Coalition forces killed 10 terrorists, detained 20 suspected terrorists and uncovered enemy weapons and bomb-making materials during operations targeting the al Qaeda in Iraq network yesterday and today.

Coalition forces captured two suspected terrorists during a raid in Baghdad yesterday targeting al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders in the city. One of the detainees is allegedly a senior leader in the area who oversees al Qaeda in Iraq operations and supervised several individuals detained in successful coalition operations over the past week.

This morning, coalition forces targeted several buildings near Karmah that intelligence reports indicated were associated with a Libyan foreign fighter involved in suicide bombing operations. As coalition forces approached the first building, seven armed terrorists engaged the ground force with small-arms fire. Coalition forces, responding in self-defense, engaged the seven armed men, killing six and wounding one. The wounded terrorist fled the scene.

Coalition forces caught the wounded terrorist and two other suspected terrorists as they moved from the first building into the second. The wounded individual was taken to a military medical facility for treatment and the two suspected terrorists were detained.

During a search of the area, coalition forces found improvised explosive device-making materials, weapons, and a vehicle containing a heavy machine gun and hand grenades. Coalition forces safely destroyed the IED materials, vehicle and weapons on site and detained another seven suspected terrorists for their involvement with foreign fighters and al Qaeda in Iraq suicide bombing operations.

During another raid today in Anbar province, coalition forces targeted associates of an al Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. As the ground force arrived at the buildings near Zaydon, they awakened three men outside the building. One man drew a pistol while the other two reached for weapons. Coalition forces responded to the hostile threat and engaged the armed men with small arms fire, killing them.

Another armed man nearby moved into a tactical position against the ground force, and coalition forces, perceiving a hostile threat, engaged the armed man, killing him.

Inside the targeted buildings, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists allegedly involved with the al Qaeda in Iraq senior leader network. The ground force also discovered a truck rigged with wires and other indications of car bombs. An explosives team safely destroyed the car bomb on site.

In Mosul today, coalition forces continued to assault the city’s terrorist network, capturing a suspected smuggler and four other suspected terrorists involved in IED attacks. Intelligence reports indicate the alleged smuggler operated a taxi and transported terrorist operatives, weapons, funds and letters between Iraq and Syria. He is also suspected of involvement in the murder of a female worker at Badush prison in January.

“We are relentlessly attacking the al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and networks that seek to derail progress in the country,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “Terrorists have no place in the future of Iraq.”

Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained 20 suspected terrorists during operations around the country to disrupt the al Qaeda in Iraq network yesterday.

Coalition forces launched an operation to capture associates of al Qaeda in Iraq senior leadership east of Fallujah. As they approached the two targeted buildings, three armed terrorists maneuvered into tactical positions against the ground force. Coalition forces, reacting to the hostile threat, engaged the terrorists, killing all three.

Within the buildings, the ground force found several military-style ammunition vests and grenades. Five suspected terrorists were detained for their alleged ties to al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders.

In another operation in Anbar province, coalition forces detained an individual suspected of making and transporting false documentation for al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and operatives. Coalition forces also found identification-making equipment in the suspect’s house.

In Mosul, coalition forces killed one terrorist and wounded another armed man during an operation targeting terrorist leaders. As the ground force approached the objective, the two armed men engaged the ground force with small-arms fire. Coalition forces, reacting in self-defense, returned fire, killing one terrorist and wounding the other. The wounded man was taken to a military medical facility for treatment. One suspected terrorist was detained on scene for his alleged ties to a newly appointed al Qaeda leader.

Two other operations in Mosul netted four detainees who allegedly finance al Qaeda operations in the area. Intelligence reports indicate three suspects are heavily involved in a network that conducts kidnappings and hijackings to raise money for terrorist activities.

In Baghdad, coalition forces detained eight suspected terrorists for their connection to al Qaeda senior leaders and the Baghdad car bomb network. On site, coalition forces also destroyed one vehicle known to transport personnel and explosives for terrorist activities.

“We continue to assault al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and their associates,” Garver said. “Systematically and methodically, their network is crumbling and their manpower pool is dwindling.”

Elsewhere, attack helicopters engaged and destroyed insurgents attempting to emplace an IED near Muqdadiyah yesterday.

The attack helicopters from 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, observed four insurgents carry a propane tank and begin digging on the side of the road. Two additional insurgents parked a vehicle between the road and the four people digging to obscure the IED emplacement.

Attack helicopters, armed with hellfire missiles, engaged and killed all six insurgents and destroyed the vehicle. Coalition ground forces secured the area and recovered the IED.

In other developments, Iraqi security forces conducted an early morning raid June 15 and detained a suspected terrorist cell leader who is allegedly responsible for attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces in the Baji area. Working on tips from local Iraqi citizens, Iraqi forces raided the target building and detained the suspected terrorist leader without incident. One other suspected person was also detained during the operation. Iraqi forces also seized a computer, several radio and electronic components, six identification cards, two cell phones, and a portable storage device.

An Iraqi citizen tip led coalition forces to two wanted insurgent cell leaders and nine other suspected insurgents, who were captured during operations June 15, near the village of Hawijah, 40 miles southwest of the city of Kirkuk.

The two men wanted for coordinating attacks against coalition and Iraqi security forces and aiding al Qaeda in Iraq were captured by soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

In another operation, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers confiscated several weapons caches and defeated insurgent attacks in southern Baghdad June 15 and yesterday.

Troops from the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment “Tomahawks,” attached to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, operating in East Rashid, seized several caches containing two PKC machineguns, one RPK light machinegun, 11 AK-47s, four RPG launchers, one SVD sniper rifle, 1,500 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and other bomb-making materials. The soldiers are continuing clearing operations in Dora that began in late May.

In West Rashid, several complex attacks on U.S. forces by extremists were defeated.

Troops from the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment “Vanguards” killed five insurgents after being engaged with small-arms and RPG fire in two separate attacks June 14 and 15.

“We will continue our efforts on behalf of the Iraqi people here,” said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of the 4th “Dragon” Brigade Combat Team. “Our soldiers will not be deterred in their mission to provide security and stability to the district.”

Coalition forces attack helicopters, supporting Iraqi army soldiers who were engaged by insurgents, killed four insurgents and wounded three during joint operations with the Iraqi army south of Baghdad June 15.

The insurgents fired on the helicopters as they approached and continued firing as they ran into a nearby structure. One of the AH-64s fired on the structure, destroying it.

Three sniper rifles, multiple hand grenades and black masks were found by the Iraqi army outside the structure.

Coalition forces killed at least 20 terrorists, wounded six others and detained a suspect during operations this morning targeting secret cells operating in the Maysan province of eastern Iraq.

The detained individual is an alleged member of the secret cell terrorist network known for transporting weapons and explosively formed penetrators — a particularly deadly, armor-piercing form of roadside bombs — from Iran to Iraq, military officials said. The group also is responsible for bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training.

In coordination with the Iraqi government, coalition forces conducted raids in Amarah and Majjar al-Kabir, where coalition troops came under heavy small-arms fire and rocket-propelled-grenade attacks.

Ground forces retaliated with close-air support to suppress the enemy fire, killing at least 20 terrorists. Military officials said the strafing wounded six suspected terrorists. Coalition fire also destroyed a vehicle being used by the terrorists as a fighting position.

“Terrorists learned this morning that there is no safe haven in Iraq,” said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “Coalition forces will seek out and find terrorists anywhere and everywhere in Iraq.”

Iraqi police detained four insurgents as they attempted to plant an improvised explosive device early this morning near Tikrit. U.S. surveillance helicopters from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade engaged and wounded the four individuals after observing them carry and place materials into a hole. They are being treated for their wounds and have been detained for further questioning by local Iraqi security forces.

During operations today and yesterday to disrupt the al Qaeda car-bomb network in Baghdad, coalition forces detained 11 suspected terrorists.

Troops netted four suspected terrorists allegedly involved with the car-bomb cell this morning in southern Baghdad, military officials said. They captured another individual with suspected ties to a smuggling ring known for bringing bomb-making materials into Iraq.

In a raid in Baghdad and Haditha yesterday, coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists whose network supports Syria-based extremists and provides suicide bombers, vehicles and explosives for the cell.

“Disrupting the bombing network in Baghdad is a high priority for us, and we will continue to target the cells’ leaders and members,”

Garver said.

Yesterday, soldiers from 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment supporting Operation Marne Torch, detained five individuals while conducting a company-sized operation in the city of Duraiya. The purpose of the mission was to disrupt key insurgent networks from freedom of maneuver in the battalion’s area of operation, military officials said.

To prevent insurgents from entering southern Baghdad, fixed-wing aircraft dropped four precision-guided bombs on targeted sites June 16, beginning the major Marne Torch offensive. The aircraft supported about 1,200 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, soldiers focused on the security belts surrounding Baghdad.
The brigade’s efforts are part of the larger operation recently announced by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander.

Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers and aviation assets discovered six rockets in a schoolyard yesterday in Baghdad’s Rashid district, military officials said. While aircrews from 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment investigated an area suspected as the point of origin for rocket fire against Baghdad’s International Zone, they spotted suspicious looking objects in a school yard.

Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, assigned to 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, arrived 30 minutes later and found six Iranian-made 107 mm rockets. An explosive ordnance disposal unit later disposed of the munitions.

“Great teamwork and cooperation between vigilant Army aviators and our soldiers prevented those rockets from being used against the people of Rashid and the forces securing the district,”

said U.S. Army Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, the 4th Brigade Combat Team commander.

In other news from Iraq, Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment on a mounted patrol in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah District on June 16 received small-arms fire from a small group of ski mask-wearing insurgents on a rooftop. Soldiers returned fire, and the insurgents fled. A wild chase through the city streets followed as the soldiers attempted to cut off the insurgents’ escape route, U.S. officials said.

During the ensuing 20-minute battle, coalition forces killed one insurgent and nabbed three others.

Military officials reported today that Iraqi security forces detained four suspected terrorists yesterday believed to have information regarding the June 13 Askari Mosque bombing in Samarra. Acting on previous intelligence, forces raided the target building and detained the four individuals believed to be linked to the recent bombing and other criminal activity in Samarra, officials said.

Iraqi forces also seized several propaganda documents, a compact disc showing attacks against coalition forces, several cell phones, 10 feet of detonation cord, 81 blasting caps, identification cards for access to the mosque, and photos depicting terrorist training.

Your recent statement that you believe the Iraq War is lost and the surge isn’t accomplishing anything was very irresponsible. Do you not realize that our enemies are listening to your remarks ? Do you not realize that our brave men and women fighting in the war on terror are listening to your remarks ?

If we had the attitude that you and some of your colleagues have about the present war on terror, during World War Two, we would probably be speaking German or Japanese at this time.

While as an American citizen you certainly have the right to voice your opinion, ( a right secured for you by the brave men and women who fight for this country) a person of your position should be more careful with your public comments about the Iraq Theater Campaign in the War on Terror.

When you make statements such as you did the other day, you embolden our enemies, (I read about your remarks from an Iranian News Agency while surfing the web)you affect the morale of the brave men and women who are fighting this war and their families as well. All for a political agenda to appease the Anti-American groups who voted for your party.

Have some respect for our troops who are fighting valiantly to keep America safe and their families who await their return. Stop pandering to Anti-American crowd at the expense of our troops and to the delight of our enemies.

Senator Reid, some of the men in my department are or have been deployed in Iraq, some of the residents of my town are or were as well. In speaking with them as well as speaking with many members of the military via phone and email on my blog and talk show, they do not present the attitude you do. They are overwhelmingly positive and upbeat about the mission and believe we are making progress there, it is not and will not be easy, they say, but we are getting the job done.

One thing they do tell me, Senator, is that they are disheartend by the attitude of the Main Stream News Media and some of the politicians here at home who seem to be hell bent on trying to lose this war.

I’ll close by telling you how appalled I was to read your comments on an Iranian News site. How disgusted I was to be hearing that these remarks were made by a U.S. Senator in a time of war. It is a sad day in America when we see that our own politicians who voted to send these brave soldiers into battle, are now turning their backs on them.

Shame on all of you who have done so.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jay Are

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The Sharratt family and I thank you for broadcasting the story of Our Haditha Marines. Time magazine, the MSM and Congressman Murtha have brainwashed the American public with false accounts of Haditha. Through the efforts of small-town newspapers, bloggers, Kit Jarrell and you, I have been trying to unmask the un-truths published about Haditha.

I have seen the NCIS statements and testimony concerning Haditha and when the truth finally comes out, the MSM and back-stabbing politicians will have to answer for their lies.

JR, I could talk for hours about the truth, but when I respond to Haditha I use 2 articles already published by others. I would like to share these points with you. I hope you feel I am not preaching, just revealing the truth:

1.
The Wash Post on Jan 6, 2007 published the article by Josh White entitled ‘Death in Haditha’. Josh White purports to have the NCIS investigative report covering 13,000 pages and writes in his article “according to eyewitness accounts that are part of a lengthy investigative report obtained by the Washington Post. In this article he does reveal key points to show Haditha was a firefight and the “the Marines concurred that they were under fire from all sides.” Excerpts from his article testify that Navy Corspman Brian Whitt ‘said he could see bullet impacts near his feet and noticed men with rifles disappearing from atop a house to the north. Some of the fire appeared to be coming from behind the white taxi.’ Whitt returned fire with an M-16 to protect himself before he could reach the wounded Marines at the IED site. “Cpl Hector Salinas spotted a man firing at the squad from the corner of a house on the south side of the road” Minutes later, a Quick Reaction
Force(QRF) arrived from the Marine base, bringing Lt. William Kallop, the first officer on the scene. Kallop told the investigators ‘he began to receive enemy fire almost immediately.’ JR, I feel the strongest testimony comes from a IA Sgt named Asad Amer Mashoot. In his sworn testimony, he said “he thought the attack on the houses was warranted because the entire convoy was taking fire.” Investigators noted that he believed the Marines “had justification” because they were “defending themselves.” This should have been the headline describing the Haditha engagement–Iraqi Sgt says Marines were justified…….. Strong evidence the Haditha Marines were in a firefight and not a massacre. JR, I assure you even stronger evidence will come out in the Articles 32′s.

2.
The MSM and talk shows keep assigning the number 24 as to the purported civilian deaths in Haditha. In a 19 page article by Andrew Walden entitled “Haditha: reasonable Doubt” written statements by Marine intelligence officers show this number to be false. Major Dana Hyatt “said he was told by his superiors to compensate the relatives of 15 victims, but was told the rest of those killed had been deemed to have committed hostile acts.” ” The list of 15 victims deemed to be noncombatants was put together by intelligence personnel attached to the batallion”, Major Hyatt said. The Marine Corps has identified 9 of the bodies from Haditha to be combatants- wonder how many in the 15 could be classified as such also? The 24 bodies were transported to FOB Sparta after the engagement. The Marines photograped, fingerprinted and identified the bodies. The Marines know who were terrorists. Somehow the MSM doesn’t want to do the math or report the TRUTH.

JR, I have written countless articles and spoken to thousands in an effort to get the truth told. As I said I am using evidence already in publication to counter the MSM lies. Hannity & Colmes, Bill O’Reilly, Oliver North and other MSM outlets do not want to hear the truth. They refuse my requests to appear on their shows. Through the efforts of Americans like you the truth will be told. The prayers and support from caring Americans like you has kept me strong in my quest to exonerate Our Haditha Marines. They could, when we couldn’t-they did, when we didn’t they have earned the right for the truth to be told. I will not rest till they are all exonerated. Sharratt, Tatum, Wuterich, DelaCruz, Chessani, Stone, Grayson and McConnell, please ask your listeners to pray for them and support them. It will make you proud.

JR, I again thank you for your support and if you need further info, please feel free to ask. I will not rest till these men are vindicated.

Darryl

http://www.justinsharratt.com

http://www.frankwuterich.com

Haditha Marines: Update Justin Sharratt’s Art 32 Hearing Delayed

http://www.talkshowamerica.com/2007/04/email-from-haditha-marines-father.html

FOLKS,

Please take a moment out of your busy day and visit http://www.justinsharratt.com and email the Sharratt Family and let them know you are praying for Justin and the rest of the Haditha Marines it would mean so much to them.

Thanks,
J.R.

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Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Whatever happened to the benefit of the doubt? Our brave men and women in the US Military are fighting for our freedom everyday in the war on terror, facing an enemy that does not wear a uniform. They are facing an enemy that has multiple faces, young, old, women and children used to kill US troops. Shouldn’t the brave men and women who fight in the war on terror be given the benefit of the doubt until a trial can determine what really happened in Haditha?

Back here at home murders, rapists,child molesters and the like are innocent until proven guilty, with groups such as the ACLU and the like supporting those rights if there is even a hint of them being violated. Yet here we have men and women who put their lives on the line to fight the war on terror being tried by the media and some overzealous congressmen before a trial is even announced. Where are the groups screaming for the soldiers rights of innocent until proven guilty?

Certainly in time of war during battles things can get chaotic and confusing, we don’t have the full picture of what happened at Haditha yet, and anyone claiming that they do who was not there and has only heard one side of the story, is speaking irresponsibly. These are people lives that we are talking about here and what is being portrayed by the media and Murtha as a
massacre during this time will affect the soldiers and their families for the rest of their lives.

No matter what the outcome of the Haditha incident, these brave men and women have EARNED the right of innocence until proven guilty that we enjoy as the result of these brave men and women who fight for us in the war on terror today, and those who have fought in wars past.

It is time for the main stream news media and some US congressmen to stop the hyping and sensationalism of this situation for political purposes and let the Uniform Code of Military Justice do its job while at the same time affording these Marines their rights under the constitution that they certainly earned.

http://www.talkshowamerica.com/2006/06/jrs-take-haditha-marines-deserve.html