Maybe Monster Garage should do a week in Mosul.
Not necessary; just roll out an XM1117 ASV:
Posted on 11/12/2005 3:48:57 AM PST by Jet Jaguar
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team have been bringing down some big names in the terrorist organization al-Qaida.
The 2-1 is stationed mainly in Mosul and have captured more than 180 suspected terrorists in the nearly three months since the brigade left Alaska. Lt. Col. Charles Webster, commander of the 2-1, spoke with reporters Thursday from Iraq and described a recent operation that he said crippled an al-Qaida cell in Mosul.
Webster said since the brigade arrived in Iraq in August and in Mosul a few weeks later, soldiers have found what he dubs the "Opel Gang" to be particularly bothersome. While soldiers patrol the chaotic urban war zone of Mosul, they are often hounded by groups of compact cars loaded with insurgents and small arms.
They prowl the streets in their Opels, attacking Stryker convoys and patrols and shooting at soldiers before outmaneuvering the Stryker vehicles and disappearing through the alleys and avenues.
"Our Strykers are maneuverable but they're not as maneuverable as a small four-door car," Webster said.
But about two weeks ago, soldiers made an arrest that Webster believes has begun the group's downfall. Webster said soldiers were able to capture three members associated with the Opel Gang after an altercation. They were questioned and Webster said one of the men provided valuable information about the structure of the gang, how the gang received weapons, where the gang's cars were parked, how the gang was financed and the names of some leaders.
Several hours later, Webster said a different platoon from the 2-1 was fighting suspected terrorists when the driver of a blue Oldsmobile was wounded in crossfire and taken by locals to a hospital. The driver was suspected to be a bystander, but when soldiers searched the car, they found two sets of identification. The soldiers recognized the name as the principal financier of the Opel Gang, named by the detainee hours earlier.
"That name rang a bell from information of the informant from before," Webster said.
Webster said soldiers were immediately dispatched to the hospital to detain the suspect. When the arrived, the suspect already had four visitors. The soldiers also recognized the names of the visitors, and two others who arrived soon after, as members of the gang. The suspects were all detained and the wounded suspect was moved to a U.S. combat support hospital where Webster said he is receiving treatment under U.S. guard.
Webster credited the efficiency of his soldiers in getting and distributing the information.
"It's takes a lot of work to find the right guy," Webster said.
Within three days, Webster said it was apparent soldiers had dealt a major blow to the cell. He said drive-by shootings around Mosul have been reduced significantly. He said one unit, not from the brigade, recently conducted a dismounted patrol for four hours in one of the most dangerous areas. They reported to Webster that it was the first time in a year soldiers did not take fire while on patrol.
The 2-1 was also involved in the demise of another al-Qaida terrorist cell leader and his assistant who were involved in at least three videotaped beheadings.
Nashwan Mijhim Muslet and Nahi Achmed Obeid Sultan were killed Oct. 22 during a 2-1 raid of a suspected safe house. Muslet was a senior operational al-Qaida cell leader who worked specifically in the Mosul area. His cell recorded the beheading of at least three Mosul residents. Nashwan was also responsible for attacking Iraqi security and coalition forces and threatening Mosul residents through roadblocks, extortion and kidnappings, military officials said.
On Thursday, Webster highlighted the U.S. forces' relationship with local citizens, police and military. Webster said with the 2-1 working in and around Mosul, he has the support of two Iraqi Army battalions, which total 1,000 soldiers, and the cooperation of three police district chiefs and a police force of about 800. He said the soldiers work with the police and Army on a daily basis. They are able to the help the soldiers learn the neighborhoods and delicate cultural differences.
"We couldn't do our business without the local Iraqis," he said. "The information they give us is incredible."
Staff writer Margaret Friedenauer can be reached at 459-7545 or mfriedenauer@newsminer.com .
Did you know your fellow Freepers have adopted the Stryker Brigade? We're sending them stuff for Christmas!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1346573/posts
For your ping list?
A ping for you, little brother.
Merry Band of Patriots ping list to news from Mosul.
I was wrong. It has served well, very well indeed.
The 2-1 is stationed mainly in Mosul and have captured more than 180 suspected terrorists in the nearly three months since the brigade left Alaska. Lt. Col. Charles Webster, commander of the 2-1, spoke with reporters Thursday from Iraq and described a recent operation that he said crippled an al-Qaida cell in Mosul.
Stryker and GNFI ping!
There are times when battlefield intelligence is worth the effort – when the info gets disseminated quickly enough.
You can be proud that your nephew serves so honorably, and with a great bunch of men.
Heroes all!
Thanks for the ping!
Some LA gangstas in their hopped-up Honda Civics sound like just the ticket to me, Stentor. IMHO, we are not using enough of our diverse cultural resources to teach the worthy oriental gentlemen of Iraq some of the more interesting and valuable lessons of democracy.
For example, while the low riders clean up the alleys, rival gang members could patrol on foot with their pit bulls. Half an Iraqi town could be Crips territory, the other half, Blood country. Woe betide the worthy oriental gentleman wearing the wrong color head cover on the wrong side of town.
Big Stykers ~ Bump!
Maybe Monster Garage should do a week in Mosul.
Not necessary; just roll out an XM1117 ASV:
"...after Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980 Kennedy sent Senator John Tunney to Moscow as his personal envoy to talk with the Kremlin, and with KGB participants, informing them that he and his party could handle the newly-elected warmonger."
And once Iraq settles down into a reletively stable democracy where the people aren't terrorized daily, he and his party will do to Bush's legacy on the Iraq war what they did to Reagan's legacy in ending the Cold war. They will say he had nothing to do with it. That it would have happened anyway, probably faster, without our intervention. Etc, etc., etc....
Fort Wainwright soldier dies in Iraq
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AK_SOLDIER_KILLED_AKOL-?SITE=AKFAI&SECTION=HOME
FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska (AP) -- A soldier from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team died in Iraq after the vehicle he was riding in rolled over, Army officials said Monday.
Staff Sgt. Stephen Sutherland, 33, died from the injuries he sustained Friday in the accident in Al Qadisiyah, which is near Rawah in western Iraq.
Sutherland's Stryker vehicle was in a convoy when it rolled over, Army officials said. The cause of the accident is being investigated, but officials said they convoy was not attacked.
Two other soldiers were injured in the incident, but both have returned to duty.
Advertisement
Sutherland was a native of West Deptford, N.J. who joined the Army in January 1998. He had been stationed at Fort Wainwright since November 2002.
Sutherland was a cavalry scout assigned to the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment.
No information was available Monday on funeral services for Sutherland.
Sutherland is the third member of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team to die in Iraq over the past month.
Army Spc. Lucas A. Frantz of Kansas was killed Oct. 18 during a mission to Mosul and Army Spc. Daniel D. Bartels of South Dakota died from a non-combat injury the following day.
ping to 36.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.