U.S., Iraqi Forces Launch Massive Hunt

[Barrett808]

U.S., Iraqi Forces Launch Massive Hunt
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi military forces launched a large operation Wednesday to weed out insurgents and seize illegal weapons, with troops, helicopters and armored vehicles raiding a suspected arms market in the capital.

...


Wednesday's raid on the suspected arms market came during a week in which gunmen, in two separate attacks, killed two Europeans and four American missionaries working on water projects. The six killings suggest the insurgents are going after civilians to undermine reconstruction efforts.

The operation that began Wednesday — called "Iron Promise" — was expected to involve thousands of U.S. troops from the Fort Hood, Texas-based 1st Cavalry Division, which has recently arrived in Iraq, and the outgoing Germany-based 1st Armored Division. Scores of Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers were also involved.

In the first raid, about 250 troops from the armored division's 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment as well as 250 Iraqi soldiers fanned out across the sprawling 20th Street Market, in the city's Al-Bayaa district, which sells everything from vegetables to used car parts.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20040317/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[hang a left]

1. I wonder if this has anything to do with the blown up hotel

just reported on CNN?

[keithyboy]

11. I was thinking the same thing. Too eager to make it a car bomb!

Wonder what al-qaeda will claim? Maybe they will tell us it wasn't them, then what?

[arcane1]

2. how does one define an "illegal" weapon in Iraq?

aren't they "free" to bear arms? :shrug:

[demdave]

3. Yes they do, as per their new constitution

Article 17.

It shall not be permitted to possess, bear, buy, or sell arms except on licensure issued in accordance with the law.



I don't know what you have to do to get a license though.

[arcane1]

4. figures...

and we are the cops... :(

at least it's a step up from our use of US soldiers to arrest Iraqis who violate Muslim alcohol laws

[tlcandie]

5. Wait .. Iron Fist was started a couple of months ago and now we have

its new spawn Iron Promise? Or are they one in the same? I'm all confused!! :eyes:

[demdave]

6. Iron fist = the 2nd Brigade of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, from Ft.

The brigade of 3,500 soldiers is known as the Army's "iron fist," the most heavily armed rapid deployment force in the world.


I don't think the U.S. has an operation iron fist though. Perhaps you have confused it with the Ugandan "Operation Iron Fist".
http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/58164343064f46f885256da2006ac1b2?OpenDocument

[tlcandie]

7. No they implemented it around the area of Mosul/Tikirt right before

I believe the capture of Saddam. It was a take off/spin from this brigade as I recall, but yes it was that or very close to the same name.

[demdave]

8. Excuse the link.........operation iron hammer

The link I have is not the best but I believe it is accurate. I don't have time to google any further...sorry.

Update...hated that link so much I found another. WHEW...

In Baghdad, the 1st Armored Division continued Operation Iron Hammer, an offensive targeting Saddam loyalists and other insurgents.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/11/13/sprj.irq.main/

[tlcandie]

9. Yes, here it is .. archived.. Iron Hammer...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=248982


EDIT: Bold-face type is mine

<snip>
Of greater importance in the scale of the attack and the coordination of the two operations. Iraqi Rebel Guerilla Units elements still retain the ability to conduct synchronized operations despite the massive overwhelming firepower "Iron Hammer" offensive this month.
<snip>

Posted: Tue Dec-02-03 06:57 PM by BlackFrancis

[JPZenger]

10. Leaked Aerial Photo - I Smell Rove

Today, NBC and CNN were provided with a "highly classified" aerial photo from the Fall of 2000 that supposedly shows bin Laden walking outside.

Who would have access to this "highly classified" image and what would be their motivation for leaking it now?

Could it be another one of Rove's dirty tricks to blame the Clinton administration for 9-11? "See, Clinton knew where bin Laden was, and didn't do anything about it."

In reality, the drone that took the photo was unarmed, and the military said it would have taken a few hours to launch an attack. Remember we did not have any military forces in Pakistan or Afghanistan, and we might have needed to ask permission from Turkey to use bases on their soil or their air space to attack. By that time, bin Laden would have been long gone.