Good News From Iraq

Anbar governor survives assassination attempt
BAGHDAD, Iraq (May 3, 2006) – Al Anbar's governor survived an attempt on his life as Coalition Forces engaged terrorists in an insurgent safe house. The Central Criminal Court of Iraq sentenced convicted terrorists.

The governor of Al Anbar Province survived a homicide car bomb attack that killed 10 civilians in the capital city of Ramadi May 2.

Governor Maamoon Sami Rasheed al-Awani was headed to work, escorted by his security convoy, when a homicide bomber drove a car toward his vehicle and detonated a bomb in an area crowded with cars and pedestrians, according to Maamoon.

A U.S. Marine convoy responded to the attack, came under small arms fire and returned fire, said Lt. Col. Bryan Salas, Marine spokesman.

Governor Maamoon does not know who planned the attack, which is the 29th attempt on his life, he said. He also had a son kidnapped in 2005. His son was safely returned.

According to Governor Maamoon, the attack will not dissuade him from serving the people of Al Anbar.

“This is a cowardly attempt, and this is not in the best interest of Anbar or the country,” he said. “On the same day of the attack, I am here and am ready to work. I will continue working to serve my people, to serve the people of Anbar and Iraq.”

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Iraqi Security Forces conducting sweep in Mosul
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi Soldiers and Police completed the fourth day of Operation Lion’s Hunt in Mosul May 3.

Nearly 1,500 Iraqi Soldiers and police officers teamed together to conduct the mission. The goal of Lion’s Hunt is to introduce a strong Iraqi Security Force presence in the city’s diverse communities and clean out pockets of terrorists hiding among law abiding residents.

The Iraqi-planned effort has been well received in the areas searched so far, according to Maj. Gen. Wathiq, Provincial Director of Police for Ninewah Province. He stressed the importance of building strong community relationships with the Iraqi Security Forces in an effort to rid Mosul and the rest of the province of terrorists.

So far 36 known or suspected terrorists have been detained without incident during the operation.

To ensure the operation is transparent to the local residents, Wathiq ensured local media were invited to accompany the mission.

A small contingent of Task Force Band of Brother Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team are assisting the mission by augmenting an outer security ring as the Iraqi forces move to and from various neighborhoods in the city.

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Homicide bomber attacks IP recruiting checkpoint in Fallujah
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – A homicide bomber attacked a Fallujah police recruiting checkpoint at approximately 8 a.m. May 3.

The insurgent walked toward a group of civilians gathered at the entrance to the checkpoint and detonated explosives concealed on his person.

At least seven civilians were killed and12 wounded as a result of the attack. One Iraqi police officer was also wounded.

Marines from Regimental Combat Team 5 responded to the incident and assisted Fallujah police officers in securing the scene.

The recruiting process was reopened approximately one hour after the attack, and recruits continued to volunteer.

“The fact that an overwhelming number of recruits arrived immediately after the attack signifies the local rejection of the intimidation and terrorism,” said Col. Larry D. Nicholson, commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5.

“The people of Fallujah continue to look forward, not back, and understand that the way ahead, the road to progress and the path to self-governance depends on being part of the new Iraqi government,” Nicholson added.

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MND-B Marines discover large weapons cache
BAGHDAD, Iraq – During a cache excavation operation, Marines attached to Multi-National Division – Baghdad discovered a large weapons cache April 30 in a village west of Baghdad.

The cache included 100 20 mm anti-air rounds, 3,000 7.62 ball rounds, 1,000 7.62 armor piercing rounds, 65 mortar fuses, 24 grenades, 23 83 mm mortar rounds, three 120 mm mortar rounds and two 100 mm mortar rounds.

There were also three 115 mm tank rounds, 12 57 mm fragmentation rockets, seven 80 mm fragmentation rockets, 13 rocket-propelled grenades, an improvised rocket launcher, two 107 mm rockets, a 68 mm rocket, three 155 mm artillery rounds, five 130 mm artillery shells, four 120 mm projectiles, an anti-tank rocket launcher, a machine gun, three assault rifles and an Enfield sniper rifle.

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called in to destroy the cache.

And some good news on Jihad being denied, whats the odds that our Mustafa is now relaxing with pleasant company down at Club Gitmo:

KABUL, Afghanistan - A top al-Qaida leader whose links stretch from Osama bin Laden's training camps to extremist networks in Europe has been captured in Pakistan, a U.S. law enforcement official confirms for the first time.

Pakistani officials also tell The Associated Press that Mustafa Setmarian Nasar, a dual Syrian-Spanish national with a $5 million U.S. bounty on his head, has been flown out of the country to an unspecified location.

Nasar was captured in a November sting in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta that left one person dead, the American official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The official spoke to the AP late last week. ...

Singapore-based terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna said Nasar's capture is a major blow to the al-Qaida movement because he was the "most prolific writer" of jihadi propaganda and held close links with extremists throughout Europe and South Asia.

"The ideologues are as equally important as the operational people and he was in close contact with very prominent figures with movements in different countries, particularly the North African region," Gunaratna said.

In 2004, Nasar released a 1,600-page book titled "The International Islamic Resistance Call," which lays out strategies for attacking Islam's enemies.

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