Recently we had some real success and captured some "Ali Babbas" or bad guys. And what I mean by that is people that had intentions on killing Americans. I must first say that the majority of the credit, if not completly, belongs to the Army of Iraq and shows that real progress is being made here. While the focus of the Media is on the natural disasters in America we continue our mission of securing the future and stability in this vital part of the world.

We had been given, or more importantly the Iraqi Army had been given, information about possible insurgent activity in one part of our area of responsibility. As a result the Iraqi Army went to investigate and we went along to observe their conduct.

As we neared the objective two men got up and began to run away, the area was mainly farm land and canal roads, one of the men tried to hide a machine gun in the bushes and kept running. The good thing about this is that not so long ago the "Runners" would have probably been killed on the spot, Sadaams Army killed without restraint. The Army of a deomocratic Iraq is learning due process and discipline. The IA did as they were trained and sealed off the entire area and were soon searching the area. The local farmer on whose property this was happening claimed to know nothing, this would change dramaticly.

The two men were soon found and surrendered one of these guys was supposed to be working for "our side" and kept saying things like "Bush good, America my friends I no hurt my friends". Now up to this point they had done nothing wrong, all Iraqis over the age of eighteen are allowed to own one machine gun and both were over eighteen. None of the men could produce identification and had some real shakey stories. They were about to be released when things took a turn for the worst as far as they were concerned. (And the reason for them running was they were just scared of coalition troops).

During the questioning the search of the area was on going and as the Iraqi Army was sweeping thru some heavy vegitation several more innocent men were found hiding and quickly surrendered. Only these guys had explosives and other very serious terrorist items with them. Soon the count of men out on leisurly walks with weapons was up to five and the property owner made six.

Very soon the stories started getting very confused and people started telling the truth. The truth was that most of them were not locals and were sent to recruit others for terrorist acts on the local populace and were sent from far away to do this. I really can't get into specifics but can say that these were some bad people and they will be dealt with by the people of Iraq as they see fit.

Two intresting things for me were, as we had them at the processing center I was standing very near them and saw one of the Iraqi soldiers just yelling at one of the insurgents and asked our itreperter what was being said, he explained to me that the soldier was asking him how a muslim could be involved with those that hurt women and children and why couldn't he just live a life without harming others. I gathered that he was trying to shame the insurgent for his acts against the people of Iraq, it was good to see.

The second thing that happend was at one point I and two other Americans were standing guard over our detainees and taliking to each other when one of the insurgents, who was blindfolded for security, figured out he was in the company of only Americans. So he tried to talk to me and started saying that old familiar "Mister,mister" I immediatly stated in as firm and authoritive a voice as possible " Asma Ani, Le te chee !!" which means "Listen to me, no talking".
He didn't even peep another thing, no sympathy today for these guys they would have just as soon seen us dead as say "Mister, mister". For these guys it's "Game over".

I want to also say that next month I get some R&R (rest and relaxtion) and am really looking foward to Califorinia. For me and my fellow soldiers it's far from "Game Over" but we are way past the halftime show.