Good News From Iraq

First off before the good news Antwerp has banned muslim headscarves, good for them. Nice to see someone in Europe rolling back the dhimmi state that the barbarians and their puppets on the left wish to impose on us all. http://www.breakingnews.ie/2007/01/16/story293693.html

Now the good news from Iraq, as not reported by the BBC.

IA, CF shut down terrorist group ‘The Council’
Multi-National Division – North PAO

BALAD RUZ, Iraq – After a nine-day operation in the Turki Village area, soldiers from 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, together with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, defeated “The Council,” a known terrorist group which has historically targeted families and tribes with violence throughout the region. Coalition Forces continue to maintain a presence to further the peace and stability of the area.

“The group, made up of former Ba’ath Regime members, Al Qaeda and Sunni extremists, refused to participate in any political dialogue and preferred attacking innocent civilians in the Diyala province, killing as many as 39 civilians in one kidnapping and mass murder in November,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division commander, and senior U.S. Army officer in the Diyala province. More than 50 of the council’s terrorists responsible for the November murder of 39 civilian were captured during the recent operations.

“The fear of the people and the weapons used by these individuals are used to attack the core of Iraqi values and beliefs. They are interested in preventing individual human rights and freedoms that the people of this region want so much,” Sutherland said.

The families and tribes that form the basis of this society recognize this achievement, Sutherland added. Phone calls to report criminal activity to the Police Coordination Center has increased 131 percent since the beginning of the operation.

After seizing a safe house, with a white flag signifying surrender, detaining dozens of middle-aged males and questioning local residents, the defeat of “The Council” was validated.

This defeat has been achieved through offensive operations designed to isolate the terrorists away from the population; and by using the Iraqi Army, supported by U.S. Air Force, Special Operations Forces, and elements of the 3-1 Cav to bring the terrorists to justice, he said.

“Additionally, non-kinetic engagements using psychological operations, information operations, and civil military operations were brought to bear to shape and sustain the battlefield,” Sutherland said.

“Through questioning, we learned that The Council had a plan to attempt to defeat our forces,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Poppas, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment commander. “However, due to our kinetic capabilities, we were able to defeat the enemy and broke his will to fight. They admitted in questioning that our forces beat them.”

During the operation, which began Jan. 4 with a combined air and ground assault, Soldiers unearthed numerous weapons caches and killed approximately 100 terrorists throughout the Turki Village area.

Dozens of supply caches included more than 1,150 Katusha rockets, more than 1,000 rocket-propelled grenades, 170 anti-tank missiles, anti-tank mines, more than 1,000 small-arms munitions, 1,050 DSHKA rounds and sensitive terrorist documents.

Since the defeat of “The Council,” Soldiers have been focusing on interacting with the local populous, maintaining a presence and reinforcing the security and stability of the region. The IA will maintain a permanent presence, while CF are focusing on reconstructing roads, essential services and other basic services to help the people of Turki.

“The populous continues to express their support for the Iraqi Security Forces,” said Poppas.

“This operation is already having an impact on the political framework within Diyala,” said Lt. Col. Scott Jackson, the deputy brigade commander. “Elements of different tribes are moving to the political discussion that have been afraid to voice their opinions due to fear imposed by the terrorists.”

Governor Ra’ad Rasheed Hameed Al-Mullah Jawad Al-Tamimi said, “I am very proud of how the Iraqi Army performed during this operation; they demonstrated skill and determination in the challenging conditions.”

“Defeating the terrorists south of Balad Ruz has made conditions in Baqubah, as well as the whole province better,” Ra’ad said.

“Of the over 25 major tribes and 100 sub-tribes in the province, many are now seeing the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces and gaining confidence in them as a professional force to be reckoned with,” Sutherland said.

“The long-term end state is that the local population supports the Iraqi and Diyala government due to their complete disdain of anti-Iraqi forces,” he said. “This action drives a wedge between the terrorists and the people because they understand that the terrorists’ ring of terror has been defeated by their own forces.”

“The sects within the area have the opportunity to interact with a common respect without fear or intimidation,” said Jackson.

“This operation clearly was a significant tactical success for CF, IA, and most importantly, the citizens of Turki and surrounding areas,” said Sutherland. “The long-term affects we hope to achieve are stability for economic growth, increased political action for all parties and self-reliance for the Iraqi government and security forces.”

Iraqi Army Patrol Turns the Tables on Ambush
2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. PAO

BAGHDAD – An Iraqi Army patrol thwarted an ambush by a group of armed insurgents in western Baghdad Jan. 17.

While conducting a routine patrol in Baghdad’s Fahhama neighborhood, an element of the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army was ambushed by a group of insurgents armed with pistols and AK-47s. The patrol immediately returned fire on the men attacking them.

Two insurgents were killed and four others wounded in the fire fight. After treating their wounds, the four wounded insurgents were taken into custody.

12 suspects seized in east Baghdad
2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops detained 12 suspected insurgents during a security operation in eastern Baghdad Jan. 17.

Soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Tea, 2nd Infantry Division seized the suspects as part of Operation Amherst, which aimed at assisting Iraqi security forces establish security in eastern Baghdad.

The four suspects detained are being held for further questions.

Lucky break for local man, Iraqi troops discover kidnapping victim
By Capt. David Levasseur 2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. PAO

BAGHDAD – A security patrol by Iraqi Army troops unexpectedly found and released a kidnapping victim in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Ameriyah Jan. 16.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army were at a planned halt during a patrol in the Iraqi capitol when they heard yelling from a nearby home. The troops searched the home and found a local man in restraints.

The man was unable to provide the identity of any of his kidnappers and gave no indication as to why he was abducted. After questioning the victim, they released him.

The incident is under investigation.

Tip leads to hostage release, weapons cache
By Capt. David Levasseur 2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. PAO

BAGHDAD – An early morning tip phoned in to the Iraqi police led not only to the release of a kidnapping victim, but also to a sizeable weapons cache in western Baghdad Jan. 14.

The tip was called in by a concerned citizen stating they knew of a person who had been kidnapped and the kidnappers were driving a Hyandai Starek minivan. Iraqi police immediately put out a call to all units to look for the vehicle that had license plates matching those given over the phone.

About an hour later, the 1st Battalion, 7th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police identified the vehicle and apprehended the driver. The driver refused to cooperate and would not reveal the location of the kidnapping victim.

A second tip, shortly after Iraqi police found the vehicle, provided the probable location of the home where the victim was being held.

Shortly before 11 a.m., ements of the 1st National Police Battalion raided a home in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Bayaa. There they found the kidnap victim and a large weapons cache.

The victim was interviewed before being released to his family.

Coalition forces seize large weapons cache in Baghdad Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces seized a weapons cache during operations Jan. 16 in northern Baghdad to prevent future use of its contents. The cache belonged to an insurgent cell in the Adhamiyah area of Baghdad that is responsible for improvised explosive device and car bombing attacks targeting Iraqi and Coalition forces.

The cache consisted of components used in constructing large IEDs. Coalition forces confiscated four 155mm artillery rounds, one 120mm mortar round, two 81mm mortar rounds, two initiators and a large bag of explosive powder.

Coalition forces detained one suspect during the operation for questioning.
There was minimal damage done to the objective. There were no Iraqi civilians or Coalition forces casualties.

Coalition forces capture 2 foreign fighter facilitators
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces captured two insurgents during operations Jan. 15 in western Baghdad, who are allegedly responsible for providing transportation and financial assistance to foreign fighters carrying out violent, criminal activities against Iraqi civilians and security forces.

There was minimal damage done to the objective. There were no Iraqi civilians or Coalition forces casualties.

oalition forces detain 6 suspects, discover large cache
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers captured six suspected insurgents and recovered a large weapons cache Jan. 15 during a security operation in East Baghdad.

The Soldiers from 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division conducted precision raids to arrest known terrorists while providing security to the area disrupting insurgent activities.

Seized weapons included a sniper rifle with scope, 26 magazines, three hand grenades, two AK-47s, one nine-millimeter pistol, 10 shotgun shells, and an unknown amount of ammunition. Also recovered were $1,400, 13 million Iraqi dinar, and 100,000 Iranian riyals, as well as cellular phones, one citizens band radio, and one pair of handcuffs.

The six detainees are in U.S. military custody for questioning.

Coalition forces kill two insurgents in Kirkuk province
Multi-National Division – North PAO

KIRKUK, Iraq – A Coalition forces patrol killed two insurgents, who detonated an improvised explosive device Jan. 13 near the town of Abassi in Iraq’s northern Kirkuk province.

Members of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division were conducting a combat patrol when the insurgents detonated an IED near their vehicles. The patrol fired on the insurgents, killing both.

Coalition forces searched the immediate area and discovered a second IED that they later destroyed by controlled detonation. The patrol also found the insurgents’ position overlooking the road and the device used to detonate the IED.

Similar IEDs in the area have injured innocent civilians, including several children. There were no reports of Coalition casualties.

Iraqi Army-led joint operation results in weapons cache find
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi Army troops with the supports of Coalition forces uncovered a weapons cache and detained 32 suspects in connection with terrorist acts Jan. 14 near the village of Al Sumalat.

Iraqi soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division worked alongside U.S. Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment during the operation.

The yield from the found weapons cache included eight rocket-propelled grenade rounds; six sticks of trinitrotoluene or TNT; 400 rounds of Russian-made sniper rifle rounds; five grenades; seven vehicles; two missiles; multiple assault rifles and ammunition and 200 feet of detonation cord along with other bomb-making materials.

The materials were confiscated and suspects were detained for further questioning.

IA captures 2 insurgent cell leaders during raid
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Soldiers of the 1st and 7th Iraqi Army Divisions captured two insurgent cell leaders during operations with Coalition advisers Jan. 16 in Karabilah and Karmah. The insurgents are allegedly smuggling weapons and foreign fighters into Iraq to help facilitate their attacks against Iraqi civilians and security forces.

The insurgent leaders are also suspected of acquiring mortars and explosives used by insurgents for improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces in western Iraq.

Iraqi forces confiscated numerous assault rifles and magazines, and one sniper rifle. Iraqi forces also detained four additional suspects for questioning.

There was minimal damage done to the objective. There were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition forces casualties.

Finally from Afghanistan a couple of civilians on our side, and they have balls of steel to be fair.

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Two civilians thwarted an attempted terrorist attack Tuesday when a vehicle loaded with explosives attempted to crash through the front gate of a U.S. base in the Afghan capital, according to the U.S. military.

The two men, an interpreter and a security guard, dragged the apparent suicide bomber from the vehicle before he could detonate explosives, said Col. Tom Collins, the chief spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

"I think it's a pretty amazing and heroic event," Collins said.

He said that at about 9 a.m. Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET Monday) a driver crashed his vehicle into Camp Phoenix, the base where the Afghan National Army and police are trained. The driver reached for what appeared to be a cord to detonate a bomb, he said.

"Amazingly, a couple of Afghans who just happened to be on the scene there realized what was happening," Collins said.

"Anyone's inclination would have been to run away but these guys are genuine heroes," Collins said.

Tags: Iraq, MFN Iraq, Iran, 101st Fighting Keyboardists, BBC Bias,Al Qaeda, War On Terror,Saddam Hussain

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