Iraqi Police in Ramadi Discover Large Weapons Cache

Defend America News ^ | Multi-National Force – West Public Affairs Office

[SandRat]

Iraqi policemen from the Albu Obaid Iraqi Police station celebrate as they inventory a historic weapons cache found in Ramadi, Feb 3. Courtesy photo
Iraqi Police in Ramadi Discover Large Weapons Cache
In just two months, the Iraqi Police and the Emergency Response Units have found several explosive ordnances.
By Multi-National Force – West Public Affairs Office RAMADI, Iraq, Feb. 6, 2007 -- Members of the Albu Obaid Iraqi Police station discovered one of the largest weapons cache in the last year while conducting dismounted patrols in eastern Ramadi, Feb. 3. "The success of the cache discoveries by the Iraqi Police in the last month can be attributed to the increase of locally recruited Iraqi police officers getting out there beating the streets, looking for the bad guys and tips received from the local citizens throughout Ramadi," Maj. Eric Remoy, staff officer The cache consisted of over 300 82mm mortar rounds, three 152mm artillery rounds, two bags of homemade explosives, two Katyusha 107mm rockets, in addition to other items which included a mortar base plate, a spool of copper wire used for detonating improvised explosive devices and various smaller caliber ammunition. “The Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces have discovered many weapons caches over the last six months, but none of this magnitude,” said Army Col. Sean MacFarland, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. “This represents about a six-month supply of enemy mortar ammunition. The recent additions to the local Iraqi Security Forces have proven to be a tremendous asset in the fight against the terrorists in and around Ramadi.”	Since the beginning of January, the pace of cache finds by Iraqi Police and Emergency Response Units in the 1/1 AD area of operation has risen dramatically. In just two months, the Iraqi Police and the Emergency Response Units have found almost 600 mortar rounds of various sizes, 35 large artillery rounds and rockets, 15 improvisational explosive devices and two missiles. The Iraqi police have accounted for over 80 percent of the munitions discovered in this time period. “I’ve been on multiple patrols and seen a lot of stuff, but the thing that excites me the most about this is that the Iraqis are stepping up to the plate on their own. I mean, we found over 60 caches last month of which 35 were found by the Iraqi Security Forces. This is the kind of thing that is going to get me home,” said Spc. Stephen Steed, who is responsible for mentoring Iraqi policemen. “The success of the cache discoveries by the Iraqi Police in the last month can be attributed to the increase of locally recruited Iraqi police officers getting out there beating the streets, looking for the bad guys and tips received from the local citizens throughout Ramadi,” said Maj. Eric Remoy, staff officer for 1-1 AD. “Our cache finds six months ago typically consisted of one or two small weapons caches per week. The strength of the Iraqi Police in the Ramadi area has grown approximately 1100 percent in the last six months. We are now finding caches at a rate of two caches per day, or a 600 percent increase.”

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

[bnelson44]

Pshaw. You call that large? This is large:

YUSUFIYAH — Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers uncovered more than 1,100 81mm high-explosive mortar rounds at a cache near the main highway, Route Tampa, leading into the Iraqi capital Saturday.

Troops from 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Troop B, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment “Wolverines,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), made the discovery during Operation Wolverine Alesia near Yusufiyah, Iraq, just 10 miles southwest of the capital.

Acting on a tip from a local resident, the troops conducted an intentional search of the area which resulted in the largest cache find in 2nd “Commando” Brigade’s history. In all, 1,129 mortar rounds were uncovered.

[bnelson44]

:-)

[Txsleuth]

I am really loving reading about these weapons caches being found....

Makes one wonder how many we haven't found,...YIKES.

I also would like, someday, for the military to get into the Bekaa Valley...and check for weapons caches of a WMD sort.

[Mo1]

But but but .. how can this be ... the Dems said the Iraqis haven't been standing up to the plate and doing things for themselves??

[SauronOfMordor]

Those mortar rounds look like they've been buried a long time. They seem dangerously corroded

[SE Mom]

WOO HOOOO!!!!

[SandRat]

and I was just getting set to post that story.

[Redleg Duke]

As a proud, former 11C, I wouldn't be caught dead hanging those 82s in any tube!

[SandRat]

In other developments throughout Iraq:

• 5th Iraqi Army Forces killed a reported leader of rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi violence and criminal activity within DiyalaProvince during operations Feb. 4 near Baqubah. 

• Coalition Forces killed three terrorists and detained 26 suspected terrorists including an al-Qaida in Iraq cell leader during raids Monday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitator and al-Qaida in Iraq networks.  

Press Releases

• Suicide attacker detonates VBIED on ambulance in Mosul
• MNF-W personnel attacked
• Iraqi Police in Ramadi discover large weapons cache
• Making streets safer: Engineers help clean up Ghazaliya
• Nine Iraqis killed in two car bomb attacks in eastern Baghdad
• Coalition force members treat citizens, IP targeted in Khalis explosion

[bnelson44]

They were meant to be used as IEDs (at least that is what the article said).

[Redleg Duke]

I am aware of that. But, thanks for treating me like a civilian puke, anyway! :-)

[Thermalseeker]

I also would like, someday, for the military to get into the Bekaa Valley...and check for weapons caches of a WMD sort.

I would imagine that we are keeping a very close eye on the area and have since prior to the Iraqi invasion.

[elhombrelibre]

Excellent post and excellent work by coalition forces.

[Son House]

Thanks for raising that Iraq war combat vet.

Now it's funny how all this bickering about the 'cost', I think it's due time to cut all unnecessary spending and focus on finishing what we started.

Thanks for posting, SandRat, I had the feeling when Iraqi's got started they would be a tough bunch, probally make's Iran nervous.

[silentreignofheroes]

Heard That,,As a former 26B,I'll follow your lead..

[o_zarkman44]

That photo represents many potential car bombs and hundreds of dead and injured. That is excellent work!

Hoo Rah!

[Txsleuth]

That is good to know.

[magslinger]

Any explosives past their freshness date can be a little tricky.