Dear Interested Readers,
Support our entertainers supporting our troops. Suspected cell leader for AQI captured in Mosul, as well as other criminals and weapons caches. After a great rehabilitation program by our troops, detainees are reunited with their families. Coalition Forces sustain pressure on AQI. IA takes command in Rashid.
Joanna
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
June 5, 2008
Comedic superstar Dane Cook performs for Soldiers in northern Iraq
Comedian and actor Dane Cook holds the American Flag while Lt. Col. Kevin Brown, dep. cmdr. of the 1st BCT, 10th Mtn Div reaffirms the oath of service for Sgt. Darren Horve during a re-enlistment ceremony with Soldiers of the 1st BCT, June 1. Cook performed for Soldiers and Airmen on FOB Warrior in Kirkuk in northeastern Iraq as part of the USO Combat Comedy Tour.
Dane Cook stands with Soldiers of the 1st BCT after assisting during a re-enlistment ceremony.
Comedians Dane Cook, Al Del Bene and Robert Kelly stand with Soldiers from 1st Bn, 87th Inf after performing a comedy show at FOB McHenry in northeastern Iraq.
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IA, MND-B Soldiers find multiple weapons caches
BAGHDAD - IA Soldiers and Soldiers from 3rd BCT, 4th ID, seized numerous weapons and munitions in Baghdad June 3.
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Raider Bde. Soldiers detain wanted criminals, seize munitions
BAGHDAD - MND-Baghdad Soldiers detained 2 suspected criminals wanted by the GoI, June 3 in the Doura neighborhood of the Rashid district in southern Baghdad.
Soldiers from HHC, 2nd Bn, 4th Inf Regt, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, captured the 2 suspects at
approx. 1:30 a.m. The detainees were wanted for allegedly committing crimes and acts of violence.
In the Abu T'shir community of southern Baghdad, Soldiers from the 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th ID, captured a suspected criminal.
Soldiers from Troop A, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, discovered 2 30mm mortar tubes, 3 60mm mortar rounds, 5 hand grenades, 2 AK-47 rifles, homemade explosives, various ammo and a blasting cap during a security patrol in the Karb de Gla region of southeastern Baghdad. The Soldiers also detained 5 individuals for questioning.
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ISOF capture suspected AQI cell leader
BALAD, Iraq - Iraqi SOF captured a suspected cell leader for the AQI in eastern Mosul June 2.
The ISOF conducted an op to capture a suspected terrorist who is believed to serve as an IED cell leader
for AQI. The man is suspected of numerous VBIED attacks.
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Released detainees encouraged to rebuild community, Iraq
By Spc. Justin Snyder, 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div.
BAGHDAD - "Not only has your family been waiting for you, but your country has been waiting for you. Go do good things and join in the rebuilding of Iraq," said Turkey Sawady, a representative of the Jisr Diyala Nahia.
This was the message given to 15 detainees as they were released to their families during a reintegration ceremony held outside the JSS in Jisr Diyala, May 29.
"We are very thankful to the CF for allowing these people to have a second chance," Sawady said. "We are very happy to have these men released. I am confident that they will now participate in rebuilding the country of Iraq and make a positive impact in their community."
In the last year, the area of Jisr Diyala has seen many improvements. Markets were revitalized and water distribution plants, schools and health clinics were established. Violence went down, thanks to the security efforts of the SoI volunteers, the IP and CF.
Brig. Gen. Emad, cmdr. of the 3-1 NP Bde, said the people of Iraq know CF played a huge role in making those projects happen and continue to help make Jisr Diyala a better place. He would like the detainees to join in and do their part as free citizens of Iraq.
Sawady would like to see the former detainees use their time spent in detention to influence future generations for years to come. "Use your past experiences to become an idol and be an example for your children," Sawady said. "The future of Iraq depends on it."
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IA Soldiers take weapons off streets in Sadr City
BAGHDAD - IA Soldiers uncovered several weapons caches in the Sadr City district of Baghdad as they worked to increase safety in the area, June 3.
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ISF, MND-B Soldiers detain one suspected insurgent, seize weapons caches in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Iraqi SF and Soldiers from the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT) detained a suspected insurgent and seized weapons and munitions as they continued conducting ops to increase security and stability, June 3.
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IA Soldiers seize weapons in Sadr City
BAGHDAD - IA Soldiers seized a number of weapons caches in Sadr City during Operation Peace, June 2.
"Iraqi SF are becoming more effective and efficient in removing illegal weapons from Sadr City," said Col. Allen Batchelet, MND-Baghdad and 4th ID chief of staff.
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MNF-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
Wanted men captured, terrorist safe-houses destroyed (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – CF continued to batter the AQI bombing and foreign terrorist facilitation networks June 4, detaining 9 suspects in central and northwestern Iraq.
In and around Baghdad, CF disrupted AQI’s bombing networks by capturing 2 wanted men and detaining 2 additional suspected terrorists. One wanted man detained in Baghdad was reportedly involved in weapons distribution and car bombings. The other wanted man was detained about 20 km north, in Taji, and is believed to gather intel for a bombing network in the area.
CF in Tikrit, about 160 km north of Baghdad, captured a wanted man and 4 associates who are believed to be involved in organizing suicide bombings and facilitating the movement of foreign terrorists into Iraq. Additionally, detainee reporting led CF to a foreign-terrorist bed-down site west of Bi’aj, about 130 km west of Mosul, where they discovered and safely destroyed 2 terrorist safe-houses.
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MNF-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Coalition forces sustain pressure on al-Qaeda operatives in Iraq
BAGHDAD – June 4, CF discovered weapons, car bombs and a bed-down site during a series of ops north of Baghdad that wrapped up June 1, with 15 suspected terrorists in custody.
The 5 days of ops spanned from the Diyala River near Khan Bani Sa’ad to the Tigris River near Balad and targeted AQI terrorists huddled in the area.
CF detained 3 suspects while targeting a terrorist leader suspected of facilitating suicide bomb attacks, kidnapping local Iraqis and attacking IA and police personnel. They also pursued a terrorist leader suspected of manufacturing and distributing explosives and leading a group that conducted bombing attacks in the area. During multiple ops they detained eight terrorist suspects.
While securing the area near Balad, CF detected 4 men hiding in a vehicle. In the area, CF discovered a terrorist bed-down site, which they destroyed to prevent its future use in criminal acts.
In another location CF found 2 vehicles being prepared as car bombs, a nearby house that was booby-trapped as a house bomb and a cache of weapons. The force moved civilians out of the way and safely destroyed the weapons and bombs.
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Iraqi Army Takes Command in Rashid
By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams
1st BCT, 4th ID
FOB FALCON — The Soldiers of the 1st BCT, 4th ID MiTT don’t collect weapons. The MiTT team assigned to the 43rd Bde., 11th IA Div., did not deploy to the Rashid district in southern Baghdad to capture detainees either.
Nor do they have to – thanks to the ongoing efforts of the IA and Iraqi SF working with MND–Baghdad Soldiers, said Maj. Mark Thompson, ops officer for the 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt.
“The IA is a lot better than the last time we were here, and we are going out there to continue that; so that sometime in the near future the IA soldiers will be fully capable of operating without our support,” Thompson said before the start of a cordon and search op led by the IA, May 30, in the Jihad community of west Rashid.
The team of select officers and enlisted Soldiers participated in the day-long event to coach and advise the IA and call for indirect fire support and close air support if needed, said Thompson, an armor officer.
“The Iraqi army has stood up to become for all intents and purposes an Army; while the NPs are modeled after the Italian Arma dei Carabinieri (MP), responding to natural disasters, civil disorders and emergencies of that nature,” he explained. “Right now the 2 are working West Rashid in the same capacity: to enforce security and enhance stability for the Iraqi people.”
The IA planned, coordinated and conducted the op, which allowed the MiTT team to serve strictly as observers, said Getchell, a 16-year combat veteran.
“This was a small op for the unit, but an opportunity for them to cut their teeth,” he said. Getchell, who worked on a bde MiTT team during his last deployment in 2006, said that his initial impressions of the IA unit’s op were good, and that the job of the MiTTs is progressively getting easier.
“They understand the movement as a unit,” he said. “They are working to get on line and sweep an area, organizing to clear out a row of buildings.” According to Getchell, the biggest change to the ISF is their level of competency, understanding that they are in charge, and charismatic leaders, who are taking charge of the situation. “It used to be if Iraqi soldiers screwed something up in Saddam’s army, they would find themselves in the bottom of a grave,” said Getchell. “Now, we’re getting them to realize that they are in the lead. They have the ability to make decisions, and no longer have to ask permission to make things happen.”
“The 2nd Bn. seems to be very professional,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Elledge, cmdr. of the 1st “Regulars” Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. “I am pretty proud of what they are doing so far. The Iraqi army soldiers are treating the Iraqi people with respect, working with the community and addressing issues as they work to secure the neighborhoods and clear weapons and contraband from the Jihad community."
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