U.S., Iraqi Forces Take Charge in Samarra

[sr_pacifica]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20041003_613.html

SAMARRA, Iraq Oct. 3, 2004 — Iraqi security forces patrolled the streets, and U.S. troops went door to door searching for weapons and fighters Sunday after the military claimed success in wresting control of Samarra from Sunni insurgents in fierce fighting....

Samarra, Fallujah, and Ramadi form part of the Sunni heartland, where resistance to the U.S.-backed government has been the fiercest. It is feared that inability to stage balloting in the so-called Sunni Triangle would severely mar election results. Baghdad's Sadr City, a Shiite stronghold, is also in their sights.

Okay, so instead of instability marring elections, we kill off potential voters who oppose U.S. presence. Nice game plan...

[daleo]

1. How long will they control these streets

We always heard the same story from Viet Nam, too. Guerrillas will melt away for a while, then come back. They are quoting some mighty fine body counts, though.

"The military says 125 rebels have been killed and 88 captured since the operation started early Friday.

But residents say many civilians are among the dead, and AP reporters have seen wounded women and children at hospitals. There was mounting anger over the casualties."

[GreenArrow]

2. into the spider's web

.

[mike_c]

3. the flies capture more of the fly paper....

With apologies to John Steinbeck.

[movonne]

4. This administration wanted only good news...here it is.

[Moderator]

5. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=880919

Note: Yahoo changed the earlier headline