May 08, 2004

G.I.'s Kill Scores of Militia Forces in 3 Iraqi Cities

KARBALA, Iraq, May 7 — American soldiers battled insurgents led by a rebel Shiite cleric on Friday, killing scores of Iraqis, as the cleric delivered a defiant, derisive sermon that dismissed President Bush's expressions of regret for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
[...]
The Americans pursued Mr. Sadr's militia forces in the warrens and alleyways of two of the holiest Shiite cities, Karbala and Najaf, where the rebels have barricaded themselves for more than a month. Mr. Sadr's militiamen in Karbala fired rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47's at more than 100 soldiers, who moved low along walls and inched their way down a mile-long stretch of road, returning fire as roadside bombs exploded near them.

The soldiers reportedly killed at least 25 insurgents in Karbala, 12 in Najaf and at least 41 in two separate battles around Kufa. There were no United States casualties reported Friday, but a Pole and an Algerian working for a state-run Polish television network were killed by gunmen as they drove through the town of Mahmudiya on the road from Baghdad to Najaf. A Polish cameraman was wounded.

The firefights were the most intense since the American military started an operation here on Tuesday night to crush Mr. Sadr's thousands-strong militia, called the Mahdi Army. The stiff resistance seems to indicate that many of the militiamen are prepared to fight to the death.
[Gee that's too bad, because our soldiers are only too happy to make that happen!--Jen]

More than 2,500 American soldiers have surrounded Najaf, where Mr. Sadr lives, but have refrained from a full-scale invasion because its golden-domed central shrine is one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites. On Thursday, American soldiers took over the governor's mansion on the city's outskirts and installed a new governor.
[Did the Media cover this at all?
I don't think so!
They were too busy bashing the Bush Administration over the Abu Ghraib abuses.
While it's important that we correct any problems in our treatment of POWs, it's more vital that we keep our priorities straight about the larger war, which occasions the POWs in the first place. --J.T.] Powerful Shiite politicians and religious leaders have called for Mr. Sadr to withdraw his militia.

Lt. Col. Gary Bishop of the First Armored Division said the soldiers would continue patrols and raids until they drive the Mahdi Army from Karbala. The goal is to put Iraqi security forces back in charge of the city and limit Mr. Sadr's circle of influence to Najaf, where it is hoped that senior clerics will deal with him, he added.
[...]
In Baghdad, Shiite followers of Mr. Sadr held a rare joint Friday Prayers service with Sunni Muslims at the hard-line Abu Hanifa Mosque
[Normally I like to see "ecumenism," but not in this case!
Shi'ites and Sunnis getting together to wage jihad against the Great Satan has meant nothing but death and violent jihad for the "Crusader" troops.] in the Adhamiya neighborhood, once a stronghold of Saddam Hussein and the scene of fierce battles involving American soldiers last month. Organizers said the cooperation showed that Iraqis were united against prisoner abuse.
[This kind of unity sounds a
lot more positive because Americans are also united against prisoner abuse!]
[...]
"I think they had enough today," Captain Adcock said of the insurgents as he chewed on a cigar after the battle on Friday. "They may get ready and go back tonight. But right now they've had enough."
[...]

One soldier fainted from heat exhaustion, and two were dragged into Bradleys and given water before they collapsed. Some soldiers found a hose by a house and doused one another with it after taking off their helmets.
[For those of you who can afford it, I'd like to remind you that it's HOT in Iraq and now is the perfect time to participate in Operation Air Conditioner and send one of our GIs some relief!]
"The insurgents don't have the support of the people here," Colonel Bishop said. "They now know the local populace is working with us against them."

Some residents of Karbala expressed a more ambiguous view. People in Karbala and Najaf generally want the Mahdi fighters — many of whom hail from the slum of Sadr City in Baghdad — to leave their cities. But those same residents have little regard for the foreigners who have invaded their soil.
[I wouldn't give this too much credence. This is the NYT's obligatory America-bashing.--Jen]

"We don't support either side," said Ahmed Abbas, 24, a grocery store owner. "We don't want the Americans to kill the members of the Mahdi Army, but we also don't want the Mahdi Army to win."

Gosh, I still loathe the slant of the NYT!
They twist the sentiment expressed by the Iraqis that we not kill the Mahdi "militia" because they're fellow Arabs into hatred for the U.S. occupiers.
But Leftist bias aside, this story still paints a picture of a productive few days for Coalition forces!
Hooah and Good work!
This all happened yesterday, but even better news came today that we'd gotten close enough to the evil cleric to arrest 4 of his aides!

U.S. tanks and armored vehicles briefly circled the offices of rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Baghdad's Sadr City on Saturday and arrested four aides in a move to step up pressure on the militia leader.

Between the pressure of our guys and gals with guns and his poor support among the population, it won't be long before we have al-Sadr in custody, too!
Looks as if al-Sadr's Friday's sermons aren't as rousing as they used to be, either.
(Even though it wasn't right, you've got to wonder if al-Sadr isn't petrified with fear that he'll be shamed by having the American lady soldier force him to get naked and then point at the smallness of his penis while she smokes an unholy cigarette!)