STRYKER BRIGADE DETAINS SUSPECTS, COLLECTS WEAPONS

Release Number: 04-02-14 ^ | February 9, 2004 | CENTCOM

[Cannoneer No. 4]

February 9, 2004 Release Number: 04-02-14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STRYKER BRIGADE DETAINS SUSPECTS, COLLECTS WEAPONS

MOSUL, Iraq – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of Task Force Olympia detained personnel suspected of anti-Coalition activities and recovered weapons and other explosives in northern Iraq Sunday.

One person suspected of anti-Coalition activities turned himself in to 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment headquarters in Mosul.

Members of the Coalition for Iraqi Unity, a concerned group of citizens in northwestern Iraq, came to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment and turned in 750 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 1,000 rounds of 14.5 mm ammunition, one hand grenade and one set of binoculars.

A cache of weapons, consisting of one rocket-propelled grenade, 84 shotgun shells, one bag of propellant and a 10-pound stick of propellant was brought to a forward operating back in southern Mosul.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation.

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[Cannoneer No. 4]

"They are performing at their expectations," said Maj. Shawn Phelps, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division rear detachment commander.

Faint praise?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Nowadays, "C-17s and Strykers can go directly into the hot zone," Sullivan said.

It all depends on what the definition of "hot" is. If DHL and Air Force One can go to Baghdad they might risk their precious birds there. I rather doubt C-17s will be landing anywhere that gets incoming regularly.

One of the reasons they wanted Strykers to fit in C-130's was because C-130's are expendable.