The Day Anna Died (II)

(AKA 55 stories CNN doesn't want you to know...)

Apparently I'm not the only one who noticed American networks abandoned a lot of opportunities to report real news this week. Via comments and email, others have weighed in.

J.P. at Resurgemus noticed a death that was all but unnoticed:

The same day [or the next day] the oldest living veteran in the US died. Anthony Pierro served in combat during the First World War.

BOSTON - Antonio Pierro, who was believed to be the last remaining World War I veteran in Massachusetts, has died, his nephew said. He was 110.

Pierro - who lived most of his life in Marblehead and Swampscott - died Thursday morning in a Salem nursing home. He would have celebrated his 111th birthday on Feb. 15.

His nephew, 58-year-old Richard Pierro, said his uncle also was believed to be the oldest man living in the United States.

Antonio Pierro lived with his younger brother, Daniel, 97, and his nephew until about six weeks ago.

The number of living World War I veterans is dwindling quickly. Mr. Pierro's death leaves only seven American World War I veterans known to be alive, said Laurie Tranter , a spokeswoman for the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Via email, Badger 6:

On the day Anna died, three of my Soldiers died trying to recover the CH46 that went down.

We do route clearance, they were in the lead vehicle. They were heros.

Then read this one from the Boston Herald:

Yesterday, minutes after Iraqi insurgents posted a Web video purportedly showing Swampscott Marine Capt. Jennifer Harris’ CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter being hit by a missile Wednesday, the stark two-minute clip literally made its way around the world. With Islamic chanting added to scenes of the burning craft’s final minutes, the clear intent was to delight in the deaths of the seven Americans who went down with the chopper.

But what looks like a piece of glorious propaganda to those insurgents also shows the skill and valor of a 28-year-old Swampscott woman determined to live out the dream of her life to its heroic end.

Peter Sack, the retired principal of Swampscott High School, who will forever remember Jenn Harris as one of the brightest, most gracious lights of his years as an educator, was sitting in a doctor’s waiting room yesterday afternoon when he caught sight of the video on CNN.

“I could hear the commentator’s voice say they believed it was footage of Wednesday’s helicopter crash,” Sack said. “The thought it was Jenn’s helicopter I was watching sickened me at first.

“Then, as I watched, I could see that the helicopter continues to fly even after it’s hit. It appears to stay level, even as flames and smoke are streaming out of the back. I thought of Jenn fighting to keep her craft steady and the level of excellence it must have taken to do that despite all that was happening around her. And I was awed by her incredible bravery.”

Taking a brief break from their Anna Nicole coverage yesterday, CNN found space and time for a front-page story on three other soldiers in Iraq

3 U.S. troops killed hunting weapons cache

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- An explosion killed three U.S. troops and wounded four others as the soldiers searched a building for a weapons cache in Diyala province in Iraq, the U.S. military announced Saturday.

The killings on Friday raise the February death toll for U.S. troops to 37.

Since it began in 2003, the war has taken the lives of 3,113 U.S. troops and seven Department of Defense civilians.

Here's what CNN saw as the key points to provide Americans about Iraq yesterday:

• Friday's troop deaths bring the February death toll for U.S. troops to 37
• Attacks in Baghdad, Mosul and Musayyib kill 13 people, wound dozens
• Of those 13, four killed when car explodes in Baghdad commercial area
• In Mosul, gunmen and bombers target Iraqi police, soldiers

And here are a few stories not worthy of their attention - all of which have been reported by CENTCOM or MNF-I in the few days since Anna Nicole Smith died:

Cavalry Troops Destroy Terrorist Facility

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, using artillery fire, destroyed a building used by terrorists near a village west of Baghdad Feb. 9.

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment coordinated the strike in cooperation with other units from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division in Al Sumalat, Iraq.

The 2-5th Cavalry troops recently attempted entry into the building, only to find that it had been booby-trapped with multiple improvised explosive device (IED) traps.

The building, which has been a known insurgent sniper position and an alleged IED-manufacturing site, was destroyed to prevent its further use by insurgent forces.

YUSUFIYAH, Iraq — Iraqi army and coalition troops continue to find stockpiles of weapons and detain terror suspects near the main highway, Route Tampa, leading into Baghdad, where operations have been ongoing since Feb. 3.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Troop B, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment “Wolverines,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) are working together as part of Operation Wolverine Alesia. The operation has uncovered two major caches – including one that contained 1,100 mortar rounds – and three minor ones. They have also detained six suspected insurgents in the course of the operation.

Soldiers continue to conduct cordon-and-search operations as well as route clearance and deliberate search-and-attack village clearance.

“We have effectively denied the zone as an anti-Iraqi forces sanctuary in the Wolverine area of operations,” said Lt. Col. Mark Suich, a native of Redding, Pa., and commander of the 1-89th Cavalry.

The operation also included a veterinary treatment clinic. Iraqi farmers brought 187 animals to be treated by Multi-National Division – Baghdad veterinarian, Lt. Col. Neil Ahle. The animals, wrangled mostly by the local children, were given de-worming medicine and vaccinations for endemic area diseases.

Encouraging Iraqi veterinarians was Ahle’s main goal, he said.
“Maybe by doing this veterinary care, we’ll get a vet in the area to step up,” he said. “We put a lot of effort into many areas, but pushing the Iraqi people to step up and do it – well, this is one way to do that.”

In Iraq , U.S. Air Force F-16s conducted a strike against an anti-Iraqi forces improvised explosive device manufacturing building in the vicinity of Baghdad . The F-16s expended a GBU-38 and a GBU-12, successfully destroying the building and eliminating the facility’s IED production.

U. S. Air Force F-16s also provided shows of force for troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces in the vicinity of Balad. The F-16s provided over watch to an area where troops were receiving small arms fire. The F-16s also provided convoy over watch support.

U. S. Air Force F-16s provided close air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Basra , Al Mahmudiyah and Baghdad .

A Royal Air Force GR-4 provided close air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Basra .

In total, Coalition aircraft flew 46 close air support missions for Multi National Corps – Iraq priorities. These missions included support to Coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Additionally, 17 U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq .

U. S. Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan , Iraq and the Horn of Africa. About 150 airlift sorties were flown; 455 tons of cargo was delivered, and about 3,960 passengers were transported.

Local citizen leads IA, CF to weapons caches in factory

KHAN BANI SA’AD, Iraq – After receiving tips from a local citizen, Iraqi army soldiers, in partnership with Coalition Forces, discovered weapon caches in a factory in Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq, last Sunday.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, and CF from Company C, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, received tips that insurgents were transporting mortar weapons systems and rocket-propelled grenades into the factory.

“There is a direct correlation between Iraqi Security Force’s success, and individual support and cooperation from the people of Diyala,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander.

After coordination, the Soldiers conducted a raid, discovering two weapon caches hidden within the factory.

The caches consisted of two 82 mm mortar systems, which were complete and had recently been fired; two 82 mm mortar rounds, one 61 mm mortar system and approximately 500 rounds of small-arms fire ammunition.

“This act is significant as it shows the local population is no longer willing to tolerate the terrorists and the inherent negative affect their presence has on security and quality of life,” said Sutherland.

BAGHDAD – Another car bomb cell is off the streets after Iraqi and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers responded to a tip and conducted a raid in the northwest neighborhood of Ameriyah Feb. 8.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army conducted the raid while Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, provided security from the outer cordon.

The Iraqi Army troops detained one terrorist suspect. During initial questioning, the suspect implicated a second suspected car bomb cell member living next door.

BAGHDAD, IRAQ – Coalition Forces conducted operations Thursday in Arab Jabour targeting local al-Qaida terrorists linked to a vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices cell.

During operations, Coalition Forces found numerous caches containing VBIED/IED making material including multiple containers of ammonium nitrate, numerous primers and blasting caps, mortar systems, rocket propelled grenades, numerous small arms and a rocket launcher mounted on a truck. Coalition Forces destroyed all of the caches found on site.

During the operation, ground forces spoke with numerous Iraqi civilians who thanked Coalition Forces for their efforts. According to a Coalition Forces translator, the overall feeling in the community was that of “great appreciation.”

The translator explained to the Coalition Forces that the residents described their fears of living among terrorists and how glad they were to see Coalition Forces walking through the streets, providing a much-appreciated level of safety.

CCCI convicts 14 insurgents
Seven sentenced to 15 years imprisonment

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 14 insurgents from Jan. 26 – Feb. 1, for various crimes including possession of illegal weapons, possessing fake identification and illegal border crossing.

The trial court found four Iraqi men guilty of illegal possession of special weapons in violation of Order 3/2003. Multi-National Forces-Iraq were on patrol in the vicinity of Rawah Sept. 20, 2006 when they spotted a vehicle acting suspiciously. MNF-I stopped the vehicle with the four defendants and then preceded to search the vehicle. MNF found one IED, one Berretta 9mm pistol with two full magazines and det cord. Explosive Ordinance Disposal responded to the scene and recognized the IED as a “speed-bump style” IED that contained 15-20 pounds of explosive filler. On Jan. 28, the trial panel sentenced all four men to 15 years imprisonment.

The trial court found a Jordanian man guilty of entering the country illegally in violation of Article 10/1 of the Passport Law. On March 10, 2004 MNF-I conducted a targeted raid on a known safe house for foreign fighters where the defendant was apprehended. The defendant stated he came to Iraq legally, but to conduct terrorist activities. The defendant though could not produce the legal documentation. On Jan. 28 the trial panel considered all the evidence and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment.

The trial court found a Yemeni man guilty of entering the country illegally in violation of Article 10/1 of the Passport Law. On Sept. 6, 2006 during a targeted raid MNF-I captured the defendant who was a leader of a five man IED cell operating in the Al-Ramadi Region. At the time of capture the defendant was in possession of a hand grenade and a false ID card. The defendant confessed to entering Iraq illegally to conduct terrorist activities. On Jan. 31 the trial panel found him guilty and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

On Jan. 7, 2004, a foreign fighter from Saudi Arabia was detained by Karmah Police for being a foreign fighter from Saudi Arabia. The defendant was detained for suspicion of having a Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). Although that suspicion turned out to be false, the defendant admitted to being in Iraq illegally and claimed he walked to Iraq from Saudi Arabia. He was charged with violation of Article 10/1 of the Iraqi passport law. On Jan. 31 the trial panel found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Those convicted of passport violations, possessing and using false ID’s and illegal possession of special category weapons were sentenced from between six to 15 years imprisonment. Those convicted were 10 Iraqis and one each from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen.

Since its reorganization, under an amendment to CPA order 13, in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 1,842 trials for Coalition-apprehended insurgents. The proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,594 individuals with sentences ranging up to death.

Forty-eight more stories CNN doesn't want you to know:

Feb 10 (Eleven stories)
Feb 8 (Nine stories)
Feb 7 (Two stories)
Two more on Feb 6
Seven stories from Feb 4
Seventeen stories from Feb 3.