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9 KIA and Other Developments

Nine from the 82nd killed, 20 wounded in Diyala. Exactly the kind of news people like Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., are looking for.  In war, people die, and those who don’t think anything is worth fighting for will easily find what they need to declare a war lost and wrong.

Turns out al-Qaeda wanted these soldiers dead for a reason.

The AP’s reporting on Diyala appears to have overlooked other news of the same unit* the day of this attack, instead focusing intensely on other unrelated high casualty days elsehwere. Here’s AP’s background to what’s going on in Diyala:

“… an area that has seen a spike in violence since American troops surged into the capital to halt violence there … Sunni militants are believed to have withdrawn to surrounding areas such as Diyala where they have safe haven.”

Here’s MNF-Iraq’s press release, posted yesterday prior to news of the attack, citing progress in Diyala. Locals cooperating with 5th Squadron, 73rd Cav, with payoff:

In Zaganiyah, Iraq, Saturday, citizens from the area approached members of the 5th Iraqi Army Division and Soldiers from the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, to inform them of weapon caches and people responsible for placing improvised explosive devices.

The information provided by the citizens led to the discovery of two caches and the detention of two suspected terrorists who were still carrying the initiation systems for IEDs. Six anti-Iraqi forces were also killed in the area.

The caches included artillery rounds, an anti-tank mine, more than five rocketpropelled grenades and IED-making material.

Aside from the citizens providing information, the local tribal leaders have
approached the patrol base in Zaganiyah to meet with the Iraqi army and Coalition leadership and discuss the way ahead.

“The willingness of these leaders to come to the patrol base demonstrates that
the grip of al-Qaeda has loosened and the people no longer fear for their lives by talking with Americans,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Poppas, 5-73 Cav. commander.

In other areas of the Diyala River Valley, tribal leaders who previously lacked
confidence in the Iraqi Security Forces are now reaching out to the IA and police.

According to Poppas, the local leader in As Sadah has “taken the mantle of his
leadership seriously and is determined to strike out on a path of independence,” as he now regularly meets with the IA, IP and Shia leadership in surrounding areas to return Shia families to the area and fix essential services.

The leader in Had Maskar is also reaching out to the security forces to rid the
area of terrorist activity.

No wonder al-Qaeda wanted these Americans to die.

I’m a little mystified this didn’t make the AP reports I’ve seen.  Usually in my business, when an event happens that you consider to be significant, you grab all the background you can on those involved. This was sitting in plain view at the MNF-I website. I’d consider it relevant … if only for AP’s snarking purposes, let alone for what it suggests about why al-Qaeda targeted this unit.

It may be the single-minded focus on American war dead that is screwing up the AP. For those who agree with the AP that it’s a numbers game, here are some other numbers that aren’t getting the same ink as the KIA count.

Terrorist Death Watch, Iraq, April 2007 to date: 134, for an officially noted total of 714 for the year.  For some reason, when the Associated Press is meticulously totalling the dead, they always forget that number.  AP’s also zeroed in on car bomb fatalities. But at  last check, AP appears to be a little behind on its total of car bomb factories shut down, families returned to their homes, children allowed outside to play, men not tortured, executed and dumped in vacant lots. Because the plane that lands safely is not news, and ultimately, this is about surge failure, not surge success. 

Here’s another number, compliments of press releases at MNF-Iraq: 129 terrorism and insurgent suspects captured in the last week. 

* AP calls it 5th Squadron, 73rd Cav of the 82d Abn’s 3rd BCT.  MND-I calls it 5/73 Cav, 3BCT 1st Cav Div.  82nd website says this unit is theirs. Not clear why the discrepancy in these reports. Detached from 82nd or just an error at MNF-I? I doubt the US Army has two 5/73 Cavs, both operating in Diyala.

Topics: Iraq, military

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:55 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2007

10 Responses to “9 KIA and Other Developments”

1. SoldiersDad Says:
   April 24th, 2007 at 11:48 am

   “Detached from 82nd or just an error at MNF-I? ”

   MNF-I says ‘assigned to 3BCT, 1st Cav”…so detached from the 3rd/82nd is correct.

2. CavMedic Says:
   April 24th, 2007 at 11:52 am

   I went to the Fayetteville Observer’s page to see if they had any other news, but they had pretty much the same story. However, they did have other news including a Ft. Bragg GI killed in Afghanistan by a land mine and another troop who was killed in Iraq in a wreck. A bad day in Fayetteville.

3. Bill's Bites Says:
   April 24th, 2007 at 9:18 pm

   2007.04.24 Dem Perfidy // Islamism Delenda Est Roundup

   See previous: 2007.04.23 Dem Perfidy // Islamism Delenda Est RoundupIn less than six months time, Senator Reid has gone from pledging full funding for the military, then full funding with conditions, and then a cut-off of funding. Three positions in

4. The Baltimore Reporter Says:
   April 24th, 2007 at 11:27 pm

   [...] Jules Crittenden wonders why the AP forgot to report on another development released the same day as the attack about the same unit: [...]

5. Heart breaking - Neptunus Lex - The unbearable lightness of Lex. Enjoy. Says:
   April 25th, 2007 at 12:37 am

   [...] makes my heart die within me to read that 9 US paratroops were killed executing the only strategy that promises any chance of future success - by leaving their [...]

6. This ain’t Hell… » Democrats; Bush won’t veto defense bill Says:
   April 25th, 2007 at 8:31 am

   [...] in Iraq as a propaganda move by al Qaida to influence public opinion in the US during this debate. Jules Crittenden has the backstory on the 9 killed yesterday that none of the wire services have deemed important [...]

7. Sister Toldjah » Southwest Airlines and “Red Friday” Says:
   April 25th, 2007 at 9:13 am

   [...] in honor of all our troops, especially the nine from the 82nd Airborne (based here in NC) who were KIA earlier this week. Posted By: Sister Toldjah in: War on Terror, Totally Awesome, Military | EMail This Post | [...]

8. Forbes Says:
   April 25th, 2007 at 4:32 pm

   While not an expert in these matters, my nephew served with the 82nd Airborne, and they use standard Army infantry organization-designations as company/battalion/regiment (so far as their parachute infantry regiments are concerned), while so-named Cavalry divisions use troop/squadron/cavalry designations. I believe some other (non-Cavalry) Divisions have units that have retained the troop/squadron/cavalry nomenclature for historic reasons. Adding somewhat to the confusion is the tasking of regiment or smaller units to a brigade combat team in order to fill out the assignment.

9. dingo Says:
   April 25th, 2007 at 11:12 pm

   I was in this unit before I became a recruiter. The 82nd deactivated the 3rd of the 505th PIR and added the 5th of the 73rd CAV to its 3rd Brigade Combat Team. This is a great, highly trained group of men, and I would hate to be on their bad side. I think we will see our boys wreak house in the Diyala Province.

10. kba1 Says:
    August 8th, 2007 at 9:54 pm

    5-73 CAV officially belongs to the 82nd Airborne, 3 BCT. However, for this deployment they are a part of 3 BCT, 1 CAV. There is no “discrepancy” or conspiracy theory on this matter.

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