A Series of Iraqi-Led Raids Nets Hundreds of Suspects

NY Times ^ | May 25, 2005 | SABRINA TAVERNISE

[neverdem]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 24 - In what American military officials said was the largest Iraqi-led operation to date and evidence that the country's fledgling army was up and running, hundreds of Iraqi soldiers fanned out Sunday and Monday in a dangerous western suburb here, arresting 437 people they accuse of having ties to the insurgency.

The officials said Tuesday that more than 2,000 Iraqi soldiers and special police commandos carried out the operation, which was aimed at rooting out insurgents and closing down car bomb assembly lines in Abu Ghraib, which is predominantly Sunni Arab and has been a hotbed of insurgent activity for months.

The raids were the latest in an attempt by Iraq's new government to try to strike back at the insurgency that has killed more than 500 people since the government was formed several weeks ago. But recent large-scale raids, particularly by Shiite and Kurdish security forces, have raised fears in Sunni areas that nets are being cast too widely, catching many innocent Iraqis along with those who have ties to insurgents.

Americans have planned and fought virtually all major military offensives in Iraq in the past two years, including in Falluja, west of Baghdad, and more recently in the desert near the border with Syria, with Iraqi forces arriving later to help keep security in the cities.

But American commanders have been training Iraqi troops to take control eventually, and the raids, which have also been conducted in other cities, move the country closer to that goal, American military officials said. The number of trained and equipped Iraqi troops has also risen, to 165,219, about double the number last September.

"Ultimately, countries need to defend themselves," said Col. Mark A. Milley, commander of the Second Brigade of the Army's 10th Mountain Division, which worked with...

[oceanview]

suspects are good. dead bodies are better.

[pissant]

Hopefully, many decide not to be arrested and die fleeing!!

[ken5050]

Do you know what the prisoners scream when they are captured by the Iraqi troops?

Please take me to Abu Ghraib..

[Defiant]

But recent large-scale raids, particularly by Shiite and Kurdish security forces, have raised fears in Sunni areas that nets are being cast too widely, catching many innocent Iraqis along with those who have ties to insurgents.

If you're going after the big tuna, you're bound to snag a few dolphins.

[RightWhale]

An Iraqi army operation. Good, it's about time they get their sun-scorched country under control. Then we can get our stuff outta there.

[cherokee1]

You notice it seems to be getting faschionable to avoid fighting to the death? Lotta lonely virgins waiting for these dirtbagz to take the stand they used to shoot their mouths off about. "death to the infidel" as long we can do it later.

[pissant]

Yes. We want to force them into the arms of their waiting virgins!

[libs_kma]

"You notice it seems to be getting faschionable to avoid fighting to the death? Lotta lonely virgins waiting for these dirtbagz to take the stand they used to shoot their mouths off about. "death to the infidel" as long we can do it later."

Someone leaked the 411 that those 72 virgins are all Helen Thomas, Janet Reno and Maddy Halfbright look alikes....

[cherokee1]

I already had no trust in what might be under a Burka but now you're scarin'me.