Other Columns by Thomas D. Segel
Thomas D. Segel Bio

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Writing commentary from the southern most tip of Texas doesn't really place me at the heart of America's information center. Like most of the population, I obtain the news from television, publications and the Internet. However, I still seem to be better informed than a leftist senator from Massachusetts.

Admittedly, I hold Ted Kennedy, the womanizing hero of Chappaquiddick, in very low esteem. My mind finds it impossible to understand how the people of that great state can keep electing this objectionable individual to one of the highest offices in our country.

Among Senator Kennedy's ridiculous mutterings of recent days was a tirade on February 3rd directed at our military leadership. He demanded to know..."when the Iraqis were going to start fighting?"

News Flash!!! Hey Senator...They're already fighting! Iraqi Security Forces led a series of raids, which started on January 10, along with members of the multinational force. Near Mosul they uncovered 10 weapons and munitions caches, bomb making equipment and intelligence information.

In Fallujah, soldiers from the 3rd Iraqi Intervention Force engaged in an operation, which uncovered a large weapons cache and also resulted in the capture of 41 insurgents. Iraqi Security Forces and the 1st Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division conducted another operation on January 18. They too confiscated weapons and captured nine people.

In a similar operation Iraqi Army soldiers from the 12th Battalion engaged in a heavy firefight near Mosul. Two insurgents were wounded and evacuated to a local hospital. Three other insurgents were captured.

The Iraqi Army 306th Battalion, 40th Brigade is an element of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the First Cavalry Division. This unit has been very active, fighting side by side with American forces. On January 18 the United States turned over responsibility for security operations in Sadr City to the 306th Battalion.

Though the leadership change is an important event, the Iraqi Army 306th Battalion has been active in Sadr City for many weeks. They have been conducting raids, going on patrols, manning checkpoints and have been party to the capture of many terrorists and insurgents. They have also discovered numerous weapons caches.

The Iraqi 204th Army Battalion conducted three operations in January. Their first operation resulted in the capture of Ahmed Abdullah Nasiaf while on a patrol in Baqubah. The second operation was conducted in Khalis where the unit captured Hashum Mehdi Hussein Al Tai and that important detainment led to the capture of Absam Abd Ale Khadhim Al Obaydi. All thee of these men were terrorist leaders.

In Tikrit Iraqi soldiers from the 201st captured a suspected insurgent at a traffic checkpoint. This detainee is suspected of providing the funding for terrorist cells in that area.

Soldiers from the Iraqi Army's 1st Battalion, 1st Division were involved in a heavy firefight in Mosul on January 21. They received mortar and small arms fire, joined in the attack, killed one insurgent and captured another. They continued the search killing another insurgent inside a house. They also captured the insurgent who had been calling in Iraqi positions to the mortar crew and an 82 mm mortar, along with its ammunition.

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