(AP/Washington Post) U.S. soldiers - using sophisticated night vision equipment in their tanks and in a helicopter hovering out of earshot behind them - saw the dozen would-be infiltrators immediately as they started to cross from Syria into Iraq. Two volleys from an American M1A2 tank - warning shots - was all it took to send the men scurrying back. Guarding against cross-border infiltrators from Syria has become a high priority in the battle against insurgents who are attacking American forces daily. "If you give me a mission to stop everyone from coming into Iraq, it's probably unrealistic," said Col. David A. Teeples, commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which monitors the Syrian border. "But if you tell me to stop the flow of weapons, foreign fighters, or high-value targets (wanted Iraqis)...I'll probably do that."
2003-09-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive