http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L2558442.htm

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, March 25
25 Mar 2008 18:42:45 GMT
Source: Reuters
March 25 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1830 GMT on Tuesday.



BASRA - At least 12 people were killed in clashes in Iraq's southern oil hub of Basra on Tuesday, police said, after the Iraqi security forces launched a major operation against armed groups. Basra is 550 km (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad.

BAGHDAD - Fighting also erupted between followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and supporters of a rival Shi'ite faction in and around Baghdad's Sadr City Shi'ite slum, police said. The U.S. military said clashes involving gunmen and Iraqi forces were under way in the area but did not give details of casualties.

* BAGHDAD - A mortar attack killed one U.S. soldier on patrol in the Adhamiya district of Baghdada, the U.S. military said. The mortar was fired from the vicinity of Sadr City.

* BAGHDAD - The Green Zone, the government and diplomatic compound, came under 12 indirect attacks that included 16 rockets, the U.S. military said. At least three people were wounded from the attacks, while structural damage in the compound was limited.

* BAGHDAD - U.S. military helicopters fired on armed gunmen in Sadr City to support coalition and Iraqi security forces protecting the area's checkpoints.

BASRA - Gunmen kidnapped three Iraqi policemen guarding a police training centre, police said.

BAGHDAD - Gunmen seized two police vehicles and kidnapped six policemen in the Maamil district of northeastern Baghdad, police said.

KUT - Armed followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr seized control of five districts in the southern Iraqi town of Kut on Tuesday, police sources said. Kut is 170 km (105 miles) southeast of Baghdad.

* KUT - Mortar attacks wounded two civilians in Kut, police said.

AZIZIYA - Eight or ten policemen were wounded in clashes in Aziziya town, north of Kut, police said. A hospital source said two policemen and one civilian were killed and seven people were wounded.

HILLA - Gunmen wounded three police officers on patrol in the city of Hilla, 100 km (62 km) south of Baghdad.

QURNA - One militant and one police officer were wounded in clashes in the southern Iraqi town of Qurna, 80 km (50 miles) north of Basra, police said.

BAGHDAD - Two roadside bombs killed one person and wounded eight others in the Bab al-Sheikh district of central Baghdad, police said.

MOSUL - Gunmen killed an employee of Mosul's morgue in a drive-by shooting just outside his house in western Mosul, police said.

* MOSUL - Six bodies were found in different districts of Mosul, police said.

BAGHDAD - Four bodies were found in different districts across Baghdad on Monday, police said.

HADITHA - Iraqi police killed a militant who was trying to throw a grenade at a police patrol on Monday in Haditha, 250 km (150 miles) west of Baghdad, police said.

MOSUL - Gunmen abducted the son of an official of the journalists' union, Ghanim Ismail, outside his house in eastern Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

We all knew this day would come. Everyone clapped their hands when Al-Sadr signed the 6 month cease fire and then we ignorantly thought there would be piece and prosperity forever. The surge didn't take away Al-Sadr's power and destroy his following. It’s time to see what the Iraqi security forces are made of and leave them to deal with this problem.

Operation setback as I called it in another thread is underway.

From all accounts it seems more to be factions of his militia not listening to him anymore more then he himself.

Either way its past time they where cleared out.

Either way the defeatists (like you) will now glamorize them.



Past that Iraq is a hell of alot better off then it used to be ..the Surge has effectively neutralized much of al Qaeda capabilities in Iraq and the nation is making immense progress in all regards.

This is also a primarily Iraqi operation supported by coalition airpower.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7313894.stm


Democrast liek Harry "Surredner" reid betetr watch what they say..ad Obam better as well. If they make any stupid comments they are going to get (*)(*)(*)(*)(*) slapped...
by what you ask?..by the facts on the ground making liars out of them. Economic, Political, Surge, and now the Iraqi military they malign doing what they always DEMANDED it do.
Oh thats right..its the monetary cost now thats their excuse for betrayal and surrender

__________________
McCain 2008
"We make war that we may live in peace"
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever."
"Oderint dum metuant"
"Inartful: clear and straightforward, lacking the artistry that allows subsequent self-refutation and denial."
http://members.cox.net/neddy/bobhope_kerfuffles.wmv
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RnfflRNpwKA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j-QYIP7o2-A

That’s your solution to everything isn’t it? Well making everyone complacent isn’t a winning strategy. The surge isn't helping them get along with each other. I'm happy that the Iraqi's are really handling this pretty much on their own.

The Surge has indeed helped them advance politically both locally and federally. aka Getting along with each other.
The 3 Major Bills they passed recently highlight that fact. All 3 major groups(Kurd/Sunni/Shia) group got something it wanted.

__________________
McCain 2008
"We make war that we may live in peace"
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever."
"Oderint dum metuant"
"Inartful: clear and straightforward, lacking the artistry that allows subsequent self-refutation and denial."
http://members.cox.net/neddy/bobhope_kerfuffles.wmv
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RnfflRNpwKA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j-QYIP7o2-A

The recent unrest is a direct result of Democratically elected Iraqi Government ordering the Iraqi special forces into Basra in an operation to clear the place of Shiite militia (particulary Al-Sadr's militia).

Of Course these Iranian backed mobsters that try and run Basra don't like when they are being attached and are, true to form, causing more terrorist attacks.

But this is a positive sign that the Iraqi Government who are totally incharge of the ground operations in this case, are now like a newly born child being to walk on their own two feet and fighting their own battle in a struggle to grow into, one day, a fine example of a Democracy.

Good luck to them and (*)(*)(*)(*) good show of them starting to assert themselves over the remnance of the terrorists within their country.

Good hunting to the Iraqi special forces....

All I'm going to say about Al Sadr's return: Thank you, Major General Martin Dempsey for not arresting him when you had the chance 4 YEARS AGO.

__________________
sputterman: "Aiding the enemy? If the truth aids the enemy then we are in the wrong war."

If the ceasefire that most of the Sadrists followed collapses your going to have a real hard time convincing anyone there isn’t a civil war going on.

Someone needs to send Al Sadr a little care package...


...tied to the tip of a cruise missile.

__________________
Political Affiliation: Zod

"The mods won't let you call a moron a 'moron'." --" the former, BillyBobaganoosh

Pessimism is a great thing if you are expecting a greater outcome in the end. Somehow I doubt this is the desired outcome of the democrats. This in fact is more bad news for the democrats and those internationalists who wish to see the US fail in Iraq. This is a moment to be more optimistic that pessimistic as the Iraqi government is succeeding in taking over their own security as has been the goal of coalition forces from the beginning. This is one of the things the democrats and some of the international community have been critical of the US on, and now that it is actually happening, will they now give the US the credit and congratulations on a job well done? Somehow I doubt it.

__________________
"We should Invade Their Countries, Kill Their Leaders, and Convert Them to Christianity." Ann Coulter
There is a fine line between a subtle nuance and an extreme dichotomy! - PatriotNews