Chanhassen Villager - U.S. troop deaths in Iraq lowest since November - Comments

The Wall Street Journal

FAdams — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:29:00 -0500

The Wall Street Journal published a story today about what it says is a "fateful debate" that "is now taking place at the Pentagon that will determine the pace of U.S. military withdrawals for what remains of President Bush's term."

"Senior Pentagon officials -- including, we hear, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen, Army Chief of Staff George Casey and Admiral Fallon -- have been urging deeper troop cuts in Iraq beyond the five "surge" combat brigades already scheduled for redeployment this summer."

Who could argue with this idea? Don't just listen to the talking heads. Link to the story at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120527897136528683.html?mod=opinion_main...

A second female soldier

FAdams — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:10:17 -0500

A second female soldier since World War II has received the Silver Star, the third-highest medal for valor.

She is a 19-year-old medic from Texas,
Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown, who saved the lives of fellow soldiers after a roadside bomb tore through a convoy of Humvees in Afghanistan's eastern Paktia province in April 2007, the military said.

According to a report in the Pioneer Press, "After the explosion, which wounded five soldiers in her unit, Brown ran through insurgent gunfire and used her body to shield wounded comrades as mortars fell less than 100 yards away, the military said."

Monday, March 10-- "Five

FAdams — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:07:06 -0500

Monday, March 10-- "Five American soldiers on foot patrol in an upscale shopping district in central Baghdad were killed Monday when a man walked up to them and exploded the explosive-laden vest he was wearing, according to American military officials." So reports the New York Times. For the full story, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?hp

International news reports

FAdams — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:00:48 -0600

International news reports from this week state that the U.S. launched an airstrike Monday on a Somali town held by Islamic extremists to go after a group of terrorist suspects, U.S. defense officials said.

The town is four miles from the Kenyan border. According to a witness, no less than two bombs were dropped on targets believed staying to be used regularly by terrorist suspects. Last year, the U.S. shelled suspected al-Qaida targets in Somalia, using gunfire from a U.S. Navy ship off the shore of the east African nation.

National news reports claim

FAdams — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:21:24 -0600

National news reports claim a senior al-Qaeda commander was killed this week in Pakistan. That's according to officials and an Islamic Web site.

Abu Laith al-Libi, the nom de guerre of a Libyan fighter who had served alongside al-Qaeda and the Taliban since the late 1980s, had become an influential field commander in recent years, overseeing many operations against U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, officials said. The U.S. military blamed him for organizing a suicide attack that killed 23 people outside Bagram air base during a visit by Vice President Cheney in February last year.

Six American soldiers died

FAdams — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:42:17 -0600

Six American soldiers died when they entered a house booby-trapped with explosives Wednesday during an offensive against Sunni insurgents in Diyala province, making it the deadliest day for U.S. troops in Iraq since November, according to reports.

The blast also killed an Iraqi translator and injured four U.S. soldiers. It is part of a large campaign in Diyala against al-Qaida in Iraq.

Sunni insurgents have fled to this part of northern Iraq over the past year after being driven out of Baghdad and western Anbar province, said the report. This is part of a larger nationwide campaign against al-Qaida in Iraq sanctuaries.

Iran trying to incite

FAdams — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:56:12 -0600

Iran trying to incite attack?

National news media outlets are reporting today, Monday, Jan. 7, that the U.S. Defense Department has claimed Iranian boats harassed and provoked three American Navy ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, threatening to explode the vessels.

Do you think with the situation in Iraq now more stable that Iran will try to provke the U.S. to war?

Iraqi government claims

FAdams — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:39:51 -0600

Iraqi government claims much of Al-Qaeda destroyed

According to the French Press, "the Iraqi interior ministry lauded its achievements over the past year."

It claimed that "75 percent of Al-Qaeda's networks in the country had been destroyed in 12 months."

The spokesman "also outlined sharp falls in the numbers of assassinations, kidnappings and death squad murders."

"He told a news conference that increased patrols along the borders with Saudi Arabia and Syria had slowed infiltration by militants and played a key role in Iraq's improved security situation."

U.S. forces said on Thursday

FAdams — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:53:52 -0600

U.S. forces said on Thursday they had killed more than 23 Sunni and Shi'ite fighters in two operations in Iraq and captured two al Qqeda-linked militants suspected of links to the abduction of three U.S. soldiers, according to Reuters.

U.S. troops in Iraq

FAdams — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:15:52 -0600

U.S. troops in Iraq funded

National media reports state that President Bush has signed a $555 billion bill that funds the Iraq war into 2008 and keeps government agencies running through next September.

The bill reportedly contained nearly 9,800 earmarks that total more than $10 billion.

Do you think earmarks are a problem in the U.S. Congress?

Reuters has reported that an

FAdams — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 10:46:05 -0600

Reuters has reported that an al Qaeda-linked group in Iraq has confirmed the death of Abu
Maysara, a top operative who the U.S. military said was killed in a
clash last month.

The U.S. military said earlier in December that Maysara, a Syrian,
was among nine senior al Qaeda members killed in November.

Torture center found in

FAdams — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:37:12 -0600

Torture center found in Iraq

National reports today, Dec. 20, describe mass graves that U.S. soldiers found north of Baghdad. The graves are next to a torture center where chains were attached to blood-spattered walls and a metal bed frame was still connected to an electrical shock system, according to the military.

The discoveries of the mass graves and torture center near Muqdadiyah, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, came during a Dec. 8-11 operation. U.S. military officials suspect the torture center was run by al-Qaida in Iraq. Graves containing 26 bodies were found nearby.

Soldiers found a total of nine caches containing a surface-to-air missile launcher, sniper rifles, 130 pounds of homemade explosives and numerous mortar tubes and rounds, among other weapons.

Four car bombs killed at

FAdams — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:54:50 -0600

Four car bombs killed at least 22 people across Iraq on Wednesday as Defense Secretary Robert Gates paid an unannounced visit to the country, security and medical officials said.

Soldier from Minnesota

FAdams — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:55:19 -0600

Soldier from Minnesota dies

The Star Tribune is reporting that a soldier from Minnesota has died after being injured in Iraq.

Sgt. 1st Class John J. Tobiason, 42, of Hayfield, died Wednesday in Baghdad of injuries he suffered in an incident that is under investigation, the department said.

He grew up in Bloomington and had volunteered to stay longer in Iraq after his tour ended in October, according to his sister. She said he was in his 14th year in the military and had planned to serve 20 years before retiring to a cabin in Minnesota.

AP photographer called

FAdams — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:11:42 -0600

AP photographer called 'terrorist media operative'

The French Press is reporting that the U.S. military has filed a formal complaint with an Iraqi criminal court accusing a detained, award-winning Associated Press photographer of being a "terrorist media operative."

Bilal Hussein has been held for more than 19 months without charges. He was detained April 12, 2006, after marines entered his house in Ramadi to establish a temporary observation post and found bomb-making materials, insurgent propaganda and a surveillance photograph of a U.S. military installation.

Hussein had previously aroused suspicion because he was often at the scene insurgent attacks as they occurred, according to the report.

U.S. troop deaths in Iraq lowest since November

FAdams — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:10:46 -0500

A total of 77 U.S. forces in Iraq died in the month of July, making it the least deadly month for U.S. troops since last November.