Posted on 05/16/2005 11:30:40 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter
Iraqi, U.S Soldiers nab terror suspects, seize weapons
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi Army and Task Force Baghdad units conducted a series of independent and joint operations here May 15 to crack down on terrorists and root out weapons caches.
A joint patrol of Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers captured a self-professed bomb maker near the Saadoun neighborhood in central Baghdad.
The Soldiers caught the man with $4,500 of U.S. currency in sequential $100 bills. The Iraqi Soldiers also found washing machine timers that could be used to detonate bombs.
Minutes later, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers acting on a tip from an Iraqi citizen, arrested five terror suspects thought to have participated in drive-by shootings in southeast Baghdad. The Soldiers found numerous cell phones, wires and bomb making materials when they apprehended the suspects.
“We are collecting better information on these terrorists. They will either be killed or captured,” said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a Task Force Baghdad spokesperson. “One reason our intelligence is better than ever is due to the Iraqi Security Forces working hand in hand with us on the front lines.”
In early morning combat operations, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers took down a suspect specifically identified as an explosives supplier to terror cells. The man was positively identified and taken into custody for questioning. Soldiers also seized nearly five pounds of plastic explosives at the site.
U.S. Soldiers netted a second specifically targeted terror suspect during another pre-dawn raid in the east Baghdad neighborhood of Sumer Al-Ghadier. The detainee is thought to be responsible for planning and conducting terrorist attacks against Iraqi civilians and multinational forces.
Task Force Baghdad Soldiers arrested a third specifically targeted terror suspect at an electronics store in south Baghdad. After positively identifying the suspect the Soldiers took the individual into custody for questioning.
In other combat operations conducted throughout the day, U.S. Soldiers in west Baghdad were attacked by a terrorist who shot a rocket propelled grenade at them. The unit identified the firer and tracked him to his house. After searching the house the Soldiers took seven suspects into custody for questioning.
Later in the day, another Task Force Baghdad unit in west Baghdad found a weapons cache containing 11 artillery rounds. An explosives ordnance team safely detonated the munitions.
TWENTY-ONE DETAINED IN MOSUL
MOSUL, Iraq – Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 21 suspected terrorists during operations in northern Iraq May 15.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment detained 10 individuals suspected of terrorist activity during cordon and search operations in western Mosul. Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment detained six individuals suspected of terrorist activity during cordon and search operations south of Sinjar. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment detained five individuals suspected of terrorist activity during cordon and search operations in southeastern Mosul. Suspects are in custody with no MNF injuries reported.
IRAQI KIDS LEAD U.S. SOLDIERS TO WEAPONS CACHE
BAGHDAD, Iraq – A group of Iraqi children led Task Force Baghdad Soldiers directly to a weapons cache in southeast Baghdad May 13.
The Iraqi children showed the Soldiers where three rocket propelled grenades and 10 fuses were hidden. An explosives ordnance disposal team was called to the site and safely detonated the munitions.
“The majority of Iraqis do not support the insurgency,” said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a Task Force Baghdad spokesperson. “Most Iraqis want to give the new Iraqi government a chance to work and that’s why they’re turning in these terrorists and their weapons.”
In combat operations conducted May 14, Iraqi Army Soldiers captured seven terror suspects in east Baghdad. The Iraqi Soldiers seized a computer, small arms, a protective mask and cell phone parts that could be used to remotely detonate bombs. All seven suspects were taken into custody for questioning.
In south Baghdad, U.S. Soldiers conducted a series of early morning raids Baghdad and captured three specifically targeted terror suspects. The suspects are believed to have planned and carried out a number of terrorist attacks in the area. The Soldiers also found several AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and cellular phones during the raid. The three suspects were taken into custody for questioning.
Later in the day, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers working in southeast Baghdad found another weapons cache containing seven artillery shells and a rocket propelled grenade.
Terrorism Trial Set for Fla. Ex-Professor (Excerpted)
By VICKIE CHACHERE
TAMPA, Fla. May 16, 2005 — A former computer science professor and three others are going on trial on charges they helped fund a terrorist group that carried out a bombing in Israel. Jury selection begins today.
Ten years ago, American student Alisa Flatow boarded a bus headed to a Gaza Strip beach resort for a much needed break from her studies. At the Israeli settlement of Kfar Darom, a young man sat in a van loaded with explosives. As the bus approached, he steered his rolling bomb at it with ferocious speed and slammed into the bus' side. Eight people seven Israelis and Flatow died in the April 9, 1995, terrorist attack.
Now her parents are looking for justice half a world away in Tampa, Fla. Sami Al-Arian, a University of South Florida professor and nationally known Palestinian rights activist, was already secretly under investigation by FBI foreign intelligence agents at the time of the bombing.
Al-Arian had established an Islamic academic think tank, a school, a mosque and a charity for Palestinian children but authorities were questioning whether the true mission of Al-Arian's work was to finance terrorist attacks in Israel.
In a 53-count indictment, Al-Arian, Sameeh Hammoudeh, Hatim Naji Fariz and Ghassan Zayed Ballut are accused of racketeering, conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists. Five other men have been indicted but are still at large.
The men face life in prison if convicted of charges they used Al-Arian's think tank and charity as fundraising fronts for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Jazeera reporter says gave money to Qaeda suspect (Excerpted) By Daniel Trotta
MADRID (Reuters) - Al Jazeera correspondent Tayseer Alouni told a court on Monday he delivered $4,000 to a man later charged with mass murder in the Sept. 11 attacks but said he was doing a favor for an acquaintance.
The Arab TV channel reporter testified in his own defense in the trial of 24 al Qaeda suspects, three of them charged with helping the hijackers in the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
Alouni, 50, a Syrian with Spanish citizenship, denied close ties to the alleged cell leader in Spain and central figure in the trial, Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas.
He said he had no knowledge of Barakat Yarkas recruiting "mujahideen" Islamist fighters.
Suspected LeT terrorist nabbed at Delhi airport:-
New Delhi, May 16 : Delhi Police Monday claimed to have arrested a suspected member of terrorist group Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) on his arrival here from Singapore.
Harun Rashid, an alleged LeT member suspected of delivering funds to the three Pakistani terrorists gunned down in south Delhi in March, was arrested at the Delhi airport.
The arrest follows interrogation of two associates of the slain militants who were arrested from northwest Delhi, according to a police release.
Rashid, an active member of the proscribed Students' Islamic Movement of India, worked at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in Kanpur after completing his engineering degree.
He had met the slain militants in Kathmandu and allegedly hatched a plan to attack HAL. One of the slain militants had even visited the HAL premises in Kanpur, the release said.
Afghan police arrest five suspected bombers (Excerpted)
KABUL, May 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Five persons were arrested on Friday by Afghan police for carrying explosives to attack governmental department in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Baghlam, a local newspaper Arman-e-Millie Daily reported Sunday.
During the anti-US demonstration in Baghlam on Friday, five persons with explosives were found and arrested by Afghan police, the report said.
Chechnya’s Former Rebel Vice President Reported Killed — Agency
The former vice-president of the self-styled Chechen republic of Ichkeria, Vakha Arsanov, was killed during a security raid, the press service of the president of the Chechen Republic has told the Interfax news agency.
Vakha Arsanov was killed in Chechnya, the deputy interior minister in the pro-Moscow republican government, Sultan Satuyev, told Interfax.
The rebel was killed during a security raid in the village of Ivanov. Four militants were killed in the clash. One of them was later identified as Vakha Arsanov.
Arsanov was first declared killed in the year 2000. Then the separatists immediately refuted the report of the Russian military.
Vakha Arsanov ran on the same ticket as Aslan Maskhadov, and the two won Chechnya’s presidential election in January 1997 — as Chechnya was beginning to enjoy a brief period of de-facto independence from Moscow.
Arsanov, a former Soviet traffic police officer, commanded a unit during the first 1994-96 Chechen war but chose not to fight when Moscow sent troops into Chechnya for the second campaign in 1999. Maskhadov fired Arsanov as vice president in January 2001 for not fighting federal troops.
(Pakistani) Tribe vows to support action against terrorists
BAJAUR AGENCY: The Maamond tribe of Bajaur Agency announced that it would assist the political administration in starting an operation against those involved in sheltering foreigners.
The announcement was made in the wake of giving sanctuary to dozens of people, including one foreigner by two leaders of the defunct Tehrik-e Nafaz-e-Shariat. The suspected militants include a foreigner arrested in the houses of the defunct organisation’s leaders.
A jirga was called to take action against those who were sheltering Al Qaeda or any other defunct organisations’ workers about three months ago. The jirga had decided to penalise offenders by imposing a fine, burning their houses and driving them out of the area.
Philippine soldiers slay seven Sayyaf militants in Jolo
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines: Soldiers killed seven members of the Al Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist group in a clash yesterday on the southern Philippine island of Jolo, military officials said. "All the dead bandits have been accounted for and their weapons are with us," said Brigadier General Alexander Aleo, head of an anti-terror task force on the island. Two Marines were also wounded in the clash, Aleo said. Four M203 rifles were recovered from the slain Abu Sayyaf members.
Among the seven fatalities was Mihadon Arok. The military has implicated Arok's group in the 2000 kidnapping of 21 Western tourists and Malaysian and Filipino resort workers from Sipadan island off Sabah. An undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf were also wounded in the battle, said Colonel Juancho Sabban, head of the Marine force on the island.
A Marine reconnaissance force crept up on the camp led by commander Radulan Sahiron in the jungles of Patikul town, said Sabban. "Many of them were still sleeping and were caught by surprise by our attacking special operation team," Sabban added.
The attack was part of continuing operations against Sahiron's group which had stepped up its attacks on government forces in February. The Abu Sayyaf has been linked by both Washington and Manila to the Al Qaeda terror network led by Osama bin Laden.
Meanwhile, Philippine police have arrested one of the suspects in the killing of a newspaper publisher earlier this week as the government ordered intensified manhunt for the killers of journalists.
A combined force of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) captured one of the suspects in the killing of newspaper publisher Philip Agustin in Dingalan, Aurora, northern Philippines, reported the local radio DZMM yesterday.
Arrested was Reynaldo Morete, brother of Boyet Morete who allegedly gunned down Agustin inside his daughter's house. NBI agent Teddy Roque said Reynalso allegedly acted as the lookout during the attack.
6 Suspected Rebels Killed in Southern Russia
Security forces and police killed six suspected militants including two female suicide bombers who had holed up in an apartment in the town of Cherkessk in southern Russia, the Federal Security Service said Sunday.
There were no casualties among the officers who conducted the raid launched Saturday to liquidate the militants in Cherkessk, a city in Russia’s southern Caucasus region, Anna Lyzina, a security service spokeswoman in Cherkessk, was quoted by The Associated Press as saying.
Police and paramilitary troops have moved forcefully against suspected extremists in several cities of the region, which includes Chechnya, over the past year.
Lyzina said that the four men and two women who were killed were subordinate to Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev and another alleged rebel, Achimez Gochiyayev, who was implicated in the series of 1999 apartment-house explosions that shook Moscow and other cities and became one of the Kremlin’s arguments for launching a new war in Chechnya.
Moldable plastic explosives, microchips and various explosive devices were found in the third-floor apartment where the militants were killed, she said.
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Excellent post!
Gee, does the NRA have a training program for kids? "if you see a weapon, leave it alone, tell a grown-up" (preferably a soldier).
Al Jazeera correspondent Tayseer Alouni told a court on Monday he delivered $4,000 to a man later charged with mass murder in the Sept. 11 attacks but said he was doing a favor for an acquaintance.
No hard feelings you infidels..really.
bttt
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