Cease-Fire Reported In Sadr City

In Mosul Iraqi Army Begins Offensive Against Al Qaeda In Iraq

(CBS/AP)  Shiite militants have agreed on a ceasefire in Baghdad's embattled neighborhood of Sadr City, said a high level cleric Saturday, holding out hope that weeks of clashes in the capital could be at an end.

In the northern city of Mosul, an Iraqi army commander announced the start of the long anticipated offensive against al Qaeda in Iraq's last urban stronghold.

Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, an aide to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said the cease-fire will go into effect Sunday.

The cease-fire may not necessarily end the seven-week old clashes in Sadr City, the stronghold of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, however, as U.S. military has blamed clashes on breakaway groups.

It is not believed that the bulk of the 60,000-strong Mahdi Army has participated in the clashes. Instead it is just splinter groups that have refused to honor a general cease-fire ordered by al-Sadr last August. Al-Sadr has directed his supporters to only fight when attacked.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh in a statement on Saturday expressed the government's support for efforts "that aims at achieving order and security in Sadr City."

"The agreement represents the government's vision to end armed displays and purge al-Sadr City from roadside bombs and mines and impose the law in the city," al-Dabbagh said.

"Iraqi security forces are the only force to achieve this and the government has the right to raid and search any place suspected of possessing heavy or medium weapons," al-Dabbagh said. "The government is also committed to chase all wanted people under the supervision of the prime minister."

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military on the reported deal.

The newly announced cease-fire comes after government-backed Shiite envoys set strict demands for Shiite militias to end their battles against U.S.-led forces in a meeting with al-Sadr's supporters on Thursday.

Al-Obeidi said an agreement had been reached between parliament's coalition of Shiite parties and the Sadrists.

"A 10-point agreement has been reached between members from the United Iraqi Alliance and Sadrist movement in Baghdad and we are informed that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is committed to it," al-Obeidi said in the southern city of Najaf.

He added that "the agreement stipulates that Mahdi Army will stop fighting in Sadr City and will stop displaying arms in public. In return, the government will stop random raids against al-Sadr followers and open all closed roads that lead to Sadr City."

Al-Obeidi said a joint committee will observe the implementation of the agreement and any violations by either side.

"This document does not call for disbanding al-Mahdi Army or laying down their arms," al-Obeidi said, rejecting a previous call by al-Maliki.

The clashes in Sadr City began in late March after al-Maliki, himself a Shiite, launched a crackdown against the Shiite armed groups in the southern city of Basra. Aid groups say at least 6,000 people have fled the homes in Sadr City to escape the fighting and seek help as food and medical supplies dwindle.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Riyadh Jalal Tawfiq, the commander of military operations in the northern city of Mosul, issued a statement on Saturday to announce that the operation "Lion's roar and righteousness battle," against al Qaeda in Iraq was under way.

Mosul was considered the last important urban staging ground for al Qaeda in Iraqi and allied groups after losing its strongholds in Baghdad and other areas during the U.S. troop "surge" last year.

Provincial forces are "undertaking a new phase of operations in Mosul to counter the terrorist threat there," said Maj. John C. Hall, a military spokesman in Baghdad. "These operations build on operations that have been under way for the past several weeks, targeting al Qaeda in Iraq cells."

He added that "this Iraqi-planned and Iraqi-led series of operations continues to be closely supported by Coalition forces."

In January, Iraq's prime minister Nouri al-Maliki promised his military were preparing for a "decisive" showdown with insurgents in Mosul, about 225 miles northwest of Baghdad. But no major offensives have been mounted even as al Qaeda in Iraq tried to exert its influence in Iraq's third-largest city through attacks and intimidation.

On Friday evening, Iraqi officials imposed an indefinite vehicle ban in the northern province of Nineveh, which includes Mosul. Brig. Gen. Khalid Abdul-Sattar, the provincial security spokesman, said Friday the ban was prompted by intelligence that Sunni insurgents might carry out car bombings.

The operation against al Qaeda comes after Iraqi authorities mistakenly announced Thursday that the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, had been captured in Mosul. American officials said a man who was arrested had a name similar to al-Masri's.

There have been false alarms in the past about al-Masri. At least twice - in 2006 and last May - reports circulated that he was dead.


Blackwater Unlikely To Face Charges In Iraq Shooting

Sources say security contractor Blackwater Worldwide is not expected to face criminal charges in connection with the deaths of 17 civilians in Iraq.

[Mohammed Hafiz, 37, holds a picture of his late 10-year-old son, Ali Mohammed, a victim of the Sept. 16, 2007 attack by the Blackwater USA contractors in Baghdad.]

Sources close to the investigation say instead the Justice Department is focused on as few as three or four Blackwater guards who could be indicted in the shootings.

Sparing Blackwater itself would all but ensure that it will get to keep its multimillion-dollar contract to protect U.S. diplomats.

The shooting enraged the Iraqi government, which originally sought to expel the company from the country, and strained diplomatic relations between Washington and Baghdad. It also raised questions about the U.S. reliance on heavily armed private contractors in war zones.

The final decision on any charges will not be made until late summer at the earliest, a law enforcement official said. All spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

The State Department publicly raised the question of Blackwater's corporate liability last month when it extended the company's contract by one year. The contract could still be canceled if criminal charges are brought, but the department said it was unlikely to penalize the corporation if only its employees were charged.

"I think that's really what the FBI investigation needs to look at: Is the company culpable or are the individuals culpable?" Greg Starr, the department's top security officer, said last month.

[obamaslady]

"I think that''s really what the FBI investigation needs to look at: Is the company culpable or are the individuals culpable?" Greg Starr, the department''s top security officer, said.

This situation is DEPLORABLE! Why does the U.S. military even employ "contractors" for their operations? If our military is no longer capable of "war", then why the h*ll are we there in the first place? I remember when the military took care of itself in every aspect, so why has Bush decided that independent contractors are necessary now? Could it be the prospect of more money in the admins pockets? Certainly appears that way to me and a lot of others. This is PREPOSTEROUS and Bushco should be held accountable along with Blackwater, KBR and Halliburton - money peddlers to the Bushco personal pockets! HOLD BUSHCO RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS NEEDLESS WASTED WAR AND ALL THE EVILS IT SPAWNED!

[underdogus]

"Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, an aide to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said the cease-fire will go into effect Sunday". Muqtada Al-Sard "git me Ahmadinejad" "we need more suicide bombers,IED''S,M-16''s,ah and a mexican combo hold di onions!

[veteran72]

(Excerpt from story in SALON)

"The pressure from above for more bodies was also toxic in Iraq, where the isolated, outnumbered and outgunned snipers of the 1st Battalion had to make split-second life-or-death decisions. When those decisions landed them in a military court, it was the lowest-ranking soldiers, not the brass, who paid the price, and a sergeant who said he was pushed into taking a fatal shot who wound up with a long prison sentence. It was battalion commander Lt. Col Robert Balcavage, who pushed for a higher body count, who initiated the prosecution of three of the battalion''s snipers. "Yes, the chain of command deserves to burn in hell," one sniper who served with the unit wrote Salon in an e-mail. "But I am not going on record saying that, well, cause I am still in the *** Army."

Notice how no high ranking military officer is ever held accountable for these War Crimes, when it is THEY who give the orders to be carried out.
It is nothing but an extension of the Bush/Cheney Crime Cartel and their Minions, who never have been held to account for their many and heinous crimes.
Time for a War Crimes Tribunal.
Arrest and hold Shrub and Darth for Mass Murder and Treason.
When they say:
"But we''re innocent"!!!, we''ll answer, "So"???

[ioweign]

and who do u hold responsible for the screwups in your life?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 08:58 AM : May 10, 2008

Another off the wall comment that has nothing to do with the original comment.

And you "say" you are sooo educated...

[underdogus]

jamesm12341 DEPRESSION is getting to you? $$$$$$$$ oil hit 125.98$ he,he cheers!!

[bgwinnett]

you really need to quit obsessing with oil prices

Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:39 AM : May 10, 2008

HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Perhaps he will when you stop foisting your Murdoch press propaganda on this website.

[pollroller1]

Wow!!! Does that mean that we can bring our troops home? hahahaha

[starleo146]

you really need to quit obsessing with oil prices

Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:39 AM : May 10, 2008


You really need to stop obsessing all is right with the world. Just keep your eyes shut is your motto, and it will all go away soon DOOFUS

[downsteamjim]

What is with the comments about high oil prices here? At least we are not making caribous walk an extra twenty feet in Alaska.

[underdogus]

What is with the comments about high oil prices here Posted by downsteamjim .. hummm I dunno but the sands of Iraq hold world''s 2nd largest oil reserve...we lose Iraq we''re doomed he,he....

[bgwinnett]

You really need to stop obsessing all is right with the world. Just keep your eyes shut is your motto, and it will all go away soon DOOFUS

Posted by starleo14672 at 10:09 AM : May 10, 2008

I bet he''s in the middle of his basement right now....lying curled up on the floor...rambling stuff like "it''s all OK" and "it''s morning in America"... while rocking backwards and forwards.

[underdogus]

jamesm12341 get your milk and cookies jimmy boy ta ta

[starleo146]

as long as there are loser libs around, trust me , all is not right in the world.

Posted by jamesm12341 at 10:42 AM : May 10, 2008

Tell me if you can without insult what is so great with this country and name one thing good that has happened in this country in the last 71/2 years

[darkfyreaol]

Tell me if you can without insult what is so great with this country and name one thing good that has happened in this country in the last 7 1/2 years

Posted by starleo14672 at 10:55 AM : May 10, 2008

Oh, that''s easy. Somewhere in those 7 1/2 years, a boy grew up and became a Marine.

[mcvet]

start concentrating on you!! why do u let what goes on around you affect you so much? That is why you are and always will be a loser in life. I really can''''t help you.. I suggest a good therapist


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Posted by jamesm12341 at 11:04 AM : May 10, 2008
+ report abuse

YOU are a FASCIST plain and simple. A citizen ask you a REAL and HONEST question and YOU come back with ME and the "PARTY" are superior and you should NOT ask questions like that. YOU are a disgrace to the spirit and soul of this nation... SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

[mcvet]

as long as there are loser libs around, trust me , all is not right in the world.


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Posted by jamesm12341 at 10:42 AM : May 10, 2008
+ report abuse

EXACTLY what is YOUR MEANING of the Word "Liberal" swastika breath. When one looks at the Dictionary, you obviously haven''t a clue. When one looks at the History Book, you obviously haven''t a clue. YOU treat the word "Liberal" EXACTLY like the Third Reich did in Germany. They didn''t have a clue what the word actually meant either but FDR sure taught them. Now let''s let the spirit of OLD Joe McCarthy hear you here because he would be SO proud of you! READY?? SIEG HEIL GRAND WIZARD!! Great job bootlicker!!

[veteran72]

I love how the Little Nazis crowed loudly about the Capture of the # 2 al qaeda in Iraq, signalling our "winning" the War Thursday, only to be informed Friday that the entire story was made up....LMMFAO....
The little Boot Lickers and Jock Sniffers just won''t learn.....too ********'' funny....

[greatdrivew]

Well, it looks like America''s gift to Iraq continues on: the failed, schizophrenic middle eastern dominance-policies of Bush/McCain neo-cons.

I can''t believe this disgusting bunch of creeps is still trying to bomb Iraq into being a their puppet.

The fact that they''ve been representing us to the world for the past seven and a half years sickens me.

[ajaxtheleast]

And here I thought the U.S. military''s
"OPERATION ARROWHEAD STRIKER" was
childishly meleodamatic.

But along comes the Iraqi army''s
"OPERATION LION''S ROAR AND
RIGHTEOUSNESS BATTLE."


They cut it short from "Operation Lion''s
Roar, Righteousness and Ten-Oclock
Thirty-Minute Coffee Break Demand Battle."

We republicans dont "cut and run"!

Maybe we "cut and deal".

But we dont "cut and run."

[algoresarse]

"EXACTLY what is YOUR MEANING of the Word "Liberal" swastika breath......"

Posted by MCVet at 11:31 AM : May 10, 2008
+ report abuse

*******************

you define the word liberal..AN UTTER USELESS, IGNORANT, RACIST MORON...a FAKE just like your so-called military experience. a COWARD..a person who pretends that cares...ATTENTION SPAN OF A GNAT.. creates illusions to satisfy..

[randynason]

Maybe the ceasefire will last long enough to run out and pick up the bodies. How are they liking their democracy and freedom, Mr. Bush?

[pentangyl]

This will not last! We all know that the reason al-Maliki and the west started antagonizing the militia is because they want the militia to fight back! The aim of this government is to strip Sadr of his ability to compete in the up and coming elecions this fall! If Sadr and his militia is deemed a terrorist or rebel organization, he will be stripped of his government stature as a candidate! AL- Sadr knows what is going on that is why he wants no fighting, it is better to wait for elections where he has a 99% chance of being elected as President, then he will tell the U.S. to leave!

[pentangyl]

I heard the Embassy the U.S is building in IRAQ makes the Taj Mahal look like a crack house!

Imperialism at its finest!

[j-whitman]

pentangyl,,,, Yep, and the servant''s qurarters doesn''t have overhead protection against mortars

[prinzowhales]

THE US ARMY WANTS YOU!! FOR AN EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITY!!...This exciting new MOS (Military Occupational Specialty--MOS-99X--or, Spherical Device Retrieval Specialist...will be demonstrated on the wide house lawn sometime this summer when
Fearless Leader himself will toss a tennis ball across the White House lawn for Barney and his protege General Betrayus to chase!

You could be fulfilling this same important mission at the Brand spanking new Baghdad embassy!...chasing tennis balls on the embassy courts for overweight State Department dignitaries who haven''t seen their balls, tennis or otherwise, over the better part of their careers, as they swing rackets and swear words at the elusive spherical devices that elude them almost as often as chances for peace in the Middle East.

[j-whitman]

And in other news ----

Al Queda is still on the lose, & Our White House is still creating their own intel on Iraq & Iran -

Same thing they did in Iran-Contra (and using the same people) & the same thing they did during the run up for the Iraq War of Roses. --- And not telling the CIA creating more walls.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/136084

[pentangyl]

Title Apparatus for lateral drilling in oil and gas wells
Creator/Author Burton, M.B.
Publication Date 1988 Apr 26
OSTI Identifier OSTI ID: 7229826
Report Number(s) US 4739843
Resource Type Patent
Resource Relation Pat. File: Filed date 2 Jul 1987

IRAQ invaded KUWAIT in 1991

reason; The U.S. Sold this technology to Kuwait. Kuwait was stealing IRAQ oil from underground! I would of invaded too!

Steerable drill bits allow lots of control while drilling horizontal wells. Benefits: Faster penetration and long lateral wells drilled with pinpoint accuracy.

[chobella]

To the Amercan troops of every branch, I beg of you to please lay down your weopons. You are doing a very bad thing in following orders of George W. bush. It has been Proven over and over that this war is without cause. George Bush has admitted to approving torture of these wars and has plans to Invade and torture Iran before he leaves office. For the sake of what''s right, humanity and the acts that you would not want happening here in America, you must stop. It is the most couragious thing any and all of you could ever do. And we as American people will honor you with the medical and housing you have earned and each and everyone brave enough to cease fire a purple heart metal for non compliance with an out of control dictation that enjoys the slaughter of these people who did nothing against America.

[bgwinnett]

pentangyl -- I blame the British for the whole Kuwait debacle because, it was they that decided hive off the Kuwait province from the rest of Mesopotamian lands to serve their own interests.

[yongamerica]

Again, Iran controls its Army in Iraq and stops the fighting before it is destroyed. Iran has approximately 60,000 troops in Iraq, its army is larger than Iraq''s. This force goes back into hiding for re-equipping, further training and waiting for the opportune moment to steal the government from the Iraqis.

[j-whitman]

yongamerica,,, Get a grip, Iran has no army in Iraq

[yongamerica]

Prinzowhales are you getting nervous? Your supreme leader''s plan to rule Iraq through Sadr seems to be failing. Click your sandals and go prostrate before your supreme but buddy.

[prinzowhales]

yongamerica--Am I afraid that there will be a war against Iran that will lead to the death of thousands of human beings?--Yes! Absolutely!

As far as your insinuation of ****-erotic associations with Iranian leaders...It was George Bush, not the Iranian leaders, who White House logs tell us, had a male prostitute at the White House on numerous occassions...one who advertized himself as only being the tea pot, never the tea cup when partaking in the ''luv'' that none dare speak its name.
...THAT is YOUR leader.

[j-whitman]

Nobody''s going to be attacking Iran, not us or Israel.

Behind the scene, the administration is learnig how to live with a nuclear armed Iran - Just like other nuclear armed countries.

Isreal flatly doesn''t have the military capability to coplete an attack of any success,, Russia armed Iran with both short & long range anti-aircraft batteries

[j-whitman]

jamesm12341,,,, I read the news & listen to the Generals reporting to Congress ---- That''s how I know

I care enough about our Troops & Country to seek answers & correct information.

[j-whitman]

jamesm12341,,,, Iran isn''t a Target

http://www.newsweek.com/id/136065/page/2

[pentangyl]

Again, Iran controls its Army in Iraq and stops the fighting before it is destroyed. Iran has approximately 60,000 troops in Iraq, its army is larger than Iraq''''s. This force goes back into hiding for re-equipping, further training and waiting for the opportune moment to steal the government from the Iraqis.

Posted by yongamerica at 03:00 PM : May 10, 2008

Some people should be utterly banned from boards! How in the world can you supply(food, money,weapons) a hidden foreign force of 60,000 in a heavily military occupied area!

[veteran72]

Part 1

Association of Politics and Life Sciences, a panel on "Biobehaviorial Approaches to Politics" addressed the important question: What is wrong with people who disagree with the mainstream of American academic social scientists? Nancy Meyer-Emerick, an assistant professor of public administration at Cleveland State University, made a presentation on "Evolutionary Perspectives on the Authoritarian Personality."

Professor Meyer-Emerick wants to know if there are genetic tendencies that promote what she dubs "authoritarianism." She defines this distasteful quality through the work of University of Manitoba associate professor of psychology Robert Altemeyer. He''s developed a helpful questionnaire, the Right Wing Authoritarian (RWA) Scale, to identify those harboring authoritarian tendencies.

According to Professor Altemeyer, right-wing authoritarians are cognitively rigid, aggressive, and intolerant. They are characterized by steadfast conformity to group norms, submission to higher status individuals, and aggression toward out-groups and unconventional group members. On the RWA Scale, subjects are asked to agree or disagree with statements like: "Some of the worst people in our country nowadays are those who do not respect our flag, our leaders and the normal way things are supposed to be done" and "There is absolutely nothing wrong with nudist camps." Guess which one RWAs tend to agree with?

[j-whitman]

jamesm12341,,,, My spelling hasn''t devistated our National Security ---- Your GOP administration did, & they never learned lessons from Iran/Contra.

They are repeating the same mistakes using single source informents on Iran & building walls keeping intel from the CIA ------ Just as they did in Iran Contra (using many of the same people) & just as they did in the run up for Iraq''s War of Roses

http://www.newsweek.com/id/136084

[j-whitman]

jamesm12341,,,, Can you provide sources that say my sources are wrong ????

[prinzowhales]

Iran has been a target since 9-11. General Clarke later named it as one of the nations targeted for ''regime chang'' by the Zionazi regime in Washington.

The war could well be precipitated by an Israeli false flag attack on a US warship. American lives are of no consequence to the Israelis--the Israeli attack on the USS LIBERTY proved that! Zionazi assets that have been unleashed since the removal of Admiral Fallon are perfectly capable of carrying out a retaliatory strike--just as McCain''s Admiral father was fully capable of carrying out a white wash of the attack on the USS LIBERTY investigation for the Johnson Administration.

[j-whitman]

BagdadsHere,,,, The Mehdi Army are all Iraqi''s

[prinzowhales]

MUQTADAs MEHDI ARMY is made of Iran-puppet fighters, so they may be considered as Iranian army.

Posted by BagdadsHere at 03:54 PM : May 10, 2008
-----------------------------------

No they can''t! That is absurd!

[veteran72]

j-whitman,,,,Quit your stupidness. Iran is not just like any other nuclearized country. Iran supports all kind of terrorist organizations and Iran will transfer nuclear technology to them. No doubt about it.


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Posted by BagdadsHere at 03:51 PM : May 10, 2008
+ report abuse

lars, don''t forget your KKKlan meeting tonight.

On the Schedule:

Hog Roast
Cross Burnin''
Speech by Grand Dragon
Negro Hangin'' and Truck Draggin'' Competition
Awards Ceremony
Closing Speech and Prayer by Local RNC President

[underdogus]

"Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, an aide to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said the cease-fire will go into effect Sunday". Muqtada Al-Sard "git me Ahmadinejad" "we need more suicide bombers,IED''''S,M-16''''s,ah and a mexican combo hold di onions!

[j-whitman]

BagdadTroopKillersHere,,,,, You still don''t know squat about Iraq or anything else in the War on Terror,,, He''s called for cease fire & also for them to lay down their arms, but did they ???

[j-whitman]

underdogus,,,, Enlist, put on a uniform & go fight all the Sheik''s you want -- But keep in mind, Sheik''s are Sunni''s & Bush''s hand holding buddies

[prinzowhales]

Troops Home Now! It does not matter which Iraqi clique rules. Freedom and Self-determination for Iraqis! Jail, Trial and the Gallows for the Neo-Cons!

[underdogus]

Troops Home Now! It does not matter which Iraqi clique rules Posted by Prinzowhales ..sorry free willy we can''t lose Iraq.......

[prinzowhales]

Actually, al Sadr is less pro-Iranian than al Maliki, more of an Iraqi nationalist...and he has done his best not to keep the peace and use time to dislodge the American occupation.

Most of Iraq wants the Americans gone--save those quislings who have cast their lot with the Occupation. Lets support democracy and oblige them! Troops Home Now!