.
Videos
The National Debt Clock.
Germans: Someone thought they were driving a panzer!
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL3039850620070530
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German mistook a subway entrance for an underground car park and her vehicle got stuck on the stairs, police said on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old drove her Volkswagen Beetle across the pavement in central Duesseldorf and into the entrance where it ground to a halt about five steps down, police said.
Police estimated the damage at around 1,500 euros ($2,000).
**Not sure if I should crack a few old jokes about German drivers and tanks, or go for the sexist women driver jokes. Think I shall stick with the German and old digs about ze war!
** Well its silly season today, with a tale of pc correctness gone mad: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=458856&in_page_id=1770
And its back to the Germans, for a tale of bribes, orgies and other fun and games at Volkswagen: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=458819&in_page_id=1770
And finally:
Have you seen David Blunkett's resignation letter?
... .. ... . .... .... ... .. ... ....... .
..... ....... ..... .... ... ... ......... .......... .... . .. ........ .... .... ........ ...... ...... .......
also How does Abu Hamza wipe his arse? Very painfully!
Yes Loans - Quick Update
Want a loan? http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/mirrorinvestigates/penman/feb2007/
Posted by Andrew Penman on 01 Feb 2007 at 11:40
By the time a reader contacts us they're often at the end of their tether and Anne Smith wasn't the first to call us in tears.
Which wasn't surprising since she'd just lost her home.
Her boyfriend had walked out leaving her with £5,000 rent arrears.
So she approached a firm in Cwmbran, Gwent, called Yes Loans for the necessary cash, was delighted to be "accepted" and paid a £49.50 fee.
Trouble is, this didn't mean she'd get the money.
Yes Loans, despite its name, doesn't have any money to lend.
It's a loan broker which may or may not find someone else who'll help you.
By the time Anne realised that she wouldn't be getting the money it was too late.
"I kept ringing them and nothing got done," she told us through her tears.
"I ended up getting evicted."
And, to rub salt into the wound, Yes Loans refused to refund her £49.50.
We asked the company what was going on and a spokesman explained that Yes Loans has changed its refunds policy.
It used to be the case that a customer would get their money back, minus a £5 admin charge, only after six months had elapsed and they hadn't got a loan.
Now Yes Loans says it gives refunds, if requested, to unsuccessful applicants at anytime.
"Miss Smith should have been given an immediate refund by the customer services representative she spoke to and we apologise for that error," the company told me.
"We have taken steps to remind all our customer services representatives once again of this recent update of policy."
So Anne has got a refund
Pity she won't be getting her house back.
for more check out: http://www.blagger.com/db4/company_id/574/companyname/Yes-Loans.html
**Had some mails from people at Yes, it seems that all the adverse publicity is getting them a tad worried. Well no sympathy from me chaps, if you play fast and loose with the laws, get featured on a BBC consumer affairs program and have bits about you in the papers then you can not blame anyone else.
Oh talking about the program, here it is still on You Tube(you gotta love it.)
Or read about his ban as a director:http://www.ginfo.pl/more/273171,HONEYMOON,IS,OVER,FOR,COMPUTER,DATING,AGENCY,BOSS.htmlOh here is the bit on the X-Ray site on dubious company Yes Loans: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/x-ray/allarticles/stories/6p20_yesloans.shtml
But whats better is seeing the program on YouTube: http://newportcity.blogspot.com/2007/03/keith-wilmot-chorlton-now-on-you-tube.html
The bit on Chorlton getting banned as a director as reported in the Guardian: http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,235408,00.html
The Mirror bit:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/archive/tm_method=full&objectid=18183777&siteid=89520-name_page.html
Yes Loans.http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ddir/
Now on the first page when people search for "yes loans" in Google.http://www.blagger.com/db4/company_id/574/companyname/Yes-Loans.html
Tags: Keith Chorlton
Dial
Yes Loans
Gordon Bon
Mel Roberts
Gaby Cocchiria
Alan Spedding
Tintern House, William Brown Close
Llantarnam Park
Cwmbran NP44 3AB
Tel: 01633 712712 Fax 01633 712743
Tul Bahadur Pun VC -
thanks to http://crusader-rabbit.blogspot.com/
previous posts:http://newportcity.blogspot.com/2007/05/vc-hero-refused-permission-to-stay-in.html
and http://newportcity.blogspot.com/2007/05/tul-bahadur-pun-post-2.html
Tags:VC, Gurka, Tul Bahadur Pun
Update:
**Update: WHEN I ARRIVE IN THE UK I WILL NOT LEAVE MY GURKHA COMMRADES BEHIND
2 June 2007
Pokhara Nepal
First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the British people for granting me the privilege to come and live amongst them in a country which I have fought for and love. I am overjoyed to learn that I have finally been allowed the right to settle and live in the UK. I could not sleep last night, as I was so happy with the news that Great Britain would be allowing me to come and get the medical treatment which is so lacking for many veteran Gurkhas in Nepal.
I would also like to make it clear that this victory would not have been made possible without the overwhelming and generous support of the Great British Public; my brothers and sisters in arms in the British Armed Forces both past and present; the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO); Joanna Lumley; Jay Miller; the British press and media; and my solicitors Howe & Co . I am humbled by the thousands of emails in support of me and the Gurkhas, that continue to flood into the website set up for me: www.vchero.co.uk .
I have been moved of the accounts of the very many the telephone calls and letters of support sent by those, who like me, do not have access to computers.I will never forget the 45,000 Gurkhas killed in battle fighting along side our British friends, nor will I ever forget my British brothers and sisters who have laid-down their lives fighting alongside the Brigade of Gurkhas in numerous theatres of war over the last 200 years. In life it is the greatest honour to be a Gurkha, because it is the greatest honour to serve the British people and our Brigade. When I come to be with the British people, I will do my best to be a credit to Britain and to help the plight of my fellow Victoria Cross winners who live in poverty in Nepal. It is saddening that so many brave men of my Brigade have to rely on charity to get their basic living and health needs.
I do not ask anything of Britain, or its people, save to help me get a little medical care now that I am old. However, I do have one request for your country, a country which I love so much, and that is to ask if your great country can please look at the plight of my veteran Gurkha comrades in arms, and the injustices they continue to face when asking for their rights to come to Britain and the continuing injustice of unequal pensions for those, like me, who have fought for British freedom against the forces of tyranny but happened to have retired from the British Army before 1997.
I never left any of my comrades on the battlefield, British or Gurkha, and I will not abandon my veteran Gurkha comrades now in their hour of need, when I come to live in Great Britain.From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply touched by the support shown to me by the people of Great Britain, and across the world, and I give you my most solemn thanks.
Sincerely,Tul Bahadur Pun VC
Pokhara, Nepal
FJL(Felicity Jane Lowde) banner added.
So I have added the blog button on the side. Lets just hope she(Felicity Jane Loude.) is caught soon. She is believed to be living rough- although there is no confirmation of that as fact, so if spotted trawling the dumpsters for food or fighting tramps for cider or bumming change so she can pay for her internet in the cybercafe, can someone please call the fine boys and girls in blue.
No tags etc.
Jack Idema Blogroll
The Justice For Jack Idema Blogburst
US Special Forces soldier http://www.superpatriots.us
[The following clips come from a Dubai-made movie about the Idema case, Shakur Shaitan. All the footage is used with permission from the attorneys, CTG, HaftShir Films and 5 Lions Films. Translations start scrolling at the bottom of the clips after a few seconds.]
Unlike MSM, it seems as though the journalists responsible for putting this film together have actually stirred themselves to investigate the question of Jack's innocence. In doing so, they spoke with some of the major Afghan players in the case. Here's Judge Noor, who is a Religious Judge in the NDS Appeals Court, Chief of all religious judges in the Afghan National Security Courts, and the Chief of Religious Affairs and Courts for the Second Makima. So, definitely no minor functionary:
Clearly bemused as to why the US would go to such extreme lengths to illegally-imprison their own countrymen, Judge Azizullah states:
The problem was not inside the Afghan government it was with the Americans. We really don’t understand the truth. Why they put innocent men in prison.
In the strangest twist of all, however, the fourth Judge to talk about Idema’s innocence is none other than Sidiq; the Afghan Supreme Court justice Jack’s team arrested in 2004. At the time of his capture, Sidiq was found in possession of explosive detonators, Hezb-i-Islami membership cards and a letter of introduction from none other than Mullah Omar. Still, if Jack and his team had been torturing the men they arrested in 2004, Sidiq would surely take the opportunity to speak out about this. Instead, he does exactly the opposite:
Note to the US State Department in Afghanistan: Since even Jack’s alleged ‘victims’ are now stating that that, “There was no torture, we never saw, not beating, not slapping, not even a pinch. NOTHING”, now might be a good time to give Jack Idema his passport and allow him to return home.
So what can we do? Well, anyone reading this with their own blog can sign up for the weekly Free Jack Idema Blogburst by emailing Cao or Rottweiler Puppy for details. I’d urge everyone to do this, as we’re still terribly short on takers. If you want to know more about the story, Cao’s Blog has a large section devoted to Jack Idema. There’s also a timeline here, and, of course, a huge amount of information is available over at SuperPatriots, without whose work none of us would have learned about Jack’s story.
You should also contact the following people and make your feelings known,
especially to write letters of complaint about this despicable situation:
Secret US EMBASSY Fax: - 301-560-5729
(Local US Fax: Goes RIGHT TO Ambassador)
c/o US Ambassador Ronald Neuman
US Embassy- Afghanistan
6180 Kabul Place
Dulles, VA 20189-6180
US Consul Edward Birsner- number yet unknown
US Embassy Translator Wahid - 011-93-70201902
US Embassy Asst Consul Bashir Momman- 011-93-70201923
US Consul (friend) Dawn Schrepel- 011-93-70201908 (Fired)
Ambassador Massoud Khalili
(wounded with Massoud)
(Great and Kind man)
Islamic State of Afghanistan
Embassy of Afghanistan
Ankara, Turkey
Mr. Jahed Hamrah, Consul General (pro-Taliban)
CONSULATE GENERAL OF
AFGHANISTAN IN NEW YORK
360 Lexington Avenue,
11th Floor New York,
New, York, NY 10017
Tel.: (212) 972-2276 or 972-2277
Fax: (212) 972-9046
Chairman Peter Hoekstra
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
H-405, U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20515-6415;
Office: 202-225-4121 / Fax: 202-225-1991
Toll Free: (877) 858-9040
M. Cherif BASSIOUNI
Independent Expert of the Commission on Human Rights
On the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
UNOG-OHCHR
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Ph: +41(0)22 917 97 27 Fax: +41(0)22 917 90 18
Senator Steven Saland (Jack’s Rep and Neighbor)
9 Jonathan Lane
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Senator Elizabeth Dole (Jack’s Rep)
United States Senate
555 Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Ph: 202-224.6342
Fax: 202-224.1100
Senator Richard Burr (Interested)
United States Senate
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3154 / Fax: 202-228-2981
Senator Bill Nelson (in the fight on Jack’s Side)
United States Senate
Hart Senate Office Building
Room 716
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-5274 / Fax: 202-228-2183
FL Fax 407-872-7165
Senator Dianne Feinstein (Bennett’s Representative)
United States Senate
Hart Office Building, Room 331
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-3841
Representative Mike McIntyre (Jack’s Representative)
United States Congress
2437 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2731 / Fax 202-225-5773
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
(Reference Captain Bennett- CA citizen)
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841 / Fax: 916-445-4633
Finally, PLEASE NOTE: The SuperPatriots and Jack images on this site are used with WRITTEN COPYRIGHT PERMISSION and any use by any third party is subject to legal action by SuperPatriots.US
jack idema
afghanistan
Technorati Search for Jack Idema
The Free Jack Idema Blogroll:
The Lone Voice
Kender’s Musings
Cao’s Blog
Rottweiler Puppy
Causes of Interest
Stuck On Stupid
You Don’t Know Jack
Right Voices
Causal Nexus
A Real Man
GM’s Corner
Tul Bahadur Pun - post 2
Petition (sign it and do something just and right today): http://www.vchero.co.uk/
**The section below details his actions defending this nation, if you are reading this in the UK then get annoyed that your government treats ex soldiers like this. Hassle your MP, write to them, ask nay demand they bring this up in the House.
"In Burma on June 23rd, 1944, a Battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the Railway Bridge at Mogaung.Immediately the attack developed the enemy opened concentrated and sustained cross fire at close range from a position known as the Red House and from a strong bunker position two hundred yards to the left of it.
So intense was this cross fire that both the leading platoons of 'B' Company, one of which was Rifleman Tul Bahadur Pun's, were pinned to the ground and the whole of his Section was wiped out with the exception of himself, the Section commander and one other man.
The Section commander immediately led the remaining two men in a charge on the Red House but was at once badly wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun and his remaining companion continued the charge, but the latter too was immediately wounded.Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun then seized the Bren Gun, and firing from the hip as he went, continued the charge on this heavily bunkered position alone, in the face of the most shattering concentration of automatic fire, directed straight at him. With the dawn coming up behind him, he presented a perfect target to the Japanese. He had to move for thirty yards over open ground, ankle deep in mud, through shell holes and over fallen trees.
Despite these overwhelming odds, he reached the Red House and closed with the Japanese occupations. He killed three and put five more to flight and captured two light machine guns and much ammunition. He then gave accurate supporting fire from the bunker to the remainder of his platoon which enabled them to reach their objective.His outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death were most inspiring to all ranks and beyond praise." ---more here: http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue/190/History/3590
for more check out:http://mreugenides.blogspot.com/2007/05/tul-bahadur-pun-vc-gurkha-rifles.html
Dear All
My firm is acting for Mr Tul Bahadur Pun VC (Gurkha Rifles).
We are pulling out all the stops to correct the outrage directed toward this 84 year-old man. However, we could not do this without you all. I am personally trying to read several forums at once, but it is impossible to post on them all. I have asked my friends at ARRSERs (The Army Rumour Service), who are already signed up on your forums, to kindly post this and to thank you for all for what you are doing for my client.The British public are personally, individually, and collectively, repaying the debt this man (one of the "Bravest of the Brave") is owed by our country.This is coming from the bottom up. You, the public are leading the politicians and civil servants, and you are the ones righting the wrong which is being done in our name.
My client is fully aware of all the support you have given him. I soon hope you will soon see a photo from him, which he wanted us to send back to the UK, to say that he knows you, the British public, are on his side (even though he is very ill, he got out of bed to make sure that you good people knew that he felt you all "had his back").Please support our campaign. Petition and email us at: http://www.vchero.co.uk/.
All email will go in front of the Immigration Judge considering this case. However, you must bombard your MP and the Government (particularly the Asylum & Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne) about the continuing snub to the Gurkhas who have fought and spilt blood for our country. Rejecting a VC is, sadly, only the icing on their very ugly cake!
Many, many thanks.Kind regards
Kieran O'Rourke
Howe & Co Solicitors
Ealing, London
http://www.vchero.co.uk/
**Shame on the petty penpushers who throw our heroes aside when the fighting is done, no wonder they refer to them as heroes of the hour. Once the hour is done the government forgets them.
2 June 2007
Pokhara Nepal
First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the British people for granting me the privilege to come and live amongst them in a country which I have fought for and love. I am overjoyed to learn that I have finally been allowed the right to settle and live in the UK. I could not sleep last night, as I was so happy with the news that Great Britain would be allowing me to come and get the medical treatment which is so lacking for many veteran Gurkhas in Nepal.
I would also like to make it clear that this victory would not have been made possible without the overwhelming and generous support of the Great British Public; my brothers and sisters in arms in the British Armed Forces both past and present; the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO); Joanna Lumley; Jay Miller; the British press and media; and my solicitors Howe & Co . I am humbled by the thousands of emails in support of me and the Gurkhas, that continue to flood into the website set up for me: www.vchero.co.uk .
I have been moved of the accounts of the very many the telephone calls and letters of support sent by those, who like me, do not have access to computers.I will never forget the 45,000 Gurkhas killed in battle fighting along side our British friends, nor will I ever forget my British brothers and sisters who have laid-down their lives fighting alongside the Brigade of Gurkhas in numerous theatres of war over the last 200 years. In life it is the greatest honour to be a Gurkha, because it is the greatest honour to serve the British people and our Brigade. When I come to be with the British people, I will do my best to be a credit to Britain and to help the plight of my fellow Victoria Cross winners who live in poverty in Nepal. It is saddening that so many brave men of my Brigade have to rely on charity to get their basic living and health needs.
I do not ask anything of Britain, or its people, save to help me get a little medical care now that I am old. However, I do have one request for your country, a country which I love so much, and that is to ask if your great country can please look at the plight of my veteran Gurkha comrades in arms, and the injustices they continue to face when asking for their rights to come to Britain and the continuing injustice of unequal pensions for those, like me, who have fought for British freedom against the forces of tyranny but happened to have retired from the British Army before 1997.
I never left any of my comrades on the battlefield, British or Gurkha, and I will not abandon my veteran Gurkha comrades now in their hour of need, when I come to live in Great Britain.From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply touched by the support shown to me by the people of Great Britain, and across the world, and I give you my most solemn thanks.
Sincerely,Tul Bahadur Pun VC
Pokhara, Nepal
Wedneday Hero.
On October 23, 2006 he was visiting his wife in the Karrada Shiite neighborhood in central Baghdad when he and his cousin were kidnapped by a group calling themselves Ahel al-Beit Brigades. His cousin was released shortly after.
Blair - Ethical policies
Of course this was before we found out about John Prescott humping his fat bulk on some sleazy skank in the office, rather than doing what ever it is that the man was supposed to be doing.
Of course this was before all the dubious tales of honours and bungs.
Before the dubious dossiers, before the death of Dr David Kelly and the spin over them WMD's.
Before the cover up over funds to oil the wheels of trade in Saudi Arabia
Before UK courts were used to protect Saudi's accused of torturing UK citizens.
Now Blair is off to visit Libia, a nation with a long history of torture, exporting terror and has been found guilty of blowing up a plane over Scotland and shooting a policewoman. Of course they "gave up" their WMD program and so are the nice guys again. And so as an ethical partner we can show our support of Libia and its nothing to do with all that lovely oil.
Richard Corbett MEP - TWAT
Richard Corbett - Well he posts his euro rubbish on the net, yet run a no comment policy? After all he wants his views across yet without letting any of the mere plebs who elected this asshat in the first place express their views.
Spin rubbish and more Zanu New Liebour rubbish. He shows his fear of criticism by the no comments policy, what a worthless coward the balding man is.
As reviewed very well here: http://praguetory.blogspot.com/2007/05/richard-corbett-watch.html
I liked this bit from Prague Tory:
So here's Richard Corbett's recipe for an irritating "weblog"
1. Fill a website with foolish ignorance.
2. Add in generous measures of arrogance and intransigence.
3. Take a highly patronising tone. Sprinkle liberally.
4. Apply a no comments function.
Tags:Richard Corbett MEP
Blogging
Zanu new labour
Cindy Sheehan - Run out of whine.
And, just think the media still have not really covered her pro maxist, anti-American and anti troop ambitions:
* To distribute wealth evenly
* To help set up a Department of Peace
* To set up a Department of History where Cindy will be the first Secretary!
* To get the occupiers out of New Orleans
* To fight the perverse, murderous, genocidal, immoral empire
* To build a world in which the human being is really human
* To stop concealing torture camps in other countries allied to the empire
* To stop our government and corporatism from impoverishing or killing innocents
* To stop an invasion of Venezuela
* To stop US President George W. Bush in his "terrorism against the world"
* To sing communist hymns with fists raised
* To teach our troops that "Hajis," the brown skinned people of Iraq who clean their toilets, showers, and wash their clothes are NOT less than people
How sad and dishonest that the mainstream media kept this from the public.
Don't expect Cindy to be out of the limelight too long. After all, she would be a perfect fit for The View and there just happens to be an opening.
From http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/05/antiwar-mother-ends-road-show.html
now all we need is the looney tune from Cuba to fuck off and die, oh and that asshat from central America, Chavez to do the same and the planet will look a whole lot better.
Tags:Cindy Sheehan
Moonbat
Looney Leftie
Environazi's - Willing to debate but only with fellow global warming believers.
From Iain Dales site:
A few days ago I emailed Ben Stewart, one of head honchos at GREENPEACE, asking if he would like to come onto 18 Doughty Street and debate Dominic Lawson on the subject of climate change. I have to admit to being totally unprepared for his response...
Iain,That really tells me all I need to know. Anyone who seeks to constrain debate on this hugely important issue is adopting the tactics of crypto-fascists. They act as if scientists are in one hundred per cent agreement. They are not. The hubris and condescension in this email is almost beyond parody. Ben Stewart obviously considers himself to be a superior being to Dominic Lawson. Intellectually, he is not fit to lick Lawson's boots.
We have a policy at Greenpeace that we no longer debate people who don’t accept the scientific reality of anthropogenic climate change. It’s similar to the policy undertaken by cancer specialists who used to debate the tobacco industry but discontinued doing so. To paraphrase Richard Dawkins, if we debated Dominic Lawson on climate change it would look great on his CV, not so good on ours.
I would make clear that that doesn’t mean I don’t think there should be freedom of speech for people with DL’s view, there should be. He is welcome to write about it and speak on it all he wishes, even though I disagree. But by debating him and his fellow-travelers we perpetuate the myth that this is a ‘he said/she said’ issue, a 50/50 where there is still a debate.
I’d debate Bjorn Lomborg, who accepts the science but disagrees vehemently on the need to take action on climate change. But not Dominic Lawson.
All the best
Ben
My intention was to have two 'political' figures and two scientists taking part. Let's hope the Green Party or Friends of the Earth have a more open and democratic approach than GREENPEACE.
UPDATE: There's an interesting article HERE on the subject of closing down the debate.
**Well said Iain Dale, what scares me is the total fascist style belief system that is part and parcel of the whole eco-religion scene, no longer can anyone even dare question and why should they have to prove their religion, sorry "scientific facts" with non believers. Anyone who dares to think for themselves might as well class themselves as a kufir from the religion of envirofascism.
Looking at the people in Greenpeace and other tied in organisations on the global warming bandwagon it makes radical mohamadism look liberal. The whole point of debate is that if you have a belief system/scientific theory/fact etc you should be prepared to stand up for those beliefs and convert others to your way of thinking. To deny that is to just drive people away and as is stated above debate on the global warming eco-fascist religion is stifled:
**Worthless tree hugging Guardian reading, swivel eye'd tofu eating fascist wankers the lot of em. Debate that in the Guardians Comment Is Free - you cunts.
link: http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2007/05/how-enviro-fascists-are-trying-to-close.html
"More than 17,100 basic and applied American scientists, two-thirds with advanced degrees, have signed the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine's Global Warming Petition, which says in part, "There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate."Heartland Institute
Tags:Global Warming
Ben Stewart
Greenpeace
The worst joke ever.
Hat tip to DK on this one.
This is such an appalling bad taste joke, I laughed for ages, also posted below.
David Aaronovitch recently wrote an article comparing the circus around Madeleine McCann to the Catholic adulation of St Mary.
Tags:Bad Taste
Humour
Al Quada -42 rescued from terrorists,
BAGHDAD — U.S. forces raided an Al Qaeda hide-out northeast of Baghdad on Sunday and freed 42 Iraqis imprisoned inside, including some who had been tortured and suffered broken bones, a senior U.S. military official said Sunday.Fox News
The raid was part of a 3-month-old security crackdown that included the deployment of 3,000 more U.S. troops to Diyala, a violent province north of the capital that has seen heavy fighting in recent weeks, said Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq.
Caldwell said Iraqis told U.S. forces about the hide-out: "The people in Diyala are speaking up against Al Qaeda."
He said the 42 freed Iraqis marked the largest number of captives ever found in a single Al Qaeda prison. Some of those freed were held for as long as four months and some had injuries from torture and were taken to medical facilities for treatment, he said.
BBC bury away as minor news item
Tags:Iraq
MNF Iraq
Al Qaeda
War on Terror
Iraqi Army
101st Fighting Keyboardists
Rachael North - the cyber stalker story.
Well the stalking story has hit the media big time. Ms. Lowde who has been found guilty and done a bunk to try and escape the long arm of the law has had this story appear in the Telegraph. posted below:
By Ben Leapman, Home Affairs Correspondent, Sunday Telegraph
'A survivor of the July 7 London bombings has been subjected to a year-long campaign of abuse and harassment by a "cyber-stalker" she has never met.
Rachel North, 36, feared for her safety after she was bombarded with threatening emails. They began arriving after she created an online diary to recount her experience in the Piccadilly Line blast, in which 26 passengers were killed. The messages were sent by Felicity Jane Lowde, 41, a researcher, from Oxford. Lowde was convicted of harassment after failing to turn up for her trial at Stratford magistrates' court, east London, on April 2.
She is now on the run but has continued to send abusive messages.
A spokesman for Thames Valley police said that a warrant for Lowde's arrest had been circulated to all forces. Sgt Colin Brooker, of Oxford police, said: "It went to court and she was found guilty in her absence."
Miss North, who married last month, said the abuse had worsened her post-traumatic stress disorder and left her fearing for her safety.
Describing her ordeal in her blog, Miss North wrote: "I was concerned and deeply distressed by her behaviour, and completely unable to understand why she was targeting me, a stranger whom she had never met.
"I tried from time to time to reason with her, and then I warned her, clearly and politely, when she still did not stop, that what she was doing was harassment, and that if I did go to the police she could be prosecuted."
Among more than 100 emails and comments, Lowde described the campaign by July 7 survivors for a public inquiry as "a self-serving publicity stunt", and accused Miss North of "making a living on the backs of the dead".
Miss North said: "For someone suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and survivor guilt, this was the most hurtful thing that anyone could possibly have said. And I will admit now that it nearly made me go under."
In a series of messages sent last week, apparently from a cyber cafe, Lowde wrote: "You are a warmongering bitch. No one believes you. People hate you for what you've done. Stop trying to promote yourself and GO AWAY RACHEL.
"In your wedding picture you look happy to have got away with it. But time is ticking and you'll wind up in jail with the stupid grin wiped off your evil face."
During the police inquiry, Lowde alleged that it was she who was stalked by Miss North.'
**Just a matter of time until pc plod puts his hand on her collar, Mike Rouse has some blog buttons of various types for people to put on their sites. So people can put them up and help to catch a convicted felon who legged it after being convicted in absentia of harrassment.
More can be found here http://rachelnorthlondon.blogspot.com/
Al-Qaeda Torture - Silence from the left.
Ha tip to a smoking gun for this. al quada torture
MAY 24--In a recent raid on an al-Qaeda safe house in Iraq, U.S. military officials recovered an assortment of crude drawings depicting torture methods like "blowtorch to the skin" and "eye removal." Along with the images, which you'll find on the following pages, soldiers seized various torture implements, like meat cleavers, whips, and wire cutters. Photos of those items can be seen here. The images, which were just declassified by the Department of Defense, also include a picture of a ramshackle Baghdad safe house described as an "al-Qaeda torture chamber." It was there, during an April 24 raid, that soldiers found a man suspended from the ceiling by a chain. According to the military, he had been abducted from his job and was being beaten daily by his captors. In a raid earlier this week, Coalition Forces freed five Iraqis who were found in a padlocked room in Karmah. The group, which included a boy, were reportedly beaten with chains, cables, and hoses. Photos showing injuries sustained by those captives can be found here.
This dont suprise me none, after all this is a group that thing blowing up women and children and killing their fellow moslems to start a civil war is the just way to behave.
One has to ask where is the outrage from the media? Where is the tv broadcasts of this on the BBC? We hear about Club Gitmo in Cuba, the swivel eye'd Guardian reading brigade vent their anti US anti Israel bias whilst staying silent on the outrages of these torturing scum. Why nothing in the media about what these chaps are getting upto. ?
Tags:Iraq
MNF Iraq
Al Qaeda
War on Terror
Iraqi Army
101st Fighting Keyboardists
**Whilst on the subject of closed vison left wingers maybe they would like to watch this clip about the Iranian thugs beating up demonstrators. But no its far easier to just carry on Bush baiting.
**Update on those missing US soldiers, not that the left care about them.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. and Iraqi troops have detained 16 people they say are "directly related to the attack" on May 12 in which three U.S. soldiers were apparently captured, a U.S. military official said.
The three men disappeared after insurgents attacked a U.S. military observation post in the Mahmoudiya area, in a stretch known as the Triangle of Death.
Four American soldiers and an Iraqi soldier were found dead at the scene of the ambush.
The body of one of the three missing soldiers was found floating in the Euphrates River on Wednesday.
An intense search continues near the river for the other two men, Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Michigan. (Watch how the relentless search has left little time to grieve Video)
Troops have detained scores of people during the two-week hunt, and have released all but 100, who remain in U.S. and Iraqi custody.
On Friday, hundreds of soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment Stryker Battalion searched fish farms in a swampy area 11 miles south of Yusufiya, the military said.
They found 14 weapons caches and 3,000 pounds of explosives and ammunition, much of it buried in 55-gallon drums, the military said. The fish farms were not operational. Two main canals feed into the area.
Elements of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment and Iraqi soldiers searched along the Euphrates River on Friday, two miles south of where the attack took place, the military said.
The location may have been a crossing point to transport the missing soldiers from one side of the river to the other, the military said.
'Suspected terrorist cell leader' captured
Iraqi and coalition forces killed five suspected terrorists in raids in Baghdad on Saturday and detained a "suspected terrorist cell leader" who is linked to Iran's weapons and training network, the U.S. military said.
The capital's Sadr City was raided after radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr made his first public appearance in four months on Friday, leading prayers at the mosque in the Shiite holy city of Kufa.
Sadr City, a densely populated Shiite neighborhood, is a stronghold of his Mehdi Army militia.
The person arrested Saturday, according to the U.S. military, was a suspected leader of a terrorist cell "known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training."
After the arrest, coalition forces fought off nine carloads of terrorist suspects, killing five, the military said. Three civilians also were killed, Iraqi authorities said.
On Friday, the U.S. military said coalition and Iraqi forces arrested a person closely linked to the suspected leader of a terrorist cell during raids, also in Sadr City.
Both arrests involved suspects thought to have "direct ties to the leader of the EFP network as well as acting as a proxy for an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officer," the military said.
The U.S. military has been saying for months that Iraqi militants are being trained in Iran and are getting the EFPs from Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Quds force. However, there has not been proof that the Iranian leadership officially sanctions the transport of the explosives.
Daily body count on the rise
The number of slain unidentified bodies found dumped in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq appears to be on the rise -- a sign that this grisly symbol of sectarian strife remains a tough challenge for the capital's highly touted security crackdown.
There have been 586 corpses found in Baghdad this month, more than the 585 for the entire country in April, according to the Iraqi Interior Ministry.
The May toll includes 19 bodies found Saturday in different parts of Baghdad. Bodies also have been discovered in other cities.
Most of the victims have been shot, tortured and/or bound.
The killings have been a fact of life since the February 2006 bombing in Samarra of a Shiite mosque sparked Sunni-Shiite violence.
After the Baghdad security crackdown began in February, U.S. military officials said they had seen signs of a dip in the killings. But they recently said there had been an apparent slight increase.
Authorities across the country found 682 bodies in February and 673 in March.
Eight U.S. troop deaths reported
The U.S. military on Saturday announced the deaths of eight U.S. troops: Five died earlier in the day; one died Friday and two were killed Wednesday.
• Three Task Force Lightning soldiers died following an explosion near their unit's patrol in Salaheddin province. Two soldiers were wounded.
• One Multi-National Force-Baghdad soldier was killed and two were wounded by a roadside bomb. An Iraqi interpreter also was wounded.
• One Marine assigned to Multi-National Force-West died in Anbar province, west of Baghdad, while conducting combat operations.
• One Multi-National Corps Iraq soldier died and three were wounded in an attack near Taji. The military previously announced the deaths of three other soldiers who died Friday.
• Two soldiers were killed and three wounded on Wednesday when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol, east of Baghdad.
Since the start of the war, 3,445 U.S. military personnel and seven military contract employees have died in Iraq. The total for May is 101.
Other developments
# A Senate Intelligence Committee investigation report released Friday says before the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, U.S. intelligence predicted many of the challenges there. Those predicted -- and realized -- problems included an increase in al Qaeda operations, sectarian violence within Iraq and Iran's efforts to shape Iraq's future after the ouster of Saddam Hussein. (Full story)
# A parked car bomb, followed by three mortar rounds, ripped through an industrial area in southwestern Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least five civilians and wounding 20 others, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official told CNN.
# At least two civilians were killed and six were wounded when four mortars hit a residential area in Baya'a in southwestern Baghdad late Saturday afternoon, the Interior Ministry official said.
# U.S.-led coalition forces killed two "terrorists" and arrested 23 suspected insurgents during a series of raids targeting al Qaeda in Iraq on Saturday, the U.S. military said.
CNN's Arwa Damon, Jomana Karadsheh and Paula Hancocks contributed to this report.
link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/26/iraq.main/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Good News From Iraq
Paratroopers find seven IEDs
Multi-National Division – Center PAO
KALSU, Iraq — Paratroopers found and destroyed seven improvised explosive devices in the northern Babil province, south of Baghdad, Sunday.
While conducting security patrols in the area, the paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division were able to find the IEDs before they could be used against Coalition Forces or Iraqi Security Forces, helping to secure the region.
All of the devices were either destroyed in place or taken by explosive ordnance disposal teams for further investigation prior to destruction.
Good Neighbor Plan:
Locals stash dangerous cache, rid streets of weapons, munitions
Multi-National Division – Baghdad
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division discovered a large weapons cache during a security patrol May 16. The cache was found in eastern Baghdad.
To their surprise, the cache was not found in an insurgents hiding area, but in a large container left by Coalition Forces to be used as an amnesty box. The container was empty when the unit departed the area, and local residents started stock-piling munitions they found on the streets or within their neighborhood.
Inside the container Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment, based out of Fort Carson, Colo., found two anti-tank mines, one anti-personnel mine, five rocket-propelled grenades, three 125mm artillery rounds, two 155mm artillery rounds, one 152mm round, one 122mm round; three 120mm mortar rounds; three 82mm mortar rounds, six 60mm mortar rounds, one rifle grenade, one 57mm rocket, one recoilless rifle round, one improvised explosive device and assortment of small arms ammunition and grenades.
The Soldiers called in an explosive ordnance disposal team to blow up the munitions at a designated site.
Soldiers kill insurgent and seize deadly weapon
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Public Affairs Multi-National Division – Center PAO
AL TARAQ, Iraq – Coalition Forces took an insurgent and his weapon off the
streets of Al Taraq, Iraq during a combat operation May 19.
Soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y.’s, 1st Platoon, Company A, 4th Battalion,
31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
(Light Infantry) thwarted a possible sniper attack while looking for evidence of
three missing U.S. Soldiers who were abducted by insurgents May 12.
“While searching the area, we were notified that there were two insurgents
with weapons who were near our location,” said Staff Sgt. Jon Eyton, a 4-31 fire
support NCO. “One of them positioned himself on a berm, waiting for us to walk
by. “
After the insurgents were positively identified, they were shot by an AH-64
Apache helicopter gunship.
“As soon as the Apache fired, we searched the area to see if the enemy
fighters were killed and to look for any weapons in the area,” Eyton said.
During the search, a semi-automatic sniper rifle and a magazine full of
7.62mm ammunition was found by one of the Company A Soldiers. The unit also
confirmed one of the insurgents was killed.
“It is good to get the sniper rifle off the streets and away from the
terrorists,” said Spc. Doug Coleman, a team leader with the company, and the
Soldier who found the weapon. “I am sure that same rifle would have been used
on one of us during the mission.”
Getting the rifle off the streets will help to make the battalion area of
operations safer.
“Sniper fire has been one of the problems in the surrounding area,” Eyton
said. “Hopefully this will help keep the guys in the surrounding areas safe.”
“These guys did an excellent job – they were very professional and
worked hard,” Eyton said of his Soldiers.
“This massive search for our Soldiers is having some positive second- and
third-order effects,” said Maj. Web Wright, spokesman for the BCT. “We are
finding weapons and many of the suspects wanted for terrorist and criminal acts
not necessarily related to the abduction.”
The weapon will be analyzed to see if it had been linked to previous
incidents within the area of operations.
MND-B Soldiers find sizeable cache, detain one suspect near Al Hamdanyia
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers found a large weapons cache and detained one suspect May 19 near Al Hamdanyia, Iraq.
While on a patrol, Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment discovered a component often used for improvised explosive devices and traced it to a house which the troops subsequently searched. During the search, they uncovered the weapons cache. A suspect was found with the cache and detained.
The find yielded two AK-47 assault rifles, 1,000 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, several magazines, a video camera, six propane tanks and many components used in the making of roadside bombs.
An hour after finding the cache, the troops also found an IED near the site. The suspect is being held for further questioning.
ulti-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Army Forces detained 16 members of an alleged terrorist cell during early morning raids in Samarra May 20. The targeted individuals are alleged to be members of an Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) foreign fighter cell which is involved in anti-Iraq forces training activities in the Samarra area.
Iraqi Forces seized a number of weapons and other materials including:
•Two sniper rifles
•One RPG with various rockets
•Four AK-47 Assault Rifles
•One 9mm pistol
•60 ammunition magazines
•Six cell phones
•Body armor
•ID cards
The interdiction of the terror cells should result in a reduction of attacks and illegal checkpoints against Coalition and Iraqi Forces as well as residents in the area.
No Iraqi or Coalition Forces were injured during this operation. Coalition Forces served as advisors during this operation.
3 SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA CELL LEADERS, 9 OTHERS DETAINED
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured three suspected al-Qaeda cell leaders during raids Monday morning in continued operations to thwart terrorist attacks in Iraq.
Coalition Forces raided a building in western Baghdad searching for leaders within the al-Qaeda in Iraq network. The ground force detained three suspected terrorists, one of whom is allegedly a commander of a group that conducts assassinations and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks in the capital city.
A suspected commander of an IED cell in Mosul and an alleged senior cell leader there were detained during Coalition Forces operations in the area. Intelligence reports also indicate the alleged senior cell leader formerly led a sniper cell.
Acting on information from successful raids on May 15, Coalition Forces targeted an area northeast of Karmah to further disrupt the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader network there. Four individuals with suspected ties to the network were detained in the raid.
Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists south of Fallujah for their alleged involvement with a regional al-Qaeda in Iraq commander.
“Every day, we are hitting al-Qaeda and disrupting their network,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We will continue this incremental progress against them, using each operation as a stepping stone to the next.”
FIVE IRAQI HOSTAGES FREED
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Five Iraqis who were held captive and tortured by terrorists were freed Monday morning during a Coalition Forces raid on the site where they were imprisoned.
Coalition Forces targeted the building northeast of Karmah during continued operations to disrupt the al-Qaeda network operating in the area. After a thorough search of the building, ground forces found a padlocked room. Inside were four men and a boy who had been kidnapped and severely beaten with chains, cables and hoses. The four captives also showed signs of torture, and the boy stated the terrorists had hooked electrical wires to his tongue and shocked him.
Coalition Forces evacuated the five individuals and provided treatment for their injuries. The hostages indicated their captors were foreign fighters who spoke with different accents. The hostages, who are from different tribes, will be turned over to their respective tribal leaders for repatriation.
“The brutality and viciousness of these acts demonstrate the complete disregard terrorists have for human life,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We will continue to hunt foreign fighters who bring this violence into Iraq.”CCCI Convicts 37: Sentences 8 to life, 3 to 30 years imprisonment
BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) convicted 37 individuals from May 6 - May 12 for violations of the Iraqi Terrorist Law, Penal Code and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Orders enforced by the Iraqi judiciary.
Six Iraqi’s were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the CCCI May 8 for violating Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order 3/2003 for possessing illegal weapons. Convicted were: Khalid Uthman Ahmad, 22; Thamir Abbas Ahmad, 23; Muthana Jamil Hamid, 33; Ali Fayah Midkur, 24; Khalid Abid Mahmud, 23; and Mahmoud Mohammed Hayes Al Dolaimi, 34; all from Iraq.
The six were part of a 20-person Al Qaeda terrorist group that attacked Multi-National Forces from the 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Feb. 27 in Sumalat. Soldiers from the 2/5 killed six Al Qaeda in the attack and captured seven – including the six convicted. The seventh captured terrorist died of wounds sustained from the firefight. A Sumalat resident positively identified the six terrorists, and reported that the group had recently arrived to the area and had taken over three houses and a barn. The Soldiers searched those buildings and discovered a large weapons cache that included surface to air missiles, rockets, rocket propelled grenade launchers, numerous automatic machine guns, ammunition and improvised explosive devise-making materials.
The Central Criminal Court also convicted Majid Frayhan Hewal, 43, of Iraq, May 8 for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Majid was apprehended by Soldiers from the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division May 9, 2006 after the Soldiers searched his dump truck in North Baghdad and found twenty-eight 107mm Katyusha Rockets, 82 anti-personnel land mines, 43 rocket-propelled grenades, an RPG launcher, two complete mortar systems, mortar systems and improvised explosive device components.
Nasir Taha Abbas, 19, was also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment May 9 by the CCCI for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons. Nasir was captured Jan. 27 by I Marine Expeditionary Force units in Modiq, near Ramadi while he was attempting to adjust the position of an improvised explosive device set near a local mosque. After Nasir’s capture, IED activity in the area stopped for more than 30 days.
The Central Court convicted and sentenced two Iraqis to 30 years imprisonment for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons. Ahmed Mohamad Saibi Al Shujairi, 24, was captured by units from the 1st Cavalry Division Jan. 9 and Mohammed Sabee Hamadi Al Mousawi, 62, was caputed by 1st Cavalry units Jan. 19. The individuals were captured as a result of a raid on Mohammed’s house in Dora after being informed the house was being used as an improvised explosive device factory. Ahmed was captured during the raid on the home and Mohammed was captured during a later search of the area. During the raid, 1st Cavalry Soldiers found two complete IEDs, blasting caps, electronic components, detonation cord, boat batteries, IED shrapnel ball bearings and nails, timers and IED initiators during the raid. Soldiers also found a vehicle rigged as a Vehicle Borne IED, 23 artillery shells, C4 explosives and numerous grenades.
Harbi Thabit Hassun, 26, of Iraq, was convicted and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment May 9 by the CCCI for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons. Harbi was captured Jan. 23 in his home in Al Dora by Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 89th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division. During a search of Harbi’s house, Soldiers found two AK 47 rifles, two grenades, 400 Dragonov sniper rifle rounds, and hundreds of AK 47 rounds. The Soldiers found a mortar firing tube that smelled like it had just been fired and a mortar firing bipod in Harbi’s vehicle. Harbi tested positive for explosives during an X-spray test.
The CCCI also convicted and sentenced Khalid Adwan Thamer, 28, to 20 years imprisonment May 6 for violating CPA Order 3/2003, possessing illegal weapons. Khalid was captured Feb. 23 by 1st Cavalry units in Mugdadijah at a weapons cache site.
Faiz Marzuq Al-Mutayri, 24, an Iraqi with Saudi Arabian citizenship, was convicted and sentenced by the CCCI May 8 to 16 years imprisonment for violating Article 10/1 of the Iraqi passport laws. Faiz was apprehended Jan. 25, 2006 and he admitted he entered Iraq unlawfully to wage war against the Iraqi people and Multi-National Forces.
The Central Criminal Court also convicted 12 Iraqis May 7 - 9 for violating CPA Order 3/2003 and sentenced each to 15 years imprisonment.
Two other Iraqis were convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment – one for violating Article 289 of the Iraqi Penal Code for using or taking advantage of someone else’s legal documents and the other for violating CPA Order 3/2003.
Eight Iraqi’s were convicted of violating CPA Order 3/2003. Six were sentenced to six years imprisonment and two were sentenced to two years imprisonment. One Iraq was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for violating Article 292 and 298 of the Iraqi Penal Code for forging a fake identification card.Since its establishment under an amendment to CPA Order 13, in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 2,143 trials for suspected criminals apprehended by Coalition Forces. The Iraqi Court proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,858 individuals with sentences ranging from imprisonment to death.
15 AL-QAEDA SUSPECTS DETAINED IN COALITION RAIDS
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 15 suspected terrorists, including two alleged terrorist cell leaders, during raids around Iraq Tuesday morning targeting the al-Qaeda network.
In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists, including an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader responsible for identifying Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police targets, and directing attacks against them.
Using information from a successful raid May 21, Coalition Forces targeted associates of a suspected terrorist commander in Baghdad. Two individuals were detained for their alleged involvement in the terrorist group, which conducts assassinations and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks.
Coalition Forces conducted two coordinated operations in Anbar province, where they detained 10 suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement in the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in the area.
“Each operation we conduct provides another link in the chain for dismantling al Qaeda in Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.12 IRAQI HOSTAGES FREED IN FOLLOW-ON OPERATION
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces freed 12 Iraqis who were held captive and beaten by terrorists during a raid Tuesday morning on a site northeast of Karmah targeted for its ties to another terrorist detention facility.
After five Iraqi hostages were freed May 21, intelligence reports indicated two buildings were being used for kidnappings and murders. As Coalition Forces approached the first building, armed men engaged them with small arms fire. In an appropriate response to the hostile threat from an organized force, ground forces returned fire and called in air support. Five terrorists were killed by the ground forces and four were killed in an air strike.
Coalition Forces then secured the building and discovered 12 Iraqis held captive in a locked room, three of whom appeared to have been beaten. The ground force evacuated the 12 individuals and provided treatment for their injuries. The hostages will be turned over to their respective tribal leaders for repatriation.
The first building also contained a cache of weapons, including two rocket-propelled grenades, a sub-machine gun, rifles and 19 military-style assault vests. The weapons were safely destroyed on site. In the second building, Coalition Forces found stolen goods and detained three suspected terrorists there for their alleged ties to the kidnapping network.
“Terrorists continually show their disrespect for human life and for the citizens of Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “Our operations continue to systematically dismantle their organizations.”
Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain two suspects, destroy IED factories in search for missing Soldiers
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained two personnel suspected of insurgent activities, while conducting an early-morning operation in search of three missing Soldiers on May 21, south of Baghdad.
The ISOF destroyed several trucks in a controlled detonation, which were fabricated as vehicle borne improvised explosive devices as well as several IED material caches. No civilians were present during the detonation.
Iraqi and Coalition Forces received enemy-fire as they moved to their objective. Iraqi forces returned fire and suppressed the enemy and continued on their mission. Weapons and ammunition were also seized at the objective from the two suspects who were detained.
Search nets weapons, suspects
Multi-National Division – Center PAO
BAGHDAD — Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, N.Y., continued to find weapons caches and detain terror suspects during search operations for three missing Soldiers May 22.
The 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT discovered a series of caches which contained five 57mm rocket rounds, two six-volt batteries, two spools of copper wire, two 58mm rocket rounds, a 120mm rocket round, and two complete DSHKA heavy machine guns.
Batteries, artillery rounds and wire are some of the most basic materials used in the construction of improvised explosive devices.
The battalion’s scout platoon discovered two AK-47s with five magazines, two ammunition vests, a hand grenade, four grenade fuses, four blasting caps, a stick of plastic explosive, an IED detonator, 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, a Kawasaki motorcycle, and over 150 homemade CDs labeled in Arabic.
The caches were seized and the explosives destroyed by controlled detonation.
Second Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment seizes weapons, suspects in raids
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) PAO
Multi-National Division – Center PAO
BAGHDAD — The ongoing search for three Soldiers who disappeared in a May 12 attack near Yusufiyah, Iraq, continues to turn up caches of weapons and new suspects in the case.
Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment conducted house-to-house searches southeast of Yusufiyah today, detaining 17 Iraqis and
seizing a cache.
The Soldiers found an AK-47, a 9mm pistol, five magazines, a gas mask, two bandoliers, three ammunition vests, ten magazines and five other weapons,
three of which were hidden in tennis-racket cases.
In another home the Soldiers found a modified cell phone, an AK-47, and another 9mm pistol, and next door, an AK-47 with an ammunition bandolier and
five magazines, and in a nearby house, another bandolier, gas mask, and a bayonet.
The detainees were taken to U.S. facilities for further questioning.
ISF, MND-B Troops Free Kidnapped Iraqi Soldier
By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Timmons, 4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops freed an Iraqi soldier being held by a militia’s kidnap cell May 20 in the Rashid District of the city.
Troops from 1st Battalion, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, and the “Black Lions” from Company D, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., rescued Mosher Ahmmaed Abdualrahman, during a pre-dawn cordon and search operation.
“Two months of conducting combat operations with the Citadel Brigade (1-2nd Iraqi Army) have led us to develop exceptionally strong ties to our Iraqi partners,” said Lt. Col. Pat Frank, 1st Bn., 28th Inf. Regt. commander. “Finding their soldier alive was the main effort mission for the Black Lions.”
The Iraqi Army soldier was abducted by a Jashya al-Mahdi kidnap cell May 17 in the Shurta neighborhood. Task Force Black Lion executed the
operation, which rescued the soldier unharmed.
“The combined operation between Iraqi and American troops was a complete success,” said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “They aggressively followed up on leads and were able to save one of their own. This serves as an effective reminder of the on-going cooperation between the Black Lions and Soldiers of the Iraqi Army’s Citadel Brigade in northwest Rashid.”
COALITION FORCES RAID SECRET CELL CACHE, DETAIN 19
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two terrorists, detained 19 suspected terrorists and uncovered a cache of Iranian money and bomb-making materials Wednesday morning in Sadr City.
The individual targeted during the raid is suspected of facilitating weapons shipments from Iran to secret cell terrorist elements in Baghdad, Basrah and Maysan province.
Coalition Forces searched 11 buildings during the operation. As Coalition Forces moved to the site, four armed terrorists engaged them with small arms and automatic weapons. The ground force, acting in self-defense toward the hostile threat, returned fire and confirmed two of the four terrorists were killed.
As they continued to search the buildings, Coalition Forces found a large quantity of Iranian money, more than $6,000 in U.S. money and improvised explosive device-making materials.
“Rogue militia elements and terrorists are seeking to destroy the future of Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We will continue to capture or kill them and dismantle their organizations.”
FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED; TIED TO IED PRODUCTION
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed six terrorists in related raids targeting senior leaders of an al-Qaeda suicide attack cell and detained 23 others in operations around Iraq Wednesday morning.
Based on intelligence gathered from a successful raid Apr. 11, Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist leader southeast of Baghdad. As the ground force approached the objective, they encountered two armed men, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest. Coalition Forces took appropriate self-defense measures in response to the hostile threat and engaged the two armed terrorists, killing them.
One of the terrorists is believed to be an al-Qaeda regional leader, responsible for al-Qaeda personnel and operations in the Arab Jabour area, as well as coordinating foreign fighters and suicide attacks.
In a related operation northwest of Taji, Coalition Forces targeted an individual suspected of supplying foreign fighters for suicide attacks. Ground forces on the scene received small arms fire from four terrorists who took cover behind a bus. Coalition Forces returned fire in self-defense and killed the four terrorists.
When they searched the building, Coalition Forces found weapons and detained one suspected terrorist for his involvement with the al-Qaeda cell.
In Mosul, Coalition Forces raided six buildings in an operation targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda network. The ground force detained five suspected terrorists, including an alleged cell leader with subordinate groups that conduct assassinations and attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces.
In three coordinated raids near Karmah targeting al-Qaeda cells, Coalition Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists, including an alleged cell leader in the area.
Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists in Fallujah for their alleged direct ties to a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell there.
“We continue to disrupt the leadership of the al-Qaeda in Iraq organization and its affiliates,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “Step by step, we work to keep these terrorists from launching brutal attacks on the Iraqi people.”
Iraqi National Police apprehends three insurgents
Multi-National Division – Center PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq –The Iraqi National Police and Coalition Forces arrested three wanted insurgents Monday.
Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment Soldiers assisted policemen from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Iraqi National Police in a cordon and search that led to the arrest near Jisar, Diyala, Monday.
“This is one operation of many that we have conducted with the National Police,” said Maj. Jeremy B. Moore, the Iraqi Security Force chief, 3rd HBCT, from, Portland, Ore. “We look forward to continued success in interdicting
extremist within (operating environment) Hammer.”
The captured insurgents were wanted for murder, kidnapping and displacing Shiia families.
COALITION FORCES FIND EXPLOSIVES CACHE, DETAIN 15
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 15 suspected terrorists and destroyed a cache of explosives during operations Thursday targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Coalition Forces called in an air strike near Salman Pak after they raided a house there and found a cache of mortars, dynamite and jihadist media. They were targeting individuals known to supply foreign fighters to suicide attack cells in Baghdad. A search of the buildings revealed no people were present, and the ground force cordoned off the area, where the explosives were safely destroyed.
Information from successful operations in the last five days led Coalition Forces to three buildings in Karmah, where they targeted an al-Qaeda leader. Near the first target, Coalition Forces found four suspected terrorists hiding outside the building and detained them. In the other buildings, they found six more suspected terrorists. All were detained for their alleged association with a suspected al-Qaeda emir and anti-aircraft attacks.
Coalition Forces raided a building east of Ameriyah while targeting an improvised explosive device cell in the area. Four individuals were detained for their suspected involvement in the cell.
In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained a suspected terrorist who is allegedly the leader of an al-Qaeda group in the area.
“We continue to target al-Qaeda in Iraq’s leaders and its manpower resources,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “Each operation contributes to eventual security for the people of Iraq.”CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Two Iraqi Army battalions found several weapons caches near Abu Ghraib, Iraq May 23.
During a combined cordon and search in Abu Ghraib’s Mencia area, troops from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division discovered caches near an apartment complex and in an abandoned house.
The caches yielded six mortar rounds, ten AK-47 assault rifles, three PKC sniper rifles, six hand grenades, several explosives, six rocket-propelled grenade rockets, three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 10 improvised explosive devices and numerous IED-making materials.
In a subsequent search on the same day, troops from the 3rd Bn., 3rd Bde., 6th IA Div., working off tips from a concerned Iraqi citizen, found an AK-47, two PKC sniper rifles and a box of PKC ammunition in a vehicle.
Iraqi Security Forces are investigating to find those responsible for the caches.
Seven hostages rescued in Baqouba
BAQUBAH, Iraq – During a three-day operation in Chibernat, a village north of Baqouba, Iraqi and Coalition Forces rescued seven kidnapped victims Wednesday; and discovered more than 10 caches, reduced nine improvised explosive devices and detained 11 suspected insurgents throughout the course of the operation.
Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division; and 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted the target-driven operation to eliminate the insurgents’ perceived safe havens throughout the area and secure the population of Chibernat.
“We continue to aggressively target the enemy, destroying the insurgents’ perceived power base and depleting their supplies,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala. “They offer nothing but death and destruction, and will be brought to justice.”
While clearing the neighborhood, Soldiers from Company B, 5-20 Inf. Regt., rescued seven local residents, to include an Iraqi Police captain, who were been held hostage.
As the Soldiers conducted a cordon and search, they entered a house, discovering the seven hostages in a room which was locked from the outside. Approximately 100 meters from the house, the Security Forces discovered nine civilians who were killed prior to their arrival.
The freed hostages were taken to the Provincial Joint Coordination Center to provide a detailed account of their experience.
According to the victims, who were taken from Muqdadiya, Balad Ruz and Baqouba, insurgents associated with the Islamic State of Iraq were responsible for their kidnapping and the killing of the other nine citizens in the house.
During an interview, the freed hostages said if the Soldiers would have arrived “an hour later,” they would have been killed by the terrorists.
Also during the cordon and search, the security forces unearthed 11 weapons caches to include rocket-propelled grenade munitions, small-arms weapon systems, approximately 200 loaded AK-47 magazines, IED-making materials, grenades, mortar rounds, and a suicide vest and belt.
The detainees were transferred to a facility for further questioning.
“The discovery of caches and IEDs during this operation proves that the terrorists do not have safe havens within Diyala,” Sutherland added. “We will continue to be persistent, and provide a safe and secure environment to the innocent people throughout this province.”
Iraqi Special Operations Forces liberate Imam held by insurgents
Story by Master Sgt. Melissa Phillips, CJSOTF-AP Public Affairs
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces liberated an Imam held captive in an insurgent stronghold May 21 in the Iskandariyah area of Baghdad during a search for missing U.S. Soldiers.
“It felt great to help set an Iraqi religious leader free from terrorists who tortured him for more than 20 days,” said a senior enlisted Coalition advisor to the ISOF Brigade during the operation.
The Iraqi and Coalition Forces found Imam Tariq Hussain Hamdan, at an isolated farmhouse, while searching for the missing soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division who were kidnapped by insurgents May 12.
During the search, the ISOF detained one suspect. The team also found and destroyed several vehicles containing IED materials, multiple weapons, grenades, weapons, RPG rounds, face hoods and parts to make improvised explosive devices hidden inside food storage devices.
“Operations like this one are just one way our two cultures can come together to help defeat the insurgency who are undermining the progress of their country’s citizens,” the adviser said.
Iraqi Forces received enemy fire as they moved to their objective. Iraqi Forces returned fire and suppressed the enemy. One Iraqi soldier suffered a minor wound during the operation.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces kill insurgent commander during afternoon raid in Basrah
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
BALAD – Iraqi Special Operation Forces and Coalition Forces killed Wisam Abd Adbul, also known as Wisam Abu Qadir, the suspected commander of the militia group Jaysh al-Madhi (JAM) in Basrah and his bodyguard while attempting to detain him on May 25.
ISOF and Coalition Forces were manning a vehicle checkpoint when the targeted individual’s vehicle approached the checkpoint. Despite signals to pull over, the targeted subject failed to do so. The ISOF fired warning rounds to disable the vehicle, but the vehicle sped forward for another 800 meters. Three individuals then exited the vehicle and aimed weapons at ISOF and Coalition Forces. The ISOF took appropriate self-defense measures, engaging two of the insurgents and killing them.
The third individual, the vehicle driver, ran away. Both during and after the incident, ISOF and Coalition Forces came under attack from small-arms fire; rocket propelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices (IED).
Qadir has a long history of violence in the region. He managed operations to murder and intimidate local Iraqis and is credited with ordering attacks on U.S. and Coalition Forces.
He also instructed new recruits on terrorist methods as well as the construction and detonation of IEDS.
Additionally, Qadir was allegedly involved in weapons trafficking, theft, the procurement of rocket propelled grenades, IEDs, and conventional explosives from terrorists in Iran.
Iraqi forces conducted the operation with Coalition Forces acting as advisors. No Iraqi or Coalition Forces were injured during this operation.
1-15 Inf. finds, destroys large munitions cache
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq –Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, uncovered a weapons cache Tuesday during a combat patrol in an area west of Wahida, Iraq.
The cache consisted of 40 mortar rounds varying in size from 82mm to 120mm.
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit detonated the cache soon after it was found.
“This is the largest cache found by 1-15 to date,” said 1st Lt. Joshua Powers, assistant operations officer for 1-15, from Decatur, Ga. “Our presence is bringing more security to the Wahida province and disrupting the enemy’s line of movement into Baghdad.”
ONE SECRET CELL TERRORIST DETAINED
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist while targeting a terrorist cell leader Friday morning during raids in Sadr City.
The individual detained during the raid is closely linked to a suspected leader in a secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training.
En route to the objective, Iraqi forces began receiving heavy small arms fire from multiple locations near an intersection.
Ground forces returned fire, but the incoming automatic fire continued.
Coalition Forces supporting the Iraqi forces, using appropriate self-defense measures, called in close air support.
Although there were no terrorists confirmed killed in the fighting, the opposing gunfire was subdued and Iraqi and Coalition Forces moved on to the objective.
Intelligence reports indicate the individual targeted is suspected of having direct ties to the leader of the EFP network as well as acting as a proxy for an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officer.
“These rogue militia elements have no respect for the peace of Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
“We will continue to track them and diminish their ability to attack the Iraqi people and disrupt the progress of the country.”
Iraqi army, police discover underground cache
Multinational Division – North PAO
MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi army and police, supported by Coalition Forces, discovered a weapons cache in northern Mosul, located in Nineveh Province, during a planned operation Monday afternoon.
Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, supported by Iraqi police officers from Northeast 1 station, and CF Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, made the cache discovery, which was concealed under an inoperable toilet.
“This is another example of Iraqi Security Forces’ adept efforts to maintain a secure, safe environment for the citizens of Mosul,” said Lt. Col. Michael Boden, acting commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the site as Iraqi police secured the cache which contained three improvised hand grenades, 12 rifles with approximately 3,000 rounds of ammunition, more than 80 rocket-propelled grenades, seven RPG launchers, three dozen mortar rounds, 10 pounds of explosives and one suicide bomber’s vest.
The EOD team secured the explosives for safe disposal and the rifles, ammunition and mortars were turned over to ISF.
“ISF have demonstrated they are capable of seeking out and destroying the weapons and materials terrorists use to inflict pain and suffering on the populace,” said Boden.
“Together, we will keep Nineveh Province safe for its citizens.”
COALITION FORCES NAB 20 SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA TERRORISTS
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 20 suspected terrorists during several raids targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq around the country Friday morning.
In Baghdad, Coalition Forces raided a house looking for a suspected al-Qaeda battalion commander. The ground force detained three suspected terrorists at the targeted location, including the alleged leader. Intelligence reports indicate he is responsible for numerous attacks in Baghdad, including assassinations, attacks on news media and attacks on the city’s infrastructure.
Coalition Forces detained 11 suspected terrorists in an operation southwest of Baghdad targeting al-Qaeda leadership. One of the individuals detained is allegedly a close associate of a Libyian who facilitates the movement of foreign fighters in the area.
In continuing operations to disrupt the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device network in Baghdad, Coalition Forces targeted a known explosives expert associated with the al-Qaeda in Iraq network. The individual is also known to have knowledge of explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, and was recently promoted within the network. Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists from the target location.
In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists linked to an al-Qaeda weapons dealer allegedly involved in an IED network there.
Two suspected terrorists were detained during a Coalition Forces raid targeting al-Qaeda leadership in Baghdad. Ground forces found a small cache of weapons, which they safely destroyed on site.
“We’re continuing to take the fight to al-Qaeda, to thwart their ability to attack Iraqis and spoil their attempts to destabilize the country,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
Giant cache complex, explosive factory found during search for troops
2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI) PAO
Multi-National Division – Center PAO
CAMP STRIKER, IRAQ – Coalition troops searching for the Soldiers captured in
the May 12 attack, discovered a huge weapon cache complex and an explosives
factory in an isolated area between Iskandariyah and the Euphrates River Friday.
After conducting a company-sized air assault into the area known as the
‘fish farms’ due to the prevalence of man-made ponds used to harvest fish,
Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment (Strikers) discovered the
complex of 13 weapons caches and a facility to prepare homemade explosives.
The explosive factory contained approximately 1,000 pounds of
homemade explosives stored in grain bags.
The cache complex contained eight 155 mm artillery rounds, three 130
mm artillery rounds, a 120 mm artillery round, 850 mortar fuses, 7 rocket
propelled grenade launchers with five sighting assemblies, 34 RPG boosters, 46
RPG warheads, 1000 12.7 mm heavy machine gun rounds, 4000 14.5 mm
heavy machine gun rounds, and 200 25 mm anti-tank rounds.
Also found were a 122 mm rocket, 1000 9 mm rounds, six hand grenade
fuses, 17 fragmentary hand grenades, 205 30 mm anti-aircraft artillery rounds, 60
57 mm anti-aircraft artillery rounds, two 2.75 mm rockets, 215 blasting caps,
1000 small arms ammunition primers, 500 shotgun rounds, 1000 feet of
detonation cord, 7400 7.62 mm machine gun rounds, a 40 mm high explosive
grenade, various small arms and sub machine gun magazines, eight pre-cut
lengths of wire (presumably used as IED initiators) and five former regime Iraqi
army helmets.
After processing the site for evidence relating to the missing Soldiers, the
caches were destroyed by explosive ordnance personnel.
In other developments, the 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army
Division detained 22 individuals believed to have information in the attacks.
This air assault was the 35th conducted by 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain
Division since May 12.
TWO TERRORISTS KILLED, 23 SUSPECTS DETAINED, EXPLOSIVES DESTROYED
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces killed two terrorists, detained 23 suspected terrorists and destroyed a cache of explosives during operations against al-Qaeda in Iraq Saturday.
Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist leader in a raid southwest of Taji Saturday morning. As the ground forces approached the building, two armed men took up fighting positions. Coalition Forces, reacting to the perceived hostile threat, engaged the two men with small arms fire, killing them.
Inside the building, Coalition Forces detained three suspected terrorists. One is believed to be an al-Qaeda senior leader whose group supplies vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices for use in the Taji area. The group is also known to be responsible for indirect fire and IED attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces.
In a follow-up operation southeast of Karmah, Coalition Forces found a cache of weapons and explosives, including 10 homemade bombs, a 55-gallon drum of ammonium nitrate, 200 anti-aircraft rounds and an anti-aircraft artillery mount, and a dump truck outfitted with a detonation cord. Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists and safely destroyed the weapons cache on site.
Coalition Forces targeted a suspected terrorist in Baghdad and detained two individuals during a raid there. One of the individuals is allegedly a member of a deadly VBIED cell. In another raid in the city, Coalition Forces detained seven suspected terrorists for their involvement as associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader.
In a raid targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network known to facilitate the movement of foreign fighters, Coalition Forces detained six suspected terrorists in Fallujah.
Acting on intelligence gained from successful operations May 22, Coalition Forces raided three buildings in Mosul, where they detained three suspected terrorists with alleged ties to the al-Qaeda in Iraq network there.
“These operations illustrate the steady drumbeat of our assault on al-Qaeda in Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “We continue to disrupt their networks and diminish their ability to attack Iraqi civilians and those who are working to rebuild the country.”
SECRET CELL KEY LEADER DETAINED, AIR STRIKE IN SADR CITY
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist cell leader and killed at least five terrorists Saturday morning during raids in Sadr City.
The individual detained during the raid is believed to be the suspected leader in a secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training.
After successfully detaining the suspected secret cell leader during the morning’s operation, nine vehicles moved into the target area and were positioning themselves to block and ambush Iraqi and Coalition Forces as they began to depart the area.
Iraqi and Coalition Forces responded to a perceived threat and called in close air support.
All nine vehicles were engaged during the air strike, killing at least five terrorists.
Intelligence reports indicate the individual detained is suspected of having direct ties to a senior leader of a significant EFP network as well as acting as a proxy for an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officer.
“We will continue to seek out and tirelessly pursue these terrorists who seek to undermine the Iraqi government and place innocents Iraqis in harms way,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
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