BAGHDAD, Sept. 7, 2007
7 U.S. Soldiers Killed In Iraq
Separately, Top General Estimates When U.S. Should Begin Drawing Down Troops
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Residents of the Washash section in western Baghdad gathered in the streets Sept. 6, 2007, to inspect the damage after a raid by U.S. forces. (AP)
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Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, chairman of the Iraqi Security Forces Independent Assessment Commission, right, discusses the commission's report during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007. Joining Jones, from left are, former Deputy Defense Secretary John Hamre, retired Gen. George Joulwan. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
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A U.S. soldier secures an area from a helicopter carrying U.S. military and Iraqi Government officials for a meeting with tribal leaders to discuss cooperation and security matters at Patrol Base Murray south of Baghdad, Iraq on Monday, Sept. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
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A man rushes an injured child into the hospital in Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. The child was injured after a roadside bomb exploded on the fringes of the capital's Shiite slum of Sadr City. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
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Special Report
The Road Ahead
Katie Couric reports from Iraq on the future of U.S. involvement there.
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Interactive
Battle For Iraq
The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.
U.S. military officials Friday announced the deaths of four U.S. Marines, in fighting in Anbar province, and separately, the deaths of three other American soldiers, members of Task Force Lightning, killed by a roadside bomb in Ninevah province.
All of the casualties were on Thursday, according to U.S. military officials who say the four Marines assigned to Multi National Force-West were killed while conducting combat operations in a predominantly Sunni area west of Baghdad that has seen a recent drop in violence.
President Bush, meanwhile, says he is confident of success in Iraq.
Speaking in Sydney, Australia, Friday to a business audience at the Asia-Pacific summit, President Bush said there has been progress in Anbar Province and it is being replicated elsewhere. Mr. Bush also said increasing security in Iraq creates conditions that allow reconciliation.
On Monday, the U.S. lead commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, is to present a long-anticipated progress report to Congress. Previewing that, Petraeus tells the Boston Globe he'll recommend starting a gradual drawdown of U.S. forces in the spring, when the extra troops of the U.S. surge end their current tours.
The number of U.S. troops in Iraq has climbed to a record high of 168,000, and is moving toward a peak of 172,000 in the coming weeks - a level that could extend into December, a senior military official said Thursday.
Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the increase is the result of troop rotations, as several brigades overlap while they move in and out of the war zone. Previously officials had predicted the number could go up to about 171,000.
Early Thursday in Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi troops backed by attack aircraft clashed with suspected Shiite militiamen, bombing houses in pre-dawn raids and battling more than a dozen snipers on rooftops. Residents and police said at least 14 people were killed.
The fighting occurred in a Mahdi Army stronghold of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who had ordered his militia not to carry out any more attacks for up to six months. The U.S. military stressed the raid targeted breakaway factions that remain violent partly as a way of bullying minority Sunnis out of Baghdad.
The clashes reinforced the obstacles to U.S. goals posed by the increasingly volatile Shiite militias amid signs that infighting within Iraq's dominant religious sect is on the rise, just days before a key progress report in Washington on the war.
"The Iraqi parties are quarreling over power and the people are dying," said one Baghdad resident, standing next to a hole in his roof and waving a piece of shrapnel he found after Thursday's raid. "We are fed up."
Video from APTN shows houses with their roofs caved in, and others completely destroyed.
U.S. officials say American troops in several raids north of Baghdad Thursday also targeted Sunni militants linked to al Qaeda in Iraq, killing six suspected insurgents and detaining 25, the military said.
Bombings, shootings and mortar attacks left at least 28 Iraqis dead nationwide, including 18 bullet-riddled bodies that turned up in Baghdad and south of the capital - apparent victims of so-called sectarian death squads usually run by militia fighters.
After a period of relative calm, recent days have seen an uptick in violence.
The Iraqi government, meanwhile, called a critical independent U.S. assessment of its security posture unacceptable interference in its affairs.
The study, released Wednesday and led by retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, found that Iraq's security forces will be unable to take control of the country in the next 18 months. It said the Iraqi National Police is so rife with corruption it should be scrapped entirely.
The assessment is expected to factor heavily into Congress' debate on the war, with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and top commander Gen. Petraeus due to begin hearings on Monday.
Yassin Majid, an adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said "it is not the duty of the independent committee to ask for changes at the Interior Ministry, especially when it comes to security apparatus."
"This is an Iraqi affair, and we will not accept interference by anyone in such work, whether the Congress or others," Majid told The Associated Press by telephone. "The report is inaccurate and not official and we consider it interference in our internal affairs."
Majid also stressed that al-Maliki's government had fired some members of security agencies over corruption charges and links to militias and had extended that policy to other agencies.
"The al-Maliki government will do this with all state agencies. We will not take dictation from reports," he said.
Last week, al-Sadr said he ordered his Mahdi Army to halt all attacks to give him time to restructure the militia. The announcement appeared aimed at distancing himself from suspected Iranian-backed factions he can no longer control.
The U.S. military has welcomed the Mahdi Army cease-fire but kept up operations targeting what it calls rogue elements of the militia that it says are continuing violence, including attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces.
"The multinational force continues to stand with the government of Iraq in welcoming the commitment by Muqtada al-Sadr to stop attacks by his followers," the military said in a statement on Thursday's raid. "However, a few attacks on coalition forces and innocent Iraqis have continued. Our assumption is that these groups are not honoring Sadr's orders and thus will not be subject to the restraint we have observed for those who are responding to Sadr's orders."
The operation in the western Baghdad area of Washash involved Iraqi and U.S. special forces acting on a tip against a Shiite cell accused of attacking local police and engaging in extortion as well as execution-style killings of Sunnis, the military said.
The troops called for air strikes after coming under fire from more than a dozen snipers on the rooftops of surrounding buildings.
The military reported that four buildings were damaged, "including two enemy strongholds that sustained major damage and two surrounding buildings that sustained moderate damage." No casualties were mentioned in the statement.
Residents reported hearing explosions at about 3 a.m. that persisted for nearly an hour.
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity for his own safety, said U.S. helicopters had attacked the area, killing 14 civilians and wounding 10. There was confusion at the scene, however, as some residents said they thought it had been a mortar attack and said 27 people had been killed.
In other developments:
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See all 130 Comments7 SOLDIERS KILLED IN ANBAR
3,750 KILLED IN IRAQ
STAY THE COURSE..............................
Then Stand up!!!
That is bullsh**it.
Wars of religious hatred and terrorism have been going on for thousands of years.
But of course if Bush can "con" enough people into believing that there is something unprecedented about his war in Iraq, they will be more likely to support it.
Bush is a liar. A drunk and a liar.
He is keeping the war going only to save face. Any other reason he gives is a lie.
Dubya is the perfect example of the old saying, that those who don''t know history are doomed to repeat it.
As one Sunni tribal leader put it, "the U.S. is giving us a great deal"--a great deal of U.S. taxpayer money to bribe these tribal leaders. Their loyalty will last as long as the cash does.
Between his incompetence in Iraq and his buffoonery in Austria--er, Australia--Bushit is an embarrassment to the U.S.A. and a threat to world peace.
Thanks, neocons, we won''t forget how you''ve f*cked us over so your billionaire owners can make more money at our expense!
According to the Sydney Morning Herald of Australia, the president gave a more-to-the-point assessment to Australia Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile.
"We''re kicking a*ss," Bush said to Vaile Tuesday, according the Herald, after the deputy prime minister inquired about his trip to Iraq.
On Thursday, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino would not confirm or deny the reported comment."
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Bush showing his macho, as in "Bring ''em on"
As the Elder Bush asked in 1999: "Whose life would be on my hands as the commander-in-chief because I said we''re going to show our macho?We''re going into Baghdad."
"Beer Muscles" are a poor substitute for genuine courage.
Particularly in a supposed President of the United States.
This war will never end and for him to say we must stay the course will just be killing more of our soldiers. He''s a liar and has no idea how to run a country.
I wonder if that''s how he would explain the situation to the parents of these 7 soldiers? Oh wait, he could give two shi** less about them.
Any of you neocon scum out there care to come to his defense again, with the typical arguments of "well, we''ll be figthing them here if we don''t fight them over there", or "we''re bringing democracy to Iraq"?
Its time to bring the troops home. Its time to bring the Washington Regime to justice. Its time to take care of our veterans wounded in this, the Stupid Peoples'' War and the thousands of first responders suffering from the effects of doing their job in the Regime''s false flag attack on the WTC on 9-11-01.
This column was cut!
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/06/341238.shtml?discuss
The Washington Regime is covering up its murder of 3000 Americans. 9-11 was an inside job. It provided the psychological driver to ''justify'' the wars for Oil, Israel and Opium.
Here is a link to a Sidney Blumenthal article on more evidence of the Neo-Scum campaign of lies that were the basis for war of aggression against Iraq:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18324.htm
Sorry honey...the ACLU is the most ridiculously liberal and stupid organization ever formed. They will only turn our country into dope smoking hippy morons.
Posted by tankersmash
I disagree, defining presidential powers within the context of the constitution will be necessary to prevent the next "Decider" from launching an unwarranted and unnecessary war.
I''m one of ''the boys''. I agree-bring the boys and girls home. But before that I have to go back for a 3rd tour in that scumhole we call Iraq. I''ll be sure to relay on the BS that''s being put out be the high command...and the truth as to what is really going on over there...like I did the first two tours.
"We''re kicking ***," Bush said to Vaile Tuesday, according the Herald, after the deputy prime minister inquired about his trip to Iraq."
Can any one beleive this a*s*s hole Bush.
Posted by tankersmash at 09:23 AM : Sep 07, 2007
The President has to get PERMISSION from Congress. The "high" court is bound to the Articles in the Constitution. This also includes treaties as in the United Nations Charter (which is a treaty we joined on March of 1945). Check out Article 7 of the UN Charter which we signed.
When I enlisted, I had to swear allegiance to the United States and the Constitution - not a person.
When I was employed by the Federal gov''t, I again had to swear my allegiance to the US and Constitution.
The ACLU helps enforce OUR rights and civil liberties in the Bill of Rights and Constitution.
I can see why the ACLU could be used to enforce the Constitution and Bill of Rights since our "elected" officials have failed.
Posted by tankersmash
Under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has sole power to declare war, this is clearly what the framers wanted or they would have specifically given that power to the president. The fact that Congress has been a willing participant and looked the other way since Truman first "invented" this alleged power does not make it constitutionally right. Congress should have been forced to draw the line from the beginning and not funded ANY war that wasn''t officially declared by that body. When we saw Bush break the law by illegally moving funds from Afghanistan to prepare for his war in Iraq, Congress should have acted, instead they have funded a war, undeclared, and funded entirely by supplements. They are a bunch of spineless wimps.
Your oath was to "obey the orders of the PRESIDENT of the US and all officers appointed over you". The president only goes to congress for funds. Don''t try to tell me how the system works...I work in it every day.
Posted by parrot2
LOL!! Maybe they are all down at the enlistment center, or perhaps, taking "tap" lessons.
"Congress shall DECLARE WAR"...is what the constitution says verbatim...the president does not need congressional approval to send troops into ARMED CONFLICT...they are two different animals there genius. There is no formal declaration of war here...since you have been blinded by your own ignorance the last 6 years....
Posted by tankersmash
Now you''re just splitting hairs, the difference between "war" and "armed conflict" is pure semantics.
So the American people have again been Conned by George Bush, as he has lied to America again, his recent escalation in Iraq was simply as believed previously an additional 50 Billion boondoggle with hundreds of more dead to STAY THE COURSE JUST PAY more
Deaths across the County are on par just changes in locale, and a new method of not counting dead by the Pentagon, if the bullet went into the front of the face rather than the back you don%u2019t count the death during the escalation of troops, just pathetic.
There is no honor is continuing to sacrifice American children, wives, husbands, father, mothers, daughters and sons for a Political blunder and attempt by a party a legacy of plausible denial ability.
For those of you who support this fraud you are mistaken to believe that sound bites and claims of victory will sooth the wrath of the America voter in 08, you are wrong, we see you, and you are an ugly amoral Party, who has wrought great harm to our country and our world.
Your GOP will not re gain power, your rule has proven your Party to be incapable of ethical honorable competent governance and placed on display for all to see the collection of cultist lured for a vote the pathological inadequacies menagerie that was running our Government asylum.
Now we don''t even get their names in the articles. It''s just "7 soldiers were killed today" or "3 soldiers died today."
I guess when Rove and Bush decided there would be no photos of all the coffins returning from Iraq that was a smart move. What their followers can''t see won''t bother them.
Bushie, you''re doing a heck of a job.
Posted by tankersmash
The oath of enlistment into the United States Armed Forces is administered by any commissioned officer to any person enlisting or re-enlisting for a term of service into any branch of the military.
The oath is as follows:
"I, (state your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Note that the last sentence is not required to be said if the speaker has a personal or moral objection)
he United States Military Oath of Allegiance is a solemn oath taken by members of the United States Armed Services on commissioning.
"I, {insert name here}, do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
as for these soldiers. I would like to send my condolences to the families. I can appreciate your sons wanting to serve, and having a desire to face a challenge.
but I hold the inconsiderate corporate robber baron, bu$h oil admn responsible for this waste of time in iraq.
complete gang of J@ckazzes, that sit and watch oil conglomerates post world record profits while our soldiers die.
they should be tried for treason, and hung.
tens of thousands dead for nothing, but oil profits. lyin azz sacks of shiite.
some christians, eh?
"Congress shall DECLARE WAR"...is what the constitution says verbatim...the president does not need congressional approval to send troops into ARMED CONFLICT...they are two different animals there genius. There is no formal declaration of war here...since you have been blinded by your own ignorance the last 6 years....
Posted by tankersmash at 10:17 AM : Sep 07, 2007
He still has to uphold the Constitution - and the treaties the United States signs.
By invading Iraq, he violated Art. 7 (Acts of aggression) of the UN Charter (which we signed).
Posted by USADVISOR101
USADVISOR101, indeed...
Your arguments are stale your lies to numerous to bother debating, you have no creditability, you may think you are hiding behind sound bites but the American People know exactly what you are doing.
18 Senators need to vote with the Democrats to begin a course change the cowards are obviously feeling confident they are snookering their base again just watch the talk shows so no chance that the Republicans is office will do the right thing. It will fall to our next President, who will not be a corrupt perverse Repug, and the will do required to do the job the Republicans can not or will not do by cleaning up their own BLUNDER, that has cost much in blood and treasury and make no mistake the blood is on your hands.
The differences between "Formally Declared War" and "Armed Conflict" are completely different. It''s not ''semantics'' or ''splitting hairs''....the ability of commanders to do certain things and the powers they possess are completely different in each case. I know...I''ve had to apply BS ROEs in Iraq twice as a commissioned officer now b/c this is NOT a formally declared "war" according to the constitution.......round 3 coming up....The DoD classifies everything they do and plan differently in each case.
B/c a few idiots get stupid and take matters into their own hands doesn''t mean that all of us are war criminals...I''m sure whatever occupation you work in-if you have a job-you wouldn''t want to classified in with the few bad guys...
and just fyi-
I''ve spent $3,000 of my own money buying shoes for Iraqi kids and setting up community programs etc. etc. etc. in towns over there since I couldn''t get funds to do it. Unfortunately all y''all back here in the states hear about is the bad stuff....So take your liberal smartass comment and shove it where the sun don''t shine.
Posted by tankersmash at 10:54 AM : Sep 07, 2007
ROTFLMFAO!!!!!
There''s not a successful officer in any branch of the service that doesn''t owe his or her as*s and career to NCO''S!
LOLOLOLOLOL!!
Bush on Iraq: ''We''re kicking ***''
"We''re kicking ***," Bush said to Vaile Tuesday, according the Herald, after the deputy prime minister inquired about his trip to Iraq.
Still doesn''t negate the fact that NCOs follow officers no does it?
Posted by tankersmash at 11:02 AM : Sep 07, 2007
Well I''ll grant that we always did a good job of letting officers THINK they were running things, so in that sense you''re right. However behind every successful officer is an amazed Sgt.
Sick call (doctor visit) later ya''ll!
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