Big Lizards:Blog:Entry “US kills 20 Terrorists in Western Iraq”

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October 23, 2005

US kills 20 Terrorists in Western Iraq

Hatched by Sachi

On Saturday, American forces conducted a series of raids at the Syrian border. In western Iraq, the Anbar province, 20 terrorists were killed during raids on houses believed to contain foreign al-Qaeda fighters. The U.S. is continuing the offensive, not giving terrorists any breathing space.

A statement said U.S. forces found two large caches of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds and bomb making materials, during the raids in the western town of Husayba. It said one insurgent was captured in the operation.

In another raid near Qaim, Coalition forces detained five terrorists and seized a large cache of weapons in an al-Qaeda not-so-safe house. The best news about this good news is how we obtained the intelligence in the first place... from ordinary local Iraqi citizens, who are turning against the foreign al-Qaeda invaders at an astonishing rate:

Intelligence sources and tips from local citizens led coalition forces to the location. Coalition aircraft, using precision guided munitions, destroyed the safe house and weapons cache after coalition forces left the scene.

Elsewhere in Iraq, quick thinking by Iraqi police officers attached to the Khalis Iraqi Police station thwarted a potentially devastating attack on the station.

Shortly after noon, a semitrailer approached the Khalis traffic circle and failed to slow and stop as directed. Guards fired on the vehicle, which then veered to the south. Its payload of explosives detonated when it hit a brick wall, killing a police officer.

A short time later, four mortars were fired at the traffic circle, seriously injuring two children in a nearby field. The children were taken to an Iraqi medical facility for treatment.

As the pace of our offensives increases, more and more foreign fighters have been targeted. This year alone, 376 foreign fighters had been captured and over 400 killed. The Fourth Rail reports:

With an estimated 150 terrorists entering the country monthly, well over half of the year’s total have been killed or captured, an exceedingly high attrition rate. General Lynch also points out that al Qaeda in Iraq’s leadership is often of foreign origin.

Okay, okay: 776 out of 1800 is only 43%, not "well over half." Minor arithmetic errors aside, al-Qaeda’s foreign invaders are clearly losing this war -- "big time."

Hatched by Sachi on this day, October 23, 2005, at the time of 12:27 AM

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Comments

The following hissed in response by: Tommy V

I can't say I agree with you that they're losing "big time".

Remember, these terrorists are nor seeking a military victory. They seek only to draw the killing out long enough that public pressure forces American troops, to not only leave, but to not attempt a military presence again in the Middle East.

As long as they have such willing allies within our own country this strategy clearly has a chance.

Only time will tell.

The above hissed in response by: Tommy V at October 23, 2005 12:54 AM

The following hissed in response by: Jimbo

Actually, since only ten months have gone by, at 150 terrorists/month, that totals 1,500, and 776 is about 52%. "Well over half...?" NO, but over half.

The above hissed in response by: Jimbo at October 23, 2005 8:26 AM

The following hissed in response by: Bill Roggio

Here's the full quote:

"In an October 20th press briefing, Major General Rick Lynch reports that 376 foreign fighters had been captured this year, and over 400 killed. This does not even begin to account for enemy wounded. The foreigners come from countries that are outside the reach of U.S. forces. With an estimated 150 terrorists entering the country monthly, well over half of the year’s total have been killed or captured, an exceedingly high attrition rate."

The final sentence should read "killed, captured or wounded" (which I have since corrected), which would give you well over 50%. The hard numbers were only given for killed & captured. We have no idea about enemy wounded, but no doubt they are at least as high as the killed.

The above hissed in response by: Bill Roggio at October 23, 2005 8:38 AM

The following hissed in response by: senorlechero

My son spent 7 months in Husaybah as a marine rifleman. Whenever they fought the enemy, either in a firefight or by destroying a building they never counted or even estimated the enemy KIA. This is still the case in most instances. When they say "20" insurgents killed its based on intel reports on the number of insurgents in a building or on individual marine reports documenting actual "kills". The point is that many more insurgents are being killed than are being reported. BUT........I think many more insurgents (foreign fighters) are entering Iraq than we estimate.........so the estimates may balance out in the end.

One interesting point about the Marines work in the Qaim/Husaybah area. About 2 weeks ago there was a report of 50 insurgents killed when marines dropped 500 lb bombs on a "Hotel". My son said the only "Hotel" in the area is across the border in Syria. Back in December (maybe it was November) 2004 the marines launched a bunch of mortar rounds across the border to an area in Syria where Counter Battery Radars detected enemy mortars were being launched. I wonder how many insurgents killed in the Husaybah area are actually in Syria when they are killed?

The above hissed in response by: senorlechero at October 24, 2005 3:24 PM