WASHINGTON, March 28, 2008
"On The Fly" Iraq Offensive Surprised U.S.
Officials Say Iraqi PM Acted "Impulsively" And Fighting Could Roll Back A Whole Year Of Progress
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Play CBS Video Video U.S. Surprised By Iraqi Attack The U.S. military is sending advisors to help the Iraqi army coordinate an attack against Shiite insurgents attempting to overthrow the government. David Martin reports.
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Video Iraqi Militias Focus On Basra Muqtada al Sadr's Iran-backed militia fight for control of oil rich Basra, challenging the success of the U.S. surge and prompting a coalition air strike to aid Iraqi military. Lara Logan reports.
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Video More Bloodshed In Basra Shiite militiamen continue to clash with Iraqi security forces in the southern oil-hub of Basra. As Lara Logan reports, the city under siege has become a battleground for the U.S. and Iran.
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This image taken from video shows a Mahdi Army militant carrying a rocket propelled grenade launcher patrolling a street in Basra, Iraq during a curfew on Friday, March 28, 2008. (APTN)
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Iraqi children inspect a government forces vehicle destroyed in fighting with the Mahdi Army in Basra, Iraq, Friday, March 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Nabil Al-Jurani)
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In this image taken from video, children play on a burnt-out vehicle in Basra, Iraq during a city-wide curfew on March 28, 2008. (APTN)
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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in a speech that was broadcast on Iraqi state TV that, "We have made up our minds to enter this battle and we will continue until the end." (AP)
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Mahdi Army fighters stand in Basra, Iraq, Thursday, March 27, 2008. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki defiantly vowed to keep up the fight against Shiite militias in Basra Thursday despite protests by tens of thousands of followers of a radical cleric and deadly clashes across Baghdad and the oil-rich south. (AP Photo)
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Photo Essay Week In Iraq Photos A daily diary with scenes of the latest attacks and snapshots from the effort to rebuild a nation.
These officers complain Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki acted "impulsively" in ordering an offensive his army was not prepared to conduct, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.
The Iraqis didn't ask permission, they just went, which seems to have caught President Bush by surprise.
"You know, I'm not exactly sure what triggered the prime minister's response, but nevertheless he made the decision to move and we'll help him," Mr. Bush said.
But helping the Iraqis win in Basra could throw a monkey wrench into plans for withdrawing American troops.
U.S. officials say American combat troops would be sent into Basra only as a last resort but they expect more Iraqi troops will have to be committed to the battle. If they are, American troops would have to cover the areas left unprotected.
That would force Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander in Iraq, to choose between covering more territory with fewer troops or suspending the withdrawals that are bringing combat units home at the rate of about 3,500 soldiers a month.
No decisions have been made, but one U.S. official said many of the successes of the past 12 months are in danger of being cancelled out.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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- "The Iraqis didn''t ask permission, they just went, which seems to have caught President Bush by surprise."
Bush and the Bushites keep saying Iraq is a sovereign country. This means they are in charge of, and rule themselves not the power occupying them. IF that is so...no sovereign country needs or seeks permission before cracking down or policing itself in any way. Puppets do that.
Bush needs to really make up his mind which lie he wants to tell. Are we invaders or helpers? Is Al Maliki a puppet or a sovereign leader? If Iraq is sovereign, then why are we there without the permission of the people? If Iraq is sovereign how can we have military and fighters who can kill, detain and move around without Iraqi permission? - Reply to this comment
- Oh yeah, no one could have anticipated violence breaking out in Iraq. Even money Cheney ordered it.
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- Bush has now united many heavily armed groups of religious wackcos all across Iraq and given them a common purpose and a common enemy.
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- When the invading and occupying US forces picked a side in this Civil War, the only outcome was unification of ALL the opposing factions against the American troops and the the puppet government set up by Bush. These diverse groups of Iraqi "freedom fighters" resent "The Decider" telling them who should run their country...and why not?
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- I am curious if some of the "army" actually bolted over to Al Sadr militia, now that they have shiny new US-made weapons.
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- "Officials Say Iraqi PM Acted "Impulsively" And Fighting Could Roll Back A Whole Year Of Progress"
What utter drivel. And the sad part is there are still some misguided Americans who believe a word that the Darth Bushit administration says.
How could there have been any progress with these militias biding their time, awaiting only a word from the leader to start shooting? It''s not like they materialized from nowhere.
Bottom line: most of the "progress" touted by Bushit is completely illusory.
Translation for Republicans: "illusory" means it''s Bu*****! - Reply to this comment
- "The Iraqis didn"t ask permission, they just went, which seems to have caught President Bush by surprise."
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Bush struggled to regain his composure, as the school kids waited for him to resume with "The Pet Goat"... - Reply to this comment
- What a wonderful country, while spending so much money for the freedom of other country, 31 million people are in hunger, 45 million cannot see a doctor to cure diseases in their country.
Plus sending 3rd nuke ship to the capital of greatest ally who pays them 6 billion bucks every year for their military expense and endangering 30 million people lives in the capital areas. - Reply to this comment
- CBS:
Why are you and other media not covering the recent story about CIA Director Michael Hayden hosting a private dinner party for members of the media???
Not interested in exposing your industry''s in-bed relationship with govt agencies for access?
How about trying to re-establish some credibility as the fifth estate? - Reply to this comment
- This story is b.s. and the public just isn''t buying it. Is it just a coincidence that "Slippery Diick" Cheney was there last week talking to Maliki and this week he launches this stupid offensive?
And is it just another coincidence that the revised deadline Maliki set for the Mahdi Army resistance to surrender is the same as when US Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. Petreus are set to give their latest report in Washington, DC?
If anything, I''ve learned with this administration to take the REVERSE of what they say to be the truth. - Reply to this comment
- There never were any "successes". We paid militia not to fight. That in conjunction with Al saders cease fire.. that is what led to a reduction in violence. He expected to have some kind of stable government for his people by now.. but nothing.. only watching his rivals try to take oil rich Basra.. once he saw this.. all bets were off.. Maybe its time for the God *** news people to start telling the TRUTH behind this story and calling Bush out for his on going failures and lies. This CBS NEWS ought to be called the CBS Circus.. like the rest of the main stream media, they have let the American people down because they are scared of bush the fascist..They allowed this "war" to happen in the first place by not asking the tough questions. so they decide to tell us all lies to be compliant with bush the fascist.. it will all be over soon, when this debacle turns into a full scale world war. And don''t think it can''t happen. Russia and China are watching closely..
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Re: "Neither the Iraqi army nor the Iraqi police could fight their way out of a paper bag. What a pathetic joke they are."
Posted by IT_Oldtimer
What do you expect from puppet-collaborators?- Reply to this comment
- Neither the Iraqi army nor the Iraqi police could fight their way out of a paper bag. What a pathetic joke they are.
Most work for both sides at the same time - one side for the money, and the other side for the show.
They''re nothing but a motley collection of gutless clowns, and that''s all they ever will be. - Reply to this comment
- This story is BS. What''s not, Diesel fuel is $ 4.09 / gal.,went to the store everything has gone up,loaf of wheat bread $ 4.99 of course the cheap one cost $ 1.99/ loaf,4 four ears corn 4.99 ? What happening ? You think Basra surprised ya,wait ,the sleeping Giant is going to kick the evil greedy hell out someone.Chevrontexaco your in trouble along with all you greedy punks ,we will not take it any more,yell out the window i''m mad and will not take it anymore.
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- ''Fighting Could Roll Back A Whole Year Of Progress''
No problem. What''s another 1000 American lives and 200 billion dollars lost over the last year? No expense should be spared in protecting the flow of $110 per barrel oil. Plus we''re spreading peace and freedom while we''re doing it. Yippee! - Reply to this comment
- Al-Maliki must do what a Prime Minister must sometimes do,......forever establish who has authority over the nation and who does not.
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- I want my tax rebate dollars to go to a good carpet bombing of Sadr city. And toss a little nape for entertainment.
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- Oh, my God! First, He almost chokes on a pretzel. Then, he farts in the Oval office to embarrass new interns. Now, he''s playing with his fly? What lengths will this mental midget NOT go to, to make a presidential statement? He''s a pitiful freak!
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- The only thing that would surprise me is that anyone would be surprised by the fact that George Bush was surprised once again regarding Iraq. Has this administration had even one of their expected consequences and results from this war come true? Well, other than windfall record oil company profits and $4 a gallon gas costs?
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NeoCon Rule #1. LIE.
NeoCon Rule #2. Refer to Rule #1.- Reply to this comment
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
