800 Shiite militiamen seizes total control over Iraqi city

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4275318.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Shiite militia run by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr seized total control of the southern Iraqi city of Amarah on Friday in one of the boldest acts of defiance yet by one of the country's powerful, unofficial armies, witnesses and police said.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dispatched an emergency security delegation that included the Minister of State for Security Affairs and top officials from the Interior and Defense ministries, Yassin Majid, the prime minister's media adviser, told The Associated Press.

The Mahdi Army fighters stormed three main police stations Friday morning, planting explosives that flattened the buildings, residents said.

About 800 black-clad militiamen with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers were patrolling city streets in commandeered police vehicles, eyewitnesses said. Other fighters had set up roadblocks on routes into the city and sound trucks circulated telling residents to stay indoors.

[tocqueville]

1. Tommy Snow : "US turns over security of a whole town to Iraqis"

Freedom is on the march !

[leftchick]

2. looks like That Shiia uprising has started

time to bring the troops home. :(

[rodeodance]

3. whow.

[midnight]

4. Just curious, what standing does this put women in? Are they

in worse shape over these captors, the U.S., or Sadam?

[Kagemusha]

18. Saddam kept people like Sadr's daddy down (by killing him).

So women as a consequence, were far more free to dress as they pleased.

Not so now.

[NNN0LHI]

5. They are showing tape from Amahra on CNN now

Yep they got it.

Don

[Philosoraptor]

6. damn Democrats!

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Sounds like the Terraists are...

Staying the course.

[madokie]

8. Sounds like al sadr is setting himself up as the next leader of Iraq

have I told you georgie boy how much I hate your stinking ass yet today. what a fucking mess for all concerned.

[NNN0LHI]

9. Bush moved our soldiers to Baghdad and the Iraqis took back Amarah

This stay the course stuff ain't working out so good.

Don

[annabanana]

10. CNN's talking heads are getting twisted..

Is the lull in violence because the "Iraqi Security Forces" have prevailed? Do the people consider the Mahdi Army the legitimate authority?

babbleybabbleybabbley

[annabanana]

11. Brig. Gen David Grange

Is calling Mahdi and agent of Iran... Says this battle CANNOT be lost... (He is CNN pet general)

[NNN0LHI]

12. He was on Dobbs last night pushing the "kill them all" plan n/t

[Philosoraptor]

13. Go team go! Win win win!

[originalpckelly]

14. No, he isn't wrong...this is definitely Iran, they are acting up

because we took away their biggest enemy: Saddam Hussein. It's kind of like that game Jenga, where you pull out blocks of wood until the whole stack falls over. The stack is falling over because we eliminated Iran's enemies. On top of that Russia and China seem to be supporting Iran with its antagonism, mainly because those two countries want to cause problem for us to eliminate our world power. It's also like Chess, because we can't do shit because of Bush and idiotic policy. We are in check.

[NNN0LHI]

15. Iran is acting up?

Last time I checked we pretty much had Iran surrounded. There are no divisions of armed to the teeth Iranians I am aware of on our borders.

Yes someone is acting up.

Don

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. And didn't I read recently that there's a new carrier group headed

for the Gulf?

I know how WE would feel about it, but how would the general public feel about it if someone ginned up an excuse to bomb Iran before the election. Say, a torpedo boat or two attack a US warship in an attempt to keep the Straits open, which we close because of Iranian support for the Shiite militias. Would the public buy it?

[Jacobin]

17. Grange is so utterly delusional

He would fit right in with the Vietnam era generals.

Just give us a few more decades and another million or two troops, and we'll wind this right up.

[Straight Shooter]

16. Damn that Clinton. He didn't kill al-Sadr when he had the chance!

:sarcasm:

[malmapus]

20. Looks like Iraqi's are standing up, can we stand down now?

..