BAGHDAD, Jan. 9, 2007
U.S. And Iraqi Forces Kill 50 In Baghdad
Government Forces Decide To Wipe Out Insurgent Strongholds In Haifa Street Neighborhood
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Play CBS Video Video Military Teamwork In Iraq American soldiers joined the Iraqi military in fighting insurgents on the streets of Baghdad. Lara Logan reports.
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Video Troop Surge Debate Continues Only On The Web: As President Bush prepares to ask the American people for more resources to invest in Iraq, Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree. Bill Plante reports.
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Video Going Back To Iraq Only On The Web: Col. John Charlton talks with Byron Pitts about his earlier tours in Iraq and the difficulties many soldiers face when they are redeployed to the Middle East.
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A U.S. military Apache helicopter flies as smoke rises over Baghdad's Haifa Street area on Jan. 9, 2007. Iraqi soldiers backed by U.S. troops battled gunmen in central Baghdad, and explosions were heard in the area, police, witnesses and the U.S. military said. (AP)
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Iraqi soldiers guard a bridge in Baghdad, Jan. 9, 2007. (AFP/Getty Images)
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An Iraqi Army Humvee blocks a street in central Baghdad, Jan. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
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Smoke rises over Baghdad's Haifa Street area, Jan. 9, 2007. (AP)
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Iraqi soldiers check motorists on a bridge blocked off by the army after a heavy firefight erupted with Sunni insurgents in nearby Haifa Street, Jan. 9, 2007. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Interactive Iraq: A Turning Point? New Congress, change at the Pentagon, study group report; what does the future hold?
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Photo Essay Saddam's Final Moments Saddam Hussein went to the gallows Dec. 30, 2006. Contains photos some may find disturbing.
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Interactive American Heroes Profiles of U.S. soldiers who've died in Iraq, a look at the war's toll and pictures of mourning.
Warplanes were circling overhead after hours of tank, mortar and small arms fire, reports CBS News correspondent Cami McCormick (audio). Iraqi police say the fighting began when Iraqi forces were attacked by insurgents, then U.S. troops and aircraft were called in to assist.
The battle raged on Haifa Street, about 1½ miles north of the heavily fortified Green Zone — home to the U.S. Embassy and other facilities — on the eve of President Bush's expected announcement that he would send another 20,000 soldiers to Iraq despite growing opposition on Capitol Hill.
It was the second major confrontation on Haifa Street in the four days since Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced a new drive to rid Baghdad of sectarian fighters.
The U.S. military said about 1,000 Iraqi and U.S. soldiers carried out "targeted raids to capture multiple targets, disrupt insurgent activity and restore Iraqi Security Forces control of North Haifa Street."
"This area has been subject to insurgent activity which has repeatedly disrupted Iraqi Security Force operations in central Baghdad," said a statement quoting Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl, spokesman for Multi-National Division Baghdad.
He said the U.S. jets buzzing the city did not conduct any air strikes, but "attack helicopters were used to engage targets in support of the ground forces."
Bleichwehl said no American or Iraqi soldiers were killed. He did not address the number of militants killed, though the Iraqi Defense Ministry reported 50 deaths among insurgents.
The battle in Haifa Street continued into the night, reports CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan, spreading fear among the minority Sunni population, many of whom believe the Shiite-led Iraqi government is using this crackdown as a cover to drive them from the Iraqi capital, with the help of U.S. forces.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Iraqi police reported finding 52 bodies dumped in three cities, 41 of them in Baghdad, all apparent victims of sectarian reprisal killings.
At a Saturday ceremony marking the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Army, al-Maliki again vowed to strike at the Shiite Muslim and Sunni Arab extremists behind the sectarian warfare that has bloodied the country over the past year.
Al-Maliki issued the new plan after lengthy consultations with Bush, who has been preparing a new Iraq policy in recent weeks after the Democrats won control of both houses of Congress in the November elections.
Bush is to deliver a major policy address to the nation Wednesday night, outlining his new plan — widely reported to include the dispatch of thousands more troops to the increasingly violent capital. A senior official, speaking anonymously Tuesday, said the plan calls for the first soldiers to move into Iraq before the end of the month.
In other developments:
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- Dear Senator Joe Biden:
With all due respect, you are such a spineless Democrat used car salesman bag of sleaze, how can you possibly say that it is unconstitutional for Congress to end the War?
SAY WHAT ???? You lousy limp lobotomized lump of slimey sludge! (said with all the respect that you deserve)
Last time I looked Congress has the power to Declare War. That means Congress has the power to say when we should and when we shouldn't fight a War, DUH! The president executes the law. The Congress makes the law. Congress funds the War, or doesn't. Your fellow Senator, Ted Kennedy, just pointed out easy legislation to stop this War.
So, Joe Biden, corporation-lover, don't want to cross your defense industry campaign funders? Don't want to 'make waves', cause trouble, stand up for what is right? At least Bush ACTS on his convictions -- however sick and fascist they may be. But you are nothin but a fast talking windbag with no real concern for ordinary citizens. So the Democratic machine will probably nominate you in 2008. - Reply to this comment
- "Turning the corner" - Yep another corner,, We've been circling the block for 4 years.
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- well what you're actually seeing is most likely the true start of a sectarian war. it seems the US has decided to take sides and go with the Shia.
not saying that those killed were not to blame for those deaths, but who knows for sure? it only states that they were suspected.
the shia dominated government is attempting to show the world (by US prompting?) that they can fight their own battles. that they are capable of taking the lead with US support. which is Bush's plan.
so the progession is now moving into it's final form. sectarian violence? is Maliki getting what he wanted all along? the US backing the Shia against the Sunni? I don't know. one thing I do know is that if they think taking this sort of action will bring stability to Baghdad or to iraq---they are utterly mistaken! - Reply to this comment
- BFD!! 50 insurgents killed out of how many? Probably tens of thousands. How much did THAT effort cost us? How long will it take to wipe them all out? How many Iraqi innocent civilians will be killed in the effort? How much more tainted will our image in the middle east get? Can it get any more tainted?
down-ndirty is right: Bush and his generals should be tried for treason.
For the un-initiated: BFD=big freakin' deal, or for the more liberal minded, big phucking deal. - Reply to this comment
- WOW! 'U.S. and Iraqi forces kill 50...' Left to their own devices, the insurgents can do much better at killing Iraqis.
But this is a joke and a distraction, especially when the Army has rejected an Israeli tank system called 'Trophy' that has an anti-RPG system that will save the lives of Americans. You haven't heard about this system on CBS.
Is the reason for rejecting the Israeli system because the Army is paying Raytheon millions of dollars to develop its own system? Well, obviously yes, but the Army's system is not due to be completed for several years, four years minimum, maybe more.
The Army has blocked Trophy and its reasons are very weak, especially when American soldiers' lives are at stake.
Bush and his Army generals need to be tried for treason. - Reply to this comment
- One American,,,, Don't you thinks our troops deserve plans & stratigies as good as they are ??
Don't count on it from Bush or Cheney,, it's been lose,lose, lose. - Reply to this comment
- Sounds like a good military exercise, but knowing the Bush-Rove tendency to choreograph their every move, the timing, on the eve of the President's great announcement is highly suspect.
The military is being used now as a pawn to prepare the American people for the new Iraq plan.
"New Iraq Plan"
Sounds like a great exercise in flip-flopping from the master of calling others flip-flops. - Reply to this comment
- Bush's job approval is at 26%
- Reply to this comment
- Sounds like a great raid, well done troops --- Now all we need is a plan, stratigies & policies as great as our military is.
- Reply to this comment
- "Kind of takes your breath away. And in your case, liberals, it takes the wind out of your sails."
Posted by One_American at 07:06 PM : Jan 09, 2007
My message below to bigUSAfan applies to you too One_American - if you have FACTS which lead you to believe that a troop surge will ultimately lead democracy to flourish why don't you rely on those instead of the angry personal attacks, or is that too all you've got to bring to the table? You've got our ears, let's hear some reasons why dems and the nation ought to believe in Bush's plan . . . - Reply to this comment
- One_American
Why do you keep on using these old and tired labels?
Liberal, conservative, who cares?
If you were one of those 3000+ Americans killed by the war, would you feel more comforted that it was a conservative President who did it to you? As opposed to a "liberal" President?
In other less civilized cultures, they use labels too, to demonize those who do not agree with them. They call them "infidels."
Throw away these old and tired labels and start thinking like an American for once! - Reply to this comment
- Well now. It looks like the Iraqi soldiers are beginning to stand up. Good for them.
Kind of takes your breath away. And in your case, liberals, it takes the wind out of your sails. - Reply to this comment
- "notblue?
It is best to just pity the likes of bildooreily... who likely did not feel important as a child and who grew up believing that, in order to appear smart in an argument in which he is unqualified intellectually to participate... one only need swear a lot in order to distract the listener from the actual lack of meaningful or accurate content.
Of course... name calling is another tactic of the slower minded for, rather than attempt to lift themselves intellectually, their only hope is to tear their opponent down to their size.
He speaks of "donkey carts" and "magic carpets"... Comforting himself with the fantasy that the threat of Iraq is too far away to be of any danger.
Of course... The same was true for al Qaeda... and we all remember how the hijackers of 911 used those "imaginary remote controlled airplanes" to kill over 3,000 of our citizens.
Just smile at them, notblue.
No matter how much logic you put forth... they are too full of anger to hear you."
God Bless America
Posted by bigUSAfan at 05:15 PM : Jan 09, 2007
Just logged on . . . so am I correct in assuming that you believe this surge will succeed? If so why? And if you decide to address this question, could you please try to refrain from using personal insults . . . also, it'd be great if you could stick to facts instead of just relying on anger at those who disagree and fear-mongering with references to 9/11. Or is that all you bring to the table (?) Thanks in advance . . . - Reply to this comment
- notblue?
It is best to just pity the likes of bildooreily... who likely did not feel important as a child and who grew up believing that, in order to appear smart in an argument in which he is unqualified intellectually to participate... one only need swear a lot in order to distract the listener from the actual lack of meaningful or accurate content.
Of course... name calling is another tactic of the slower minded for, rather than attempt to lift themselves intellectually, their only hope is to tear their opponent down to their size.
He speaks of "donkey carts" and "magic carpets"... Comforting himself with the fantasy that the threat of Iraq is too far away to be of any danger.
Of course... The same was true for al Qaeda... and we all remember how the hijackers of 911 used those "imaginary remote controlled airplanes" to kill over 3,000 of our citizens.
Just smile at them, notblue.
No matter how much logic you put forth... they are too full of anger to hear you.
God Bless America - Reply to this comment
- I'd have a lot more respect for Republicans if they were able to think outside Barbara Bush's box.
Unfortunately, Jeb is now making rumblings about running. And as we have seen, he's entitled to the presidency.
***, these entitlement programs are crippling this country! - Reply to this comment
- PRESIDENT NANCY,,, Sounding better every day, doesn't it ??
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- I wonder what Americans will say when we figure out that we'll have to stay in Iraq for the next 30 years to make sure they honor the Oil Contracts we wrote.
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- Heetseeker,,, Bush says, "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suc ceed"
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- I Wonder Who Iraqi's Will Be Fighting When They Relize We're Ripping Off Thier Oil Proceeds For The Next 30 years ??
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- notblue,
good try. But wrong 'bout them pesky democrats. The dem's like many others believed the LIES Boosh, powell, rice, rumsfled and the others told them. Hey, where is Powell now? He got out...why? Ya, they lied straight to the worlds face.."we know where the weapons are, the mobile launchers" Um, notblue, why did they do that? We couldn't believe the president, vice pres, chief of staff would outright LIE to the world about those things, but they did. THATS why dem's and others believed them. See, the right wing nut jobs like foley, haggard, powell, you, are all the same to us non-liars. Worthless, do nothing types. Like your last congress. You paid them how much to molest little boys? You stay with the course buddy, not me, - Reply to this comment
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
