Good News From Iraq

Release A060520a
Coalition Forces kill two al-Qaida terrorists

BAGHDAD , Iraq – On May 17, acting on timely intelligence reports, Coalition Forces located and killed two al-Qaida associates who were involved in targeting Iraqis, and Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces. One of the terrorists killed, Abu Ahad, managed foreign fighter facilitation and also provided a modicum of command and control between several terrorist cells operating throughout the vicinity of Fallujah, Baghdad , Yusifiyah, Taji and Mahmudiyah.

The name of the other al-Qaida member killed in the same raid is unknown, but intelligence officials confirmed his involvement in coordinating terrorist operations, as well as his association with Abu Ahad.

After killing Abu Ahad, Coalition Forces conducted several follow-on operations based on information and reporting that led to the al-Qaida leader and foreign fighter facilitator.

No civilians were injured during this operation. ** Good news indeed, Abu will not be down for breakfast!

Iraq's cabinet named
BAGHDAD, Iraq (May 20, 2006) – As members of Iraq’s government filed into the conference room a feeling of pride and excitement was felt in the crowd.

Parliament approved 39 ministers to form the elected, representative government of the country.

The Parliament confirmed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his choices for the Iraqi national unity government by a show of hands. After each vote, a loud applause reverberated through the crowd for each of the 39 cabinet members.

The vote followed months of political discussions following the Dec. 15, 2005, national elections. Even with that, the parties could not agree on ministers for defense, interior and national security.

Al-Maliki will serve as acting interior minister for the time being and will have responsibility for the Iraqi Police. Al-Maliki appointed Salam Zikam al-Zubaie, a Sunni Arab, as temporary defense minister. Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, a Kurd, will be acting minister for national security.

Al-Maliki spoke on the trials Iraq has faced since ridding the country of a dictator and fighting the insurgency.

“We will expel terrorism and the elements of sabotage, backwardness, poverty, and ignorance,” he said.

The prime minister listed 34 points to the framework of the government. Many of the points focused on a central issue: “Preventing autocracy, dictatorship, sectarianism, and racism in all its forms and incorporating this attitude in all government policies and practices,” he said.

With the cabinet approval, the constitution the Iraqi people approved Oct. 15, 2005, takes full effect.

The historic event garnered praise from world leaders, ambassadors and military members.

"I congratulate Prime Minister Maliki on the formation of Iraq's new unity government. Iraqis now have a fully constitutional government, marking the end of a democratic transitional process in Iraq that has been both difficult and inspiring. This broadly representative unity government offers a new opportunity for progress in Iraq,” said U.S. President George W. Bush in a statement released Saturday.

"Today, the Iraqis have established complete control over their nation," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects for Multi-National Force - Iraq. "They are now in the lead and the U.S. government is just in support of that. They are the authoritative decision-making body in this country and anything we do from here on, we will have to do in consultation with the legitimate government authority."

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzhad said he is pleased the Iraqis now have a democratically elected government. The embassy looks forward to working with the new ministers to build a free and secure Iraq, he said. He anticipates the new government will have an effect on the number of coalition troops in the country, but feels it is too early to say. "The current size of our forces, the composition of our forces, the current missions of our forces are not ends in themselves for us," he said during a news conference after the inauguration. "Iraqi self-reliance and increasing security for Iraqis is."

Tags:
Iraq
MNF Iraq
Al Qaeda
War on Terror
Iraqi Army
101st Fighting Keyboardists

.