Sadr City Fighting Leaves Dozens Dead

Clashes From Weekend Continue As U.S. Military Battles Shiite Militias

(CBS/AP)  The U.S. military says soldiers have killed 28 militants during a four-hour firefight in Baghdad's Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City.

Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a U.S. military spokesman, says the clashes broke out after a U.S. patrol was attacked about 9:30 a.m. with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.

He says six U.S. soldiers were wounded in Tuesday's fighting but none of their injuries were life-threatening.

The violence appeared to be a continuation of the weekend's heavy clashes involving attack helicopters and Abrams main battle tanks in which about 45 militants and four U.S. soldiers have died.

A showdown between the Iraqi government and the Mahdi Army militia - led by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr - has increasingly drawn U.S. forces into battle. American commanders are particularly focused on trying to curb a rise in mortar and rocket attacks on the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad that houses Iraq's government and many foreign embassies.

Overnight clashes resulted in 42 injuries, officials at the Imam Ali and al-Sadr general hospitals said. Eight more were killed and 25 wounded in continuing firefights on Tuesday morning, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

AP Television News footage showed men helping women cross the street and children running for cover behind blast walls amid gunshots.

Men helped carry several blood-soaked injured people onto stretchers to a local emergency hospital. Outside the hospital, the dead were placed inside plain wooden coffins.

Also in Baghdad, a senior government official was killed in a roadside bombing in the north of the city.

Dhia Jodi Jaber, director general at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, was hit by a roadside bomb as he left his home on Tuesday morning, the ministry's spokesman Abdullah al-Lami said.

Insurgents frequently target governmental officials and institutions in a bid to disrupt the government's work.

In the southern city of Basra, where the government began its crackdown on Shiite militias on March 25, Iraqi military commander Lt. Gen. Mohan al-Fireji announced the discovery of a huge weapons cache containing roadside bombs, mortar launchers and Iranian-made weapons.

More details on the amount of weapons or how authorities knew they were Iranian-made were not immediately available.

In other developments:

The trial of Tariq Aziz, one of Saddam Hussein's best-known lieutenants, was scheduled to open in Baghdad on Tuesday. Aziz is one of eight defendants facing charges in a case dating back to 1992 when the government executed 42 merchants for war-profiteering. Others include Saddam's half brother and the dictator's cousin known as "Chemical Ali," who faces a pending death sentence in another case.

The body of an American security contractor kidnapped and slain in Iraq has arrived in western New York for burial. Jonathon Cote's body arrived last night at the Buffalo airport. The 25-year-old Army veteran's flag-draped casket was met by his family and a military honor guard.

A female suicide bomber blew herself up at a bus stop near Muqdadiyah, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, killing one and wounding five people, police said.

The Iraqi defense ministry said Serbia had agreed to write off $3 billion in Iraq's foreign debt. Serbia's move comes after an international conference last week in Kuwait at which Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and U.S. Secretary of State unsuccessfully pressed Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to forgive Iraq's debts as a sign of support for Iraq's government. Iraq harbors at least US$67 billion (euro42.14 billion) in foreign debt - the vast majority of it owed to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

© 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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by bahir4 April 29, 2008 9:26 AM PDT

Try PEACE instead of War. http://www.peopleforworldpeace.weebly.com

Reply to this comment

by mudrose-2009 April 29, 2008 9:45 AM PDT

A country cannot defend itself if is has a military within a military since they will invariably be at odds with each other. Since the al-Sadr militia refuse to give up their arms, then they will be subjected to constant and daily violence. The U.S. Military and the Iraqi Military are close to 350,000 strong. Give it up already. And since al-Sadr is seeking refuge in Iran, let him stay there forever. What makes him different from Bin Laden. He sits in his cave while others die.

Reply to this comment

by prinzowhales April 29, 2008 10:15 AM PDT

Dyncorps, the criminal organization HQ''d in Texas and important US contractor, despite being put "in the penalty box" by Rumfeld for involvment in white slavery in the Balkans, is at it again in Iraq. A manager utilized an armored car to haul wh.ores to Baghdad...an employee who should have been using an armored vehicle died when his vehicle was attacked-- and wouldn''t have if he had the armored car.

Cynthia McKinney was the only person in Congress to demand an accounting from Rumsfeld for the Balkans doings of Dyncorps...She''s not in Congress to question the arse-licking dog, Gates, about this career criminal enterprise--Dyncorps.

Troops Home Now!! The enemy is in Washington! No new deployments...America needs its sons and daughters home to deal with the threat!

Reply to this comment

by singingrick April 29, 2008 10:51 AM PDT

Another day and more Bush/Republicon failure.

Reply to this comment

by emelder April 29, 2008 11:22 AM PDT

Bush is so proud of having brought "democracy" to Iraq, how''s about we put democracy there to a test? Let''s ask the Iraqi people if they want us to leave. Straight up vote. Bet they would vote us out! So is there really democracy in Iraq, or is it just the imposition of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfield/Gates/Wolfawitz agenda?

Reply to this comment

by pentangyl April 29, 2008 11:27 AM PDT

The US Corporation has invested to much in its interest to let Sadr win elections this fall. 1.Harass the Sadr-militia, 2.get them to respond, 3.weaken militia and eventually strip Sadr and his sect of power and the abiliy to be elected in the fall!

Easy tactic!

Hence the reason why Sadr has not declared all out war! If he is smart he would just wait for elections! He has more support in IRAQ than anybody else! But the corporation knows that!

This will be interesting!

Reply to this comment

by mudrose-2009 April 29, 2008 11:35 AM PDT

A country cannot defend itself if is has a military within a military since they will invariably be at odds with each other. Since the al-Sadr militia refuse to give up their arms, then they will be subjected to constant and daily violence. The U.S. Military and the Iraqi Military are close to 350,000 strong. Give it up already. And since al-Sadr is seeking refuge in Iran, let him stay there forever. What makes him different from Bin Laden. He sits in his cave while others die.
Posted by mudrose

"A well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free State and prohibits infringement of the right of the people to keep and bear arms."
Posted by dragonwagon5

Did the Iraqis put that in their Constitution?

Reply to this comment

by demslie April 29, 2008 11:45 AM PDT

Another day and more Bush/Republicon failure.

Posted by singingrick

is it just the imposition of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfield/Gates/Wolfawitz agenda?

Posted by emelder
You notice that the Democrats here feel Hate, Anger and Rage at Bush but never have an un-kind word for their friends, the genocidal terrorists. No Democrat here or anywhere on any post has ever sad a bad word about the terrorist murderers who strap bombs to women and children and send them out to murder for Alai. That%u2019s because Democrats do not give a Damnn about terrorist victims. The terrorist murderers are the best political partners the Democrats ever had. The Democrats believe that the more dead bodies, the better it is for their evil political agenda. Democrats what to win, so a large body count is important politics. However, most national polls show McCain Ahead. The American people are tired of the Endless Hate and Anger that Democrats show. Angry Hateful Anything Sexxxuall Democrats hate the Military, hate the President, hate Christians, hate White people, Hate Rich People, Hate Republicans, Hate the Pope, Hate the American Flag. Even the Democrats God Head of the DNC, Howard Dean said Democrats need to end this fighting and show a united front. But Democrats cannot do that. It is the norm for Democrats to express support for anyone who hates Bush including Al Qaeda. Democrats can only join their terrorist partners in Hate, Anger and Rage toward all of America.

Reply to this comment

by chatmandu002 April 29, 2008 11:51 AM PDT

What a bunch of far left wing pusssies....

Reply to this comment

by onceagirl April 29, 2008 11:57 AM PDT

We have our way of life...other countries have theirs....how can you win a conflict when the opposition is indistinguishable from the allies? From LBJ to George Bush Jr never had a handle on the will of the people. People will never divest themselves of their nationalistic identity..didn''t we learn our lesson Korea? Vietnam? More of our brave young men and women are fighting for a lost cause...Islam believers will never surrender their beliefs no how many of them are killed...it only strengthens their resolve ....World War 3 anyone? But beware, after each world war, there has been a changing of the guard in the world power structure..Can you say China and Russia? The first quicky establishing themselves as the merchants to the world, a position we used to have...remember? The second, having one of the smallest armies in the world per population, are concentrating their efforts to science including weapons of mass destruction fueled by their insane profits from their gas and oil reserves. Although I weep for the victims of 9/11 ( I lost a cousin ) no one really asks why the muslim world hates us so much that they would do such a thing. Does anyone know the answer? On a footnote, why the heck are the Israelis spying on us? Input please.

Reply to this comment

by getcentered April 29, 2008 12:00 PM PDT

demslie

You are in some sort of strange denial about the war in Iraq......but that%u2019s OK I guess.....many Americans are just as ignorant about the truth surrounding our invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Reply to this comment

by notblue April 29, 2008 12:20 PM PDT

getcentered and the rest of the anti''s, do you know the difference between occpation and liberation, it''s time to get uot the dictionary and look it up.

Reply to this comment

by usbrit-2009 April 29, 2008 12:23 PM PDT

Posted by Prinzowhales

Is there anything you don''t have a conspiracy theory for, POW?

Reply to this comment

by grim56z April 29, 2008 12:24 PM PDT

Taliban and Al Qada are hiding out in their closets because they are too afraid to face the Coalition. They can try on every sun dress and evening gown on the clothes rack. If they were really honest, A.Q. would drop the pretense and fight. There is no reason to die wearing women''s cosmetics and underwear.

Reply to this comment

by usbrit-2009 April 29, 2008 12:26 PM PDT

Posted by demslie

You are the most hate-filled sorry answer for a human being I have ever come across. You should really turn yourself in for serious treatment.

Reply to this comment

by antoniof123 April 29, 2008 12:45 PM PDT

FloydZepp of course they make it up as they go along.

People like demslie and notblue know that their way is failed so by goodness they are going to take as many down with them as possible.

The one interesting fact is that if you combine both of the polls for Clinton and Obama you will see that in the end the Democrats are going to win so bad that it will be a blood bath for the GOP not only in the Senate by in the House and the President.

Getting funnier by the minute.

Reply to this comment

by talkingham April 29, 2008 12:52 PM PDT

Al Sadr''s people slaughtered 23 Marines early in the war in Najaf and all Bush and his buddies did was slap him on the wrist. Anyone who thinks Bush, the neocons, or Rush Limpballs want anything resembling peace or stability in the Middle East is an idiot. Oil prices would drop sharply if there was peace or stability int he region. The plan is to keep it unstable until the oil runs out so the powerbrokers and speculators can rake in billions for doing nothing but using your tax dollars and your kids who join the military to drive up the price of oil. Idiots.

Reply to this comment

by hungry1968 April 29, 2008 12:55 PM PDT

getcentered and the rest of the anti''''s, do you know the difference between occpation and liberation, it''''s time to get uot the dictionary and look it up.

Posted by notblue at 12:20 PM : Apr 29, 2008



Occupation: the invasion and control of an area or country by military force, usually accompanied with martial law. Examples include 1939 Poland, 1990 Kuwait, and 2003 Iraq.

Liberation: to release from tyranny or dictatorial control. Examples include 1944 Paris, 1991 Kuwait, and the 2003 liberation of terrorists and insurgents from Saddam Hussein''s control.

Reply to this comment

by prinzowhales April 29, 2008 5:08 PM PDT

Is there anything you don''''t have a conspiracy theory for, POW?

Posted by USBrit at 12:23 PM : Apr 29, 2008
------------------------------------

Where is the conspiracy? Rumsfeld said in Congressional hearings in response to a query from Representative McKinney that Dyncorps had been "put in the penalty box" for a few months in which they would not be eligible for new government contracts for their white slavery rackets.

Reply to this comment

by prinzowhales April 29, 2008 5:53 PM PDT

I can really see why the al-Maliki, the Quisling scum bag, and his Demopublican Regime handlers would be upset with Saddam''s government for executing war profiteers....Hits real close to home doesn''t it Cheney?

Reply to this comment

by colonieny April 29, 2008 9:02 PM PDT

Our brave men and women are doing a spectacular job. We thank you every day .
I for one believe that it is time to go after the head of this snake, and cut it off. Why are we *** footing with Al Sadr, the roly polly despot in need of a shave.

Reply to this comment

by gce65 April 30, 2008 1:38 AM PDT

From "The Hollow Men" by T. S. Eliot
Mistah Kurtz%u2014he dead.

A penny for the Old Guy
..............................
IV

The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms

In this last of meeting places
We grope together
And avoid speech
Gathered on this beach of the tumid river

Sightless, unless
The eyes reappear
As the perpetual star
Multifoliate rose
Of death%u2019s twilight kingdom
The hope only
Of empty men.

V

Here we go round the prickly pear
Prickly pear prickly pear
Here we go round the prickly pear
At five o%u2019clock in the morning.

Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom

Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the Shadow
Life is very long

Between the desire
And the spasm
Between the potency
And the existence
Between the essence
And the descent
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom

For Thine is
Life is
For Thine is the

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

Reply to this comment

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[bahir4]

Try PEACE instead of War. http://www.peopleforworldpeace.weebly.com

[mudrose-2009]

A country cannot defend itself if is has a military within a military since they will invariably be at odds with each other. Since the al-Sadr militia refuse to give up their arms, then they will be subjected to constant and daily violence. The U.S. Military and the Iraqi Military are close to 350,000 strong. Give it up already. And since al-Sadr is seeking refuge in Iran, let him stay there forever. What makes him different from Bin Laden. He sits in his cave while others die.

[prinzowhales]

Dyncorps, the criminal organization HQ''d in Texas and important US contractor, despite being put "in the penalty box" by Rumfeld for involvment in white slavery in the Balkans, is at it again in Iraq. A manager utilized an armored car to haul wh.ores to Baghdad...an employee who should have been using an armored vehicle died when his vehicle was attacked-- and wouldn''t have if he had the armored car.

Cynthia McKinney was the only person in Congress to demand an accounting from Rumsfeld for the Balkans doings of Dyncorps...She''s not in Congress to question the arse-licking dog, Gates, about this career criminal enterprise--Dyncorps.

Troops Home Now!! The enemy is in Washington! No new deployments...America needs its sons and daughters home to deal with the threat!

[singingrick]

Another day and more Bush/Republicon failure.

[emelder]

Bush is so proud of having brought "democracy" to Iraq, how''s about we put democracy there to a test? Let''s ask the Iraqi people if they want us to leave. Straight up vote. Bet they would vote us out! So is there really democracy in Iraq, or is it just the imposition of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfield/Gates/Wolfawitz agenda?

[pentangyl]

The US Corporation has invested to much in its interest to let Sadr win elections this fall. 1.Harass the Sadr-militia, 2.get them to respond, 3.weaken militia and eventually strip Sadr and his sect of power and the abiliy to be elected in the fall!

Easy tactic!

Hence the reason why Sadr has not declared all out war! If he is smart he would just wait for elections! He has more support in IRAQ than anybody else! But the corporation knows that!

This will be interesting!

[mudrose-2009]

A country cannot defend itself if is has a military within a military since they will invariably be at odds with each other. Since the al-Sadr militia refuse to give up their arms, then they will be subjected to constant and daily violence. The U.S. Military and the Iraqi Military are close to 350,000 strong. Give it up already. And since al-Sadr is seeking refuge in Iran, let him stay there forever. What makes him different from Bin Laden. He sits in his cave while others die.
Posted by mudrose

"A well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free State and prohibits infringement of the right of the people to keep and bear arms."
Posted by dragonwagon5

Did the Iraqis put that in their Constitution?

[demslie]

Another day and more Bush/Republicon failure.

Posted by singingrick

is it just the imposition of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfield/Gates/Wolfawitz agenda?

Posted by emelder
You notice that the Democrats here feel Hate, Anger and Rage at Bush but never have an un-kind word for their friends, the genocidal terrorists. No Democrat here or anywhere on any post has ever sad a bad word about the terrorist murderers who strap bombs to women and children and send them out to murder for Alai. That%u2019s because Democrats do not give a Damnn about terrorist victims. The terrorist murderers are the best political partners the Democrats ever had. The Democrats believe that the more dead bodies, the better it is for their evil political agenda. Democrats what to win, so a large body count is important politics. However, most national polls show McCain Ahead. The American people are tired of the Endless Hate and Anger that Democrats show. Angry Hateful Anything Sexxxuall Democrats hate the Military, hate the President, hate Christians, hate White people, Hate Rich People, Hate Republicans, Hate the Pope, Hate the American Flag. Even the Democrats God Head of the DNC, Howard Dean said Democrats need to end this fighting and show a united front. But Democrats cannot do that. It is the norm for Democrats to express support for anyone who hates Bush including Al Qaeda. Democrats can only join their terrorist partners in Hate, Anger and Rage toward all of America.

[chatmandu002]

What a bunch of far left wing pusssies....

[onceagirl]

We have our way of life...other countries have theirs....how can you win a conflict when the opposition is indistinguishable from the allies? From LBJ to George Bush Jr never had a handle on the will of the people. People will never divest themselves of their nationalistic identity..didn''t we learn our lesson Korea? Vietnam? More of our brave young men and women are fighting for a lost cause...Islam believers will never surrender their beliefs no how many of them are killed...it only strengthens their resolve ....World War 3 anyone? But beware, after each world war, there has been a changing of the guard in the world power structure..Can you say China and Russia? The first quicky establishing themselves as the merchants to the world, a position we used to have...remember? The second, having one of the smallest armies in the world per population, are concentrating their efforts to science including weapons of mass destruction fueled by their insane profits from their gas and oil reserves. Although I weep for the victims of 9/11 ( I lost a cousin ) no one really asks why the muslim world hates us so much that they would do such a thing. Does anyone know the answer? On a footnote, why the heck are the Israelis spying on us? Input please.

[getcentered]

demslie

You are in some sort of strange denial about the war in Iraq......but that%u2019s OK I guess.....many Americans are just as ignorant about the truth surrounding our invasion and occupation of Iraq.

[notblue]

getcentered and the rest of the anti''s, do you know the difference between occpation and liberation, it''s time to get uot the dictionary and look it up.

[usbrit-2009]

Posted by Prinzowhales

Is there anything you don''t have a conspiracy theory for, POW?

[grim56z]

Taliban and Al Qada are hiding out in their closets because they are too afraid to face the Coalition. They can try on every sun dress and evening gown on the clothes rack. If they were really honest, A.Q. would drop the pretense and fight. There is no reason to die wearing women''s cosmetics and underwear.

[usbrit-2009]

Posted by demslie

You are the most hate-filled sorry answer for a human being I have ever come across. You should really turn yourself in for serious treatment.

[antoniof123]

FloydZepp of course they make it up as they go along.

People like demslie and notblue know that their way is failed so by goodness they are going to take as many down with them as possible.

The one interesting fact is that if you combine both of the polls for Clinton and Obama you will see that in the end the Democrats are going to win so bad that it will be a blood bath for the GOP not only in the Senate by in the House and the President.

Getting funnier by the minute.

[talkingham]

Al Sadr''s people slaughtered 23 Marines early in the war in Najaf and all Bush and his buddies did was slap him on the wrist. Anyone who thinks Bush, the neocons, or Rush Limpballs want anything resembling peace or stability in the Middle East is an idiot. Oil prices would drop sharply if there was peace or stability int he region. The plan is to keep it unstable until the oil runs out so the powerbrokers and speculators can rake in billions for doing nothing but using your tax dollars and your kids who join the military to drive up the price of oil. Idiots.

[hungry1968]

getcentered and the rest of the anti''''s, do you know the difference between occpation and liberation, it''''s time to get uot the dictionary and look it up.

Posted by notblue at 12:20 PM : Apr 29, 2008



Occupation: the invasion and control of an area or country by military force, usually accompanied with martial law. Examples include 1939 Poland, 1990 Kuwait, and 2003 Iraq.

Liberation: to release from tyranny or dictatorial control. Examples include 1944 Paris, 1991 Kuwait, and the 2003 liberation of terrorists and insurgents from Saddam Hussein''s control.

[prinzowhales]

Is there anything you don''''t have a conspiracy theory for, POW?

Posted by USBrit at 12:23 PM : Apr 29, 2008
------------------------------------

Where is the conspiracy? Rumsfeld said in Congressional hearings in response to a query from Representative McKinney that Dyncorps had been "put in the penalty box" for a few months in which they would not be eligible for new government contracts for their white slavery rackets.

[prinzowhales]

I can really see why the al-Maliki, the Quisling scum bag, and his Demopublican Regime handlers would be upset with Saddam''s government for executing war profiteers....Hits real close to home doesn''t it Cheney?

[colonieny]

Our brave men and women are doing a spectacular job. We thank you every day .
I for one believe that it is time to go after the head of this snake, and cut it off. Why are we *** footing with Al Sadr, the roly polly despot in need of a shave.

[gce65]

From "The Hollow Men" by T. S. Eliot
Mistah Kurtz%u2014he dead.

A penny for the Old Guy
..............................
IV

The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms

In this last of meeting places
We grope together
And avoid speech
Gathered on this beach of the tumid river

Sightless, unless
The eyes reappear
As the perpetual star
Multifoliate rose
Of death%u2019s twilight kingdom
The hope only
Of empty men.

V

Here we go round the prickly pear
Prickly pear prickly pear
Here we go round the prickly pear
At five o%u2019clock in the morning.

Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom

Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the Shadow
Life is very long

Between the desire
And the spasm
Between the potency
And the existence
Between the essence
And the descent
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom

For Thine is
Life is
For Thine is the

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.