Saturday, January 28, 2006
Militants 'burn Afghan schools'
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Militants 'burn Afghan schools'
January 28, 2006
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HIT, Iraq -- Iraqi Army soldiers and U.S. Marines finished Operation Wadi Aljundi (Koa Canyon) along the Western Euphrates River Valley Jan. 27 after finding and destroying 45 weapons caches and detaining 20 suspected insurgents.
The cordon-and-knock operation began Jan. 15 north of Hit along the Euphrates River in an effort to disrupt insurgent activity and to root out their weapons stores. No Iraqi or Coalition forces were injured during the operation, although the force did uncover several improvised explosive devices along the way.
Iraqi soldiers and Coalition forces worked well together said Lt. Col. Drew Smith, the commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines. Smith said that, as the operation progressed, so did the level of cooperation among the Iraqis and Americans. “The Iraqi Army soldiers were totally integrated with BLT 1/2 Marines. It was a team effort,” said Smith.
Elements of 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Infantry Division and Smith’s reinforced infantry battalion along with MEU Service Support Group 22 managed to keep insurgents off balance and unable to tap into their stores of weapons stashed along the Euphrates.
From village to village, the force located and destroyed thousands of discovered artillery shells, mortars rounds and other rockets. Complete mortar systems were found, in addition to the numerous automatic weapons and nearly 11,000 rounds of small and large caliber ammunition. Hundreds of pounds of explosives were also uncovered and destroyed. One of the sites uncovered was a small building that was being used as an IED-making facility. More than 250 IED components and various explosives were found at the shack, which was subsequently destroyed.
The Iraqi Army battalion and 22nd MEU (SOC) are conducting counterinsurgency operations in Al Anbar province under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division.
Source : MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER - BAGHDAD, Iraq
Excerpts From Saddam's Exchange With Judge
Jan. 29, 2006, 9:41AM
By The Associated Press
— Excerpts from the heated exchange between Saddam Hussein and chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman after the defense team walked out and the court appointed new lawyers. The ousted leader rejected the new lawyers and demanded to be allowed to leave the trial.
The quotes were translated from Arabic by The Associated Press. In places, the sound of the video transmission went off; in others the two are talking over each other:
Saddam: "We refuse. This is right of the defendant. (Sound goes out). This is my right. I cannot be forced to accept a court-appointed lawyer. ...
Let me talk to you according to law, the defendant has the right to a lawyer, and the defendant has the right to attend the court session. If he (the defendant) does not attend, the court has the right to issue a judgment in absentia. That means you cannot force me to stay in the courtroom, because this is a right. I am not asking for more than my rights, and you also have the right to issue a judgment in absentia."
_After more arguments:
Abdel-Rahman: "The judges' panel has stated the law. These are practiced judges and know _"
Saddam (interrupting): "Practiced? I have practiced law. For 35 years I administered your rights. Thirty-five years. ... So I know my rights and the rights of others. So, permit me to leave the courtroom."
_After one of the court-appointed defense lawyers tries to interrupt:
Saddam: "We reject you, and if you remain, then you are evil."
Adbel-Rahman: "We will not allow you to cross the line with anyone."
Saddam: "You can't force me. You can't force me. This is my right."
Abdel-Rahman: "I'm not forcing you. But I won't allow you to cross _"
Saddam (interrupting): "Don't force me. Don't force me. This is my right."
Abdel-Rahman: "I'm implementing the law."
Saddam: "So that I don't annoy you and you don't annoy me."
Abdel-Rahman: "You're not annoying me."
Saddam: "I respect you as an Iraqi. And I will keep respecting you until you give you Iraqi-ness away."
Abdel-Rahman: "God willing, I'm a sincere Iraqi."
Saddam: "God willing. So allow me to leave. I cannot tolerate remaining here, at least for this session, until things are resolved properly."
_After Saddam turns as if to leave, holding a Quran and other papers under his right arm:
Abdel-Rahman: "The court has decided to eject him from the room."
Saddam: "Don't say 'eject.' An Iraqi respects his elders. For 35 years I led you, and you say, 'Eject him?'"
Abdel-Rahman: "I am a judge and you are a defendant. And you have violated order in the court. I am implementing the law. The judge implements the law."
_Arguing back and forth, as Saddam insists he is not being ejected but is leaving. Saddam: "I spoke to you on the basis of law."
Abdel-Rahman: "You want to leave? The court ejects you."
Saddam: "You can't say that."
_After further arguing, guards escort Saddam from the room.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/3620640.html