“One measure of what is happening [in Iraq] is to note things that are not happening,”

Iraq’s citizenry joins fight against terrorism



BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Coalition and Iraqi security forces are getting help rooting out terrorists and their weapons as Iraqi citizens grow increasingly intolerant of terrorists, even turning their own relatives over to authorities.



One terrorist’s relative turned him over to Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers Monday, accusing him of drive-by attacks against Iraqi Army troops in Baghdad.



Soldiers from the 87th Infantry Regiment responded to the relative’s tip and searched the suspect’s house, finding two AK-47 rifles, a 9 mm pistol and body armor. The suspect was taken into custody for questioning.



Two separate tips from local Iraqis led Coalition and Iraqi Soldiers to two weapons caches March 25 east of Al Imam. U.S. 4th Infantry Division Soldiers along with 8th Iraqi Army Division Soldiers found more than 300 grenades and 100-plus hand grenade fuses, machine gun rounds, artillery rounds, bags of artillery propellant and blasting caps.



Iraq’s Ministries of Interior and Defense are both focusing efforts against terror cells and improvised explosive devices. The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced the discovery and disarming of several IEDs from areas including Wasit province, the al-Amil quarter. Iraqi EOD teams defused all IEDs without damages.



“One measure of what is happening [in Iraq] is to note things that are not happening,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Tuesday. “Admittedly, that's a difficult thing to do. It's far easier to report about a bomb that goes off than to note a bomb that doesn't. A car bomb that kills Iraqis outside a police recruiting station makes for a clearly understandable story compared to the fact that hundreds of Iraqis volunteer the next day, to step up to volunteer despite that attack.”



According to an Iraqi press release dated March 29, Iraqi police of the 2nd Public Order Brigade captured three terrorists and weapons in a raid in the Zafaraniya area of Baghdad, while in the al-Jamia quarter a wanted terrorist was apprehended by members of the 1st Public Order Brigade.

[Iraq][Iraqui people]>[US Armed Forces]