Good News From Iraq..... 10/19/03

Fairpress.org ^ | 10/09/03 | Ragtime Cowgirl

[bert]

Here's some good news you may have missed in your daily wire reports.........

 

*******

 

Last week, enemies of freedom in Iraq stepped up attacks on Coalition forces in a failed attempt to undermine international and domestic support for the US-led war to liberate Iraq and fight terrorism.

 

While Americans welcomed the UN Security Council's approval of the new Iraq resolution, and the vote by Congress for $87 billion in supplemental defense funding last week, Americans also mourned the loss of ten brave US troops in Iraq.

 

Last week, more than 130,000 US troops honored their fallen comrades, as they always do, by working to complete their missions, and to deprive the enemy of a future in a newly free Iraq.

 

-----------

 

Fairpress: Baghdad, Oct. 16, 2003: Navy EOD Joins Forces with Army, Helps Clear Ordnance Out of Baghdad

 

''14 Navy EOD technicians from Norfolk, Va....have been fully integrated into U.S. Army EOD units spread throughout Baghdad, responding to daily calls from U.S. and coalition military police, Iraqi police, and even Iraqi citizens, to investigate suspicious objects.''

 

"Probably the biggest threat to coalition personnel in Iraq, and especially in Baghdad, comes from the enemy hiding explosives within mostly commonplace objects, such as cola cans, trash bags, and even MRE [Meals-Ready-to-Eat] packages, making them very dangerous IEDs," said Navy Chief Petty Officer Charles Hashek." 

 

-------

 

"Neither the Navy nor the Army has ever dealt with this number of IEDs in such a short period of time," said Army Lt. Col. Tim Eberhard, commander of all EOD forces in country.

 

"Thirty-seven teams handle between 3800 to 4000 incidents per year in the U.S. Here in Iraq, our teams have responded to more than 4500 IED calls in the past three months alone."

 

-------

 

''We are now moving roughly 60 five-ton truckloads of ammunition per day out of Baghdad alone," said Eberhard. "With the help of the four civilian contracting companies we recently hired, we should be able to get up to 100 truckloads per day. That should give you an idea of just how much ammo is still out there." 

 

More:

 

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=10049

 

---------

Fairpress: Tikrit, Oct. 17, 2003 -- Raids disrupt regime loyalists

4th Infantry Division Soldiers, part of Task Force Ironhorse, are using new techniques, working around Saddam's hometown, to take out those plotting IED and RPG attacks on the Coalition.

“We are targeting the cell leadership or members of the cell,” said Capt. Timothy Morrow, a 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry intelligence officer from Lewistown, Pa. “If we get the suspect, we take him out of the puzzle and this causes turmoil in the organization.”

''The infantry battalion is going after the big players, bomb makers, financial backers of resistance cells and the leadership of these groups.''

More..

http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=5318

-----------

Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was "optimistic" about our current security situation in Iraq at Thursday's Pentagon briefing:

Fairpress: Washington D.C., Oct. 16, 2003 -- Defense Department Operational Update

 

"Over the past week Iraqis have come forward almost daily to point out improvised explosive devices that have been planted which could have been used against the coalition or Iraqis.  For example, coalition forces were recently led to two caches.  One -- had 20 60-mm mortar rounds, three RPGs, a bagful of hand grenades, and a dozen 57-mm rockets.  Another one had nearly 200 high explosive rockets, more than 200 rocket propelled grenade rounds, four RPG launchers, and 400 boosters for the RPG launchers.  The Iraqi citizen also provided information leading to the arrest for those who were hiding these weapons."

 

            "So while there are still dangerous people out there trying to prevent the development of a free Iraq, we have made, in many cases, great strides in reducing the amount of weapons on the streets and the opportunities for preventing future attacks on coalition forces."

 

-----

 

"We have many hard challenges ahead, but I am very optimistic that the fruits of our labor will pay huge dividends in the future."

           

More:

 

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2003/tr20031016-secdef0783.html

 

---------

 

Vice President Cheney reminded a Texas audience that, while our nation pays a high price for action, the price of inaction is far greater.

 

Fairpress: Houston, Texas, October 17, 2003: Remarks by the Vice President at the James AL Baker III Institute for Public Policy

''Those who declined to support the liberation of Iraq would not deny the evil of Saddam Hussein and his regime. They must concede, however, had their advice been followed, that regime would rule Iraq today.

''President Bush declined the course of inaction, and the results are there for all to see. The torture chambers are empty, the prisons for children are closed, the murderers of innocents have been exposed, and their mass graves have been uncovered. The regime is gone, never to return -- and despite difficulties we knew would occur, the Iraqi people prefer liberty and hope to tyranny and fear. Our coalition is helping them to build a secure, hopeful, and self-governing nation that will stand as an example of freedom to all the Middle East.

-----

"I believe the current debate over America's national security policy is the most consequential since the early days of the Cold War and the emergence of a bipartisan commitment to face the evils of communism. All of us now look back with respect and gratitude on the great decisions that set America on the path to victory in the Cold War -- and kept us on that path through the tenures of 12 Secretaries of State...and through nine presidencies. I believe that one day scholars and historians will look back on our time and pay tribute to our 43rd President, who has both called upon and exemplified the courage and perseverance of the American people. In this period of extraordinary danger, the President has made clear America's purpose in the world, and our determination to overcome the threats to our liberty and our lives."

''Sometimes history presents clear and stark choices, and we have come to such a moment. Those who bear the responsibility for making those choices for America must understand that while action will always carry costs, measured in effort and in sacrifice, inaction carries heavier costs of its own. As in the years of the Cold War, much is asked of us and rides on our actions. A watching world is depending on the United States of America.''

More:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031018-1.html

---------

 

Finally, the President began his historic trip to Asia last week with a stop in California where he brought the war back home to his audience, to the war's first victory won by heroes over a Pennsylvania field, and reminded us of our common calling.

 

Fairpress: San Bernardino, California, Oct. 16, 2003 -- President Bush Discusses the Economy and the War on Terror

''This war on terror has brought hardship and loss to our country, beginning with the grief of September the 11th. Let us also remember that the first victory in this war came on that same day, on a hijacked plane bound for the Nation's Capital. Somehow the brave men and women on Flight 93, knowing they would die, found the courage to use their final moments to save the lives of others. In those moments and many times since, terrorists have learned about America. They won't -- we won't be intimidated. We'll fight them with everything we got. Few are called to show the kind of valor seen on Flight 93, or on the field of battle. Yet all of us do share a calling: Be strong in adversity, and unafraid in danger.''

More:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031016-3.html

-------------------

The international wire services have decided that mostly bad news from Iraq is to be reported. Death and dying will bring down a President. Truth must be hidden to win the war against right wing policies.

Fairpress brings you the good news for delivery to an American public starving for the truth. There are sources out there and some of them will be brought forward and shared.

For more Good News, and there is a lot more, please visit our list at  WWW.fairpress.org/goodnews.htm

[bert]

Fairpress.org Good News compiled for the benefit of media somehow unable to find the good news coming from Iraq........

[Diogenesis]

In Sadr City, the children have been liberated by the USA
and THEY KNOW it, and wave to --and thank-- the US heroes.

[Click pic for more info/pics]

[bert]

Ragtime Cowgirl has been at this task for quite some time. An archive of Good News is Here

Cogito, ergo FReepum

CCRM is a Free Republic Network affiliate working to reduce media bias.

For a comprehensive overview of Freeper thoughts on Liberal Media bias, check out our website by clicking on graphic, or HERE: We call it Fairpress.org.

This thread is evidence that liberal bias is still with us. Come join our team and engage in the battle against the Liberal Media.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

As part of efforts to bring security to Iraq , President Bush said on October 18, 2003 that his administration was rebuilding the country's schools and providing calculators, pencils and textbooks free of Baathist propaganda to students. Iraqi students look through schoolbooks, which now have no pictures of Saddam Hussein inside, as they attend their first week of the new school year in Baghdad Oct. 5. Photo by Ceerwan Aziz/Reuters Reuters - Oct 19 11:12 AM

Soldiers of the newly inaugurated Iraqi Army check cars at a roadblock in the capital Baghdad October 19, 2003. The first battalion of the new army graduated in September from their training courses. The president of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council urged Washington on Sunday to call up Iraq 's pre-war army and police force to help stabilise the country as two more U.S. soldiers were killed. Picture taken October 19. REUTERS/Ali Jasim Reuters - Oct 20 7:52 AM

	Iraq women look at posters showing Imam Hussein, grandson of prophet Mohammed, in Baghdad's Shiite neighbourhood of Kazemiya(AFP/Karim Sahib) AFP - Oct 19 12:57 AM

	An Iraqi soldier of the newly formed Iraqi army patrols the street in Baghdad only six months after major hostilities in Iraq officially ended.  (AFP/Sabah Arar) AFP - Oct 19 12:57 AM

	An Iraqi man prays in front of wedding dresses exhibited for rent outside a shop in Baghdad. As US President George W. Bush continued to fight for funding to liberate, secure and rebuild Iraq.  (AFP/Patrick Baz) AFP - Oct 18 11:06 AM

A U.S. soldier gives a final salute to two fallen comrades during a memorial ceremony in Tikrit, Iraq , October 16, 2003. When the 100th U.S. soldier died in combat since President George W. Bush declared victory in Iraq nearly six months ago, the grim statistic laid bare how deadly Iraq has become even after the war. It also marked the biggest U.S. combat loss in a peacekeeping operation since an ill-fated intervention in the Lebanon conflict 20 years ago. Photo by Nikola Solic/Reuters Reuters - Oct 17 2:09 PM

[No Blue States]

"President Bush declined the course of inaction, and the results are there for all to see. The torture chambers are empty, the prisons for children are closed, the murderers of innocents have been exposed, and their mass graves have been uncovered. The regime is gone, never to return -- and despite difficulties we knew would occur, the Iraqi people prefer liberty and hope to tyranny and fear. Our coalition is helping them to build a secure, hopeful, and self-governing nation that will stand as an example of freedom to all the Middle East."

Excellent summary by Cheney.

[conservativecorner]

Great post and a BUMP!!

[bert]

Great photos.....

[areafiftyone]

The torture chambers are empty, the prisons for children are closed, the murderers of innocents have been exposed, and their mass graves have been uncovered.

Try telling that to the Deaf Dumb and Blind Democrats and Liberal Media.

[Grampa Dave]

Excellent post and thanks for your ping!

[No Blue States]

They would reject it, knowing it doesnt further their agenda of Bush Bashing.

Im pretty proud of those, and our soldiers can be very proud. America should be proud also, its a very good thing to have done.

Hopefully we will see those facts revealed more often for all to see in the Bush/Cheney ads of 2004.

For a party that claims to represent the downtrodden the Dems have proven a lie, again.

[PhiKapMom]

Bert -- Thanks for the post!

RC -- Ping for your group!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank for the pings, and the post!

bert, you aren't on Diogenesis's ping list? It's a daily jolt of truth re. the war. Uplifting. Fairpress.org appropriate link?

Last week, enemies of freedom in Iraq stepped up attacks on Coalition forces in a failed attempt to undermine international and domestic support for the US-led war to liberate Iraq and fight terrorism.

Last week, 130,000 US troops honored their fallen comrades, as they always do, by working to complete their missions, and to deprive the enemy of a future in a newly free Iraq....

Good news, ping!

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[MoJo2001]

Wonderful! Thank you for your hard work and dedication!!

Well, I'll leave you all now. I'm anxiously awaiting the next media made "quagmire". Wake me up when we get there. It's hard to keep track of which quagmire we've hit today or when we've started the next one. I don't want to be confused by last week's quagmire when we are on a new one. Sheesh!! I need caffeine! Hehehe!

[SpinyNorman]

"Over the past week Iraqis have come forward almost daily to point out improvised explosive devices that have been planted which could have been used against the coalition or Iraqis. For example, coalition forces were recently led to two caches. One -- had 20 60-mm mortar rounds, three RPGs, a bagful of hand grenades, and a dozen 57-mm rockets. Another one had nearly 200 high explosive rockets, more than 200 rocket propelled grenade rounds, four RPG launchers, and 400 boosters for the RPG launchers. The Iraqi citizen also provided information leading to the arrest for those who were hiding these weapons."

I would booby trap those caches to take out the weasels using them, and destroy the cache at the same time. That's a twofer!

[Coop]

Kudos to all our troops serving in this dangerous yet crucial conflict.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[dixiechick2000]

Thank you both for all of the good news!

RC, thank you, also, for all of your pings!

[blackie]

Good News ~ Bump!

[windchime]

Bump!

[Steve_Seattle]

WMD's or not, Iraq was loaded to the gills with conventional weaponry.