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| Iraq |
| Operation Iron Hammer begins |
| 2005-11-30 |
| EFL: U.S. and Iraqi troops launched an operation in western Iraq to clear insurgents from a suspected safe area used to make car and roadside bombs, the military said Wednesday. The campaign came as President Bush defended his Iraq policy by releasing a new war strategy, saying more Iraqi security forces are taking the lead in battle but adding that it is still uncertain when U.S. forces can withdraw. About 1,500 U.S. Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 500 U.S. soldiers and 500 Iraqi soldiers were taking part in Operation Iron Hammer near Hit, 85 miles west of Baghdad, a U.S. Marine statement said. The forces would concentrate efforts in the Hai Al Becker region, where U.S. and Iraqi troops rarely patrol, it added. 'The Hai Al Becker region is suspected to be an al-Qaida in Iraq safe area and base of operations for the manufacture of vehicle car bombs, roadside bombs,' the military said. It added that the area is believed to be a stopping point for insurgents traveling down the Euphrates River from Syria into Iraq. ---- Facing criticism and impatience about the conflict, the White House released a 35-page plan titled 'Our National Strategy for Victory in Iraq.' The plan says increasing numbers of Iraqi troops have been equipped and trained, a democratic government is being forged, Iraq's economy is being rebuilt and U.S. military and civilian presence will change as conditions improve. Along with the report, Bush made a personal appeal to shore up wavering support for the war in remarks Wednesday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. _ the first in a series of speeches between now and the parliamentary elections. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #6 When do the Nazi references start? By the way, it looks like "Iron Hammer" is into its second year now. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2005-11-30 17:58 |
| #5 Iron Hammer is nice. But the bad guys are really in trouble once we commence Iron Crotch ? |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-11-30 16:22 |
| #4 as President Bush defended his Iraq policy by releasing a new war strategy This is the second time this moring I've heard this called a new stratagy by the MSM. Seems to me that this has been the stratagy all-along. Or am I missing something? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-11-30 14:08 |
| #3 I don't think this was the area of ops about which the Sunni "leaders" were "negotiating" a few days ago. Anybody know different? |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-11-30 12:49 |
| #2 Hammer Time! (break it down...) |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-11-30 12:37 |
| #1 Bill Roggio reports from Iraq. |
| Posted by: doc 2005-11-30 12:14 |