U.S., British Widen Role in Iraqi Government's Offensive in Basra

[laststeamtrain]

Source: Washington Post

U.S., British Widen Role in Iraqi Government's Offensive in Basra

By Sholnn Freeman
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, March 30, 2008; A14

BAHGDAD, March 29 -- American and British forces on Saturday widened their support of an Iraqi military offensive in the southern city of Basra, as Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr accused Iraq's government of acting like "a dictatorship."

U.S. warplanes bombed targets in the city, and British forces fired artillery in battles against the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to Sadr. Residents said militiamen battling Iraqi forces attacked police stations and set up roadside bombs.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that officials were "surprised" by the militiamen's strength but that government forces would continue to fight for control of Basra. "If they insist on rejecting" calls to disarm, he said, "we shall insist on confrontation."

Maliki denied accusations that the Iraqi government was trying to undermine political rivals before provincial elections this year. "We came to Basra to fight the outlaws and the smugglers, not to confront a party or a political group because we do not seek political confrontation," he said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/29/AR2008032900528.html?nav=rss_world/mideast/iraq

[jimshoes]

1. What a damned mess chimpy has made

in that country. It's a civil war that's being waged now with Iraqi's being asked to kill their fellow countrymen. How would I feel if an army of Pennsylvanians started killing a bunch of Ohioans? I can't even conceive of such fucked up shit but something like that's happening in Iraq right now.

[msongs]

2. W oughta go over there and show em how to fight in the front ranks nt

[Kayakbiker]

3. great. US is taking sides in a sectarian battle among Shiites

The US is fighting the Iraqi masses in collaboration with a strongman dictator. Congress -- quit funding killing and calling it freedom.

[Robbien]

4. How embarrassing.

The largest army in the world backed up by the second largest army in the world joining with Maliki's ragtag militia in his fight to defeat his political opponent.

A city comes together defending its borders against the massive forces, and it not only doesn't lose, it appears to be making a pretty good stand.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. USA is trying to fight a ground war from the air - it ain't gonna work.

.
.
.

They are gonna have to put their boots on the ground, just like the Iraqis

But better yet

GO HOME!

[bemildred]

5. Shiite Militias Cling to Swaths of Basra and Stage Raids

Another asinine headline ...

BAGHDAD — Shiite militiamen in Basra openly controlled wide swaths of the city on Saturday and staged increasingly bold raids on Iraqi government forces sent five days ago to wrest control from the gunmen, witnesses said, as Iraqi political leaders grew increasingly critical of the stalled assault.

Witnesses in Basra said members of the most powerful militia in the city, the Mahdi Army, were setting up checkpoints and controlling traffic in many places ringing the central district controlled by some of the 30,000 Iraqi Army and police forces involved in the assault. Fighters were regularly attacking the government forces, then quickly retreating.

Senior members of several political parties said the operation, ordered by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, had been poorly planned. The growing discontent adds a new level of complication to the American-led effort to demonstrate that the Iraqi government had made strides toward being able to operate a functioning country and keep the peace without thousands of American troops.

Mr. Maliki has staked his reputation on the success of the Basra assault, fulfilling a longstanding American desire for him to boldly take on militias.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/world/middleeast/30iraq.html?bl&ex=1206936000&en=96cd7953f8ab43d1&ei=5087%0A