U.S. Forces in Iraq Pull Out of Baghdad's Sadr City, AFP Says

bloomberg.com ^ | April 9, 2004 03:01 EDT | Bloomberg

[Destro]

April 9 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. soldiers in Baghdad evacuated police stations and the town hall in Baghdad's Shiite Muslim district of Sadr City after five days of fighting with supporters of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Agence France-Presse reported.

The district, called Saddam City under ousted President Saddam Hussein, is now named after al-Sadr's father, who was assassinated in 1999. It has been one of the centers of violent attacks against U.S.-led occupation forces in the past week.

[armymarinemom]

Wonder what is up with this.

[steplock]

This story hardly proves anything about pulling out of a city - A very deceptive headline.

To me it gives good indications of a major strike coming against that area - not a pull out.

[ConservativeMan55]

I agree.

I flashback to my post from the other day.

We keep saying that we are either pausing our operations or resuming them. On and off. On and off. Confusing the enemy.

[Destro]

Sadr city is the Shi'ite slum part of Baghdad.

[Spruce]

The clown fled days ago.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Enemy encircled. Major targets identified. Let the bombings begin.

[armymarinemom]

To me it gives good indications of a major strike coming against that area - not a pull out.

That's what I was thinking. It sounds like they may have purchased a world of hurt.

[section9]

More than likely two things:

1. A gentleman's agreement with the local Shi'a. Sadr has gone to ground in Najaf; where he goes, his movement goes. Kut has been retaken by the Coalition. I suspect that we have eased back in Sadr city in order to free people up for the drive on Najaf after the Shi'a pilgrimage is over on Monday.

2. Local Sadr militia people have heard what the Marines did in Fallujah. They don't want any part of that.

Call it a mutual easing of tensions in Baghdad. Sadr is going down. His toadies don't want to go down with him.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[GeronL]

The media is dying to say the words and make it look like the US is losing.

[RobbyS]

Fact is that most reporters know asitttle about military operatiomns as a housewife knows about NFL foootball.

[Travis McGee]

Your guess is probably the closest to the truth, (as it exists today.)

Matt

[Iberian]

Agreed, thats more likely. The women and children, older men have been evacuated.

[Wneighbor]

Sounds like time to level the slum to me. Hope that's the way of it.

[Bombard]

I think you are on to something. I think some heavy duty behind the scenes talks are taking place in Iraq. It would appear to be three way with the CPA, the IGC and the Shia senior Clergy. All sides realize that they have a lot to loose and nothing to gain if the whole thing gets out of hand. The US military and the CPA have shown good faith by staying out of the Shia holy cities during the religious hoilday that is going on. The IGC shows it has independence from the CPA by brokering a political settlement. The Shia leadership rids itself of Sadar who is not liked and at the same time show the US that it must be consulted if a real government is to be viable in Iraq. The Sunni in the north are just a sideshow. A nice side to all of this that in an odd sort of way this has fostered a national unity that Iraq lost in the 1960's when the Bath Party took power and Saddam turned the country into a family business. Keep the faith for this is going to be a long war with many ups and downs. BUSH 2004!!!!

[microgood]

Sadr is going down.

No doubt. Publicly calling for his army to attack Americans was not a good career move. I just hope it turns out more like Saddam's sons than Saddam.

[GeronL]

Most reporters know very little about very little

[Psycho_Bunny]

Wonder what is up with this.

"Operation Backdraft"

I can't say I'd be all that comfortable, if I were fighting an American military unit and they fell back from their position.

Especially if you're fighting for ground within a greater territory which they control.

They ain't coming back with Pudding-Pops.

[Jaded]

No kidding.

[HardStarboard]

>>>They ain't coming back with Pudding-Pops. <<<

You've got me all on edge; if not Pudding Pops, what. Maybe a Daisy... Cutter or 17 AC 130H gunships? Inquiring minds want to know.