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U.S. Repels Simultaneous Attacks in Iraq
By JIM GOMEZ
.c The Associated Press
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - U.S. troops repelled simultaneous attacks Sunday afternoon in the northern city of Samarra, killing 46 Iraqis, wounding at least 18 and capturing eight, the U.S. military said. Five American soldiers and a civilian were wounded.
Many of the dead attackers were found wearing uniforms of the Fedayeen, a militia loyal to Saddam Hussein, according to Lt. Col. William MacDonald of the 4th Infantry Division. MacDonald described the attack as massive and well coordinated.
``This is the largest one for our task force since we've been in theater,'' he said.
``It sounds like the attack had some coordination to it, but the soldiers responded, used their firepower, used tank and Bradley fire and other weapons available to them, to stop this attack and take the fight to the enemy,'' he said.
Two U.S. logistical convoys were moving into Samarra when they were attacked with roadside bombs, small arms fire, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. The attacks - one on the east side of the city, the other on the west - were simultaneous, MacDonald said.
After setting up a barricade along the route of one of the convoys, the attackers opened fire from rooftops and alleyways, MacDonald said.
He said U.S. soldiers returned fire from several locations at each ambush, using small arms, 120mm tank rounds and 25mm canon fire from Bradley fighting vehicles. The U.S. fire destroyed three buildings the attackers were using, he said.
None of the wounded Americans suffered life-threatening injuries, MacDonald said. Two sustained only minor injuries, while the other three were evacuated to a hospital, along with the wounded civilian.
MacDonald said he didn't think convoy procedures needed to be altered as a result of the attack, because his troops won the battles.
``We have been very aggressive in our convoy operations to ensure the maximum force protection is with each convoy,'' he said. ``But it does send a clear message that if you attempt to attack one of our convoys, we're going to use our firepower to stop that attack.''
In a separate attack about an hour later, another convoy of U.S. military engineers was attacked by four men with automatic rifles. The soldiers returned fire, wounding all four men, MacDonald said. He said soldiers found Kalashnikov rifles and grenade launchers in their car, a black BMW.
Samarra is 60 miles north of Baghdad in the so-called Sunni Triangle where opposition to the U.S. occupation of Iraq has been fiercest.
Also Sunday, two South Korean civilian contractors were killed and two were injured in a roadside attack near Samarra. MacDonald said the attack was unrelated.
11/30/03 16:17 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
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Clampdown on Saddam's birthplace
By LARRY KAPLOW
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11-30-03
AL-OWJA, Iraq -- When pressed, a weary Sheik Mahmoud al-Needa admits that what is happening in this farming village by the Tigris River is "part of the price we have to pay."
Al-Owja, birthplace of Saddam Hussein, enjoyed favored status under the dictator's rule.
Now, although U.S. forces have not yet captured its famous native son, they have a tight hold on his village. A month ago, facing attacks allegedly led and financed by people in the village, troops encircled it with rolls of barbed wire, lining the nearby highway and snaking along the sand between the eucalyptus trees on the edge of the community. All males over 16 years old must register for Army-issued identification cards.
Until Friday, soldiers searched cars and recorded the identity of anyone entering or leaving the village. A few dozen on a "blacklist" were not allowed to exit. Friday evening, the checks ended, though they can be reimposed. The U.S. Army officer who thought up the plan is hopeful that residents got the point.
"It has forced them into a dialogue with our forces," said Lt. Col. Steve Russell, a battalion commander in the 4th Infantry Division. "They realized that the rules were completely ours.
"Russell's battalion (1-22 Infantry), which covers the nearby city of Tikrit and surrounding villages, has suffered the most casualties in the division -- five killed and 48 wounded. But no U.S. soldiers have been killed there in the month since al-Owja was encircled. He said the registration of the men -- which includes the issuance of the photo ID in English -- has turned the town into a "fishbowl" for gathering information on Iraqi insurgents.
Many residents of the town see the plan as unfair. Al-Needa noted that despite the new tactics, this has been a deadly month for attacks on U.S. forces throughout Iraq.
Residents also say the new system is haphazard. For example, they note that one of those on the blacklist for exit was Nasser Hussein Obaid, a 40-year-old invalid, crippled since birth, who lives in a fly-infested home with his equally disabled brother and mother.
Russell said Obaid has "close ties to Saddam" and may possess valuable information. He noted that only about three dozen residents are on the blacklist, and the rest of the town's 3,500 residents were free to come and go past the checkpoint.
Reminders of Saddam
Al-Owja is a village where reminders of Saddam are visible at every turn.
There is evidence of his largess in the wide avenues and large homes not usual for a small farming community. And there is the graffiti, all over the village, hailing Saddam and cursing the Americans.
More striking are the residents themselves. Most carry the family name al-Naseri from Saddam's al-Naseri tribe. Many men even have broad faces and wide-set eyes favoring the fallen dictator. In conversations, some extol Saddam even while asking why U.S. troops are so tough on them.
But the more pragmatic members of the tribe now disavow the former leader and some already do business with the interim Iraqi government.
Al-Needa is one of the pragmatic ones and his relationship with Russell will be important to both the tribe's pacification and its rehabilitation.
Now 60 years old, al-Needa was already a wealthy farmer and prominent tribe member before Saddam rose to power. Saddam confiscated some of his lands, but also allowed him to keep much of his wealth and, al-Needa admits, once gave him a Toyota sedan.
This summer, a sheik whom Saddam had anointed to lead the tribe was assassinated. The tribe chose al-Needa to replace him. Al-Needa said that was because his family had for generations been the traditional leading family before Saddam disrupted the order.
But he was also chosen for being nonpolitical. Having never joined Saddam's Baath party, he could speak to the Americans on the family's behalf. Around the time he assumed power, there were anonymous threats made on his life in leaflets spread in the village.
Attended by servants, an expressionless al-Needa can praise the democracy he saw over decades of trips to the United States and quip that he speaks only enough English to order a whiskey. He can also describe the tribal obligation he felt in arranging the August burial of Udai and Qusai, Saddam's sons who were killed in a battle with U.S. forces. "Their father was not here, so I am supposed to act like their father," he said.
History, incentives
But the one with the upper hand is clearly Russell, a casual, telegenic 40-year-old Oklahoman. He studied military history -- the tactics used by Napoleon in Germany and the French in Algeria -- to find a way to track an enemy who lives among the population.
He relies in part on tribal politics to keep the village subdued, giving al-Needa a chance to use his sheik's clout in winning the residents' cooperation. Of course, he can frequently draw on ample force -- U.S. troops have raided and searched about a third of the homes in the village. But he also uses incentives, saying that the coalition has helped al-Needa acquire loans and complete paperwork with the new bureaucracy.
When he wrapped the village in barbed wire, he told al-Needa that the residents must stop supporting attacks on the coalition, provide information on hidden weapons in their farmlands and make those on the blacklist available for questioning at any time.
He said al-Needa has delivered about as well as he can.
But last week, before the checkpoint was suspended, al-Needa took a bitter view of the American actions. He warned that the IDs and the barbed wire would just turn people against the Americans -- something Russell dismisses, noting the existing anti-American sentiments.
In the end, though, al-Needa said he can do little except follow the American dictates. That's exactly the message Russell would like to send to the whole village.
"If this happened in the time of Saddam Hussein, we would fight him," al-Needa said. "But we can't fight the Americans. They are more powerful."
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Task Force Commander Says More Mobile Force Will Have 'Right Blend' of Units
By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2003 – The coalition forces commander in Iraq said today that a changing U.S. military unit composition will yield a more mobile force in Iraq.
"I am a commander that has a mission to accomplish and I have to structure the force accordingly," Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, Combined Joint Task Force 7 commander, told reporters in Baghdad. "We are moving (toward) a more mobile force, one that has a right blend of light and heavy (units) that is rapidly deployable across the battle space that I own and we will have more infantry at the time and be able to move that force."
Sanchez suggested that any reduction in force would come in the areas of logistics, where he said the coalition has replaced that capacity with contracting support. Another decrease will come in the tactical and strategic signals units, which can be replaced with commercial capacity. Also, he said, the coalition has contracted significant amounts of Iraqi support, which will allow the United States to withdraw transportation assets to an extent.
The general also shared his observations on President Bush's highly secret visit by to Iraq Thanksgiving Day. He said it sent a strong message to soldiers and the Iraqi people that the U.S. leaderships at the highest levels stand behind them.
Sanchez and U.S. civilian administrator L. Paul Bremer had just delivered opening remarks to the 600 service members assembled to enjoy dinner with high-ranking officials. Bremer, a former U.S. ambassador and following protocol, asked aloud if there was a higher-ranking official present to read the president's Thanksgiving proclamation, at which point Bush entered the dining facility.
"It was an unbelievable experience to stand there and feel the intensity of the moment as he walked out on to that podium," Sanchez said. "Without saying a word, every soldier in there at that moment understood that America was behind them, that all levels of leadership in America supported them, that the president was committed to the mission and more importantly that there would be no wavering in this mission, that we're not going to walk away from here."
Describing the president's visit as "electrifying and emotional," Sanchez said that message reverberated throughout the room and then very rapidly spread across the command.
Sanchez also reported the daily average of engagements in Iraq against U.S. troops has declined 30 percent in the past 14 days. "We had had some days where we went as high as 50 engagements, and over the last seven-day period we are down to an average 22 engagements per day," he said. "And this decline is most significant in the areas where we have taken the fight to the enemy and where we have been the most aggressive in our offensive operations. And I guarantee you that we remain ready to respond should these engagements increase again."
During the briefing, Sanchez provided reporters with examples of how offensive operations against the enemy have reduced the number of attacks.
He said that in Operation Iron Hammer, the 1st Armored Division – working with "actionable intelligence" and the Iraqi security forces and using airpower and combat systems on the ground – has led to a decrease of 70 percent in the number of enemy attacks in Baghdad. Sanchez said division raids netted over 180 enemy personnel, to include high-level Baath Party officials and a number of detainees believed to have ties to the rocket attack on the Al Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad Oct. 26. He said operations have also resulted in a "laundry list" of weapons and ammunition seized.
Also the 4th Infantry Division offensive operation dubbed "Ivy Cyclone II" in the north central region helped decrease the numbers of attacks against coalition forces in that area, he said. Sanchez pointed out that division soldiers have worked closely with Iraqi security services through targeted patrols and ambushes, cordon and searches, and raids that have led to the capture of over 600 personnel suspected in involvement of anti- coalition activities and seizure of significant number of weapons and ammo, including plastic explosive, blasting caps and improvised explosive devices. "In the IED area alone we captured 101 IEDs that were found ready to employed against our forces," Sanchez stated. "These were found, defused and destroyed."
The coalition commander also talked about misleading reports on enemy tactics and the seemingly high number of U.S. casualties. "Overall, when you look at the number of casualties that have occurred over time, they have remained fairly consistent, "Sanchez explained. "You take those incidences where we had the attack on the Italians, where you had the CH-47 and our UH-60s that crashed in Mosul. Those were the spikes in casualties that occurred, and clearly you can't refute those as effective attacks and that we incurred additional casualties than normal," he said.
"But in terms of my assessment of the overall progress, there is absolutely crystal clear evidence that we are making progress, that there is an increasing confidence in the Iraqi people and there has never been a question in the coalition forces that we are going to succeed here," he maintained. "And that is displayed every single day out on the battlefield."
Sanchez said one clear indicator for the rationale in his assessment of the security improvement in Iraq is that more Iraqis continue to help coalition forces with ammunition and weapon turn-ins. And, more importantly, they help identify anti-coalition individuals that have been "targeting or planning to target" coalition forces across the country. ......
The U.S. military in Iraq continues to play a vital role in the civil assistance and support operations by rehabilitating schools, supporting electricity production, and providing water and medical care, Sanchez said. "All of this (is) designed to support the journey that we are embarking on together toward accelerated sovereignty for a safe and democratic country of Iraq."
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U.S. troops across Iraq cheer surprise Bush visit
By Dean Yates
TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Awesome, courageous, a good move for morale, no way - these were some of the reactions of American soldiers when President George Bush flew secretly into Iraq for Thanksgiving on Thursday.
"That is absolutely awesome," said Sergeant Aaron Hildernbrandt, from Claremont, Florida, as he watched news of Bush's two-and-a-half hour swing-through on television in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.
"I think that shows real personal courage," said his companion Sergeant Gilbert Nail of Oklahoma, both of whom had just returned from a patrol through Saddam Hussein's hometown.
Bush secretly left his Texas ranch late on Wednesday and flew on Air Force One to Baghdad, where he helped serve Thanksgiving lunch to around 600 soldiers at Baghdad International Airport.
The lightning presidential visit seemed to go some way to dispelling an impression of low morale among United States troops in Iraq given by many recent reports.
"I think this is a great move. For him to actually come here and spend time with the troops on the holiday. This is a good move," said Private Michael Debratta from New York as he manned a checkpoint in central Baghdad.
"This is definitely a good move for morale. It makes us feel better that our leader is actually here on a holiday."
Bush's bold visit was kept secret from all but a very small pool of White House reporters who travelled with him on the long flight from the United States.
The president, wearing a grey military zip-up top, was welcomed by Paul Bremer, the US-appointed governor of Iraq, and helped serve food to a group of stunned soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 1st Armoured Division.
They cheered and shouted as Bush, who is the overall commander of US forces, entered the military mess at the airport, and whooped and whistled as he made a short address.
"I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere," Bush said.
"Thanks for inviting me to dinner... I can't think of a finer group of folks to have Thanksgiving dinner with than you all."
Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, the commander of the 1-22 (Infantry) Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division, which is leading the hunt for Saddam around Tikrit, was astonished at Bush's visit.
"No way," he told a reporter when told of the trip.
"I think that's great. It sends a strong message from the commander-in-chief that we're focused on winning. It's a real morale booster."
The United States has more than 130 000 troops in Iraq. In recent months they have faced a deepening insurgency from loyalists of the former regime, who almost daily set off explosions or fire mortars at US positions.
More than 180 US soldiers have been killed since Washington declared an end to major combat on May 1.
But despite those losses, soldiers said Thursday's visit from Bush was just the sort of thing to keep them upbeat.
"It's a total morale booster," said Nail in Tikrit.
"I didn't get to see him but what matters is that he cares enough to come and visit."
11/27/03 17:41 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
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Troops Kick Off Thanksgiving, Iraq Style
By SLOBODAN LEKIC
Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP)--About 100 runners kicked off Thanksgiving celebrations in Iraq with an early morning ``camel trot'' through Saddam Hussein's palace complex in downtown Baghdad, past bombed-out mansions and concrete blast walls topped with razor wire.
In Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, thousands of American soldiers celebrated Thanksgiving with imported turkey, cranberry sauce, a rock concert and a jog across a sandbagged camp dotted with bombed-out palaces.
Sgt. 1st Class Gary Brimmer of Hart, Mich., said he misses his wife and three children but considers himself lucky. A distant cousin, Sgt. Todd Robbins, was killed in Iraq earlier this year by what he said was ``friendly fire.'' ``I think of him a lot, a fine man. He paid the ultimate price. The price I have to pay for not being with my family is small in comparison,'' said Brimmer, panting after bagging the gold medal for finishing ahead of 449 other soldiers in a 3-mile ``turkey trot'' foot race......
At the start of the race in Tikrit, participants in shorts and T-shirts shivered in the chilly morning breeze at the headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division here. A U.S. flag fluttered on stage and a brass band played the theme song from the movie ``Rocky.''
"I'm not complaining,'' said Lt. Katie Noll of Cincinnati, Ohio, explaining she'll leave next week on a furlough home for Christmas. But she said she was worried about her boyfriend, 2nd Lt. Jeff Brewster, who is deployed near the demilitarized zone in South Korea.
The gargantuan task of feeding an occupying army took weeks of preparation, with whole turkeys, cranberry sauce and spices imported from the United States then flown into Kuwait. From there, it was loaded into seven trucks and brought into Iraq under heavy military escort.
In the kitchen, Pfc. Tracei Och of Pensacola, Fla., could hardly stay awake after slicing roast turkey all night. Och, in a white chef hat, was one of 18 Army soldiers preparing turkey with help from a few dozen Indian cooks. Och says she'd rather be cooking back home for a smaller crowd. About 5,000 soldiers were expected for lunch and a similar number for dinner. ..........
Associated Press correspondent Jim Gomez contributed to this report from Tikrit
AP-NY-11-27-03 0617EST
Copyright 2003, The Associated Press.
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