'Clean Sweep' Captures Terror Suspects

Defend America News ^ | Nov 18, 2005 | Army Spc. Dan Balda

[SandRat]

Iraqi Commandos conduct clearing operations with U.S. soldiers from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment during Operation Clean Sweep in south Baghdad, Oct. 28-29, 2005. More than 350 houses were searched and nearly 50 terror suspects were detained. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan Balda
'Clean Sweep' Captures Terror Suspects
The goal of Operation Clean Sweep was to clear neighborhoods of terrorist activity.
By U.S. Army Spc. Dan Balda 4th Brigade Combat Team BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 18, 2005 — Iraqi and U.S. forces recently detained dozens of terror suspects during searches in south Baghdad in Operation Clean Sweep, a mission to clear neighborhoods of terrorist activity. "Operation Clean Sweep was intended to clean out an area that was known to be used as a way for insurgents to come towards Baghdad from the south as well as an area that a lot of [vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices] and [improvised explosive devices] were coming from," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Everett Knapp, commander of the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment. In anticipation of the Dec. 15 nationwide elections, U.S. soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, as well as Iraqi forces from the 4th Public Order Brigade and 1st Commando Brigade, raided about 350 homes and detained 49 suspected terrorists. Military officials said ten of the suspects were forwarded to detention facilities. "The Iraqi soldiers really took the lead (on this mission). They don't need translators; they can tell who the good guys are and who doesn't belong in a certain situation." U.S. Army Lt. Col. Everett Knapp Some of the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment soldiers set up the outer cordon of the mission while others shadowed their Iraqi counterparts during the lat October operation. "The Iraqi soldiers really took the lead (on this mission)," Knapp said. "They don't need translators; they can tell who the good guys are and who doesn't belong in a certain situation." A group of Iraqi forces from the 4th Public Order Brigade prepare to search a house during Operation Clean Sweep in south Baghdad, Oct. 28-29, 2005. U.S. and Iraqi forces searched 350 houses and detained nearly 50 terror suspects during the operation. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan Balda	A U.S. soldier from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment works with a member from the Iraqi Security Forces as they clear a house during Operation Clean Sweep in south Baghdad, Oct. 28-29, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan Balda During the Oct. 15 Constitutional Referendum vote, clearing the area of possible dangers to the democratic process was one of the reasons the U.S. soldiers swept through the fields, clearing every building that stood in their path. "We want the people to see the Iraqi Security Forces protecting them," Knapp said. "This election has nothing to do with us. This whole operation is about making this area safe for the Iraqi people to see their own soldiers protecting them." U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jim Waters, of C Company, 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, said his soldiers joined Iraqi Commandos during the operation. "The message we're trying to convey is that the Iraqi government and the Iraqi Security Forces are capable of securing the country," Waters said. "The citizens of Iraq who are in cooperative support of the new government don't have anything to fear from the power of the American military or the power of Iraq's security forces." Knapp said he looks forward to continuing to work with the Iraqi Security Forces in the future, adding, "These guys get better every single day. Their professionalism is outstanding."

[SandRat]

CLEAN SWEEP!!!!!

[FlingWingFlyer]

Murtha and his 'RAT comrades aren't going to be very happy about this. Their team is getting it's butt kicked.

[martin_fierro]

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for post. They are moving along quite well. Multiple these demonstration of competence in the Al Anbar campaigns, and up north and one can see where they just may be ready in another year or less. Who knows, maybe the demorats really are watching things closely and see a political aid, in insisting that our troops start to withdraw sensing our Army and Marines are really preparing the Iraq's to take over soon. So they may be playing a game where they appear to want to take control, knowing that in another year things are going to work out, and that a catastrophy is not in the workings. Perhaps they are much more clever then we are giving them credit for. Clearly the Iraqi forces are not to far off from taking over many of the AOR now primarily in US and coalition hands.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Wiz]

ping