Coalition forces killed nineteen armed militants and detained three suspected militants during multiple operations to disrupt the Haqqani, Taliban and al-Qaeda improvised explosive device and foreign fighter networks in eastern Afghanistan, Friday [October 31 2008].

In Dara Noor District, Coalition forces targeted a known al-Qaeda leader, believed to facilitate the movement of foreign fighters and weapons into Konar province. The AQ leader is also believed to be in contact with other militants in the region, coordinating attacks against Coalition forces and innocent civilians.

As the force began a search of the targeted compound they were immediately engaged by two armed militants inside the first building. The force responded with small-arms fire, killing both armed militants. Following the engagement, the force moved to a second building in the compound. As the force approached the building multiple armed militants exited the building, attempting to maneuver on the force and engaging them with small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned fire, killing five armed militants, one of whom was an armed female. One suspected militant was detained during the operation.

A second operation, in Nadar Shahkot (Nader Shah Kowt) District, targeted a militant known to have ties to both the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist networks and to coordinate and direct IED attacks in the region. As the force approached the targeted militant, located in a vehicle, the two militants inside reached for AK-47s. Faced with the hostile intent, the force engaged both small-arms fire, killing them. Coalition forces conducted a search of the vehicle, finding explosives. Coalition forces destroyed the vehicle due to the threat it presented to both the force and local civilians.

Also in Nader Shah Kowt, Coalition forces killed ten armed militants and detained two suspected militants during an operation directed at a known Haqqani IED and suicide bomber facilitator. As the force attempted to search the compound they were engaged by several groups of armed militants, wielding AK-47s and rocket propelled grenades. Coalition forces responded with small-arms fire, killing six, including the targeted Haqqani militant. A search of the compound revealed multiple AK-47s, and RPG, five RPG rounds, a pistol and other military style equipment.

As the force attempted to leave the compound they received heavy fire from militants inside a building. Realizing the threat, Coalition forces engaged the militants with precision, close-air support to neutralize the threat and protecting the force.

CJTF-101

A terrorist killed by Coalition forces during an operation in Mosul on Oct. 5 has been positively identified as Abu Qaswarah.

Abu Qaswarah, also known as Abu Sara, was the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader of northern Iraq. A Moroccan native, Abu Qaswarah had historic ties to AQI founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and senior al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Abu Qaswarah took the role of the senior AQI emir of northern Iraq in June 2007. He was al-Qaeda in Iraq’s second in command and AQI Emir Abu Ayyub al-Masri’s senior operational leader.

Significant intelligence collected in the hunt for Abu Qaswarah led Coalition forces to a building in Mosul that served as a key command and control location for AQI. Upon entering the building, forces were immediately fired upon. Coalition forces returned fire in self defense, leading to the death of five terrorists. It was later determined that one of the five was positively identified as Abu Qaswarah.

Abu Qaswarah was a charismatic AQI leader who rallied AQI’s northern network in the wake of major setbacks to the terrorist organization across Iraq. He was responsible for organizing and leading AQI efforts in northern Iraq, including operations against Iraqi and Coalition targets in Mosul. Abu Qaswarah oversaw the failed attempt to destroy the Mosul Civic Center during the Holy month of Ramadan – an attack that could have killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis.

A foreign terrorist who trained with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, Abu Qaswarah directed the movement of foreign terrorists into northern Iraq. Such foreign terrorists have been responsible for multiple suicide attacks against Iraqi civilians in the northern cities of Tal Afar and Mosul. Abu Qaswarah reportedly killed foreign terrorists who wanted to return to their home countries instead of carrying out attacks against Iraqi citizens.

Abu Qaswarah’s death will cause a major disruption to the AQI network, as he played a significant role in tying numerous al-Qaeda links together in order to conduct terrorist activities in Iraq. His death will significantly degrade AQI operations in Mosul and Northern Iraq, leaving the network without a leader to oversee and coordinate its operations in the region.

“Abu Qaswarah is another example of how al-Qaeda in Iraq has been forced to rely on foreign terrorists to carry out their vicious attacks on the Iraqi people as well as Coalition and Iraqi forces,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman. “The Iraqi people do not want them here, and Coalition and Iraqi forces will continue to work together to weed them out of the country. Terrorists who bring radical and fanatic Islam into Iraq commit murderous acts against the people of Iraq and have no place in the future of Iraq.”

MNF-I

Coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt the al-Qaeda in Iraq foreign terrorist facilitation network in northern Iraq Wednesday.

In Mosul, Coalition forces captured two wanted men and one additional detainee reportedly tied to the AQI network that smuggles materiel and foreigners into Iraq for terrorist attacks. One of the men is also assessed to conspire with AQI senior leaders in Mosul.

Another operation targeting the AQI foreign terrorist facilitation network in Bayji, about 160 km south of Mosul, netted one suspect.

“Iraqi and Coalition operations are making it clear that foreign terrorists will not have free movement into Iraq,” said Maj. John C. Hall, MNF-I spokesman.

MNF-I

Seven years have passed since the events of September 11, 2001. Lots of words have been used to describe those events but the one word, the most important word, that ought to be used is MURDER.

A group of well-educated men plotted for years to commit murder. Some were wealthy, some were doctors, engineers, college professors. They had but two things in common, an overwhelming desire for power and the willingness to commit murder.

Nothing that Americans did provoked these murders. The men who did them claimed that Islam told them to kill unbelievers. Their real motives were far baser. They hated the society that had given them all that they were. Their wealth, their education, their place in their societies all came as a free gift from the West, from America.

They hated themselves and they hated Americans.

And so, their plotting came to fruition and they murdered nearly 3,000 people.

Our society survived. Our nation prospered. We hunted them, killed them, captured them and we will now put them on trial for these murders.

And every minute of every hour of every day they will hate us and seek to murder more of us.

Here’s a compelling piece by James Pethokoukis at the Capital Commerce blog on the U.S. News & World Report site.

With oil prices continuing to plunge—and they may have a lot further to go—I’ve started wondering about this “what if” scenario: Where would oil prices be today had we abandoned Iraq to civil war and al Qaeda? What if President Bush had announced on Jan. 10, 2007, that instead of surging U.S. troops under the command of General Patraeus, he was ordering their withdrawal? Imagine if Iraq had descended in complete chaos and terror and genocide. Somalia or Rwanda on the Tigris and Euphrates, I guess.

I agree with Pethokoukis. The prospect of dramatic instability in Iraq and the region would push oil prices well into the stratosphere. Oil is down 20% from its peak and it may fall even further. There are two main reasons for that, Iraqi stability and the Republican drive to drill now. Neither are actually adding oil supply, but the spike in prices was not just about supply and demand. The spike was about the future and investor fears. Calm those fears, even with added supply five years out, and prices drop.