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| Iraq | |
| Iraqis, U.S. Launch Largest-Ever Joint Military Operation | |
| 2003-09-29 | |
| Iraqi security forces and U.S. military police on Monday teamed up in the hunt for those behind a series of deadly attacks against American troops -- their largest joint raid to date. Backed up by dozens of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 720th Military Police Battalion, the 200-plus American-trained Iraqi police led the overnight raid in Saddam Hussein’s turbulent hometown. The joint raids, along with U.S.-led raids conducted in other Sunni Muslim areas, netted 92 people and weapons including Kalashnikov rifles, mortars and their firing tubes, 155 millimeter artillery shells and multiple rocket launchers. Large artillery shells being broken down to get the explosives for use in roadside ambushes. Not a job anyone with shaky fingers should try. Among those arrested were 12 men suspected of being behind a series of recent attacks against U.S. troops in the Tikrit area, said 4th Infantry Division spokesman Maj. Gordon Tate. A U.S. commander credited the success of the joint operation to the leadership of the Iraqis. "We think we are turning the corner with the police. This was completely led by the Iraqis," Lt. Col. David Poirier, who commands the 720th, based in Fort Hood, Texas, said. "We hope this operation has tightened the noose on the bad guys. This operation was designed to break the back of the Fedayeen. They are off-balance, on the run, they know we are after them and that the Iraqi police are after them. We want to send the message that if you pull the trigger on the coalition, we will get you." In another incident, 4th Infantry Division troops late Sunday killed one Iraqi and captured three others in a shootout nine miles south of Balad, U.S. officials said. In the car, troops found two M-16 rifles which belonged to two American soldiers who were abducted and killed in June, officials said.
Even Fox hasn’t gotten the message yet that these are NOT "resistance fighters", but primarily foreign dumba$$es that think killing Americans is "cool". "We think all these people and weapons found in the past are linked. We think they are linked to the organized attacks and are also responsible for the assassination attempts against the Iraqi police as well," Poirier said. The headquarters of the Iraqi provincial police, where a portion of the operation began just after midnight, had come under mortar attack three days before. The operation was carried out after information received by the Iraqi police, and Poirier said the information was an indication that people in Tikrit have begun to tire of the near-daily violence. "It’s Saddam’s hometown and there’s a lot of family here. Some still believe he’s going to return, but more and more they are realizing Saddam is gone and the old regime is dead," Poirier said. "Tikrit was a tough nut to crack, but I think we have cracked it. That, of course, doesn’t mean it’s a safe place." | |
| Posted by:Old Patriot |
| #5 Fascinating story, especially the fact that five months after the war ends it's the Iraqi COPS who are leading these roundups. It's incredible and a tremendous achievement. It may also be unprecendented...does anyone know? |
| Posted by: R. McLeod 2003-9-30 3:36:05 AM |
| #4 I think if the Iraqi police captures Saddam, he would be drawn and quartered and burned at the stake while trying to escape |
| Posted by: SOG475 2003-9-29 9:29:14 AM |
| #3 Ran across a photo at yahoo news showing 2 Troppers searching a house.There is an Iraqi boy sleeping peacefully in bed.Troops didn't even disturb the childs rest. Can't think of any other army in the world who would try not to disturb a sleeping child. What do you want to bet if that had been in Turkey a young Kurdish boy would have been thrown out of bed? |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-9-29 9:01:17 AM |
| #2 I hope it is the Iraqi police who nab Saddam (or his remains). It would be a tremendous morale boost. 20 bucks sez he would be 'shot while trying to escape.' |
| Posted by: badanov 2003-9-29 8:57:33 AM |
| #1 I hope it is the Iraqi police who nab Saddam (or his remains). It would be a tremendous morale boost. |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-9-29 8:06:37 AM |