So, in essence, any good news out of Iraq, is bad news for Jack Murtha. Case in point:
It's also bad news for Murtha when good news surfaces regarding the resolve of the Iraqi people...BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. forces have arrested a senior Al Qaeda terrorist and personal associate of the group's new leader, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq said Thursday.
The man, who was not identified, was arrested Tuesday and was the leader of assassination, kidnapping and bomb making cells in Baghdad, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell said.
He also played a key role in Al Qaeda's activities in the Anbar city of Fallujah before it was attacked by U.S. troops in November 2004, Caldwell added.
According to Caldwell he was a "personal associate" of Abu Ayyoub al-Masri, who took over Al Qaeda in Iraq from Jordanian-born terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi after he was killed in an American airstrike north of Baghdad on June 7.
Caldwell said U.S. and Iraqi forces carried out 25 "focused raids" around the capital on Tuesday. He said there had been 150 focused operations carried out since Aug. 30 resulting in "66 terrorists killed and 830 suspected terrorists detained."
"As part of these operations on Tuesday evening alone there was a series of 25 raids in and around Baghdad targeting Al Qaeda in Iraq activities. A key outcome of these raids was the capture of over 70 suspected terrorists, one of which was the personal associate of Abu Ayyoub al-Masri," Caldwell said.
...BAGHDAD — It may appear to some that the task of restoring law and order to the streets of Baghdad is too daunting a job for the Iraqi Police. However, the officers of Baghdad’s Rusafah Police Directorate believe that through proper training, hard work and advanced technology they can rid the city of insurgency and terrorism.The directorate recently unveiled some of its tools, showcasing a bomb-sniffing dog and a new secure communications system. The police also demonstrated an advanced detainee database and an improvised explosive device-detecting robot.
During the demonstration, Iraqi Police Gen. Adnon, commanding officer of the Rusafah Directorate, said he was very proud of the Police officers in his area.
“These officers have worked very hard to learn the skills necessary to fight the insurgency,” Adnon said with the help of an interpreter. “We are very proud to be able to show you our skills and new technologies.”Adnon said the addition of new equipment will help Police secure the streets of Baghdad, while the new armored vehicles will insure the safety of his officers.
“Thanks to the help of our Coalition brothers we now have some of the most modern weapons available to defeat the terrorists,” he said. “The new trucks mean that our officers can safely stay out on patrol, which means our city will be safer.”
According to U.S. Army Capt. Rob Rodock, commander of the 204th Military Police Company working with the Rusafah Police, getting the equipment into the hands of the Iraqis was just one piece of the puzzle.
“This police department is responsible for quite a large area in Baghdad – basically anything that happens on the east side of the Tigris falls under this directorate,” Rodock said. “They now have and know how to use a K9 unit, IED-detecting robots, the JUMP detainee database system and night vision goggles. Their proficiency in using these new tools is what matters most.”
At the end of the showcase, Adnon issued a warning to those who practice or support terrorism or the insurgency.
“To the terrorists I say: ‘Beware. We now have the tools and the skills to defeat you, our officers are no longer sitting waiting for you. We are going to take the fight to you, find you and those who support you and in the name of Iraq, we will defeat you.’”
Gads. It must suck to be Jack Murtha when news like this comes out.
