BAGHDAD, April 7, 2008
5 U.S. Troops Killed In Bloody Day In Iraq
Blast Kills 3 Alleged Militants In Basra; Violence Intensifies Ahead Of Gen. Petraeus' Report
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Violence Ignited In Sadr City
Violent fighting in Sadr City has erupted between Iraqi troops backed by U.S. forces and Shiite gunmen. Lara Logan reports.
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On Patrol In Sadr City
"Only On The Web:" Lara Logan speaks with U.S. Army Captain Logan Veath, as American forces patrol Sadr City in order to push Shiite militias farther away from the Green Zone.
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Neighbors in the al-Asdiqa neighborhood react after their house was destroyed in an explosion in Basra, Iraq, Monday, April 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)
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A U.S. Army soldier secures a checkpoint in the Shiite enclave of Sadr City Baghdad, Monday, April 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
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The military says a Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldier died in an explosion Sunday during a route-clearing patrol in an eastern section of the capital.
A separate statement says another American soldier also has died of wounds suffered in a roadside bombing north of Baghdad.
That raises to two the number of Multi-National Division - North soldiers killed in the blast in the volatile Diyala province. The other death was reported Sunday after the attack occurred.
At least 4,020 members of the U.S. military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003. That's according to an Associated Press count.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces said a large explosion demolished a building in the southern city of Basra on Monday, killing at least three militants and wounding four.
British military spokesman Maj. Tom Holloway said it was not clear what caused the blast but insisted no British, U.S. or Iraqi forces were involved. An Iraqi police official and witnesses say those killed were gunmen using the abandoned house as a base, and that the building was destroyed in an air strike.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.
U.S.-led forces have carried out several airstrikes amid fierce clashes between Shiite militiamen and Iraqi troops. But Holloway says that was not the case this time.
On Sunday, suspected Shiite militants lobbed rockets and mortar shells into the U.S.-protected Green Zone, killing two American troops and wounding dozens more, officials said.
The attacks occurred as U.S. and Iraqi forces battled Shiite militants in Sadr City in some of the fiercest fighting since radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered a cease-fire a week ago. At least 16 Iraqi civilians were killed and nearly 100 wounded in the fighting, according to hospital officials.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued his strongest warning to date on Monday to al-Sadr to disband his militia or face political isolation. The Sadrists said Monday a move to ban them from elections would be unconstitutional.
Aide Hassan al-Zarqani said from Iran that al-Sadr will consult Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and other top Shiite clerics if the government continues to pressure al-Sadr to disband the militia or see his candidates banned from upcoming elections.
A military official said two U.S. troops died and 17 were wounded in the attack on the Green Zone, which houses the U.S. Embassy and the Iraqi government headquarters in central Baghdad.
A senior U.S. military official, also declining to be identified for the same reason, said the rockets were fired at the Green Zone from Sadr City while the mortar shells came from another predominantly Shiite neighborhood in eastern Baghdad, New Baghdad.
U.S. commanders have blamed what they call Iranian-backed rogue militia groups for launching missiles against American forces. American commanders say Iran supplies the militias with armor-piercing roadside bombs known as explosively formed penetrators or EFPs and other weapons. Tehran denies the allegations.
In related developments:
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The deadly mortar and rocket strikes in Baghdad came despite a strong push by the U.S. military to prevent militants from using suspected launching sites on the southern edge of Sadr City, the Baghdad stronghold of the Mahdi Army of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.We lack food, water and electricity. This morning I saw two men being shot by a sniper as they were trying to cross the street near my house.
Hussein Khazim, Sadr City residentFierce fighting erupted in Sadr City earlier Sunday after Iraqi troops backed by U.S. soldiers and attack helicopters tried to advance deeper into the enclave of some 2.5 million people.
American helicopters also fired Hellfire missiles that destroyed a vehicle and killed nine militants who were attacking Iraqi security forces rocket-propelled grenades in the area, the military said in a statement.
The surge in violence came as tensions rose in Shiite areas despite al-Sadr's cease-fire order issued March 30 that ended nearly a week of clashes in Baghdad, Basra and other cities in the Shiite south.
The cleric stopped short of asking his fighters to surrender their weapons, and sporadic clashes have continued.
The inability of the Iraqi security forces to curb the militias has cast doubt on their ability to take over their own security two days before the top American officials in Iraq - Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker - are to brief Congress on the prospects for further reductions in the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.
Al-Sadr has called for a "million-strong" anti-U.S. demonstration on Wednesday in Baghdad to protest the fifth anniversary of the capture of Baghdad by invading U.S. troops.
CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan reports that any action against the Mahdi Army will likely bring more violence, and the government's ultimatum comes at a crucial point this time - coinciding with al-Sadr's call for a march.
At the edge of Sadr City, Lt. Col. Dan Barnett, the commander of the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, said Iraqi forces had come under sustained fire overnight after establishing checkpoints deeper into the Shiite district.
"They're working to establish control," he said, speaking to a small group of reporters as heavy gunfire resounded outside a joint U.S.-Iraqi base.
The Iraqi government has relaxed security measures Saturday around the Mahdi Army strongholds of Sadr City and the Shula neighborhood, allowing trucks carrying maintenance teams, food, oil products and ambulances into the areas that still face a vehicle ban despite the lifting of a citywide curfew.
But residents continued to complain of hardships.
"Our situation is miserable. We lack food, water and electricity. This morning I saw two men being shot by a sniper as they were trying to cross the street near my house. The government should do something to end our suffering," said Hussein Khazim, a taxi driver who has been out of work since the turmoil erupted in late March.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive 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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See all 200 Commentsposted by armydog2
Who counted them and how?
Thanks for the support,
Warriors of the World
Were ahead of them in that curve, by about 800 years going back to the the crusades.Funny how the Arabs were the more enlightened guys then.
thank gawd the surge is working bubba
mission accomplished
if you actually supported the troops instead of the
criminals Bush and McBushCain;
you would want the troops home,
the troops want to come home
and the Iraqi people want them to leave
58,195 dead and over 300,000 wounded and maimed, all for idiots like you.
If we want to spend our troops lives establishing democracy in the world we should spend them here and invade Washington, D.C. to take back our own government. It''s been taken over by the Demopublicans under the leadership of Corporate America. We need to overthrow the corruption and restablish the rule of the people. We need to enforce strict term limits and election reform laws. We need to put reins on Wall Street to ensure that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is once again for everyone in America.
We need to clean up our own house first, then we can worry about the rest of the world.
One more question, will we survive GW until January next year? And, whomever is his successor, will he/she be able to stop the bleeding (heavy on the sarcasm), much less do anything at all to repair any of the damage?
Posted by FloydZepp at 08:05 AM : Apr 07, 2008
Well in all fairness some of their women really would look better in Burkas. Like Ann Coulter and Laura Bush for instance.
He is gone one way or another, and Lord help us he doesn''t destroy our beloved nation before he is banished to outer Crawford, TX.
When G W said he heard the voice of God asking him to invade Iraq and kill thousands, it was really the voice of Satan.
G W Bush - Son of Satan.
Damned for All Time!
One year from now or ten years from now, Americans will still be killed at this same rate, or worse.
The question then becomes to any rational thinking, caring person not consumed with government instilled FEAR: how long shall we let this killing of our citizens continue.
BUSH AND CHENEY tried and convicted for WAR CRIMES in the international courts.
As a result of being so analytically crippled, they are always certain that they are both doing the right thing and that they are incapable of failing, no matter how many times they do the wrong thing and/or fail.
And like Marie Antoinette, when confronted with their failures, they say "Let them eat cake!".
lollll...or, in the much less decorative English:
"So?".
Here in Washington State, the Ron Paul signs on lawns and in windows aren''t going to be taken down any time soon. He did very well here, but the media pretended he didn''t exist.
posted by armydog2
You dummy liberals are so desperate. There were no 935 lies. You people are sick in the head, literally.
Posted by liberalbias1 at 08:40 AM : Apr 07, 2008
So how many lies were they - 932 ?? Besidees which of the 935 lies were actually TRUE ?? Which one ? Just One ? - Fcking Dumb Repug. Cheers!
What''s that sound in Congress this week? Gen.Petraeus asking for ANOTHER 6 months or so---ad infinitum---but, ''we''re winning the war''!
And what''s that non-sense sound of blind supporters of this war who stupidly suggest this is just the first test of the surge? But, ''we''re winning the war''!
This war is and will probably continue to be dragged on six more months at a time with no real decrease in the fighting or stability of the government! But make no mistake, WE will never win this war because it''s not ours to win, it''s up to the Iraqis, and they can''t see or want a democratic form of govt! And, at some point the Bush administration and its'' supporters must be held accountable for this illegal war!
posted by armydog2
You dummy liberals are so desperate. There were no 935 lies. You people are sick in the head, literally.
Posted by liberalbias1 at 08:40 AM : Apr 07, 2008
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The 935 lie figure was derived by going through major speeches, TV addresses, and press conferences. If one were to include statements made at all fundraiser events and personal statements by the principals---the figure would be in the thousands, liberalbias1 you frig''n idiot!
What''s really sad about people like you, is---you''re either scheming liars or blindly denying reality---in either case, it''s clear mental illness is at work at some level to some degree! SO---most if not all of what you say, can and should be ignored!
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So all that matters is the 935 lies. What about the lies from the newly elected Congress. Bottom line is all politicians need to go. PERIOD. And all weather forecaster because they lie everyday.
%u201CMilitary men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.%u201D - Henry Kissinger, quoted in %u201CKiss the Boys Goodbye"
They''ve almost completed the real task of the Stupid Peoples'' War...They are on the verge of breaking apart the Iraqi nation...For only a mere trillion or so of YOUR money they''ve more than doubled the price of oil!...and, they''ve put much of YOUR trillion or so into their own pockets through corrupt military contractors who enjoy no-bid contracts.
And what do get for YOUR money and YOUR sacrifice?-- You get to have that glowing feeling that you''ve done your bit for Big Oil, Israel and the Almighty Dollar...
Kissinger was not quite extensive enough in the above quote..."Americans are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy." There...that is much more accurate! Don''t forget to vote Demopublican so this farce will continue...
In the Fox article, McCain says we must continue to send money to Iraq to help them rebuild. Where is the oil money going? Oil production is up to pre-war levels, so the Iraqi government should be sending money our way.
Iraq is a massive training camp where anyone who wants to be better at killing Americans can practice their art from the comfort of their own homes. Before our unilateral invasion, Saddam would have picked up Al Sadr and fed him through a wood chipper feet first.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19684.
htm
Bob Barr is running for the Libertarian nomination... he is opposed to this Corporate Imperialism...Nader is running....Cynthia McKinney, I believe, is still seeking the Green Party nomination...
If the Demopublican scum in Washington have their way, we will attack Iran...
The Demopublican Congress has set the table for Bush to order a strike on Iran...now, guess who is coming to dinner? Barney''s protege, Betrayus...and he will be eating scraps from the House Armed Forces Committee table where Rep. Ike Skelton supports a strike against Iran.
Posted by JERSupporter at 10:40 AM : Apr 07, 2008
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My response: Where in my previous post that you are responding to, do I say ''all that matters is the 935 lies''?!
I swear, JERSupporter, you must smoke dope or drink bad homemade hooch or something!! NO WHERE do I say that OR imply it!
And if you want to discuss lies made by mbrs of Congress concerning the Iraq war, go ahead!
But, if you''re referring to the U.S. Congress when you say all politicians need to go---be replaced---guess what? I tend to AGREE with you!
Weathermen don''t lie---they make a legitimate ''best guess'' effort, that''s all they can do.
58,195 dead and over 300,000 wounded and maimed, all for idiots like you.
If we want to spend our troops lives establishing democracy in the world we should spend them here and invade Washington, D.C. to take back our own government. It''''s been taken over by the Demopublicans under the leadership of Corporate America. We need to overthrow the corruption and restablish the rule of the people. We need to enforce strict term limits and election reform laws. We need to put reins on Wall Street to ensure that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is once again for everyone in America.
We need to clean up our own house first, then we can worry about the rest of the world.
They can both be wrong and still keep their jobs, but only the CEO can get a million dollar+ bonus at the end of the year for doing it.
A GAZA STRIP OF OUR VER OWN !!!
COMPLETE WITH ROCKETS AND GUYS RUNNING
AROUND TO LAUNCH THEM !
HECK ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BOMB OUT A
BUFFER ZONE AROUND THE EDGES OF SADR CITY
AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.
JUST ASK ISRIEL.
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The easy lie is they campaigned to get elected by promising our withdrawal from Iraq. LIE
So does that mean Presidents don''''t lie---they make a legitimate ''''best guess'''' effort, that''''s all they can do?
They can both be wrong and still keep their jobs, but only the CEO can get a million dollar+ bonus at the end of the year for doing it.
Posted by Sumarongi at 11:14 AM : Apr 07, 2008
Funny and true, Also even if the CEO''s do loose their their jobs, they still paid millions to *** off.
So does that mean Presidents don''''''''t lie---they make a legitimate ''''''''best guess'''''''' effort, that''''''''s all they can do?
Posted by JERSupporter at 11:27 AM : Apr 07, 2008
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My response: I knew YOU would suggest this :)!
Obviously, you''re not keeping up with the news! A Mr.Doug Feith just announced that the Iraq war was based on a premeditated plan to attack---a fait accompli---disregarding any evidence to the contrary suggesting there was no need!
Do YOU think this president just applies a ''best guess'' policy & therefore he can''t be held responsible?! It''s clear!
He applies NO ''best guess'' policy! He ignores evidence/facts that stand in the way of what he wants to do!! Then, he does what he wants! SO, he should be held responsible for this actions!
5 young american men were killed.
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