| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| MoreTrue Iraqi Heroes |
| 2007-09-04 |
| IRAQI ARMY STOPS CAR BOMBER FROM ATTACKING BRIDGE NORTH OF BAGHDAD CAMP TAJI, Iraq - One Iraqi Army soldier was killed and two other Iraqi Army troops and two civilians were wounded by an exploding vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near a checkpoint in Taji, Iraq Sept. 2. The suicide bomber detonated the VBIED at the checkpoint, after two unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the bridge guarded by the troops. The checkpoint was manned both by Iraqi Army troops from the 2nd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) in conjunction with members of the new Critical Infrastructure Security (CIS) unit. The CIS is made up of local volunteers that were contracted by Coalition Forces and have been vetted by the local Sheiks in the area. The vehicle was carrying chicken waste to hide the munitions in the truck. On the first approach to the checkpoint, the driver was stopped by the Iraqi soldiers who did not allow his entry because he was not following proper procedures. In his effort to breach security of the checkpoint that allows access to a key bridge, the driver claimed to be the cousin of a local area sheik-a reconciliation leader that the Iraqi Army coordinates with for vetting legitimate associates - but the Iraqi Army troops made the man take a U-turn and leave the area. On a subsequent attempt, the Iraqi troops once again forced the man to turn his vehicle around and leave the area. On the third and final attempt, the truck attempted to pull over and intermingle with an Iraqi Army convoy. Iraqi Army troops suspected a car bomb and engaged the vehicle with small arms fire by the checkpoint after noticing the driver was acting very erratically. The truck detonated. Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment and the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment both of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, rushed to the scene and assisted with securing the site and treating the wounded. According to Lt. Col. Peter Andrysiak, deputy commanding officer, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div., the attack is the work of Al Qaeda operatives. "This attack is just another example of Al Qaeda's total disregard for innocent lives whether it's women and children or Iraqi Security Forces who have chosen to selflessly defend their nation." said Andrysiak. "Due to the local populace's recent successes in regard to reconciliation efforts that are uniting the people here against insurgents and extremists, the attack proves that Al Qaeda is becoming desperate. They have lost support and are seeking any avenue they can to disrupt the efforts here that are fostering peace and will eventually mean the end for organizations like Al Qaeda." Andrysiak added that the incident shows the increasing effectiveness of the Iraqi Army and the benefits of working with local volunteers. "Together they devised a system of checks and balances to prevent AQI access to key areas and it worked," he said. "These brave Iraqis saved critical infrastructure and lives." |
| Posted by:Glenmore |
| #1 Yeah, about the third time the bomber drove around I would have shot him, too. Think about it. A truck load of chicken shit. And it blew up. Nasty. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2007-09-04 16:39 |