Third Day Of Fighting Takes Over Iraq

Intense fighting between Iraqi Shiite militiamen and US And Iraqi forces has been raging in Iraq over the past three days. The fighting threatens to end a Mahdi Army cease-fire that is credited for many security gains in Iraq. Below are a couple reports on the violence and discontent throughout the country:

AP: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Says He'll Pursue Fight To "The End"

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is promising to pursue his fight against Shiite militias in Basra to "the end."

Al-Maliki made his pledge to Basra area tribal leaders Thursday as military operations against the militias continued for a fourth day despite stiff resistance.

AP: Green Zone Hit For Fourth Day This Week:

Shiite militants are hammering the U.S.-protected Green Zone with rockets and mortars for the fourth day this week.

Thick, black smoke is billowing from inside the heavily fortified home to the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government.

AP: Tens Of Thousands Of Shiites Protest:

Tens of thousands of Shiites took to Baghdad's streets to protest the government crackdown on militias in Basra as heavy fighting between Iraqi security forces and gunmen erupted for a third day in the southern oil port and the capital.

Iraqi officials reported 17 more people killed in overnight clashes in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City and raised the number of deaths from fighting in the southern city of Hillah to at least 60.

Mounting anger focused on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite who is personally overseeing an operation against Shiite militias dominated by followers of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr amid a violent power struggle in Basra, Iraq's southern oil hub near the Iranian border.

Comments

[Collielady]

Here are today's two conflicting news headlines:

"Bush promotes war policy, says Iraq progress is 'real', scolds Congress about Iraq."

"Tens of thousands of Shiite militants are hammering the U.S.-prote­cted Green Zone with rockets and mortars for the fourth day this week."

Choose your story.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Nero fiddled while Rome burnt.

[OneVoiceInACrowd]

Not knowing how to Fiddle, Bush is left only to twiddle.

[Thomei]

The MSM seems to forget that there are parents of American soldiers who are involved in all this fighting in Iraq who are worried sick about them. So what do we hear, more of the same old Clinton surrogates spouting their "mis-statements" about a candidate who has NO CHANCE TO WIN except by stealing it. What's a big story they're working on? Why, it's the question asked of Chelsea Clinton about the Monica Lewinsky ordeal. Word to the MSM - why do you people waste your time following Chelsea around if she won't even grant you an interview? Perhaps if this child who needs protection from the media had to walk into her events ALONE with no cameras, no reporters, no nothing, then she would realize the rest of us don't really give a hoot about her part in this campaign. Do the same for both Hillary and Bill as you did for Mike Huckabee and without someone to air their news, the campaign would be dead...for good...and you'd all be our BFF's.

[johnmorgan]

Yeah, it really sounds like the (so-called) "surge" is working.

But what about McCain's rosy prognosis after his recent (extremely brief) visits to Iraq?

[Economike]

Anybody who suggested that the Napoleanic troops or the Wermacht were in danger of being wiped out in Russia would have been branded a traitor at the time. Anybody who suggests that our military is spread to thin would be... one of our top generals at the pentagon?

[syllepsis]

Bush: "Normalcy is returning to Iraq."

[angelbravo]

al Sadr seems to control the level of violence in Iraq not The Surge we hear so many claiming sucess with.

[BronxBorn]

Ah ha!
Somebody has been paying attention.

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

Amazing how the truth and the facts always seem to have a liberal slant!

[prscnt1]

The best post. Tells all in a single statement.

This is for all the neocons: there is no joy in killing whether it is iraqis vs. iraqis, sunnies vs. shias, iraqis vs. our soldiers, insergents vs. our soldiers or iraqi civilians.­..

Only the neocons take joy in killing, and when they can't they accuse others being traitors.

It is time to figure out how to bring our soldiers home.

[BubbadoneJammedhillaryup]

In the picture at the top of the thread, it looks like Muqtada al-Sadr is throwing a gang sign.

Can't tell whether it's Crips or Bloods.

Either way, there should be some "blood" in his "crip".

[GarsLuber]

are you sure it's not something more familiar to you, like three K's?

[Woggles]

My president said things are getting more gooder in Iraq.

And that should be good enough for everyone.

[Grannysue]

GWB + Dick dead eye Cheney=DISASTER

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

Please remind us cons, is civil war proof that the Surge is working?

[BubbadoneJammedhillaryup]

What civil war?

This is the equivalent of South Central LA after the Rodney King verdict.

Couple of losers trying to make trouble.

[31313]

Bubba,Seem's a civil war has interupted your spin.

[Economike]

Were you even there?

[1NacreousImprimatur]

I think it is more than that BJ although not a civil war per se. This has Iran's fingerprints all over it and may go even deeper.
Remember the relationship between Russia and Iran is getting pretty cozy and Russia (Putin) is none too pleased with the the whole Kosovo independence thing.

[syllepsis]

BJ, aka 'Baghdad Bob.'

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

I know it is difficult for you to see it while your head is so firmly implanted inside your arse.

[zippywpinhead]

Didn't you get the memo? ALL scenarios are proof that the surge is working...

[getrealalready]

YES, SENATOR MCCAIN AND SENATOR LIEBERMAN, THE SURGE IS WORKING.
MORE SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS WILL PROBABLY DIE TODAY.
YOUR CONVICTION TO STAY AT WAR,
WAR
AND MORE WAR
IS SO PATRIOTIC, INDEED.

OBAMA 08
SUPERDELEGATES DECIDE NOW

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

The fundamental goal of "The Surge" was to achieve enough peace as to allow the Iraqis reconcile politically into a unity government. Obviously this has failed regardless of what McCain says. The Surge failed. Iraq's destiny id to plunge into civil war with both sides shooting at our troops until our troops are forced out and a new strongman, not unlike Saddam, emerges and Iraq goes back to square one. Thousands of American lives and trillions of dollars later, the US will have nothing to show for, just like Vietnam.

[rroy]

Hummahummahumma,or whatever your nom de plume is,your analyses and mine are completely in tune.
Just how the hell the people in power for the last seven years and McDumdum,who wants to succeed them can see anything different is totaly beyong me!
Do the morons of this cabal actualy believe the nations adjoining Iraq,or any other Middle East entity besides Israel would tolerate Iraq becoming an ersatz America?Do they actualy think Iraqis would tolerate it?
Just what the hell unknown substance,other than horseshit do they use for brains?

[ClevelandTom]

So far, it sounds like the Sunni's are staying out of the fight. At least the reports make no mention of their involvement.

But if the extreme Shiite militas start making headway against the Maliki government then I expect the Sunni's will get into the fight. The worst thing that can happen to them is an extreme Shiite government. And then we'll be right back in the three-sided civil war with U.S. forces in the middle, just where we were in 2006.

And if the Sunni's do get into it, they will do so with considerably more and better weapons than they had a year ago, thanks to the largess of the U.S.

[Nochnoi]

Another lovely day in Iraq..... anyone up for a stroll in the marketplace?

[SeriousBlack]

But the surge is working, right?