be nothing without his name. He's kind of like Paris Hilton, without the sex tape.

"Get rid of all these rotten politicians that we have in Washington, who are nothing more than corporate toadies," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmentalist author, president of Waterkeeper Alliance and Robert F. Kennedy's son, who grew hoarse from shouting. "This is treason. And we need to start treating them as traitors."

 

Technorati tags: Global Warming, Live Earth, RFK Jr., Robert Kennedy Jr., Treason

Apache Co-Pilot Gives Seat To Wounded, Straps Self To Fuselage

This should be the new definition of heroism. The guy friggin' strapped himself to the outside of a helicopter!

Giving up his seat to a wounded soldier, an Army officer strapped himself to the side of his Apache helicopter gunship that airlifted them out of a furious firefight in Iraq, the U.S. command said Monday. The Army called it an "unusual casualty evacuation," but Chief Warrant Officer Allen Crist's selfless act goes way beyond heroism. Realizing that Specialist Jeffrey Jamaleldine needed medical attention fast, Crist put the critically wounded man in his own spot on the two-seat Apache on Saturday. Crist then rigged a harness to strap himself to the fuselage and crouched on the stubby left gun wing of the aircraft. With Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Purtee at the controls and Crist hanging on for dear life, the Apache flew out of the battle zone to a field hospital. Jamaleldine, 31, of Fort Smith, Ark., was later reported to be in stable condition, the Army said. Crist, the co-pilot and gunner, of Warrensburg, Mo., and pilot Purtee, from Houston, were unscathed.

***UPDATE***

Welcome Gizmodo readers!

Technorati tags: Apache, Army, Irag, War on Terror, Military, Heroism

Good News From The War On Terror 7/8

Once again, due to the number of releases, they will abbreviated. Click the links for more information.

Seven insurgents suspected of killing Coalition Forces captured

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — In an effort to find those responsible for recent attacks against Coalition Forces north of Baghdad, Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers captured seven suspected insurgents during a major operation northwest of Taji, Iraq which began in late June and ran through July 5.

 

IA, IP discover IED factory near Mosul

TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army Soldiers and Mosul Police officers discovered an improvised explosives device factory and cache near Mosul July 7.

 

13th MEU finds more than 17 metric tons of explosives

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq – Marines from Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, discovered more than 17,000 kilograms of explosives in a series of weapons cache finds northeast of Thar Thar Dam July 4-6.

 

Soldiers uncover cache in Hor Al Bosh mosque following attack

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Iraqi Army troops searched a mosque in Hor Al Bosh, Iraq after receiving small arms fire from the building July 5, uncovering a cache of small arms and ammunition and detaining one suspect.

 

10 suspected VBIED network operatives detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 10 suspected terrorists during operations Sunday targeting the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network in Baghdad.

 

Iraqi Army Forces detain one extremist leader, four others in operation near Kirkuk

TAJI – Iraqi Army Forces detained one extremist cell leader and four other suspected terrorists during an operation west of Kirkuk July 5.

 

Paratroopers find weapons cache

KALSU, Iraq — Paratroopers uncovered a weapons cache while assisting Iraqi citizens east of Iskandariyah, Iraq, yesterday.

 

3-1 Cav. finds four weapons caches, detains five

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq — Soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, and Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, detained five suspected insurgents and found four weapons caches July 5 near Jisr Diyala.

 

Qarghuli village residents lead troops to caches

QARGHULI VILLAGE, Iraq — Residents of a village south of Baghdad, long a terrorist hot spot, led U.S. forces to major weapons caches near their town July 6.

 

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

Transformers Movie Review

I went to see the Transformers movie today. It was awesome and I would/probably will go see it again. There was lots of violence and things getting blown up. The special effects were great. There wasn't really a secondary plot. There was a male likes female part, but it didn't distract from the movie. Anyone who has seen "War of the Worlds" knows how a sub-plot can ruin a movie.

The problems I did have with the movie is that it wasn't a continuation of the cartoon series. If you've never seen the cartoons, you wouldn't know any better. I grew up on Transformers and had many of the toys. I will still brag to anyone who cares that I had Omega Supreme. I quit watching the Transformers when they switched to "Beast Wars", because that was just stupid.

1. Bumblebee was a VW Beetle, in the movie he is a Camaro. This is what happens when corporations sponsor a movie. Other Transformers were changed into GM vehicles also.

2. In the cartoon, Megatron was a giant gun. In the movie, he was a mostly a robot that occasionally would turn into a type of jet plane.

3. Optimus Prime never got beat down. Megatron was always inferior to Optimus Prime and was forced to retreat every time the Autobots fought the Decepticons. In the movie, Megatron smacks Optimus Prime around like a $2 hooker. That never happened in the cartoon series. I have to say, it was because of this that the movie was not the greatest movie I've ever seen. Had it been "historically" accurate, it would have easily been one of the greatest.

I recommend you go see it. If you have been a past fan of the Transformers, just remember that it's not the same as the cartoon. If you have never seen a Transformer in your life, you will probably love it.

 

 

Technorati tags: Transformers, Movie, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Autobots, Decepticons

Chewbacca Makes Marilyn Monroe Touch His Wookie

This is just ridiculous. A Chewbacca impersonator sexually assaults a Marilyn Monroe impersonator.

Police were searching today for a Chewbacca impersonator who reportedly sexually assaulted a Marilyn Monroe look-alike in front of the Kodak Theatre about a month ago. The Chewbacca impersonator was wanted on suspicion of grabbing the Monroe impersonator's hand and placing it on his groin about four weeks ago, said Sgt. David Torres, spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood division. The Monroe look-alike called police today after complaining of a seperate incident between the two impersonators, Torres said. The brown, hairy Wookiee fled just as police arrived at about 12:30 p.m. on Hollywood and Highland boulevards.

 

Technorati tags: Sexual Assault, Chewbacca, Marilyn Monroe, Wookie, Impersonator

News About Iran

Iran's Hezbollah terrorist organization will cause Lebanon 'to erupt in 1 week'.

On July 5, 2007, the Iranian news agency IRNA reported that Syrian authorities had instructed all Syrian citizens residing in Lebanon to return to their country by July 15, 2007. The next day, the Israeli Arab daily Al-Sinara similarly reported, on the authority of a Lebanese source close to Damascus, that Syria was planning to remove its citizens from Lebanon. Also on July 5, the Lebanese daily Al-Liwa reported rumors that Syrian workers were leaving Lebanon at the request of the Syrian authorities. In addition, the Syrian government daily Al-Thawra reported that Syrian universities would accept Syrian students who were leaving Lebanon due to the instability there," MEMRI said in its report. Within Lebanon itself, the Hizbullah-led opposition threatened to establish a "second government" through "historical steps" in mid July, according to senior Hizbullah officials quoted in the Lebanese media, MEMRI added.

 

U.S. closer to cracking the Iranian nuclear code.

Iraqi general, Ali Reza Asgari, who disappeared in Istanbul last February, has defected and is being held by the United States, Yedioth Ahronot published Sunday. Asgari was considered by the US one of the top intelligence officials in Iran. His defection was made possible thanks to an intricate CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) operation, climaxing in him joining Western intelligence officers in Istanbul, who than had him and his family transferred to the US. Asgari, who according to reports is being held in a top-secret military installation, has been able to shed a new light on much of the Iranian regime's most inner workings, especially regarding the Iranian nuclear development project. Up until now, Iran – according to known intelligence – has been building two nuclear plants, in Arak and Bushehr, and has been using centrifuges to enrich uranium. Iran, Asgari told his interrogator's is working in another, stealth path, toward achieving its nuclear goal. This third method involves attempts to enrich uranium by using laser beams along with certain chemicals designed to enhance the process. These trials are held in a special weapons facility in Natanz.

 

Al-Qaeda in Iraq threatens all out war against Iran if they continue to support Iraqi Shiites.

The leader of an al-Qaida umbrella group in Iraq threatened to wage war against Iran unless it stops supporting Shiites in Iraq within two months, according to an audiotape released Sunday. Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who leads the group Islamic State in Iraq, said his Sunni fighters have been preparing for four years to wage a battle against Shiite-dominated Iran. "We are giving the Persians, and especially the rulers of Iran, a two month period to end all kinds of support for the Iraqi Shiite government and to stop direct and indirect intervention ... otherwise a severe war is waiting for you," he said in the 50-minute audiotape. The tape, which could not be independently verified, was posted on a Web site commonly used by insurgent groups. Iraq's Shiite-led government is backed by the U.S. but closely allied to Iran. The United States accuses Iran of arming and financing Shiite militias in Iraq — charges Tehran denies. In the recording, al-Baghdadi also gave Sunnis and Arab countries doing business in Iran or with Iranians a two-month deadline to cease their ties.

 

 

Technorati tags: Iran, Iraq, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, Terrorists, War on Terror, Nuclear, Lebanon, Middle East

Good News From The War On Terror 7/6-7/7

Three killed, eight detained in morning operation

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained eight suspected terrorists during operations in Anbar province Friday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq facilitators. During a raid west of Fallujah, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq battalion commander, responsible for logistics and oversight of terrorist attacks by cells within his group.  He has also allegedly attempted to forge working relationships with media outlets to broadcast jihadist propaganda, including videos of attacks on Coalition Forces. After Coalition Forces entered the building, they encountered a man with an AK-47 and two men with pistols who began firing on the ground force.  Coalition Forces, acting in self-defense, engaged the three armed terrorists, killing them.  Two suspected terrorists on scene were detained during the raid.  Northeast of Ramadi, Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist who allegedly facilitates the movement of foreigners into Iraq for participation in terrorist attacks.  The ground forces detained six suspects during the operation.

 

3-1 Cav. finds four weapons caches, detains five

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq — Soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, and Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, detained five suspected insurgents and found four weapons caches July 5 near Jisr Diyala. The operation resulted in the largest cache seizure for the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team since beginning operations southeast of Baghdad in late March. Unit leaders said Soldiers conducted the five-phase operation to deny enemy sanctuaries and seize caches. Soldiers from 3-1 Cav. and Company D, currently attached to 3-1 Cav., secured and searched four target locations simultaneously during the operation. Each cache found and destroyed decreases the munitions and improvised explosive device making materials available for insurgents to use against the populace and Coalition Forces, said Capt. Jimmy Hathaway, from Columbus, Ga., commander of Headquarters Co., 3-1 Cav. The following was seized from the four caches: 8 fuses, four artillery rounds, three rockets, nine hand grenades, 56 mortars, 10 rocket propelled grenades, more than 15 pounds of C4 explosives and miscellaneous bomb-making materials and unidentified explosives. The 3-1 Cav. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga.

 

4 terrorists killed, 9 suspects detained in Coalition operations

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed four terrorists and detained nine suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq targeting al-Qaeda leaders and their associates Saturday. Coalition Forces targeted an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader suspected of facilitating the movement of foreign terrorists near Khan Bani Sa’ad.  As they approached the targeted building, they encountered an armed man in a military-style assault vest who drew his weapon on the ground forces.  Coalition Forces, responding in self-defense, engaged the armed man, killing him. As Coalition Forces left the area after the operation, several terrorists engaged them with heavy machine guns.  Responding in self-defense to neutralize the threat, Coalition Forces called in close air support to engage the armed men.  Three terrorists were killed and two heavy machine guns were destroyed in the air strike. In Hit, Coalition Forces captured an alleged senior member of the al-Qaeda in Iraq organization there.  The individual is suspected of collecting information on Iraqi Police, civilians and Coalition Forces to report to the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of the area.  One other suspected terrorist was detained with the targeted individual. A Coalition Forces operation in Mosul netted seven suspected terrorists when the ground forces raided two buildings targeting associates of known al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.

 

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