U.S. forces drawn deeper into Iraq crackdown

[underpants]

Source: MSNBC

American aircraft launch strikes in Basra; troops battle militia in Baghdad

MSNBC staff and news service reports
updated 27 minutes ago
BAGHDAD - U.S. forces were drawn deeper into Iraq’s four day-old crackdown on Shiite militants on Friday, launching air strikes in Basra for the first time and battling militants in Baghdad.

U.S. forces taking a larger role
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported Friday that U.S. troops appeared to be taking the lead in the fighting in the Baghdad slum of Sadr City, with Iraqi army and police units largely remaining on the outskirts.

A correspondent with the newspaper reported that four U.S. Stryker armored vehicles rumbled through Sadr City, one of them engaging militiamen with the Mahdi Army, which is loyal to al-Sadr, with heavy fire.

The newspaper said that American forces were involved in about a dozen gun battles on Thursday in Baghdad alone, with clashes spread across six neighborhoods.

Vice president's office struck
Lubna al-Hashemi, the daughter of Vice President al-Hashemi, said at least five guards were injured when rockets or mortars hit the courtyard outside her father's offices in Baghdad.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23788065

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The Mahdi militia stands no chance against US troops but their increased involvement means we are back in it deep and the Iraqi military couldn't hand it.

What did Cronkite say that one time?

[BOSSHOG]

1. Six more months, thats all they need and everything will be fine

[underpants]

2. ...

Hearty laugh at a fine point

Sadly

but seriously WHAT COULD GO WRONG? It's only 6 more months

[damntexdem]

5. Yep, another corner will be turned.

Continue the spin, continue the spin.

[Tempest]

3. U.S. deaths are going to spike

Just like during the Fallujah offensive.

[krkaufman]

7. Not necessarily.

The Bush Administration understands how such a spike would affect McCain's campaign, so they will likely gauge that an increase in Iraqi civilian casualties is preferred to an increase in US military casualties -- and so will merely escalate their bombing campaign.

Expect to see a lot of "collateral" damage from US bombing, supposedly in support of Iraqi troops.

[damntexdem]

4. Hmm, "crackdown": the new euphemism for "quagmire."

Mahdi stands no chance against U.S. troops where? Basra? Baghdad? Nassariya? Hey, we've seen all that before: (1) a place belongs to a faction; (2) US troops clear the place out, largely destroying it in the process; (3) scarce US troops are then sent to the new hotspot; (4) the faction reclaims the lost locale, now with a population even-more hostile to the US.

[butterfly77]

6. I wonder how long they will wait until they tell us the real numbers...

on casualties...

[krkaufman]

8. We likely won't ever hear about it.

'cause there will be a lot of "collateral" casualties, since we'll mostly be bombing rather than risking US troops.