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Iraqi Commandos Take Rebel Base, Kill 84 Militants
YahooNews ^ | 23-March-2005 | Sabah al-Bazee

Posted on 03/23/2005 11:54:15 AM PST by stainlessbanner

TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi commandos backed by U.S. troops killed 84 militants in a battle to seize a training camp north of Baghdad, one of the highest guerrilla death tolls in the country's nearly two-year-old insurgency.

Baghdad's Interior Ministry said the dead included Arab and foreign fighters. Seven police commandos were also killed in the clashes on Tuesday in a deserted region 160 km (100 miles) northwest of Baghdad, where sporadic fighting continued.

"Special forces in the Interior Ministry attacked a training center ... and had a fierce battle with the terrorists, killing 84 of them," Sabah Kadhim, a spokesman at the Interior Ministry told Reuters.

"Among the dead are Arab and foreign fighters, including Sudanese, Algerians and Moroccans, as well as other nationalities."

Officials said U.S. helicopters and troops were called in as back-up during the battle, which lasted several hours.

The fighting came as politicians in Baghdad pushed on with talks to decide the make-up of a government more than seven weeks after the election, amid growing frustration among Iraqis.

Many say they risked their lives to vote, defying insurgents waging a campaign of violence. On Wednesday, two policemen were killed, defusing a roadside bomb in Baghdad, while a family of four was killed in their car by a similar device, police said.

FIERCE BATTLE

The U.S. military confirmed a battle had taken place and that U.S. forces were involved, but a spokesman said he had no details on the number of insurgents killed or captured. No U.S. troops were wounded or killed in the fighting, he said.

"An early assessment of the site indicates a facility for training anti-Iraqi forces," said Major Richard Goldenberg of the U.S. 42nd Infantry Division, using the U.S. military's term for insurgents.

"Documentation at the facility indicates that some members of the AIF were foreign fighters."

Six police commandos were wounded, Goldenberg said.

Notices distributed by a group called the Islamic Army of Tikrit, a local insurgent operation, said 11 militants had been killed, while "many more" police commandos were killed.

In Mosul, a suicide car bomber blew himself up near a U.S. military patrol, but there were no reports of any injuries, apart from the bomber. On Tuesday, Iraqi forces detained 70 suspected insurgents in Mosul, the U.S. military said.

In Baghdad, Kurdish and Shi'ite leaders were discussing the distribution of cabinet seats, with some party officials saying a decision could be made as soon as Wednesday.

The National Assembly, the parliament elected in the Jan. 30 ballot, was due to meet for a second time later this week, probably by Saturday, and was expected to name a speaker, a president and two vice presidents.

Deliberations over the government's make-up have been drawn out by differences between Shi'ites and Kurds -- the two major winners in the election and who need each other's support to form a government -- over Islam and federalism.

Most differences appear to have been worked out, after more than six weeks of negotiations and in the face of grumbling among Iraqis fearful that the country's first elected post- Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) government could be sunk by infighting.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: base; commandos; iraq; iraqi; nationalassembly; rebel; trainingcamps
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To: JohnnyZ
In Mosul, a suicide car bomber blew himself up near a U.S. military patrol, but there were no reports of any injuries, apart from the bomber.

HEADLINE....."SUICIDE BOMBER ATTACKS, ONE DEAD."

21 posted on 03/23/2005 12:15:53 PM PST by wayoverontheright
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To: RetiredArmy
Man at this rate, there are not going to be any more virgins left!

There'll be plenty left. It's just that the pickings get a bit restricted, as you can see below...

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

22 posted on 03/23/2005 12:16:38 PM PST by b4its2late (Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.)
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To: JohnnyZ

". . . apart from the bomber."

Shouldn't they have said "parts from the bomber"?

Also, maybe this is one of the suicide bombers that Kofi wants to throw the book at.


23 posted on 03/23/2005 12:17:02 PM PST by Cap Huff
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To: b4its2late

Now you could have gone all danged day without putting that ugly cow's butt-hole on the site! May the great evil in the sky cast doom, doom I tell you, upon you for posting that ugly mug! Ugggggggggggg. I nearly tossed lunch.


24 posted on 03/23/2005 12:18:43 PM PST by RetiredArmy (Ted Kennedy is a democrat. Democrats are the enemy. Destroy your enemies.)
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To: kellynla

Unasked Question...

How could a camp and force as large as at least 80+ lunatics, exist unmolested for this long?

Potential Answer...

It was known, and someone was smart enough to wait until the target got rich enough to strike and destroy.

Otherwise, someone was asleep at the switch..

Semper Fi


25 posted on 03/23/2005 12:19:16 PM PST by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: RetiredArmy

Sorry for that. I can't help but laugh......thanks for making me chuckle outloud (I needed that and people around here must think I'm nuts) and I apologize for making you sick.....


26 posted on 03/23/2005 12:20:54 PM PST by b4its2late (Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.)
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To: stainlessbanner

Yahoo!!!


27 posted on 03/23/2005 12:22:03 PM PST by DennisR (Look around - there are countless observable clues that God exists)
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To: RetiredArmy

I second that motion and raise the punishment to "listening to an Al Gore speech."


28 posted on 03/23/2005 12:22:37 PM PST by stylin_geek (Liberalism: comparable to a chicken with its head cut off, but with more spastic motions)
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To: river rat

yep, or these clowns just surfaced recently and were spotted in the neighborhood...
no matter what I'm glad more of them are being killed and less of us!

Semper Fi,
Kelly


29 posted on 03/23/2005 12:23:28 PM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: Poohbah

::glares::

You got my hopes up like a giddy school-girl....

I'm not talking to you!

(This will last until I need something or feel sorry for you. Also like a giddy school girl)

:)... I mean... >:0


30 posted on 03/23/2005 12:25:35 PM PST by MacDorcha ("Do you want the e-mail copy or the fax?" "Just the fax, ma'am.")
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To: stainlessbanner

Once the Neighborhood Police start paying attention, there will be more progress.


31 posted on 03/23/2005 12:28:04 PM PST by jolie560
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To: river rat

An unasked, but very appropriate question.

By the way, there's a little more detail at the counterterrism blog with a link to some photos from one of the camps:

http://counterterror.typepad.com/the_counterterrorism_blog/2005/03/iraqi_raid_on_a.html


32 posted on 03/23/2005 12:30:13 PM PST by Cap Huff
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To: b4its2late

Next time give a feller a fair warning how 'bout it? ;^)


33 posted on 03/23/2005 12:40:48 PM PST by RetiredArmy (Ted Kennedy is a democrat. Democrats are the enemy. Destroy your enemies.)
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To: stainlessbanner

Wow. Way to go.


34 posted on 03/23/2005 12:42:28 PM PST by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: stainlessbanner
In Mosul, a suicide car bomber blew himself up near a U.S. military patrol, but there were no reports of any injuries, apart from the bomber.

From a textbook at the captured training facility:

Chapter 6 - Car Bombing
Take care to follow these specific steps:

1) don suicide belt
2) start car
3) detonate belt
4) park next to target

35 posted on 03/23/2005 12:42:50 PM PST by skeeter ("What's to talk about? It's illegal." S Bono)
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To: RetiredArmy

they ran out of virgins along time ago so now they are using transexual Arabs that have escaped ridicule......LOL


36 posted on 03/23/2005 12:42:52 PM PST by NorCalRepub
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To: RetiredArmy

If I remember to warn I will.....


37 posted on 03/23/2005 12:47:42 PM PST by b4its2late (Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.)
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To: Poohbah; MacDorcha

"Dirka dirka Mohammed jihad dirka dirka"

38 posted on 03/23/2005 1:07:36 PM PST by isthisnickcool (This space for rent.)
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To: stainlessbanner

Awesome! Question is has our infamous Congressman Mr. Reid, currently touring Iraq, downplayed this acheivment yet? If not I am sure he will soon...


39 posted on 03/23/2005 1:08:10 PM PST by wingsof liberty (Marines - the few, the proud, the best!!)
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To: stainlessbanner

Terrorist: But Tikrit is peaceful! We have no weapons, you can't possibly...

ING General: [impatiently] Would you prefer another target, a military target? Then name the ghetto! I grow tired of asking this so it'll be the last time: Where is the rebel base?

Terrorist: Mosul. They're in Mosul.

ING General: There. See, General Abizaid , he can be reasonable. Continue with the operation. You may fire when ready.

Terrorist: What?

ING General: You're far too trusting. Mosul is too remote to make an effective demonstration - but don't worry; we'll deal with your rebel friends soon enough.


40 posted on 03/23/2005 1:34:14 PM PST by Heavyrunner (Socialize this.)
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