coalition hammers cockroaches in tikrit

Coalition in Iraq launch 'Iron Hammer'

BY LUNCHTIME 'O BOOZE
Reporting live from the bar at the Palestine Hotel.

In face of attacks on Iraqi civilians and Coalition Forces that have
recently
averaged 30 per day, the U.S. military launched intensified air and
ground raids in Baghdad and cities in central Iraq aimed at destroying
remnants of the Saddam Hussein regime and imported terrorists.
Troops had killed dozens of terrorists-including seven suspected
of launching a rocket attack on a U.S. military base near Tikrit,
detained dozens of others, and destroyed a dye factory and other
buildings in Baghdad.

"What you are seeing.are stepped up offensive operations to push
terrorists out of their lairs," said Army spokesperson Lt. Col. George
Krivo. The town of Uja near Tikrit is one focus of such operations.
U.S. forces have completely ringed it with razor wire.

The same week Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, was
summoned to the White House for talks. Following the visit, the Bush
administration announced that Washington will pursue the formation of a
provisional government in Iraq by next summer, to take more responsibility
for running the country than currently.
Great progress has been made in exterminating the cockroaches who have
murdered increasing numbers of Iraqi police, civilians and children.