Coalition opens biggest attack so far to neutralize al-Sadr’s militia

NAJAF, Iraq - U.S.-led forces launched their biggest assault yet against militiamen loyal to a radical Shiite Muslim cleric, raiding hideouts in several cities Wednesday and clashing with gunmen in the world’s biggest cemetery. At least 15 Iraqis and a U.S. soldier were killed.

President Bush promised that U.S.-led troops and Iraqi forces would “deal with these militias.” “Free societies do not allow thugs to roam streets and hold people hostage to their whims,” he said.

Moderate Shiites tried to persuade the cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, to back down in his confrontation with the United States — a reflection of the growing concern over the standoff.

Skirmishes between U.S. troops and al-Sadr’s militia, the al-Mahdi Army, have grown deadlier and more intense in recent days as the military increases pressure on al-Sadr while at the same time trying to avoid an offensive in the holy city of Najaf that would outrage Iraq’s Shiite majority.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4899904/

this mornig we were going to let Iraqis take care of Sadr and now
we are attacking? I guess somebody realized it looked like a defeat
so we now attack...

or just another flop...in the normal flip-flops of the day.

Fallujah is the one we turned over to the british educated exile in return Iraqi.

Difficult to keep everybody on the same page these days. :evilgrin:

Q June the 30th is approaching. How do you think -- still Mr. Sadr in defense with U.S., how do you think this person should be dealt with?

THE PRESIDENT: I think he ought to be dealt with by the Iraqi citizens who are getting tired of him occupying the holiest of holy sites. And we are very respectful for the holy sites in Iraq, we understand their importance to the Iraqi citizens. Mr. Sadr is occupying those sites as if they're his, and I think the Iraqi citizens are getting tired of that.

We will deal with his militias, as will the Iraqi forces deal with these militias. Militias are people who are willing to kill, intimidate and try to take matters into their own hands, which is not the way democracy functions. Free societies do not allow thugs to roam streets and hold people hostage to their whims. The Iraqis will deal with Mr. Sadr.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/20040505-2.html

and again...bush has to define another word for us all.

This morning to the Iraqi / Arab media he says Iraq will deal Sadr. Then he launches the Biggest Attack of all on Najir. It would be hard for him to say he didn't know about it.

What a fucking liar.....When are the American people going to wake up to this pathetic joke

I'm afraid to even imagine after the attacks on Fallujah.

Uhemmm. Gitmo ring any bells or how about Iraq. American citizens being held without due-process being reviewed by Supreme Court. Right we believe you just like we did on every other lie you've uttered.

like the rest of this circus from hell has.

Now the Iraqis are more then united in their hate for the US with the recent world wide release of the photos.

Can the commanders be any stupider? How could Rummy allow this???

Sadly another round of reports of innocent women and children being targeted by snipers are sure to follow

Not only are the Iraqis united, as before even a stalemate will be viewed world-wide as a Iraqi victory and will strengthen the Iraqi resolve even more...

on edit: This could very well be Bush's "Stalingrad."

Attacking the Shiites after effectively organizing a truce with the Sunnis and installing one of Saddam's old generals in Falluja.

Yes, I'm certain that the Shiites will view this new offensive as the next best thing to a visit from the Prophet, himself.


http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm

I've notice over the past few weeks, that "body counts" have been given in the style that matches reporting from Vietnam, during that conflict!!

were closer to a 200 : 1 ratio. Even closet chickenhawks may have questioned them on occasion. Not.

""Free societies do not allow thugs to roam streets and hold people hostage to their whims," he said."

By that standard, Iraq is certainly not free. I wonder what Ms. England's replacements' next whims will be.

those released detainees in the desert yesterday ~ they'll need room for the incoming.

There is no way now to salvage this poorly-thought-out experiment. It is time to end it before any more blood is shed.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

Trying to get the Sunni and the Shiia mad at each other?
We put the Baath general "in charge" in Faloojah, then pick
a fight with the Shiia? We already have the Kurds on the
shitlist from the Faloojah fight. If it's not just bonehead
stupid, then that has to be what they are up to. The worst
thing about the Faloojah fight, from the occupation standpoint,
is that it united the Shiia and the Sunni against the occupation.
But it could just be stupid.