U.S.: 70 Insurgents Killed in Airstrikes

http://abcnews.go.com ^ | Oct 17, 2005 | By THOMAS WAGNER

[Deetes]

BAGHDAD, Iraq Oct 17, 2005 — U.S. helicopters and warplanes bombed two villages near the restive city of Ramadi, killing around 70 militants, the military said Monday. Officials said all the dead were insurgents, though witnesses said at least 39 were civilians.

The violence on Sunday occurred a day after Iraq voted on and apparently passed a landmark constitution that many Sunnis opposed. On referendum day, a roadside bomb killed five U.S. soldiers in a vehicle in the Al-Bu Ubaid village on the eastern outskirts of Ramadi.

On Sunday, a group of around two dozen Iraqis gathered around the wreckage of the U.S. vehicle and were hit by the airstrikes by U.S. warplanes, both the military and witnesses said.

[Recon Dad]

I was going to write the exact same thing.

"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction"

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Okay, we got the lame-assed ABC version of events. Here's what really happened:

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

---

October 17, 2005
Release Number: 05-10-57

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AN ESTIMATED 70 TERRORISTS KILLED NEAR RAMADI

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Coalition forces continued counter-terrorism operations in areas of Al Anbar Province Oct. 16, killing an estimated 70 terrorists in separate actions.

At approximately 1:25 p.m., Coalition forces conducted an air strike against a group of terrorists attempting to emplace an improvised explosive device east of Ramadi.

While conducting a combat air patrol, crewmembers from an F -15 observed 20 men arrive in four vehicles at the crater site of a previously-detonated IED which had killed five U.S. and two Iraqi Soldiers on Oct. 15. The terrorists were in the process of emplacing another IED in the same spot when the F- 15 engaged them with a precision-guided bomb, resulting in the death of terrorists on the ground.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., a UH-1N Huey and AH-1W Cobra helicopter team on patrol north of Ramadi had been observing a group of military age males gathered at a suspected terrorist safe house. After realizing their position had been compromised, the terrorists fled the scene and engaged the Cobra with small arms fire. The Cobra returned fire with 20 mm. munitions, resulting in the death of an estimated 10 terrorists. At approximately 7:50 p.m., a team of F/A-18’s resumed observation at the suspected safe house where they found an additional 35-40 terrorists loading their vehicles with weapons and driving to another location to unload the weapons. The F/A-18 targeted the terrorists with a precision-guided bomb, killing terrorists on the ground. The combined strikes resulted in approximately 50 terrorists killed.

The strikes took place in the Abu Faraj region, north of Ramadi, where a large number of indirect fire and IED attacks against civilians, Iraqi infrastructure, Iraqi security forces and Coalition forces have originated.

At approximately 8:00 p.m., Coalition forces guarding the Government Center in Ramadi were attacked by a small-arms fire attack from multiple locations within an adjacent building. After requesting air support to neutralize the increasing volume of fire, an F/A-18 engaged the target with a maverick missile at approximately 8:50 p.m. When the small arms fire continued, Coalition forces engaged the targets with two shoulder mounted multipurpose assault weapons (SMAWs), resulting in the cessation of all movement from within the structure. An estimated 1-3 terrorists were killed in the strike.

All the attacks were timed and executed in a manner to reduce the possibility of collateral damage. There were no reports of Coalition or civilian casualties.

The attacks follow a successful Referendum in which there were no major disruptions caused by terrorists at the polls in Al Anbar Province. Coalition forces continue to aggressively pursue terrorists whose aim is to kill Iraqi civilians and Coalition forces in an attempt to disrupt the political process.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE 2D MARINE DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER AT KerrPB@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

-30-

Link here: AN ESTIMATED 70 TERRORISTS KILLED NEAR RAMADI

[slapshot]

see tagline

[sgtbono2002]

I have often thought the same thing.

[angkor]

The messages here are "don't hang out with terrorists" and "stay clear of disabled American hardware."

[MrBambaLaMamba]

... killing around 70 militants ...

Regardless of what the MSM calls them, they're still dead and that is a good thing.

[Jet Jaguar]

Roger that.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Most of the MSM is working overtime now to but a bad spin on the election and all the "possible" problems that will result.

Yep. Our local paper had a nationally syndicated column that says the Sunni's believe the vote was fixed.

[Deetes]

Thanks... Nice to get just the facts !!!

[MEG33]

Good information..BUMP!

[RoadTest]

"a group of around two dozen Iraqis gathered around the wreckage of the U.S. vehicle and were hit by the airstrikes"

It looks like we've learned something from them. Good!

And if civilians get killed, it's because the army we're fighting hides among them. It's a tough call to kill them as collateral damage, but the alternative is worse: losing the war.

[Wilum]

Ahh! Makes this antique bomb-loading Airman mighty proud; "Take the blue from the skies......."

[MEG33]

slapshot ("USAF- when you absolutely, positively need it delivered on target, on time, right away")

Love it!

[Fresh Wind]

Sorry to break it to you, ABC, but most of the insurgents ARE civilians.

[jveritas]

Great news.

[Democracy In Iraq]

"On Sunday, a group of around two dozen Iraqis gathered around the wreckage of the U.S. vehicle and were hit by the airstrikes"

great news! I have been waiting to hear that we waste a bunch of those nasty vultures that dance around our destroyed vehicles , esp where lives were lost. I hope this becomes SOP

This could be the coalition equivalent of luring job-seekers into a van and blowing it up.

Payback's a beach, ain't it. :)

[Always Right]

U.S. helicopters and warplanes bombed two villages near the restive city of Ramadi, killing around 70 militants, the military said Monday. Officials said all the dead were insurgents, though witnesses said at least 39 were civilians.

The difference between these Civilians and insurgents is that these Civilians hadn't strapped bombs to their backs yet.

[jveritas]

In order to really STFU of the defeated liberal media, the Pentagon should change the policy and start releasing footage of us killing the enemy. It will be a great tool to STFU the hateful media and put more fear in the heart of the terrorists.

[Blood of Tyrants]

From the Fox News website:

The military said in a statement that the crowd was setting another roadside bomb when F-15 warplanes hit them, killing around 20 people, described by the military as "terrorists."

But several witnesses and one local leader said they were civilians who had gathered to gawk at and take pieces of the wreckage, as often occurs after an American vehicle is hit.

Probably gathered around to celebrate and dance. THIS is what we should have been doing for the past 2 1/2 years.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

An F/A-18 warplane struck the building with a bomb, killing 40 insurgents, the military said.

Our Tax dollars to good use.