Iraq: 72 Caches/Weapons Caches seized

Operation Green Trident turns up 72 caches
>> U.S. Marines discovered more than ten metric tons of munitions hidden at 72 cache sites 39 km south of Fallujah during the week-long Operation Green Trident.

First Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8 began the operation last week near the village of Al Latifiyah to search suspected locations for hidden weapon caches. More than 1,000 artillery and mortar rounds were unearthed along with scores of rocket propelled grenades and hand grenades. Most of the caches were shallowly buried along the banks of the Euphrates River and surrounding area.

The weight of the explosives contained within these munitions is approximately one metric ton (2,200 lbs). The artillery and mortar rounds are commonly used by insurgents to make improvised explosive devices.

Task Force Baghdad raids seize weapons caches
>> Task Force Baghdad Solders kicked off the New Year by seizing and destroying two weapons caches, further denying terrorists the opportunity to put the citizens of Baghdad in harms way.

Soldiers seized the first, larger cache at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 1. The operation resulted in Solders capturing a 3.5-inch rocket, eight rocket-propelled grenades, a launcher and 60 mm mortar rounds.

Soldiers discovered the second weapons cache at approximately 8:30 a.m. Jan. 2 and seized a rocket-propelled grenade, an AK-47 assault weapon and seven loaded magazines.
(Above taken from MNF-I Press Releases A060102b & A060102c)

Great-grandmother served in Afghanistan and Iraq

I for one love stories like this.
Click this one out at KOTV.com......
Great-grandmother Returns To Oklahoma after Serving in Iraq, Afghanistan

U.N. investigators press for Interview with Syrian President Assad

U.N. investigators pressed the Syrian government to let them question the president and foreign minister about the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri la. U.N. investigators also want to interview the former Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam as soon as possible...
Read more on topic at:
>> WaxahachieDailyLight.com......
U.N. Seeks Interview with Syrian President
>> Focus-Fen.net......
Syrian President won’t appear before UN Commission

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

No. 003-06 January 02, 2006
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Vanderhorn, 37, of Pierce, Wash., died in As Sinia, Iraq, on Jan. 1, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during patrol operations. Vanderhorn was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

No. 002-06 January 02, 2006
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Marcelino R. Corniel, 23, of La Puente, Calif., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 31, when an enemy mortar attack occurred in the vicinity of his observation post. Corniel was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, Fullerton, Calif.
For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

No. 001-06 January 01, 2006
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pvt. Jonathan R. Pfender, 22, of Evansville, Ind., died in Bayji, Iraq, on Dec. 30, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during patrol operations. Pfender was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Iran develops machinery to separate uranium from its ore

Iran said today that it had developed machinery to separate uranium from its ore. The mixer-settler machinery was developed by Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO), so says Iranian State Television.
Read more on topic at:
>> ABCNews.go.com...
Iran develops uranium separation machinery
Off topic a little bit... but relevant. Click it out...
>> CBC World News
Iran threatens 'crushing' response to U.S. or Israeli attack

16 helicopters donated to the Iraqi Air Force by Jordan

Donated helicopters headed to U.S. for upgrades
Work is moving forward to upgrade 16 helicopters donated to the Iraqi Air Force by Jordan.

The work will elevate the UH-1H helicopters to Huey II configurations, which will provide a more suitable helicopter for meeting battlefield mobility requirements.

Personnel with the Coalition Air Force Transition Team of the Multi-National Security Transition Command– Iraq have been working closely with ARINC Engineering Systems on the modifications. The work will be done by U.S. Helicopter in Alabama and is expected to take eight to nine months per helicopter. Preparations for transporting the helicopters to the U.S. will take place over the next two to three months in Iraq and Jordan.

The upgrade involves stripping each helicopter down to bare metal, refurbishing and rewiring. The basic structure will also be reinforced to accept the Huey II kit, which will add more gross weight, increased power and torque. Upgraded engines in each helicopter will provide about 30 percent more power for take-offs; the Huey IIs will also be outfitted with new rotor blades and tail booms. The modifications should extend the service life of the helicopters by 20 years.

The first upgraded Huey II is expected to roll out of U.S. Helicopter in late 2006, with Iraqi Air Force pilots flying them in early 2007.
(Above and Photo courtesy of MNSTC-I and was written by Lt. Col. John Bukowinski USAF)