CENTCOM launches Operation Keyboard Warrior

Why do I spend so much time preparing a post when CENTCOM provides you with everything you need. These bloggers saved themselves a couple of hours by simply posting the following press release CENTCOM sent to a number of patriotic bloggers including the General.

Subject: From CENTCOM, IRAQI SOLDIERS, MARINES RESCUE THREE HOSTAGES
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 14:14:23 -0400
From: "CENTCOM CCPA Electronic Media"
To: "Ziegler, Patrick A. SPC USA"
[The General is apparently bcc'd]

Greetings:

Another Press Release from Iraq today. Iraqi Soldiers and U.S. Marines rescued three hostages that were held for 27 days and find a large weapons cache near Fallujah. More below.

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

-----------------
Title:
IRAQI SOLDIERS, MARINES RESCUE THREE HOSTAGES, RECOVER LARGE WEAPONS CACHE
Release Date:
7/26/2006
Release Number:
06-07-02P

Description:
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq Â? Marines from Regimental Combat Team 5Â?s, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and soldiers from 2nd and 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, rescued three Iraqi hostages in an intelligence-driven operation July 23.

The three were personal assistants and bodyguards to Dr. Rafa Hayid Chiad Al-Isaw, an Iraqi government official in Baghdad.

Â?We are extremely pleased we were able to recover these three Iraqi citizens,Â? said Col. Larry D. Nicholson, commanding officer for RCT-5. Â?The safety of Iraqi citizens to move freely about their own country without fear is a priority for U.S and Iraqi forces and we will continue to assist the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police in ensuring their citizens have a future that is free of terrorism.Â?

The three were held captive by al-Qaeda insurgents in a spiderhole complex for 27 days. The hostages were beaten with electrical cords, bitten and threatened with their lives at gunpoint by their captors. They were treated by Coalition Forces medical personnel.

The three were taken hostage by al-Qaeda insurgents west of Zaidon, a rural area south of Fallujah. They were rescued near Fuhaylat, southwest of Fallujah.

Also recovered nearby was a significant weapons cache, including a fully-assembled suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Marines also recovered IEDs and IED-making material, mortar tubes and round, artillery rounds, machine guns, bulk explosives, anti-tank mines, rocket-propelled grenades and launchers, AK-47 assault rifles, small-arms ammunition and video cameras.

Regimental Combat Team 5, partnered with Iraqi Security Force units, is currently conducting counter-insurgency and security operations in the greater Fallujah area.

PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. TEXT PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR MULTINATIONAL FORCE - WEST. For more information, contact Nathan.Braden@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

U.S. Central Command
Public Affairs
Spc. Patrick Ziegler
Spc. Chris Erickson
1Lt. Anthony Deiss

Other bloggers took advantage of CENTCOM's generous offer on Tuesday, when they posted this release (also sent by CENTCOM to the General):

Greetings:
Below is a News Release from the Kabul Press Center about an enemy attack on Coalition forces in Afghanistan.


NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

-----------------------
Title:
ENEMY FIGHTERS ATTACK COALITION UNIT, SEVEN EXTREMISTS KILLED

Release Date:
7/26/2006
Release Number:
06-07-02P

Description:
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan Â? A Coalition patrol killed seven extremists on July 25 after they attacked Coalition forces in the Garmser District of Helmand Province.

There were no Coalition casualties in the fight. The Coalition unit received small arms, rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and sniper fire from a group of extremists. The Coalition force returned fire, killing five insurgents

Later in the same area, insurgents fired small arms at an Afghan National Army mortar team, with a Coalition embedded tactical training team attached. The combined unit responded with machine gun fire and killed the remaining two insurgents.

Â?If enemy extremists fire upon Coalition forces, we will respond with deadly accuracy,Â? said Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force -76 spokesman. Â?If they attack Afghan civilians, we will respond just as forcefully. We remain committed to engaging any threats to the peaceful future of the Afghan people.Â?

Afghan National Security forces continue to maintain a strong presence in the area of Garmser and provide security that will enable reconstruction and humanitarian aid projects to be delivered that will improve the lives of the Afghan people.


For more information please contact: Kabul-Presscenter@cfc-a.centcom.mil


U.S. Central Command
Public Affairs
Spc. Patrick Ziegler
Spc. Chris Erickson
1Lt Anthony Deiss

Wow, we're really kicking butt in the Iraq and Afghanistanland phases of the Eternal Struggle to Resubjugate Brown People.