U.S. Troops Battle Militants in Kufa (For 8th straight day)

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040603/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=1480

NAJAF, Iraq - Fighting broke out Thursday between U.S. soldiers and Shiite militiamen in nearby Kufa — the eighth straight day of clashes since a deal last week to end the violence.


Five Iraqis were killed and 11 injured in the skirmishes in Najaf's twin city and stronghold of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, hospital officials said. Smoke rose over the dun-colored, flat-roofed houses of the city 100 miles south of Baghdad.


Fighting has rocked Kufa nearly every day since Shiite leaders announced May 27 that al-Sadr had agreed on a formula to end the confrontation with the Americans in Najaf and Kufa, which together contain some of the most sacred shrines in Shia Islam.


Although Najaf is relatively quiet, daily clashes in Kufa have rendered the truce almost meaningless. The Americans, who consider al-Sadr a gangster, have refused direct negotiations with him but have agreed to halt "offensive operations."

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[Nlighten1]

1. Mission Accomplished.

8 straight days of fighting? It would seem that things are definately NOT looking up in Iraq.

[rfkrocks]

2. Where are the causilties?

Are our troops not being hit by enemy fire? It seems we are in constant battle but our guys never get hit-these reports smack of Vietnam when 45 insurgents are killed everyday and we have no losses-reminds me of hearing "100 Vietcong were killed today and no American losses"-paging General Westmoreland

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. It's definitely Deja Vu

without the good soundtrack.

[dawg]

5. We seem to have a much higher kill ratio vs. the Shiites.

The Falluja insurgents were much more effective fighters.

[teryang]

6. Body counts substitute for tactical results

When you are aren't winning.

[dusty64]

4. Never know it here.

Nothing about this or casualties lately in my hometown rag, I'm beginning to think they are simply gonna "Afghanistanize" this quagmire. Stop covering it, outta sight outta mind.