US airstrikes in Iraq target militants (Maliki disagrees with Patraeus' delay in troop withdrawls)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - A U.S. airstrike targeted a building in Baghdad's Sadr City on Thursday, hours after American soldiers clashed with Shiite militants in fighting that left 15 people dead, police and the U.S. military said.

~snip~

But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki disagreed with Petraeus' proposal to delay further U.S. troop withdrawals, citing the growing capabilities of Iraq's own security forces.

Petraeus wants the U.S. to complete by the end of July the withdrawal of the 20,000 troops that were sent to Iraq last year, leaving about 140,000 in the country. Beyond that, the general proposed a 45-day evaluation period to be followed by an indefinite period of assessment before any further pullouts.

Al-Maliki, however, has said he disagrees with that decision.

The prime minister told Bush during a 20-minute telephone conversation on Wednesday that Iraqi security forces are capable of carrying out their duties and U.S. troops should be pulled out as the situation permits, according to a senior government adviser who sat in on the phone conversation. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the confidential details.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080410/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[maddezmom]

1. 18 US soldiers killed this week as clashes continue in Sadr city and 1 non-combat death= 19

They added an earlier air raid, around midnight, killed four and wounded six near Al-Albaith mosque in the centre of Sadr City, stronghold of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr whose Mahdi Army militiamen are fighting Iraqi and US forces. Among those killed were two brothers, both adults, according to the security officials, cited by the AFP.



A U.S. military statement Thursday said 13 militants were killed in four separate clashes during the night. It also announced the death of another U.S. soldier Wednesday in a roadside bombing in central Baghdad, raising to 18 the number of American troop deaths in Iraq since Sunday.

more:http://albawaba.com/en/news/225339

MND-B Soldier dies of non-combat related cause (Baghdad)
Wednesday, 09 April 2008


Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080409-15
April 9, 2008

MND-B Soldier dies of non-combat related cause (Baghdad)

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldier died from non-combat related injuries at approximately 6:30 a.m. April 9.

The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin and release by the Department of Defense.

The incident is under investigation.


http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18324&Itemid=128

[MidwestTransplant]

2. Maliki is Baghdad Bob