Posted on 06/15/2006 4:46:52 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD, June 15, 2006 – Al Qaeda in Iraq is in disarray and confusion following the death of its terrorist boss, and the Iraqi government is moving forward quickly to provide security for its capital city, coalition officials said today at a news conference.
Army Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell, a coalition spokesman, said Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death June 7 helped set the conditions for a huge step forward in the security picture of Iraq.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced the beginning of Operation Together Forward yesterday. Iraqi forces are leading this operation and it is designed to cripple or shut down the terrorist network in and around Baghdad, officials said. Iraqi soldiers and police are operating traffic-control points, rolling roadblocks, cordon-and-knock missions, and many other tactics to find and capture or kill insurgents who target innocent Iraqis.
Coalition forces are participating in some operations, but are mostly acting as a quick-reaction force to be called on if needed.
Coalition officials are pleased with the speed Maliki is demonstrating in his effort against terrorists. "The people of Baghdad are sick of the terrorist strikes in the neighborhoods and streets," said a Multinational Force Iraq official. "The Iraqis are getting results."
Since Zarqawi's death June 7, there have been 452 Iraqi and coalition operations, Caldwell said. The vast majority of the operations, though, were Iraqi-only (143) or coalition-Iraqi combined operations (255). The operations netted 759 anti-Iraqi forces and killed 104 terrorists. The patrols also uncovered 28 arms caches.
An official with Multinational Division Baghdad said it amazes him that officials are still finding so many weapons caches more than three years after the operation that toppled Saddam Hussein. "Of course, the entire country was one large arms cache," he said. "And we're not finding new weapons. But there is enough of the old to keep everyone busy."
Zarqawi's death allows Operation Together Forward to be even more effective than planned. The operation's intent is to disrupt terrorists in Baghdad, Caldwell said.
"Removing the personal threat of Zarqawi disrupted the Al Qaeda network," he said. "This forced the terrorists to reshuffle their leadership, dislodging them from their quarters leading in to the capital. These factors alone have set the conditions for Iraqi security forces to establish the foundation for unity, security and prosperity for the people of Iraq."
Ohhhhhhm.... Cong. Mullah-Omar Murtha's not gonna like this.
The nature of Zarqawi's operation forced him to be secret and his network tight. If they killed out top general there would be very little notice in operations. So now is the exact time to be blowing everything that looks suspicious apart so that they do not have the time to regroup.
I agree. Hit these monsters while they're confused. Hit them day and night, no rest, no where to run. Unceasing pressure, God be with our troops and our allies.
Amen!
Notice how quiet the Dems are lately.
The SOB's KNOW this is bad news for them.
I like that. In fact, I like it so much, I'm going to post it again:
Since Zarqawi's death June 7, there have been 452 Iraqi and coalition operations, Caldwell said. The vast majority of the operations, though, were Iraqi-only (143) or coalition-Iraqi combined operations (255). The operations netted 759 anti-Iraqi forces and killed 104 terrorists. The patrols also uncovered 28 arms caches.
This time in bold:
Since Zarqawi's death June 7, there have been 452 Iraqi and coalition operations, Caldwell said. The vast majority of the operations, though, were Iraqi-only (143) or coalition-Iraqi combined operations (255). The operations netted 759 anti-Iraqi forces and killed 104 terrorists. The patrols also uncovered 28 arms caches.
Sweet. Way to go, boys.
Operation Insurgent Bloodbath would be more intimidating!
This is really excellent news.
Yeah. They're upset that their side is losing.
The beauty of calling it "Operation Together Forward" is that it is so touchy-feely, New Age, and politically correct - when of course Operation Crush the Motherf***ers would be more apt.
LOL! Mullah-Omar Murtha
Abbreviating congressman as Cong. was carefully thought out, wasn't it?
Diane FineSwine was running her mouth, squeeling and OINKing the LEFT Mantra, for a quick withdrawal on FNC at lunch.
Yep!
That's right. The Dem's still see a chance for American failure in Iraq and we should go for it while there is still time.
Thank GOD for Bush's persistance and determination in the war on terror!
It is clearly paying off.
He will go down in history as a great leader....and his detractors will be forgotten.
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