Seven Seized In Sadr City Raid

Forces Sweep Shiite Slum Seeking Kidnappers, Killing Three, Wounding 15

(CBS/AP)  U.S. and Iraqi forces backed by helicopters swept into Baghdad's Sadr City Shiite slum in a dark-of-night raid Tuesday that netted seven militiamen, including one believed to know the whereabouts of an American soldier kidnapped nearly a month ago.

Angry Shiites denounced the raid and a man from the district stood outside the Imam Ali hospital, holding the body of a boy killed in the attack.

The dead child's father and mother were both injured in the raid. His uncle is a member of the Iraqi parliament, CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports, and now he says there's no way he's going to help govern the broken country.

Police said three Iraqis, including the boy, were killed and 15 wounded. No soldiers were hurt, the military said.

The raid came just weeks after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, had taken on the role of protector of the sprawling Sadr City district by ordering the U.S. military to lift a blockade of the slum.

American forces had sealed the district for several days looking for kidnapped U.S. soldier Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, a 41-year-old reservist from Ann Arbor, Mich. He was visiting his Iraqi wife in Baghdad on Oct. 23 when he was handcuffed and abducted by suspected rogue gunmen from the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The 3 a.m. assault in the east Baghdad grid of streets lined with tumbledown concrete block structures and vacant lots was the third in four days by U.S. and Iraqi forces.

The U.S. command said Iraqi forces came under fire during the raid, and that U.S. aircraft returned fire.

The operation "detained an illegal armed group kidnapping and murder cell leader... reported to have firsthand knowledge of the control and movement" of al-Taayie, the military said, adding that six other cell members also were detained.

In other developments:

President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will meet next week in Jordan to discuss the security situation in Iraq, the White House announced. In a joint statement, the two leaders said: "We will meet in Amman, Jordan, on Nov. 29-30 to continue our consultation on building security and stability in Iraq."

Iraq and Syria, which severed diplomatic relations 24 years ago, restored links in a development that could stem some of Iraq's unrelenting violence. Both Iraq and the U.S. have challenged Syria over its role in supporting Iraq's Sunni-Arab insurgency. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem came to Iraq on Sunday, the first such visit by a senior Syrian official since the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. Also, Iran, on Iraq's eastern border, sent its oil minister to Baghdad today, Palmer reports.

Violence in Iraq declined Tuesday, with police, morgue and hospital officials reporting 33 people killed in sectarian violence. At least 44 tortured bodies were found dumped throughout central Iraq.

A Marine pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice in the death of Iraqi civilian who was shot and killed by his military unit. Lance Cpl. Jerry E. Shumate Jr. entered his pleas through his civilian attorney Steve Immel during court-martial proceedings and was expected to testify about the April incident in the town of Hamdania.

Relatives and colleagues mourned the fatal shooting of popular actor Walid Hassan, remembering him Tuesday as giving hard-pressed Iraqis comic relief by poking fun at everything from politicians to long lines at gas stations. Haasan, 47, was the Shiite star of "Caricature," a weekend satire on Al-Sharqiyah TV known for its dark humor about the country's many problems. He was shot to death while driving through Baghdad on Monday.

The debate over what to do about the war on Iraq - complete with catch phrases to describe each plan - has intensified, with word of a secret report on the issue, commissioned by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. According to the Washington Post Monday, the options are: "Go big, go long or go home."

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©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment See all 17 Comments

by perception5 November 21, 2006 9:37 AM PST

Can we ALL agree that this represents progress??

Reply to this comment

by xccoach November 21, 2006 9:56 AM PST

Progress towards what? The US leaving and Hezbollah taking over Iraq?

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 November 21, 2006 10:41 AM PST

and when americans are done spending money and dying in Iraq, the new, wonderful government will ally with syria and Iran and join them in badmouthing the US. So let's get more of our young people killed...sometimes "I told you so" just isn't enough.

Reply to this comment

by angryliberal-2009 November 21, 2006 11:15 AM PST

See this is precisley why we cannot trust any middle east country. They never appreciate any thing we do. Syria is like Iran's mini me. they are just as murderous as any of the middle east countries, and support just as much terrorism. Syria should be on the axis of evil (if its not already). I say we freak'n deport all the iraqis and practice some real Imperialism and claim I raq for America and start a real government with AMERICANS not middle easterners. We could snatch that country with the snap of the fingers, heck we already did it once. Or we could use the whole country of Iraq as a massive landfill for the US and her allies, and we could even keep the oil for ourselves.

Reply to this comment

by angryliberal-2009 November 21, 2006 11:17 AM PST

Our only solution for I raq is to leave troops there long term like we did in Japan to let them know "hey , dont do anything too stupid, we are watching"

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 November 21, 2006 11:25 AM PST

ANGRYliberal- or just nuke it. we could've had we declared war on the whole country instead of just saddam.

Reply to this comment

by angryliberal-2009 November 21, 2006 11:27 AM PST

I got the best idea yet!!1

We use 1/3 of Iraq as a testing grounds for our weapons of mass destruction and ,military drills.
This would help for a number of reasons

1. It would show the rest of the middle east that we are bigger than them and that our weapons are big
2. It would show that we have balls
3. it would make Iran's weapons look rubber band shooters. The rest of the middle east would fear AMERICA not Iran. We need to embrace our power not hide it.

Another third for the world's biggest landfill (which it is pretty close to right now)

And the other third to rent to businesses for vehicle testing, expolsive testing, and drilling for Oil.

Reply to this comment

by angryliberal-2009 November 21, 2006 11:30 AM PST

rsoxfan1123,

Wow you actually said something that I like for once. This is a joyous occasion and calls for a celebration!..lol

I guess we just wanted to get rid of Sadaam, we should nuke the country if they vote another dicator in office..

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison November 21, 2006 11:34 AM PST

Our only solution for Iraq is to leave troops there long term like we did in Japan to let them know "hey , dont do anything too stupid, we are watching"

Posted by ANGRYliberal at 11:17 AM : Nov 21, 2006

"Don't do anything too stupid"???? Exactly who do you think you are? If that could have been done, don't you think it would be in action all ready???? AT this point of losing, we can watch all we want, numb nut.

We did not win this war. Accept this fact because there is zero deniability about it. Admit it to yourselves first, liars in denial. Then set about having a value for human life so you can be a really good role model.

Quit acting like a pack of nuts without brains.

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison November 21, 2006 11:39 AM PST

"I guess we just wanted to get rid of Sadaam, we should nuke the country if they vote another dicator in office.."

Do you own their country now? Do you decide how everyone's government will run now? Who are YOU? Go get on some meds, sick freak.

Reply to this comment

by rsoxfan1123 November 21, 2006 11:40 AM PST

BlondMadison-we lost because we approached it differently from Japan and Germany. You can't declare war on one guy. I am sure there were nice germans in WWII that we were "liberating", but by declaring war on Hitler we declared it on all of Germany. Nagasaki and Hiroshima were brutal but effective and saved american lives.

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison November 21, 2006 4:48 PM PST

rsoxfan1123 at 11:40 AM : Nov 21, 2006

Killing wars are not the way to accomplish anything. Please don't argue with me--especially when you've never entertained any other method. Please don't act like you know what you are talking about when killing wars are all that has been done since the beginning.

Try accomplishing peace with out the killing fields...see what ideas come up. Don't automatically strike them down. Just think about the possibility.

Use the tools of Love Intelligence and Humor.

Humor like candid camera style. I am only asking that you allow the possibility. Try not to object to such a small request.

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison November 21, 2006 4:58 PM PST

"You can't declare war on one guy".

Posted by rsoxfan1123 at 11:40 AM : Nov 21, 2006


Why would YOU know this and/but the military intelligence did not? With all their expertise in the subject?

Saddam Hussein was more than just one guy. But you may be right, this was a war declared on one man. Happy with the outcome? I think they over

I no longer pay attention to military assessments. From our troops to the journalists--the military top dogs are lying to the military personnel and to the peoples. They are sociopathic politicians now.

Reply to this comment

by lovefights November 21, 2006 6:48 PM PST

Al Jazeera being broadcast into America would help American decide who is lying to them.

The American press is the official mouth piece of the CIA.

More and more Americans will continue to die as long as they refuse to listen to the Syrians and the Iranians.

Vital American interests is OIL to die for.

Don't believe everything you hear on TV.

JJB

Reply to this comment

by mreldude November 21, 2006 9:39 PM PST

WHERE IS LARA LOGAN??? Why isn't she covering Iraq anymore? Did she get fired? Did she get booted to a desk job? Did she suffer injury? She's a big part of why i watch the evening news.

Reply to this comment

by bob_burd November 21, 2006 11:22 PM PST

Get out the waterboards. Here's seven who need a long bath. Heh, heh, heh.

Then send them to Paradise.

Selah

Reply to this comment

by Free Citizen November 22, 2006 4:33 AM PST

No, no, lovefights. The American press is the mouth piece for the zionists. It is not oil they are primarily after though they will help themselve to some. It is for Israel's safety that American sons are dying. And now, Ehud and Netanyahu is urging Bush to make a move on Iran.

Reply to this comment

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[perception5]

Can we ALL agree that this represents progress??

[xccoach]

Progress towards what? The US leaving and Hezbollah taking over Iraq?

[rsoxfan1123]

and when americans are done spending money and dying in Iraq, the new, wonderful government will ally with syria and Iran and join them in badmouthing the US. So let's get more of our young people killed...sometimes "I told you so" just isn't enough.

[angryliberal-2009]

See this is precisley why we cannot trust any middle east country. They never appreciate any thing we do. Syria is like Iran's mini me. they are just as murderous as any of the middle east countries, and support just as much terrorism. Syria should be on the axis of evil (if its not already). I say we freak'n deport all the iraqis and practice some real Imperialism and claim I raq for America and start a real government with AMERICANS not middle easterners. We could snatch that country with the snap of the fingers, heck we already did it once. Or we could use the whole country of Iraq as a massive landfill for the US and her allies, and we could even keep the oil for ourselves.

[angryliberal-2009]

Our only solution for I raq is to leave troops there long term like we did in Japan to let them know "hey , dont do anything too stupid, we are watching"

[rsoxfan1123]

ANGRYliberal- or just nuke it. we could've had we declared war on the whole country instead of just saddam.

[angryliberal-2009]

I got the best idea yet!!1

We use 1/3 of Iraq as a testing grounds for our weapons of mass destruction and ,military drills.
This would help for a number of reasons

1. It would show the rest of the middle east that we are bigger than them and that our weapons are big
2. It would show that we have balls
3. it would make Iran's weapons look rubber band shooters. The rest of the middle east would fear AMERICA not Iran. We need to embrace our power not hide it.

Another third for the world's biggest landfill (which it is pretty close to right now)

And the other third to rent to businesses for vehicle testing, expolsive testing, and drilling for Oil.

[angryliberal-2009]

rsoxfan1123,

Wow you actually said something that I like for once. This is a joyous occasion and calls for a celebration!..lol

I guess we just wanted to get rid of Sadaam, we should nuke the country if they vote another dicator in office..

[blondmadison]

Our only solution for Iraq is to leave troops there long term like we did in Japan to let them know "hey , dont do anything too stupid, we are watching"

Posted by ANGRYliberal at 11:17 AM : Nov 21, 2006

"Don't do anything too stupid"???? Exactly who do you think you are? If that could have been done, don't you think it would be in action all ready???? AT this point of losing, we can watch all we want, numb nut.

We did not win this war. Accept this fact because there is zero deniability about it. Admit it to yourselves first, liars in denial. Then set about having a value for human life so you can be a really good role model.

Quit acting like a pack of nuts without brains.

[blondmadison]

"I guess we just wanted to get rid of Sadaam, we should nuke the country if they vote another dicator in office.."

Do you own their country now? Do you decide how everyone's government will run now? Who are YOU? Go get on some meds, sick freak.

[rsoxfan1123]

BlondMadison-we lost because we approached it differently from Japan and Germany. You can't declare war on one guy. I am sure there were nice germans in WWII that we were "liberating", but by declaring war on Hitler we declared it on all of Germany. Nagasaki and Hiroshima were brutal but effective and saved american lives.

[blondmadison]

rsoxfan1123 at 11:40 AM : Nov 21, 2006

Killing wars are not the way to accomplish anything. Please don't argue with me--especially when you've never entertained any other method. Please don't act like you know what you are talking about when killing wars are all that has been done since the beginning.

Try accomplishing peace with out the killing fields...see what ideas come up. Don't automatically strike them down. Just think about the possibility.

Use the tools of Love Intelligence and Humor.

Humor like candid camera style. I am only asking that you allow the possibility. Try not to object to such a small request.

[blondmadison]

"You can't declare war on one guy".

Posted by rsoxfan1123 at 11:40 AM : Nov 21, 2006


Why would YOU know this and/but the military intelligence did not? With all their expertise in the subject?

Saddam Hussein was more than just one guy. But you may be right, this was a war declared on one man. Happy with the outcome? I think they over

I no longer pay attention to military assessments. From our troops to the journalists--the military top dogs are lying to the military personnel and to the peoples. They are sociopathic politicians now.

[lovefights]

Al Jazeera being broadcast into America would help American decide who is lying to them.

The American press is the official mouth piece of the CIA.

More and more Americans will continue to die as long as they refuse to listen to the Syrians and the Iranians.

Vital American interests is OIL to die for.

Don't believe everything you hear on TV.

JJB

[mreldude]

WHERE IS LARA LOGAN??? Why isn't she covering Iraq anymore? Did she get fired? Did she get booted to a desk job? Did she suffer injury? She's a big part of why i watch the evening news.

[bob_burd]

Get out the waterboards. Here's seven who need a long bath. Heh, heh, heh.

Then send them to Paradise.

Selah

[Free Citizen]

No, no, lovefights. The American press is the mouth piece for the zionists. It is not oil they are primarily after though they will help themselve to some. It is for Israel's safety that American sons are dying. And now, Ehud and Netanyahu is urging Bush to make a move on Iran.