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Is 'success' of U.S. surge in Iraq about to unravel?
McClatchy Newspapers ^ | March 25, 2008 | By Leila Fadel and Nancy A. Youssef

Posted on 03/25/2008 6:19:41 AM PDT by jdm

** EXCERPT **

BAGHDAD — A cease-fire critical to the improved security situation in Iraq appeared to unravel Monday when a militia loyal to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr began shutting down neighborhoods in west Baghdad and issuing demands of the central government.

Simultaneously, in the strategic southern port city of Basra, where Sadr's Mahdi militia is in control, the Iraqi government launched a crackdown in the face of warnings by Sadr's followers that they'll fight government forces if any Sadrists are detained. By 1 a.m. Arab satellite news channels reported clashes between the Mahdi Army and police in Basra.

The freeze on offensive activity by Sadr's Mahdi Army has been a major factor behind the recent drop in violence in Iraq, and there were fears that the confrontation that's erupted in Baghdad and Basra could end the lull in attacks, assassinations, kidnappings and bombings.

As the U.S. military recorded its 4,000th death in Iraq, U.S. officials in Baghdad warned again Monday that drawing down troops too quickly could collapse Iraq's fragile security situation.

Pentagon officials said that military leaders are watching for any signs of backsliding as they consider whether to keep drawing down troops below pre-surge levels.

President Bush spoke about the death toll, saying, "One day, people will look back at this moment in history and say, 'Thank God there were courageous people willing to serve, because they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come.'

Even as he spoke, the situation on the ground was rapidly worsening.

On Sunday, a barrage of at least 17 rockets hit the heavily fortified Green Zone and surrounding neighborhoods, where both the U.S. and Iraqi government headquarters are housed...

(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; oif; surge; troops
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Barf. There was a post just the other day about Sadr saying he was losing.
1 posted on 03/25/2008 6:19:42 AM PDT by jdm
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To: All

And they have the audacity to put success in quotes in their headline. Sick.


2 posted on 03/25/2008 6:21:04 AM PDT by jdm
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To: jdm

Past time for Mookie to take his dirt nap.


3 posted on 03/25/2008 6:21:25 AM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (Carry Daily. Apply Sparingly.)
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To: jdm

About the author’s names. Hmmm....


4 posted on 03/25/2008 6:22:31 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: jdm

Article written by Leila Fadel and Nancy A. Youssef.

These two have long been cheering the insurgents on in their articles. There is no doubt that the insurgents & terrorists are going to try to impact the November elections in America. Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi are sending them emails reminding them of the necessity to move up the body count in Iraq....


5 posted on 03/25/2008 6:24:35 AM PDT by HD1200
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To: 17th Miss Regt

> About the author’s names. Hmmm....

You don’t mean to imply that professional journalists would allow their reporting to be biased by their allegiances, do you?
/sarc


6 posted on 03/25/2008 6:25:06 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo

They must cut off the head of the serpent.


7 posted on 03/25/2008 6:25:10 AM PDT by Russ
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To: jdm

The SURGE in negative news stories about Iraq is about to begin in earnest.


8 posted on 03/25/2008 6:25:45 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: Westbrook

You can almost hear the cheers from the Democrats in Congress each time an American soldier is killed in Iraq.


9 posted on 03/25/2008 6:26:13 AM PDT by HD1200
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To: Russ
They must cut off the head of the serpent.

Who did you have in mind, Reid or Pelosi?

10 posted on 03/25/2008 6:28:31 AM PDT by mort56
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To: jdm

The lib media only puts Iraq on the front page if they can report bad news—or at least sell it as bad news.


11 posted on 03/25/2008 6:28:45 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Westbrook
professional journalists

Presently an oxymoron.
When was the last time you remember actually reading, or seeing, a "professional" journalist?

12 posted on 03/25/2008 6:29:13 AM PDT by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: jdm
I haven't read the whole thing.

Do they happen to mention how many Islamofacist our soldiers have eradicated?

13 posted on 03/25/2008 6:29:53 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: HD1200

The reality is, that these were Iraqi troops that kicked @ss yesterday against Sadr’s troops.


14 posted on 03/25/2008 6:30:22 AM PDT by nikos1121 (typical white person)
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To: mort56

Why not both?


15 posted on 03/25/2008 6:30:22 AM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (Change.....that's what we will have left in our pockets if a Democrat gets elected president!)
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To: HD1200

The reality is, that these were Iraqi troops that kicked @ss yesterday against Sadr’s troops.


16 posted on 03/25/2008 6:30:36 AM PDT by nikos1121 (typical white person)
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To: HD1200

> You can almost hear the cheers from the Democrats in
> Congress each time an American soldier is killed in Iraq.

Agreed.

The sound the DemoTRAITORS hear everytime an American soldier dies in Iraq is, “Ka-ching”.


17 posted on 03/25/2008 6:30:56 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: Just another Joe

> Presently an oxymoron.
> When was the last time you remember actually reading, or
> seeing, a “professional” journalist?

< crickets chirping >


18 posted on 03/25/2008 6:32:15 AM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: HD1200

Yeah, well we’d better start fighting, or were going to lose. And a Republican needs decide that.


19 posted on 03/25/2008 6:32:51 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: jdm

the libs can only hope so....


20 posted on 03/25/2008 6:35:16 AM PDT by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
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