Good News From Iraq

WASHINGTON — Winning the war on terror in Iraq is critical to American defense, President Bush said Oct. 25 in a WhiteHouse news conference.

Bush largely spoke about changes to Coalition strategy and tactics in Iraq.

“Our security at home depends on ensuring Iraq is an ally in the war on terror and does not become a terrorist haven likeAfghanistan under the Taliban,” the president said.

America’s goals in Iraq are unchanging, but the methods must be flexible, he said. “On the military side, our commanderson the ground are constantly adjusting their tactics to stay ahead of our enemies,” Bush said. “We’re refining our trainingstrategy for Iraqi security forces so we can help more of those forces take the lead in the fight and provide them betterequipment and firepower to be successful.”

The Coalition increased advisors in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and Interior to help Iraqis plan and execute operations,Bush said. And the United States changed force structure in Iraq as needed to counter enemy activity.

“Most recently we have moved Iraqi and Coalition forces into Baghdad so they can help secure the city and reducesectarian violence,” he said.

However, he added, after some initial successes Iraqi and Coalition operations to secure Baghdad have encounteredgreater resistance.

“Some of the Iraqi Security Forces have performed below expectations,” the president said. “Many have performed welland are fighting bravely in some of Baghdad’s toughest neighborhoods. Once again, American troops are performingsuperbly under difficult conditions. Together with the Iraqis, they have conducted hundreds of missions throughoutBaghdad.”

But military power cannot win the war alone, Bush said, noting the Iraqi government has to take steps to solve problemscontributing to the insurgency.

“In addition to refining our military tactics to defeat the enemy, we are also working to achieve a political solution thatbrings together Shiia and Sunni and Kurds and other ethnic and religious groups,” Bush said.

Bush delineated a three-step approach to Iraq. First, Coalition officials are working with political and religious leadersacross Iraq urging them to take steps to restrain their followers and stop sectarian violence.

Second, U.S. officials are helping Iraqi leaders complete work on a national compact to solve the most difficult issuesdividing their country.

“The new Iraqi government has condemned violence from all quarters and has agreed to a schedule for resolving issuessuch as dissolving militias and death squads, sharing oil revenues, amending the Iraqi constitution and reforming thede-Baathification process,” the president said.

Third, the United States is reaching out to Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan andasking them to support the Iraqi Government’s efforts to persuade Sunni insurgents to lay down arms and accept nationalreconciliation.

Bush called these tasks daunting for any government, but particularly so for a government that has been in place only forjust over five months. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s unity government “has to solve a host of problems created bydecades of tyrannical rule, and they have to do it in the midst of a raging conflict,” Bush said.

The United States will continue to press the Iraqis to move quickly, the president said.

“We’re making it clear that America’s patience is not unlimited,” he said. “Yet we also understand the difficult challengesIraq’s leaders face, and we will not put more pressure on the Iraqi government than it can bear.”

He said the strategy as Iraq moves forward is to help Iraq’s government grow in strength and assume more control over itscountry as soon as possible.

Bush said the American people want to win in Iraq. “They will support the war as long as they see a path to victory,” Bushsaid. “Americans can have confidence that we will prevail, because thousands of smart, dedicated civilian and militarypersonnel are risking their lives and working around the clock to ensure our success.”

Search for MND-B Soldier continues
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers embarked on an intensive search in an attempt to find an MND-B Soldier who was reported as Duty Status- Whereabouts Unknown as of 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, along with the Iraqi National Police, mounted an intensive effort to locate the Soldier by using all means available, to include attack aviation elements and unmanned aerial vehicles.

“We will leverage all available Coalition resources to find this Soldier,” said Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, commanding general, MND-B. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones, and we are working for his safe return.”

The Soldier was last seen inside the International Zone at approximately 2:30 p.m. Monday. He is assigned as a linguist with duty at the Provincial Reconstruction Team – Baghdad.

It is believed that the Soldier left the IZ to visit with family. He was reportedly at a relative’s house at the time of the abduction when three cars pulled up to the residence. The men, who were described to have dark colored rags over their noses and mouths, handcuffed the Soldier and forced him into one of the vehicles.

The Soldier’s relative, who claimed to be at the residence when the abduction occurred, was reportedly contacted by the kidnappers using the Soldier’s cell phone. After being notified of the telephonic contact, MND-B leaders immediately took decisive actions to locate the Soldier.

Throughout the night, Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces conducted targeted raids on suspected locations. The raided locations included the Al Farat TV station and the Sadid al Dris Mosque.

Coalition Forces and National Police used checkpoints to close down roads and bridges in central Baghdad and are searching vehicles attempting to leave the area. MND-B Soldiers have searched several houses and buildings in the area in an effort to locate the missing Soldier.

Operations to locate the missing Soldier will continue until the Soldier is found.

The Soldier is still considered as Duty Status-Whereabouts Unknown.

Iraqi Army assumes responsibility of Northern Ramadi
Multi-National Corps - West

RAMADI, Iraq – The Iraqi Army assumed responsibility of an area in northern Ramadi today. The 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade of the 7th Iraqi Army Division, commanded by Colonel Kareem, officially assumed battle space at 11 a.m. today at a ceremony on forward operating base Blue Diamond.

“We will serve with honor,” Colonel Kareem reminded his Soldiers. “We have been given the great responsibility of being in charge of this area.”

Task Force 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment has been partnered with 3-1-7 IA for the past five months and has witnessed the unit’s development. “This is a big step,” said Lt.Col. Daniel Walrath, Commander Task Force 1-6, “[They] are increasing their battle space by three fold [and] will develop concepts and plans of operation for northern Ramadi.”

Task Force 1-6 will continue to provide the Iraqi battalion support, but are confident about their progress. Colonel Kareem reinforced to the Iraqi Soldiers that they will continue to learn from their Coalition partners and make Ramadi a safer place.

The battalion recently proved their capabilities during a validation operation which resulted in the capture of four anti-Iraqi forces. The occasion marks the second battalion in two weeks Ramadi to assume battlespace and is an important step in the continuing development of the Iraqi Army and represents the future security of Iraq.

U.S. Marines capture sniper rifles, kill 6, wound 4 insurgents
Multi-National Corps - West


CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq – The Coalition Forces killed six insurgents, wounded four and netted five sniper rifles Sunday in the Euphrates River city of Hit, Iraq.

The Coalition Force positively identified 10 males conducting insurgent activity in a parking lot prior to engaging them with a heavy volume of fire.

The insurgents were gathered around a car while distributing black masks, AK-47 assault rifles and rocket propelled grenade launchers to one another.

After the engagement the Coalition Force personnel searched three insurgent vehicles in the parking lot and captured the following equipment:


o (5) sniper rifles
o (3) sniper rifle magazines
o (11) AK-47 assault rifles
o (19) AK-47 assault rifle magazines
o (3) rocket propelled grenades with launchers
o (1) RPK machine gun
o (2) PKC machine gun
o (1) video camera
o (1) bullet-proof vest with protective plates
o (2) hand grenades
o (7) load bearing vests
o (8) black masks

During the engagement, some of the insurgent weapons were destroyed, and found burning inside the vehicles.

“Today was significant for Coalition Forces because it reduced the sniper threat in Hit by a considerable margin,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Graves, commanding officer for the Friedburg, Germany-based 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment.

“We will take advantage of this opportunity by continuing our efforts to develop Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police forces within Hit,” said Graves.

1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment is the Coalition Forces unit responsible for training Iraqi Security Forces and providing security to the city of Hit.

Coalition Forces evacuated the four wounded insurgents to a nearby U.S. military medical facility for treatment. Their condition is unknown at this time.

Hit is a city of about 60,000 located 35 miles northwest of Ramadi in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province.

Iraqi Army Raid to Capture Death Squad Commander
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Special Iraqi Army forces, with Coalition advisers, conducted two raids Oct. 25 in Sadr City, Baghdad to capture a death squad leader and capture criminals involved in the kidnapping of a U.S. Soldier.

Iraqi forces and Coalition forces had credible intelligence indicating the location of an insurgent leader personally involved in and directing widespread death squad activity for numerous murder cells in eastern Baghdad. The ground assault force also planned to act on credible intelligence indicating that criminals involved in the kidnapping of a US Soldier were located in a Sadr City mosque.

Iraqi forces quickly secured the insurgent’s residence in Sadr City and detained 10 suspected death squad members. As soon as the Iraqi forces arrived at the objective, enemy small arms fire was received and suppressed by aimed, controlled fires from the assault force; enemy rocket propelled grenade fire was neutralized by precision gunfire from a supporting Coalition aircraft. Ten enemy fighters were killed and two were wounded.

The ground assault force departed the first objective and moved through Sadr City to the mosque where the kidnapping suspects were believed to be located. Iraqi forces secured the mosque, entered it, and detained three suspects for further questioning.

Iraqi forces returned to base and there were no Iraqi or Coalition force casualties. Possible civilian casualties could not be assessed due to the hostile conditions on the objectives.

Iraqi forces raid illegal armed group in Diyala Province
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army forces conducted an early morning raid Oct. 25 in Khalis in eastern Diyala Province to capture the leadership of an illegal armed group responsible for attacks against Iraqi forces.

Iraqi forces, with Coalition advisors, arrived at the objective and gained entry where they were met with small arms fire from a member of the illegal armed group. Iraqi forces returned fire and killed the group member.

Members of the group were being sought for their connection to improvised explosive devices attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces that have left several Soldiers dead.

Operations on the objective caused minimal damage and there were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition forces casualties.

Iraqi forces disrupt murder, kidnapping cell operations
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Special Iraqi Police forces conducted an early morning raid Oct. 25 in the al Hillah area to capture members of a murder and kidnapping cell wanted by the Ministry of the Interior.

Iraqi forces, with Coalition advisers, arrived at the objective and gained entry to several locations where 11 suspected members of the cell were found and detained.

The cell was targeted for its attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces with improvised explosive devices and mortars, and their numerous criminal activities including extortion, kidnapping, car theft, and the murder of Iraqi civilians.

Operations on the objective caused minimal damage and there were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition forces casualties.

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