Shia Militants Surge In Iraq

The deadly Sunni insurgency that has led the fight against U.S. forces in Iraq from the start of the war is all but over, according to America's second-most powerful commander, reports CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan.

Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno says the war now is against Shia militias and America's old enemy, al Qaeda.

"I think the Sunni insurgency as we used to see it is really no longer," said Odierno. "Some people will challenge me on that, but I believe they have either chosen to be part of al Qaeda in Iraq or they've decided they want to try to reconcile with this government."

With the help of hard-core Sunni insurgents like the Ameriyah Freedom Fighters in Baghdad, Odierno says U.S. forces have had some recent success against al Qaeda.

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Only On The Web: More with Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno

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It's now Shia militants, backed by Iran, who are killing the most Americans in the Iraqi capital, taking 32 U.S. lives last month, Logan reports.

"What we found in the month of July that about 70 percent of the casualty-causing incidents were caused by Shia, Shia extremists, and about 30 percent by Sunnis and al Qaeda," said Odierno.

Shia militias like the Mehdi Army are not fighting to regain lost power like the Sunnis, adds Logan; their fight is for power and influence in the future Iraq.

Documents taken from a U.S. military Web site claim to show Shia fighters captured or killed in a war that Odierno says is escalating as Iran increases its support for America's enemies.

"I think they've surged along with our surge," Odierno said, "and I think their surge has been Iran continuing to send additional money, conduct additional training and additional weapons in here."

Odierno believes any decision on a U.S. withdrawal must consider Iran's growing influence. This isn't the war Odierno thought he was coming here to fight, but it's clear he isn't ready to give up yet.

[azmadman00-2009]

oakishpines
Dude, Stay away from the glue.

and don't listen to the voices.

[azmadman00-2009]

FeelFree1 wrote: "nonsensical "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" hoax"

Al-Zarqawi was part of a group called Jamaat al-Tawhid wa'l-Jihad [Unity and Jihad Group] and pledged alligence to OBL's al qaida. He then ran under the banner Al Qaida in Iraq. Not a hoax or fabrication as you have repeatedly blogged on. You should try and work for Michael Moore- master of fabrication. There are many more Jihad groups -Army of Ansar al-Sunnah, Asbat al-Ansar and Hizballah,etc. Al qaida(or qaeda) is an overused name by both sides we can affiliate to terrorist groups.

Lies from our government, military and media?
Seems to be the theme here.

Try listening to Mahmoud Ahmadine or reading AL-jazeera. Now thats lying.

But you can blame that on Bush for that too.

I know...someone will say I am a Nazi. Is it Heil Selig?

[morris61]

After Bush and friends "Liberate" Iraq we will then "Liberate" Iran and Saudi Arabia.Arent they glad we are their friends??

[prinzowhales]

Regardless of what Odierno says about al-CIAda, the Mahdi Militia, the Sunni insurgents...the accusations of Iranian perfidy (and the not surprising lack of proof)...the lovely little strolls of General Betrayus down Haifa Street... the heaping up of stones for the 107 acre embassy compound...the permanent bases...regardless of all this incessant activity...the Iraqi people overwhelmingly want us to leave their country.

What's keeping us there? We were lied into this war. We are not making life better for Iraqis. We are wasting money and resources that could be used to actually help the Iraqi people...as that is the pronounced argument of the Washington Regime...Its time for our troops to come home. Its time to try and hang the lying, treasonous dogs who sent them there.

[oakishpines]

is it more easy to kill the enemy by begging civilians to kill the enemy, or more easy to kill the enemy by begging the troops to kill the enemy? kids age five and less are 99 % more likely to assault an authority than a civilian and a civilian 99% more likely than another authority but authorities are 99% more likely to injure or kill while assaulting and kids age five and less are 99 % more likely to be injured or killed during an assault, and they absorb 99 % of all the assaults?

[oakishpines]

once upon a time: the u.s. liked to spray for roaches and germs and muslim babies

twenty minutes from now: who is going to care?

theres like a hundred thousands counties of a hundred thousand folk in the world and three hunered trails groups each county

and each groes more diverse and less u.s. each moment

if the axis of evil would leave the u.s. alone to invest funds in non-charity and votes in taxation at gunpoint,

then the u.s. would conitinue to fill it's prisons with its ******* its wars with its sand ******* it secret closets stacked twenty high with ******** and would foreclose on every farm, school, and hospital in the world until the moon falls from the sky

which is silly:
because, from a capitalist perspective: it only takes four percent of the income of the poorest half of the world to feed the world

and most folk most of the time dance get well feed world songs most of the time for free anyway, and avoid dancing get sick tax world songs

besides: for each muslim baby the u.s. starves, they end up paying like 700,000 to 2.8 million dollars and they fund it by slaying non muslim babies, for each of hoom they must pay 700,000 to 2.8 million dollars

until ultimately they run out of babies to starve

and file bankruptcy and end the planet forever

that or end the subsidizing of dead or enhungered babies in a war zone

[feelfree1]

One_American,

That was a very funny article.

For example:

"even before the fall of Saddam 57% of Greeks answered "neither" when asked which country was more democratic, the U.S. or Iraq."

Those Greeks are some sharp folks!

Anyway, you must have a screw loose to be placing your confidence in the blather of a former KGB agent, turned defector. From the looks of your comments, I wonder if the idiot that wrote this silly article is not you?

This professional liar is a Lt. General in the U.S. military? That is a real head shaker. No wonder we are so easily outmaneuvered militarily by almost anyone.

Thanks for the laughs.

[one_american]

From Wall Street Journal:
"Propaganda Redux"

"Take it from this old KGB hand: The left is abetting America's enemies with its intemperate attacks on President Bush."

http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010438

[agog2]

CBS News Poll Shows Republican Voters Still Support Going to War, Even If They Think It's Going Poorly hay that%u2019s good the Republicans feel that way. We should round all of them up, bring our young people home and send them over there to fight. Bush should stand out in front and lead them into battle. I just can%u2019t figure it out over half the people in the south don%u2019t have a pot to **** in or a window to throw it out, and they still call themselves Republicans stupid. I guess it just makes them feel important.

[agog2]

I can%u2019t understand where in the hell is Bush, or should I say numb a** we have in the white house, coming up with all these Generals?? I%u2019ve never heard of any of them. But then again I don%u2019t hang out with the guys that have their nose up his a**. From what I can see if they don%u2019t agree with him he just appoints a new one. What an A** hole.