Good News From Iraq

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Coalition forces capture six terrorists in Ramadi
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces continued to degrade al-Qaida in Iraq and associated foreign terrorists operations in the al Anbar region May 26 when the troops disrupted a gathering and captured six detainees in southern Ramadi.

Information from recent detainees led to the successful raid, which was part of ongoing, coordinated efforts to eliminate terrorist operations in the al Anbar region west of Baghdad.

Coalition forces encountered minimal resistance from the terrorists, quickly neutralized enemy fire and secured the area.

Coalition forces found two AK-47s and associated ammunition at the site of the raid.

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Coalition forces detain 3 terrorists
BAGHDAD , Iraq – Coalition Forces detained three terrorists in the vicinity of Samarra May 24 during a raid targeting a known al-Qaida associate.

The successful operation led to the capture of the known terrorist and two other male associates, all of whom were intoxicated. This individual is believed to have a high-level role within the local insurgency.

The terrorists were in possession of various propaganda materials, to include CDs and tapes showing beheadings, and information on improvised explosive devices.

The raid was part of Coalition Forces continued effort to degrade the al-Qaida terrorist network throughout Iraq .

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Iraqi security forces quell sectarian skirmishes, restore order
FOB KALSU, Iraq – Approximately 500 Iraqi Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, supported by Soldiers from Multi-National Division – Baghdad's 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and more than 100 Iraqi police led by Brig. Gen. Qais Hamza, Babil provincial police chief, conducted a raid May 24 in the Ubaydah region of Southern Lutafiyah in response to reports of kidnappings and increased sectarian violence in the area.

Operation Chepultepec was entirely Iraqi planned and led based on intelligence developed in collaboration with various Iraqi Security Force units, said Maj. Curt Taylor, operations officer, 2-8 Inf. Regt. Iraqi Police and Coalition Forces provided the outer cordon around the 80 square kilometer area while the Iraqi Army advanced to their objective to drive the terrorists from the region.

The combined forces encountered resistance from the armed terrorists, but quickly quelled the fighting.

The Iraqi Army detained 12 suspects and captured several enemy weapons, including a mortar tube with six projectiles and bomb-making materials.

In an area near the fighting, the Iraqi Army Soldiers also uncovered a weapon cache consisting of a 12.7-millimeter DShK machine gun with 150 rounds.

The Ubaydah region has been plagued in recent months by the escalation of sectarian and tribal strife.

“This operation demonstrates the bravery of the Iraqi Soldier and their solemn commitment to uphold the rule of law and to restore order in the area,” said Col. John Tully, commander, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div .

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Marine aircraft mishap in al Anbar
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra helicopter from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing went down May 27 in al Anbar province with two Marines on board during a maintenance test flight.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing for the missing crewmembers.

“We are using all the resources available to find our missing comrades,” said Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Salas.

The incident does not appear to be a result of enemy action.

The incident is under investigation.

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MND-B cordon and search nets weapons cache
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers conducted a cordon and search of a house suspected of harboring terrorists and concealing weapons caches south of Baghdad May 26.

Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, discovered a small weapons cache by the house and uncovered a sizeable cache in a field nearby.

The weapons cache consisted of 2,300 .50 caliber machine gun rounds, 300 30 mm mortar rounds, one 60 mm mortar round, eight 120 mm mortar rounds, one rocket, 30 disassembled .50 caliber weapons, two disassembled 30 mm weapons, nine large bags of homemade explosives and other bomb-making materials.

An Explosives Ordnance Disposal team assessed and destroyed the cache.

Release A060528a
Insurgent killed after shooting at combined patrol
TIKRIT, Iraq – An insurgent was killed by Iraqi police and Coalition force Soldiers after they were attacked with small arms fire in Samarra May 27.

Soldiers from the 978th Military Police Battalion were on a combined patrol with Samarra police when three insurgents started shooting at them from a sedan. The patrol returned fire, killing one of the occupants and disabling the car. The two other insurgents fled on foot.

An artillery round was found in the vehicle. Both the shell and the car were confiscated by Samarra authorities.

29th Signal hook up the lines
Story by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle, 138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
MOSUL, Iraq - Smaller units on Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq need the help of the 29th Signal Battalion to get their communications up and running.
The battalion provides the support and communications to the mayor’s cell, the 505th Engineer’s Battalion, and other supporting units by hooking up internet and phone lines.

“We basically provide command and control for units so they can talk to higher units,” said Sgt. Rickey Thomas, 29th Sig. Bn. “They need to get their reports in and make sure they are getting supplied properly with food, fuel, water and ammunition.” Thomas resides in Lacey, Wash.
According to one member of the unit, Spc. Christopher Rudolph, without 29th being here there would be no telephone communications or internet for the units to contact the people they need to. Rudolph is a native of Boise, Idaho.

“It is very vital to have communications here in Iraq so the units can pass on information that is important to accomplish their mission,” Rudolph said.

“It is a pleasure to work with these smaller units and getting them connected to their phones and internet,” said Rudolph. “They seem to appreciate it when we are able to help them out.”
“Running lines here in combat is no different than it is back in a garrison setting,” said Thomas.
According to Thomas they try and maintain the same standards as they do in garrison.

“We still take pride in our appearance,” said Thomas. “We try to keep things as neat as possible, but we stress safety over neatness, making sure Soldiers are not going to get hurt by the wires we run.”
** Lastly a list of the UN resolutions passed against Saddams government:
#660—[2 August 1990]
#661—[6 August 1990]
#662—[9 August 1990]
#664—[18 August 1990]
#665—[25 August 1990]
#666—[13 September 1990]
#667—[16 September 1990]
#669—[24 September 1990]
#670—[25 September 1990]
#674—[29 October 1990]
#677—[28 November 1990]
#678—[29 November 1990]
#687—[3 April 1991]
#1441—[8 November 2002]

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War on Terror
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