Yes, this is about progress. If it weren’t progress, we wouldn’t find this stuff.

March 18 – Iraqi Police and 101st Airborne Division Soldiers captured two terrorists after an improvised explosive device detonated on a combined patrol near Kirkuk, damaging one of the patrol vehicles. Soldiers and policemen, none of whom were injured, immediately searched the area and captured the two men. Mariwan Rahim, who tested positive for explosive residue and his brother Ahmed Rahim are in custody for their involvement in this activity. A spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division said terrorist activities are not being tolerated by the local populace. He said nearly 300 leaders throughout the province have signed a statement condemning terrorist activity and swearing to do everything in their power to end the violence. You’d think that 300 Iraqi leaders signing a statement condemning terrorist activity would be something the media could cover. You’d think that would be newsworthy. But you’ll only read about that here.

March 18 – A local man led soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division to a cache of ammunition during a joint patrol with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. The cache contained 500 rounds of 14 mm anti-aircraft ammunition. The Iraqi soldiers secured the cache and took it to a nearby base for disposal. A second combined patrol in Tal Afar discovered a cache of 200 rounds of small arms ammunition. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division seized the cache and took it to a nearby base for disposal.

March 21 – Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered a weapons cache, killed one terrorist and captured two others in Jabella. Iraqi soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, worked with Coalition Soldiers during the operation. Soldiers found a cache containing six 120 mm rounds, one mortar tube, one base plate and two 82 mm mortar tubes. While the cache was being secured, the Iraqi soldiers conducted a raid four kilometers south of the cache area and were attacked with small arms fire. The Iraqi troops returned fire, killing one terrorist. Troops caught and detained two other suspects for questioning.

March 22 – Iraqi Army and Coalition Soldiers killed one terrorist, wounded another, detained 14 suspects and confiscated various weapons during operations. Soldiers from 4th Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, along with their counterparts from the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division, were attacked with small-arms fire south of Latfiyah. Troops quickly returned fire, killing one terrorist. Soldiers caught and detained 11 terrorist suspects and confiscated one heavy machine gun and three 55-gallon drums filled with munitions. In another incident, Iraqi and Coalition troops were attacked by terrorists using small-arms near Iskandariyah. Soldiers returned fire, wounding one terrorist, and detained three suspects in connection with the incident. Troops confiscated two AK-47 assault rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, which were all found near the site of the attack.

March 22 – Elements of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division found five weapons cache sites west of Baghdad. The caches contained 17 pressure plate initiators, 18 106 mm antitank rounds, 400 blasting caps, 20 Motorola radios with timers, 40 artillery rounds of various sizes and a large quantity of .50 caliber rounds. An explosive ordnance disposal team arrived on the scene and conducted a controlled detonation to eliminate the threat.

This PROGRESS has prevented more than 373 IEDs from being built in just one week. We killed the guys putting them in place. In just week we made this PROGRESS, saving more than 2600 people from wounds and/or dead. Just by putting a bullet through the head of just one terrorists, we’re making progress. You liberal idiots that like to come in here complaining about “where’s the progress?” need to just wake up. Start rooting for us for a change. Stop making excuses for the guys killing innocent people and prolonging YOUR war. You morons out there protesting at Walter Reed and other hospitals where soldiers are recovering from life threatening wounds, clinging to life don’t have a clue. There are soldiers in there who will not live to see the next day and you want to protest the war there. You show me ONE soldier that at that hospital that supports your presence and I’ll show you at least 100. I’ll see you fools on Friday night. Get your talking points ready!!

Also, Save The Soldiers is hosting a contest for best military blog. The categories are: Best Soldier Website/Blog; Best Military Website/Blog; Best Soldiers Family Member Website/Blog; Best Political Site Supporting the Troops Website/Blog; Best Military Cartoon Website/Blog; Best Political Blog. You can nominate me your favorite HERE. I think it would be fun to have my hopes dashed at yet another Best Milblog competition one more time. Sometimes I feel like Peter O’Toole with the Academy Awards.