Coalition forces capture Basrah-based Special Groups criminal in Baghdad

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^

[SandRat]

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces captured a suspected Basrah-based Special Groups criminal and his associate late Saturday night during operations in the Rusafa district of Baghdad.

Acting on intelligence from captured Special Groups members, Coalition forces raided the hideout of the suspected Special Groups criminal, where he and his associate were captured without incident.

The wanted man is alleged to be a commander of an assassination squad in Basrah, an arms dealer with connections to Iran, and a document counterfeiter. This last offense was reportedly done in his role as one of a handful of Special Groups criminals who arranges transportation of criminals into Iran for training, and back into Iraq.

“Captured Special Groups members are providing actionable intelligence that Iraqi Security and Coalition forces are using to defeat these criminals,” said U.S. Army Capt. Charles Calio, MNF-I spokesperson. “By removing Special Groups criminals’ resources and those who supply them, they can no longer target innocent Iraqis.”

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[SandRat]

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[elhombrelibre]

More good news from Iraq ping.

[jveritas]

Excellent news.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

an arms dealer with connections to Iran, and a document counterfeiter. This last offense was reportedly done in his role as one of a handful of Special Groups criminals who arranges transportation of criminals into Iran for training, and back into Iraq.

Send a wire to Maliki:

Iraqi PM begins talks in Tehran

[elhombrelibre]

For those who hoped to see the US fail in Iraq, much hinged on the Iranians and their support for their proxies, the Mahdi militia. Fortunately, coalition forces are cutting them down and removing their potential to threaten the elected government of Iraq. These are sad times for Liberals and all of those who wanted the US to fail in Iraq and who were willing to throw the Iraqis to the wolves to get that denouement.

[elhombrelibre]

Furthermore, only one thing can save Iraq from democracy now and assure the Bush haters have their way. That thing is the Obama presidency.

[elhombrelibre]

Tag corrected.

[jveritas]

We are now post Victory in Iraq. Our brave troops wih the Iraqis have crushed Al Qaeda terrorists and the Shia terrorists.

[elhombrelibre]

I expect a lot of businesses to want to start investing in Iraq now. Many nations that have been indifferent to Iraq's fate will now want to cash in on its desire to import products.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Just posted this from the BBC:

Iraqi PM assures Iran on security

IE...that the US can't attack Iran from Iraq.

[nuconvert]

another article......

U.S. military says it has captured arms dealer with connections to Iran

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55412

[Marine_Uncle]

The good HUMIT now being offered is going to break the back of all those elements that oppose Iraq moving forward in a positive way. In many cases we see the government going after Iranian/Shia groups. The country’s unification process seems to be moving forward.

[Marine_Uncle]

"These are sad times for Liberals and all of those who wanted the US to fail in Iraq and who were willing to throw the Iraqis to the wolves to get that denouement."
Of course assuming these boneheads are actually getting the real news coming out of Iraq.

[elhombrelibre]

You’re right. Many of them have no idea what’s going on there, but they’re convinced they know it better than anyone.

[Marine_Uncle]

It sure looks like the Iraqi military and police will shut down the Iranian sponsored militias and in some cases shadow support groups in due time.
I hope the end result will be where the majority of Iraqi fully embrace nationalism and recognize it is time to build their country into a place where all can live in relative security and go to work and play without feeling like they may be blown up, or held hostage to thugs.
Realism should however indicate it will take them a long time to achieve this level. There are still a lot of disfranchised and bitter Iraqi floating around, with a variety of chips on their shoulders. And we have to understand the diversity of living standards and culture that pervades in this land that often clash with any form of nationalistic standard.
The task they yet face could appear daunting on the surface. Can Iraq literally be transformed into a place where all quarters of the civilians can put down their arms and seek a civil society is yet to be seen.

[elhombrelibre]

We had a real Civil War in our country. Today, we're reconciled. Southerners remained among our most loyal service members even shortly after that war serving in numbers disproportionate to their numbers among the general population (admittedly for a variety of reasons). Iraqis will reconcile, and Iran's fooling with Iraq for its own cynical reasons will serve as one motive to unite them.

[Marine_Uncle]

I tend to strongly agree along your line of thinking on this issue. I continue to worry how ignorant (from a western perspective) e.g. tribal allegiance, religious sectarian division in some quarters, will effect the majority of Iraqi from either choosing a united Iraq or one that some prefer to divide.
Then again. One could use the same arguments the US went through, as you indicate. And surely the increasing amount of security and freedom of movement without fear of getting killed may sway them as a whole to continue along the line of freedom for all citizens under the law, partakers in a grand experiment if one would like to put it that way.