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01-29-2006 12:24 AM |
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Originally Posted by MrBigglesworth
Let's assume for a second that Iraq isn't so dangerous that reporters can't venture outside a couple mile square area without a full military escort. What should be reported on that isn't that is more important than the 'drivel' of credible allegations of the US engaging in war crimes?
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These things happened this week. I'm not sure if you were aware of it. Not just Americans taking innocent Iraqi's "hostage". Surprised?
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Title: IRAQI, COALITION FORCES CONTINUE OPERATION KOA CANYON
Release Date: 1/23/2006
Release Number: 06-01-27
Description: January 23, 2006
Release Number: 06-01-27
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IRAQI, COALITION FORCES CONTINUE OPERATION KOA CANYON
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HIT, Iraq – Eight days of back-breaking searches through villages and fields along the western Euphrates River valley have yielded thousands of pieces of ordnance as Iraqi Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines continue Operation Wadi Aljundi (Koa Canyon) in Iraq’s Al Anbar province.
Aimed at isolating insurgents and their weapons, the combined Iraqi and U.S. force began the latest sweep Jan. 15, and have uncovered a staggering amount of weaponry. The Soldiers and Marines are making their way inch-by-inch through caves, fields, wadis, and islands in an attempt to disrupt the insurgents.
So far, the combined force has found and destroyed more than 4,300 artillery and mortar rounds, rockets, and mines; 267 kilograms (590 pounds) of explosive powder, 10,000 rounds of various types of ammunition (ranging from small-arms to tank main gun rounds), 300 blasting caps, approximately 100 feet of detonation cord, and several working machine guns and mortar systems.
"Every piece of ordnance that is uncovered is one less potential IED that may be used against Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Security and Coalition forces," said Marine Col. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., the commander of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).
McKenzie also stated that the future of the Iraqi Army is bright, based upon the individual courage of the Iraqi Soldiers. "The basic ingredient is courage, and these Iraqi Soldiers are showing it," said McKenzie.
The Iraqi Army Soldiers are with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division and the Marines are with the 22nd MEU (SOC).
The 22nd MEU (SOC) is comprised of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, MEU Service Support Group 22, and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (Reinforced) 261.
The 22nd MEU (SOC) is conducting counterinsurgency operations with an Iraqi battalion in the Al Anbar province under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division.
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Title: 7-10 CAVALRY SOLDIERS FIND LARGE CACHE
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Release Date: 1/27/2006
Release Number:
Description: TAJI, Iraq -- A patrol from Troop A, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, found a large weapons cache north of Baghdad about noon Jan. 22.
Responding to a tip, the patrol found a large cache, consisting of a complete 120 mm mortar system, 14 57 mm rockets, 11 152mm artillery rounds, 10 130mm artillery rounds, 19 B-5 rocket fuses, 50 hand grenades and a wide assortment of other ammunition.
“It was a great find,” said Maj. David Olson, the brigade spokesman. “It is great to see people standing up and doing their civic responsibility to help maintain a safe and secure environment for their fellow citizens by providing tips such as this one.”
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Title: MND-B SOLDIERS DETAIN SUSPECTED TERRORISTS, FIND WEAPONS CACHE
Release Date: 1/27/2006
Release Number:
Description: BAGHDAD, Iraq – Elements of Multi-National Division – Baghdad’s 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment and Explosive Ordnance Disposal found a roadside bomb south of Baghdad Jan. 25.
EOD performed a controlled detonation of the unexploded ordnance.
Post-blast analysis of the previous bomb strike determined that three daisy-chained charges were placed in oil barrels with 30 to 40 pounds of homemade explosives in each barrel.
There were no injuries or damages in this incident.
MND-B’s 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment discovered a weapons cache late Jan. 25.
The cache consisted of 56 sticks of TNT, one box of .50 caliber rounds, one block of C4 explosive, four 60mm rounds, three individual fuses and one box of fuses.
Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and search based on a tip from a local national Jan. 25.
The patrol found two local nationals whose names and descriptions matched those in the tip, a pistol and a diagrammed location of a planned ambush on Coalition Forces.
The patrol continued to search the house and detained the two local nationals for questioning.
The above incidents are under investigation.
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Title: SHEIKS MEET WITH 2ND BCT COMMANDER
Release Date: 1/27/2006
Release Number:
Description: FOB KALSU, Iraq -- Local tribal leaders of the Babil province met here Jan. 22 to discuss issues and concerns within the community.
Col. John Tully, commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Iraqi Brig. Gen. Qais Hamza, Babil, provincial police chief, took the opportunity to discuss security and project building in the area with more than 15 sheiks.
This event marks the first time a meeting of this caliber was organized since the Warhorse brigade assumed responsibility of the area earlier this month.
“Our main mission is to help the Iraqi army and police establish security in the Babil province,” said Tully, in his opening statement to the forum.
The central and southern parts of the province have seen steady progress over the past three years, and the desire is that the north can soon catch up with the rest of the province, said Sheik Taha Al Janabi. The security there is still in question and it’s anticipated that the pressure being put on terrorists by 2nd BCT Soldiers will result in stability in the area.
Most of the sheiks spoke about the security and how it was important to continue to strive for a good life in Iraq, said Chief Warrant Officer Desi Roberts, information officer, 2nd BCT. Several of them discussed the need for water and road projects and school refurbishment in their tribal area.
With security comes stability, and with stability come investments, projects and jobs, Tully said. He asked the leaders, who have great influence with their villagers, to tell people to stop attacking Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces so stability can materialize.
“Iraqis have accomplished much in the past year and have much to be proud of,” he said. “Every day, more and more Iraqis want to be part of the new government.”
Democracy was a success when we had it in the 1940s, and it was a good era in Iraq history, said Sheik Kader Abass Shided. The spate of elections in 2005 renews hope that those times are on the horizon.
Both Tully and Qais explained to the sheiks how to contact the appropriate people to discuss any problems or issues they may have. Qais set a time when sheiks could come to his office and voice concerns, and Tully talked about bases and battalion leaders in the region available to offer assistance to anyone who needs it.
The group agreed to continue these meetings in the future in order to help move nation and its people in a positive direction
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Title: SUSPECTS CAPTURED THROUGHOUT NORTHERN IRAQ
Release Date: 1/26/2006
Release Number:
Description: TIKRIT, Iraq -- Iraqi security forces and Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers detained 51 suspected terrorists during a series of unrelated actions throughout northern Iraq Jan. 24.
In the largest action of the day, Iraqi troops from the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division planned and conducted a large early morning raid in three villages outside of Baqubah. The unit detained 19 suspects, including eight known to have strong ties to terrorists in the area.
In the Bayji area, Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team continued to make progress against terrorists that have plagued the area. Ten known or suspected terrorists were captured in and around the city.
Tips from Bayji area residents generated a series of early-morning searches south of the city which led to the capture of four men closely tied to a terrorist ring responsible for committing murders and beheadings in the area. A fifth man was killed after firing a pistol at the Soldiers searching his home.
In another positive development, a local tribal leader brought three suspected members of an IED cell from the Bayji area to a coalition base and turned them in to coalition forces.
Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment also had a good day taking terrorists off the streets in Tall Afar and the nearby city of Bi’aj.
Working with Iraqi troops from the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, the unit discovered two caches of weapons and stolen Iraqi Army uniforms and captured 12 suspects.
The troops began their mission working from one tip and with each turn of events, another tip surfaced that carried the Soldiers to two separate caches and 12 individuals.
The citizens of northern Iraq continue to build confidence in the security forces protecting the newly established democracy, as the Iraqi Soldiers grow into a mature, capable force, directly responsible for safeguarding the rights and lives of the people of Iraq.
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Title: IRAQI SECURITY FORCES TAKE CONTROL OF MNDCS BATTLESPACE
Release Date: 1/26/2006
Release Number:
Description:
CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Iraqi security forces took control of security of Diwaniya and Wasit provinces from Multinational Division Central South Jan. 26.
Battlespace assumption documents were signed by Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Multinational Corps - Iraq commander, Lt. Gen. Quadir, Iraqi Land Forces commander, Maj. Gen. Piotr Czerwinski, MNDCS commander, Maj. Gen. Othman Ali Ferhood, 8th Iraqi Army Division commander, the governors of Diwaniyah and Wasit prowinces, chiefs of police and Iraqi Border Police.
Ryszard Krystosik, ambassador of Poland, Gen. George Casey, Multinational Force – Iraq commander, and Gen. Nazir, deputy Chief of Iraqi Army General Staff, as well as local sheiks and administration representatives were also in attendance.
During the ceremony, Casey underlined that battlespace assumption was the demonstration of growing capabilities of Iraqi security forces. He thanked the MNDCS commander for the results achieved in training process.
“People of Diwaniyah and Wasit provinces can be proud of Iraqi Army units,” said Czerwinski.
MNDCS in cooperation with Iraqi security forces started building the combat power of Iraq at the beginning of 2005. MNDCS Military Transition Teams conducted intensive training created by Polish, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Salvadorian and U.S. instructors. They focused their efforts in training the units of the 8th Iraqi Army Division and Iraqi Border Police.
As a part of the training, Iraqi soldiers took part in numerous counterinsurgency operations shoulder to shoulder with MNDCS troops. Their knowledge and experience was gained in combat.
In September 2005, as a result of the training process and good cooperation, MNDCS certified six 8th IA Div’s battalions operating in Babil, Diwaniyah and Kut (former Wasit) provinces.
The next step was certification on the brigade level in November 2005 when the staffs of two Iraqi brigades (3rd Brigade in Kut and 2nd Brigade in Babil provinces) were certified by MNDCS. As a result of the certification, these brigade’s staffs took over command of their battalions.
On December 20, 2005, training of the division level concluded and the 8th Iraqi Army Division’s staff was certified.
During the same time period, MNDCS trained Iraqi Border Police (Kut province) and cooperated and supported the Iraqi Police Service.
In total, MNDCS trained more than 20,000 Iraqi soldiers and policemen.
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