Saturday, October 1
KEY AFGHAN SCUZBALL NABBED
| October 1, 2005 BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – A key enemy commander was captured by Afghan National Police forces in the Ghazni Province Wednesday. Abdul Gafar was captured after a local man reported his location to Afghan forces. U.S. forces provided security while Afghan National Police detained Gafar. Gafar is behind a number of improvised explosive devices, rocket and small arms attacks against Afghan and U.S. forces in the Ghazni area. Weblog LINK |
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AFGHAN SCUZBALLS TAKING GOV'T OFFER, BECOMING EX
| October 1, 2005 BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – In the wake of successful parliamentary elections, the Government of Afghanistan announced a dramatic increase in its reconciliation program applicants. More than 14 former enemy combatants have approached Afghan government officials expressing intent to join the government’s reconciliation program in the Kunar Province, which was once the scene of intense anti-coalition fighting. The reconciliation program, dubbed PTS or The Program Takhim-E Solh, which translates as the “Strengthening Peace Program,” is a program through which former insurgents and other anti-coalition fighters can renounce violence and join with the government of Afghanistan peacefully. “These developments illustrate that the government of Afghanistan’s successful parliamentary elections are signaling a beginning of the end for the enemies of Afghanistan,” said Brig. Gen. James G. Champion, Combined Joint Task Force-76 deputy commanding general (operations). “We also have a perfect example here of Afghan forces protecting the Afghan people. This operation was conceived and executed with virtually no U.S. involvement. Afghan national forces are quickly becoming a professional, dedicated and loyal force for good in this great nation.” Weblog LINK |
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Friday, September 30
IRAQI TIPS GRUNTS TO SMORGASBORD OF GUNS N' AMMO, 3 SCUZBALLS TAKEN IN
| September 30, 2005 CAMP STRIKER, Iraq -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers discovered a large weapons cache in the Radwiniyah area Sept. 28 following a tip from an Iraqi citizen. The cache included 175 sticks of dynamite, 109 grenades, 59 82mm mortars, 53 122mm artillery rounds, 46 anti-personnel mines, 28 rocket-propelled grenades, 24 122mm mortar rounds, 23 fragmentation grenades, 20 blasting caps, six 107mm rockets, two 7-foot rocket launchers, one 57mm missile, one machine gun and 1,000 disk rounds, 20 pounds of TNT, one box of assorted fuses and an assorted amount of ammunition. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called on the scene to safely detonate the cache. (Three suspected terrorists were detained as a result of the find.) In the past month, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, 48th Brigade Combat Team have found nine weapons caches of significant size hidden in various locations—three of which, like the one in Radwiniyah, have been extremely large. Weblog LINK |
Wednesday, September 28
FAKE BADGES, U.S. CURRENCY, BOMB MATERIALS, AND 9 HAPLESS SCUZBALLS NABBED
| September 28,2005 TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers from a 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division patrol detained nine suspected terrorists in three separate incidents while conducting security and stability operations near Taji on Sept. 27. In the first incident, Soldiers from 70th Engineer Battalion stopped a car during random inspections and searched the vehicles four occupants. The men had $14,000 of U.S. currency in 100 dollar bills, and a large number of fake government identification badges in their possession. [We ripped off a drug dealer. Told him we were the law.] Later in the day, the Soldiers were approached by an Iraqi citizen who said them that a suspicious car was parked in his neighborhood. The Soldiers searched four men near the car identified by the citizen and found bomb-making materials. [We are here to visit my cousin. He lives in that house there. (Pointing to the tipster's residense)] While the U.S. troops questioned the car owners, they stopped and searched a fifth man who was acting suspiciously. The man's cell-phone history contained a message from another terrorist that roughly translated into "Thanks for the use of the rocket-propelled grenades." [And Thank yew!, dumbass, for getting me caught. You know I don't have the smarts to delete messages.] All nine terror suspects were transferred to a Coalition detention facility for questioning. Weblog LINK |
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Tuesday, September 27
#2 SCUZBALL LEADER ASSUMES ROOM TEMPERATURE
| September 27, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi security and Coalition forces killed the second most wanted al Qaeda terrorist in Iraq, Abdallah Najim Abdallah Muhammad al-Juwari, otherwise known as Abu Azzam, the al Qaeda in Iraq Emir of Baghdad, during an early morning raid Sept. 25. Abu Azzam was the operational commander for al Qaeda in Iraq and was responsible for the recent upsurge in violent attacks in the city since April 2005. Multiple intelligence sources and corroborating information from a close associate of Abu Azzam led Coalition and Iraqi security forces to the terrorist safe house where the al Qaeda in Iraq leader was hiding. A combined operation was conducted with the intent of capturing the wanted terrorist; however, Abu Azzam fired on the forces, and their return fire killed the al Qaeda in Iraq leader. “We continue to decimate the leadership of the al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network and continue to disrupt their operations,” said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesperson. “By taking Abu Azzam off the street, another close associate of Zarqawi, we have dealt another serious blow to Zarqawi’s terrorist organization.” Abu Azzam had served as the Emir of Anbar Province for much of 2004 and led the largest group of al Qaeda in Iraq fighters in Fallujah during Autumn 2004 until they were defeated by Coalition forces during Operation Dawn. In Spring 2005, he assumed the position of Emir of Baghdad, where he reportedly directed and controlled all terrorist activity and operations in and around the city. Weblog LINK |
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CITIZEN'S TIP LEADS TO MUCHO GUNS N' AMMO
| September 27, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers, acting on a tip from an Iraqi citizen, seized a weapons cache hidden in west Baghdad at about11:30 a.m. Sept. 25. Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, discovered 85 mortar rounds, 14 rockets, two artillery rounds and three mortar tubes. The cache also contained eight rocket propelled grenade launchers with 144 RPGs and 30 RPG chargers, three anti-tank weapons, 20 hand grenades, two machine guns, two assault rifles, 23 recoilless rifle rounds and 75 pounds of ammunition. The patrol found bomb making materials and 100 feet of detonation cord at the site as well. They secured the site to deny terrorists from returning and using the munitions in the future. Weblog LINK |
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WHY LET-GO 1000 FORMER SCUZBALLS? RAMADAN
| September 26, 2005 ABU GHRAIB, Iraq – In the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, the Iraqi government requested a special release board and worked with Multi-National Forces to expedite the release of more than 1,000 security detainees from Abu Ghraib. The release will take place over the next week with the first 500 detainees released on Sept. 26. These detainees were selected for release following a careful and thorough review of their files by a special Iraqi-led review board which determined they had not committed serious crimes against Iraqi forces, the citizens of Iraq or Coalition Forces. Deputy Prime Minister Abed Motlaq Al-Jabouri will be present for the release to emphasize the importance of being a good Iraqi citizen and treating each other with respect and kindness, especially during Ramadan. The special review board carefully reviewed hundreds of files and voted to release those not guilty of serious, violent crimes such as bombing, torture, kidnapping or murder. These detainees have confessed to their crimes, renounced violence and pledged to be good citizens of Iraq. This release is an acknowledgment by the Iraqi government and MNF-I of the importance of the holy month of Ramadan. The Iraqi government and MNF-I decided to release the detainees to allow them to be with families and loved ones to celebrate the holy month and to help in the process of building a new Iraq. This release is the largest to date and marks another milestone achieved in the Iraqis’ progress toward democratic governance and the rule of law. Weblog LINK |
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126 SCUZBALLS NABBED, 5 KILLED, GUNS N' AMMO TAKEN, NOBODY HURT
| September 26, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq — Coalition Forces, often teaming up with Iraqi Army Soldiers, conducted 69 cordon and search operations and raids against anti-Iraqi forces over the past four days, seizing 126 terror suspects and seven weapons caches in and around the capital city. Additionally, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers and members of the Iraqi Security forces conducted 3,000 combat patrols to provide security for local businesses and citizens. In one of the larger combat operations, a joint patrol of Iraqi Police and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found terrorists hiding in a building in the Mansour district of central Baghdad at 9:40 a.m. Sept. 21. An Iraqi Army patrol in the area came to assist the combined patrol, while U.S. attack helicopters provided air support. When the firing stopped, a weapons cache containing rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms ammunition, 35 mortar rounds and rockets, one mortar tube, 27 RPGs, three roadside bombs, and five cell phones was found. Five terrorists were killed in the assault. Another Task Force Baghdad patrol working in western Baghdad found a large weapons cache on the outskirts of western Baghdad the morning of Sept. 24. The cache consisted of 11 roadside bombs, one mortar tube and 14 mortar rounds, one artillery round, TNT and plastic explosives. Combined Iraqi Army and U.S. patrols also found an additional 33 rocket, mortar and artillery rounds; 15 rifles with 275 magazines and ammunition, two missiles, 16 grenades, and four pistols in other weapons caches hidden throughout the city. Weblog LINK |
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Sunday, September 25
BULGARIAN GRUNTS RENEW SCHOOL AT AL FARAZDK
| September 25, 2005 AL FARAZDK, Iraq – Bulgarian Soldiers from Multi-National Division Central-South held a ceremony to commemorate the completion of a school renovation project near Ad Diwaniyah Sept. 24. Soldiers from Bulgaria’s 3rd Battle Group renovated classrooms, electrical wiring and plumbing. Renovations at the school in Al Farazdk, near Afak, also included a new fence for the school. Civil-Military specialists in the division have completed more than 500 educational projects worth more than $14,000,000.0 Weblog LINK |
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IRAQI/U.S. FORCES AMBUSHED, 8 SCUZBALLS KILLED
| September 25, 2005 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition and Iraqi security forces came under fire in Sadr City in the early morning hours Sept. 25. Iraqi security forces were conducting a mission to capture three insurgents suspected of working in a kidnapping and torture cell. The three suspects were not found or captured but missions to find them will continue. Iraqi security forces were ambushed at several locations while conducting the operation. Nearby Coalition Forces on routine patrols responded to reinforce the Iraqi forces. Coalition and Iraqi forces returned fire and killed five to eight of the armed assailants. The engagement lasted about 90 minutes. No suspects were detained and no Coalition or Iraqi forces were injured. Over the past year Coalition Forces have been working closely with Sadr City leaders to establish a secure environment and to allow Iraqis to proceed with the Constitutional Referendum. “I am concerned about the events early this morning, but I do not believe this action reflects a pattern of change leading to more violence,” said Col. Joseph DiSalvo, Commander of Coalition Forces in East Baghdad. “I am working with Iraqi leaders in Sadr City to keep the situation calm. Terrorists in Sadr City or elsewhere have no safe haven. We will aggressively pursue all leads against the terrorists. My mission is to find the terrorists and keep Iraq safe and that is what we will do.” As DiSalvo drove through the city this morning he found the situation calm. “Iraqi security forces and the Coalition will continue routine patrolling,” said DiSalvo. Weblog LINK |
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