Al Qaeda in Iraq Severely Disrupted, General Says

American Forces Press Service ^ | Steven Donald Smith

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 – The killing of al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in June severely disrupted the terrorist organization’s capability, but foreign fighters entering Iraq continue to cause problems, a senior Multinational Force Iraq spokesman told reporters in Baghdad yesterday.

“What the al Qaeda in Iraq could do in May and what they can do today has been seriously degraded,” Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said. “They are not as effective or as organized today as they were back in May. But they're still an organization out there.”

The general said about 50 to 70 foreign fighters enter Iraq every month. “We know that most of them come from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt and Syria,” he said.

Iraqi and coalition forces are capturing or killing between 30 and 50 of these foreign fighters per month, he said. “Today in Iraq there are currently 381 foreign fighters in detention,” he said.

Most of the suicide bombers in Iraq are foreigners, he said. “And therefore, the importance of securing the borders of this country becomes more paramount when you see that kind of infiltration occurring,” he said.

Caldwell said about 27,000 trained and equipped Iraqi border forces are operating on the country’s borders. “That is having a positive impact, but these are brand new forces that have just been trained,” he said. “They're just starting to operate out there, and it's going to take some time before we see the real benefit of their presence.”

The border forces are not just there to stop the infiltration of terrorists, but also to prevent any kind of smuggling or illegal transportation of anything across the borders, he said. Coalition forces continue to support the Iraqi border forces by providing aerial and ground assets. “There is a very close relationship between the coalition forces and the border security forces that are out there operating predominantly along the Syrian border and the Iranian border, since those seem to be the two places where we see the foreign fighters come from,” Caldwell said.

Coalition forces and the Iraqi government are striving to achieve three main goals. “Unity, security and prosperity are the ultimate three goals,” he said. Achieving these goals, however, will depend largely on Iraqi people and their elected government, the general added.

“Our ultimate goal for the coalition forces here in Iraq is to see an Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors, that has a country here that has a representative government that respects the rights of all Iraqi citizens, with security forces that are sufficient to maintain the security for the Iraqi citizens, and then to deny this country as safe haven for terrorists,” Caldwell said.

The general acknowledged that major challenges lay ahead for the Iraqi government. “They have to reestablish basic services for the citizens of Iraq. And when we say basic services, we're talking about electricity, water and sewage,” he said.

Caldwell also mentioned a letter from the president of the Islamic community of Kosovo that was recently published in an Iraqi paper. The letter explained the difficulties Kosovo had to overcome when transitioning from war-torn region to stability.

The letter talks about security, democracy, constitutional and privatization issues, Caldwell said. “The biggest challenge of all (in Kosovo), though, was reconciliation,” he said.

“He tells you to keep hope, to keep your faith, to not lose the fact that it's going to be hard and challenging, but in the end you will prevail and you will find the peace that they have found in Kosovo and what they have discovered there for their people,” Caldwell said describing the letter’s content.

“It's a very moving letter in that it's a very recent example,” the general said.

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

[jwparkerjr]

re: the importance of securing the borders of this country becomes more paramount when you see that kind of infiltration occurring

Too bad they don't feel that way about the US borders.

[Paladin2]

Maybe we can apply the appropriate lessons learned to our own border?

Well, probably not.

[art_rocks]

Unfortunely, a lot of Americans will have to die in the US before that happens.

[okie01]

Two articles, back-to-back on the latest post page:

al-Qaida in Iraq severely disrupted, General says

Ramadi has tipped to Iraqi government, coalition

Neither will appear in the MSM and one would have to go to a site like Free Republic to find them.

A plague on the media's house...

[jveritas]

More exellent news.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Why don't I believe him?

I'm trying... really, I am.

[Lurker]

“We know that most of them come from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt and Syria,..

I vote we return these jihadi scumbags to their countries of origing.

I suggest an air lift followed by an air drop. I think about 10,000 feet AGL with would be appropriate. Just open the cargo bay and kick their stinking corpses right out the back.

I'm torn on whether or not to use parachutes. One one hand the thought of dead jihadis floating slowly to the ground in the middle of whatever craphole village they were spawned in is particularly appealing.

On the other hand the thought of them hitting the village square or crashing through the minaret of some hate filled mosque at 100 mph or so in the middle of their 'prayers' fills my black heart with a nice, warm feeling.

Perhaps we could combine the two tactics....

L

[do the dhue]

Unfortunately, a lot of Americans will have to die in the US before that happens.

And when that happens, I will blame my own Party. We had control of the House, Senate, and the White House since 911 and our Party has chosen not to secure our borders. I have chosen not to send my Party money until we get border security done (or at least started and no token gestures will be accepted). I suggest they ask the folks who want open borders for money.

The only reason I will still vote for my Party is because I don't want any left wing, baby killin', flag burnin', non gun lovin', and non God fearing, commie traitors running my House, Senate, and White House.

[hinckley buzzard]

Caldwell said about 27,000 trained and equipped Iraqi border forces are operating on the country’s borders

How many "border forces" have we trained and equipped for duty on OUR borders? Anywhere near 27,000? Anyone?

[Prost1]

Once the foreign fighters understand that Iraqis are in charge of the prisons and not the Americans, there will be fewer willing Jihadists entering Iraq.

Take it to the jailer!

[bonehead4freedom]

Ditto!

[lmr]

The Religion Of Pieces

5 Minute Video

Warning: Graphic Content

[A CA Guy]

I'm concerned about the recent stuff I heard about weapons from Iran like what was in Lebanon popping up in Iraq against our troops.
Was that a false story or real?

If real, we have a showdown with Iran coming soon IMO.

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT

[RedEyeJack]

“Today in Iraq there are currently 381 foreign fighters in detention,”

You raise a big problem. These men came to Iraq to kill. They have participated (or intended to participate) in activities to assassinate both Americans and Iraqis. They are NOT POWs covered by the Geneva Convention. They are sent here in a systematic process that includes training in "killing" skills. We need a debate in the U.S. to decide what to do with them. We need to see which of our politicians take this war seriously and which ones are clueless or in a state of denial. I can assure you that if asked for input the U.S. military will recommend that they be "permanently" removed from the "game". It would be especially interesting to see where John McCain stands on this issue.

[Tennessean4Bush]

Too bad they don't feel that way about the US borders.

LOL!

[kellynla]

More Good News!

[SoldierDad]

"The Religion Of Pieces"

This video should be on our televisions every day until this war is won.