Our troops took out FAR more bad guys this week. [Press robbing troops (and us) of victory daily]

CENTCOM and various ^ | July 16, 2003

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Analysis of US casualties in Iraq: Week of July 10 - July 16

 

7/10 - A 3rd Corp Supply Command soldier died after being hit by small arms fire - convoy near the city of Al Mahmudiyah.

7/10 - Baghdad, A 4th Infantry Division soldier was killed and one wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on their convoy.

7/10 - BALAD, Iraq – A 4th Infantry Division soldier died on July 9 from a non-hostile gunshot incident.

7/12 - BAGHDAD, Iraq – Two 4th Infantry Division soldiers were wounded and one subsequently died from a non-hostile gunshot incident.
7/13 - BAGHDAD, Iraq – One soldier was killed and two others injured at approximately 6:30 a.m. July 13 when a tractor trailer crashed into their military vehicle, which was parked at a check point outside of a base camp near the city of Ad Diwaniyah.

7/14 - BAGHDAD, Iraq – A soldier from 3rd Infantry Division was killed and 10 others were injured at approximately 7 a.m. July 13 when the convoy they were traveling in was attacked by multiple rocket-propelled grenades. The convoy was returning from a routine patrol mission when it began receiving fire. Ten soldiers were injured in the attack, three of them seriously. The soldiers were evacuated to the 28th Combat Support Hospital for treatment. Seven soldiers were returned to duty.
7/16 - AL HILLAH, Iraq - A 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Marine died here July 15, as a result of injuries received after falling from the top of a building where he was standing guard duty.
7/16 - BAGHDAD, Iraq – A soldier from the 3rd Corps Support Command was killed and three others wounded at approximately 9:55 a.m. today in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on their convoy as it was traveling near Abu Ghuraib prison in the western part of Baghdad.

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Hostile:  18 casualties: 4 soldiers k, 14 wounded: 3 k by RPG attacks on convoys, 1 by small arms fire. 14 wounded due to RPG fire (7 returned to duty).

 

Non-hostile:  7 casualties: 1 Marine, 3 Soldiers k, 3 w in non-hostile incidents: 2 k 1 w by gunfire, 1k falling off roof, 1 k 2 w vehicle accident.

 

Total: 8 killed, 17 wounded = 25 of our brave troops gave their lives or their blood for their country last week.

 

Their fellow Soldiers, Airmen and Marines did this to the bad guys:

 

COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE (July 11, 2003)

....In the last 24 hours, the 1st AD conducted five raids resulting in 182 detained individuals and 24 mortar rounds, 12 pistols, five assault rifles, seven rocket-propelled grenades, and four anti-tank rounds confiscated.

Elsewhere, Coalition forces continued aggressive patrols throughout the country over the last 24 hours conducting 26 raids, 1,134-day patrols and 958 night patrols. They also jointly patrolled with the Iraqi Police conducting 205 day patrols and 221 night patrols. On their own, Iraqi Police conducted 10 day and six night patrols.

The total raids and patrols resulted in 99 arrests for various criminal activities including three for murder, three for car jacking, three for aggravated assault, nine for burglary, and 18 for looting.

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OPPOSITION LEADERS APPREHENDED IN NORTHERN IRAQ (July 12)

 

...In Mosul, the 101st Airborne Division apprehended three local opposition leaders. All three men are currently detained in the division’s holding facility.

The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force along with Iraqi police arrested two men in Al Kifl, one of whom is a suspected colonel in the former regime’s security force. Coalition forces searched the suspects’ houses finding approximately 100 blasting caps, time fuses and other explosives.

In a separate patrol, 1st MEF seized a cache of 1,000 122mm rockets in the town of Shayka Mazhar. They also seized numerous mortar rounds.

The 1st Armored Division conducted four raids resulting in 233 individuals detained and 20 pistols and 20 assault rifles confiscated.

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July 13, 2003

OPERATION IVY SERPENT

TIKRIT, Iraq– The 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse has launched the fourth series of operations, yesterday, focused on neutralizing paramilitary, Ba’ath Party loyalists and other subversive elements within Iraq. Operation Ivy Serpent is a preemptive strike that aggressively focuses on non-compliant forces and former regime leaders who are planning attacks against coalition forces in an attempt to hinder coalition and Iraqi efforts in building a new Iraq. Much of the effort is concentrated in a region along Highway 1 between the cities of Bayji, Huwayiah and Samarra. Coalition forces will not deter from the objective until these hostiles are located and destroyed.

Intelligence reports gathered from a variety of sources indicate former regime leaders plan attacks against coalition targets during this time frame. Coalition members encourage the local Iraqi leadership to take the initiative and aid in the capture of subversive elements that attempt to hinder the rebuilding of Iraq.

Ivy Serpent, like previous operations Peninsula Strike, Desert Scorpion and Sidewinder, will sweep the task force’s area of operations to root out elements attempting to undermine coalition efforts to restore basic infrastructure and stability in the region.

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COALITION SECURITY EFFORTS CONTINUE (July 13)

 

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The 101st Airborne Division started border guard training for more than 100 border guards in the Chwarta and Halaba districts.

The 1st Armored Division conducted three raids resulting in 85 individuals being detained and 15 pistols, 15 assault rifles and one rocket-propelled grenade confiscated.

Elsewhere, Coalition forces continued aggressive patrols throughout the country over the last 24 hours conducting 22 raids, 1,166-day patrols and 894 night patrols. They also jointly patrolled with the Iraqi Police conducting 215 day patrols and 170 night patrols.

The total raids and patrols resulted in 330 arrests for various criminal activities including six for murder, one for kidnapping, two for car jacking, three for aggravated assault, 10 for burglary, and 42 looting.

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July 13, 2003

OPERATION IVY SERPENT CONTINUES 

 

TIKRIT, Iraq – The 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse launched Operation Ivy Serpent, a preemptive strike July 12, resulting in the capture of several members of the former regime and the confiscation of numerous weapons and ammunition caches.

In an early morning raid near Ba’qubah soldiers captured three former regime loyalist leaders.

Operation Ivy Serpent has resulted in the detainment of more than 80 people who are members of the Ba’ath Party, Fedayeen, Regime Death Squad or other subversive elements. During the course of the raids confiscated weapons include AK-47s, pistols, mortars and items used to make improvised explosive devices.

The 4th ID and Task Force Ironhorse will continue to pursue and capture non-compliant forces and former regime leaders who have attacked Coalition forces.

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July 14, 2003

OPERATION IVY SERPENT YIELDS RESULTS

 

TIKRIT, Iraq – Operation Ivy Serpent, in its second day, resulted in the capture of 226 detainees and the confiscation of 800 82-mm mortar rounds, 50 AK-47s, 26 rocket-propelled grenades and three hand grenades. Six of the detainees are former regime loyalist leaders.

Operation Ivy Serpent, which started July 12, is the initiative of the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse to search for and apprehend high value targets and confiscate weapons and ammunition caches. Operation Ivy Serpent, like previous operations Peninsula Strike, Desert Scorpion and Sidewinder, will sweep the task force’s area and root out elements that have attacked Coalition forces.

So far in Operation Ivy Serpent the 4th ID and Taskforce Ironhorse have conducted 27 raids. To date, no Iraqi civilians have been killed or wounded in the operation. Additionally, no Coalition forces have been killed or wounded.

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SODA MOUNTAIN CONTINUES TO SECURE IRAQ (July 16)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The 4th Infantry Division continued to lead the way in Operation Soda Mountain with supporting operation, Operation Ivy Serpent, in order to create a secure environment in Iraq.

Since the beginning of the operation on July 12, the 4th ID has conducted 71 raids and detained 448 individuals, including 38 individuals identified as key former regime loyalists leaders. Confiscated weapons include 102 AK-47s, 387 125mm mortar rounds, and four 60 mm mortar tubes.

The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force discovered and destroyed eight SA-7 missiles located in the Muhawil ammunition supply point.

The 1st MEF came to the aid of an U. S. Army convoy that was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Babil. They later captured two of the attackers and confiscated a Dragonov rifle, AK-47s and ammunition. The attackers were taken for questioning.

The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment seized a weapons cache in a town north of Habinyah. The weapons seized consisted of 400 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, 15 mortars with fuses and one anti-tank mine. A bunker complex was identified as well. An engineer unit demolished the bunker site

In other activity, a unit of the 101st Airborne Division secured the former Iraqi Military stipend payments paying 1,065 former Iraqi soldiers on the first day.

Elsewhere, Coalition forces continued aggressive patrols throughout the country over the last 24 hours conducting 65 raids, 1,347-day patrols and 1,690-night patrols. They also jointly patrolled with the Iraqi Police conducting 172-day patrols and 216-night patrols. Independently, the Iraqi Police conducted eight day patrols and two night patrols.

The total raids and patrols resulted in 360 arrests for various criminal activities including four for murder, five for car jacking, 11 for aggravated assault, 11 for burglary, and 13 for looting.

For further information contact the CJTF-7 Coalition Press Information Center at 914 360-5082/5089 or cpic.pressdesk.iraq@us.army.mil.

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There are roughly 148,000 US troops now on the ground in Iraq - a nation ~ the size of California with a population of over 24 million Iraqis...most of whom are very glad we're there and are dying along side us while helping us locate and take out Saddam loyalists and other assorted troublemakers. 
 

During the past week - while stabilizing a whole nation - 8 of our awesome troops were killed (4 by hostile fire), 17 wounded (14 by hostile fire) - 25 total casualties across the nation of Iraq.

 

Seven wounded troops are now back on duty.

 

Our troops took out far more bad guys.

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LT SMASH - LIVE FROM THE SANDBOX:

If we gave in to the snivelers and peaceniks who cry, “Bring our troops home now!” Iraq would undoubtedly descend into a bloody civil war, and God only knows who would come out on top. Saddam might even emerge from hiding, claiming to have driven the “infidels” out of his country. The United States would have suffered another black eye, and our enemies would be further emboldened to attack us again. We would have lost the war, and all of the brave Americans and British who gave their lives in this operation would have died in vain.

I am not willing to accept that scenario. You shouldn’t be, either.

We are the mightiest military to ever walk the face of the Earth. We have the capability and the will to finish this job.

Let's see it through to the end.

TRANSMISSION FROM LT Smash 1303Z |

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The US military has been in Iraq 3 days shy of  4 months.

 

***

 

[TheDon]

In a related story, the police chiefs from Los Angeles and Washington DC are visiting Iraq to learn how they can reduce their murder rates.

[lowbridge]

bump

[Prodigal Son]

Along with everyone else, let me add my thanks here!

[FairOpinion]

Iraqi children shake hands with a U.S. soldier on patrol along a street in Baghdad. Security concerns mean some 9,000 troops from the U.S .Army's 3rd Infantry Division will remain in Iraq indefinitely.

From WorldTribune.net http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/

[McGavin999]

Thanks Cowgirl, you're doing a great service by posting these for us. I know that I appreciate it.

[beaversmom]

Thanks for putting this into perspective. The constant bad news from the Dems and the media makes even a hardcore conservative like myself doubtful at times--so you know how it must affect your average fence straddling Joe Schmoe. I'm going to start listening to you and Rush more often. He's a good source when I need a pick me up. Better stay away from doom and gloom Savage for a while.

[Coop]

I'm glad there are still some people focusing on all the positives being accomplished by those risking and giving their lives for our freedom. Thank you.

[Blzbba]

"They are trying to get people at home fed up"


From several articles I read yesterday, many of the soldiers over there are already fed up, with one even calling for Rummy's resignation.

It's easy for us (me included) to sit here and pontificate over war stats. Meanwhile, our boys are getting shot at for nothing. Saddam is gone...regime toppled...any American death over there now is a waste, IMO.

(although if you volunteered for military service, you shouldn't be complaining that you are having to serve! This doesn't make the deaths less of a waste, but what do soldiers expect?)

[Blzbba]

"Maybe we'd like to build up a little first.

Maybe some bases in Africa? "


I hope not. Our military is overextended as it is!

[Blzbba]

"..and giving their lives for our freedom."


With no disrespect intended, our freedom is under more assault from the Hillary Clintons of the world than any Iraqi raghead.

The Iraqis might've posed a threat to some individual lives with potential WMD usage, but my freedom is under more assault from good ol' American politicians and SC Justices than from the tattered remains of Saddam's regime.

[Coop]

Baloney.

[Blzbba]

"Baloney. "


Thanks for your informative response.

[Coop]

Our posts were about equal in informational content.

[Blzbba]

True, but it's obvious to me that Iraq was and is not a bit of a threat to my freedom. Anyone who was ever remotely afraid of freedom being threatened by Iraq is delusional. WMD destruction? Sure. "Threat to Freedom"? Laughably wrong.

Meanwhile, more of our rights are rolled back in Congress and the SCOTUS, to which you say "Baloney".

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You're talking about the Reuters article and the ABC "news" show where they trolled for 'victims'? Not news. Pure propaganda. Did you read this post? You might want to read the links at #1. You're response is exactly why OUR press should be censored for war crimes, imho.

The American people are selling out the troops by trusting proven untrustworthy sources - the same folks who bought and sold Baghdad Bob's lies, accused our troops of intentionally murdering women and children, ETC., and are deliberately undermining America on the world stage for partisan power's sake. Shame on any American who buys their lies.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Great Twain quotes. Thank you!

[Blzbba]

I read an interview with a soldier who said he would ask for Rummy's resignation. That was reported and quoted on ABC, FOX, etc. I have no knowledge of its veracity and certainly am not in a position to make that up.

If you think Iraq is any threat to your literal freedom, then you are the one who is a victim of 'pure propaganda'. I believed (and still do) the potential WMD threat....but even in January, when the case was being made to attack, I never felt - and still don't - that Iraq was a literal threat to my freedom.

As far as the rest, I made it very clear that I support our troops and any actions they take to save innocent lives. This ain't no Liberal-Hippie posting this message. However, I don't believe in soldiers dying in vain, either.

Given the corruption of the White House over the past half-century (and before that)...from LBJ's Vietnam child-killing of American youth in the Vietnam failure...to Nixon's illegal shenanigans that forced his resignation...to Carter's pansy-assed attempts at resolving the Iranian hostage situation and giving away the Canal...to Iran-Contra...to the entire horrid 8 years of numerous Clintax lies and public manipulation...to now-questionable evidence for attacking Iraq, I think any American who refuses to question the actions of an Administration when those actions have led to the deaths of American soldiers is shameful.

If Gore was President and nothing else about the current situation was changed, this entire website would rightfully be calling for his head on a plate for potentially bogus reasoning for attacking. Shame on any American who stands pat while their countrymen die in foreign lands for no purpose.

[Blzbba]

"You're talking about the Reuters article and the ABC "news" show where they trolled for 'victims'?"


Not sure about that article you referenced. I can assure you that I don't watch any of the major TV networks at all. The story I read was from a link from both DrudgeReport and Boortz.com, traditionally right-leaning sources.

Question: How can either of us be assured of the truthfulness of any source/website/link that we reference? Because I would totally expect a Centcom website (your link) to provide as favorable of an account of the situation as I would expect some hippie-treehugger "DU"-style site to provide an unfavorable account.

You are correct. Everyone has an agenda and wants people to believe their propaganda. How can I be sure of which one is correct? Hell, how can I be sure that ANY of them are correct?

George Orwell would be confused at the moment, going thru all the Newspeak!

[FairOpinion]

Our boys are being shot at, because they are defending our country, which is what the military is for.

I suppose you would prefer thousands more US civilian casualties in 9-11 style attacks or worse instead?

Do you think we shouldn't fight the enemy, because it might result in the deaths of US soldiers? And your alternative is...? Obviously the alternative is to just let the enemy take us over and kill all of us.

While death of US soldiers is sad, more people are being killed in the US as a results of various accidents.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I don't buy the "concern" from the press for our fallen troops any more than I believe Bill Clinton feels their pain. The negative coverage is endangering their efforts and their lives.

How is it kind to mourn each sacrifice while ignoring why the sacrifice was made? It's the opposite of "concern" to turn each noble sacrifice into a reason NOT to fight for freedom. The press's 24/7 funeral dirge also endangers the troops by giving the enemy false hope. The press knows that the enemy is strengthened when America's will is shaken.

When the press coverage rose to a fever pitch at the end of June, you would have thought the enemy was slaughtering our "poor, defenseless, victims" daily. Bunk. What an insult. Our many warriors were involved in three major aggressive campaigns that month across Iraq. From June 9 - July 8: we lost a total of 24 troops: 15 hostile, 9 non-hostile; 50 wounded: 36 hostile, 13 non-hostile, 1 pilot ejected, cause under investigation. Over 176,000 troops paid back the enemy that month - with help from the grateful Iraqi people. Facts matter. Comparisons matter, especially when facts slap the enemy down and encourage the troops - and the free world.

Our troops went to war 4 months ago. They deserve our congratulations, not our pity.

Numbers are important. Saddam's loyalists are a nasty bunch who used info, backed up by torture, death or imprisonment, to incite fear in the Iraqi people for decades. Now, our 'objective' press is doing our enemies' bidding, playing enemy propaganda, hyping casualties. The troops hear the news. More importantly, their mothers hear the news.

Around 177,992 troops avenged the 8 fallen last week. They took out far more bad guys.