US Airpower Joins Basra Offensive
By Sholnn Freeman
The Washington Post

Saturday 29 March 2008

Americans battle Sadr militia in Baghdad as Green Zone is struck again.
Baghdad - American aircraft struck militia targets in Basra on Friday, the first time that airpower has been called in to aid a faltering ground offensive there against armed groups that operate outside government control.

The U.S. military reported killing 78 "bad guys" in Baghdad in the past three days; American forces backed by combat helicopters continued Friday to battle members of the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, in Baghdad, while Iraqi forces took them on in the south.

Militiamen fired rockets and mortar shells three times Friday at the fortified Green Zone, the location of the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government offices. Mortar shells hit the offices of Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, killing two guards and wounding four others, officials reported.

Green Zone attacks this week have killed two Americans; embassy personnel are sleeping in the thick-walled former palace of Saddam Hussein for protection.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki launched the offensive with his troops in Basra on Monday. He has said the goal is to oust dueling Shiite militias and criminal gangs that controlled the city. But Sadr's followers call the offensive a politically motivated attempt to dismantle the Mahdi Army and thwart Sadr's influence in the country ahead of provincial elections this year.

U.S. officials say Maliki launched the push without consulting them. With the Mahdi Army fighters putting up stiff resistance, American forces have been drawn deeper into the conflict to support their Iraqi allies, in some places taking the lead.

The U.S. warplanes that struck in Basra fired cannons in two overnight strafing runs, killing three militia fighters, the British military reported. The targets were a militia mortar team and a militia stronghold, said Maj. Tom Holloway, a British military spokesman.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the Iraqi government has been satisfied with the help it has been given. "At this moment, we feel that Iraqi security forces are doing well," he said.

A source in the police command in Basra said he expected British and U.S. ground units to join the fight in coming days.

Shiite fighters gave similar predictions. "Up to now, neither the Americans or Brits have staged any offensive against us in Basra, but it would happen very soon," said Abu Sadiq, a Mahdi Army commander who said he leads 30 fighters. "We are still fighting the Iraqi forces, and even if the occupiers start their offensive we are totally ready for them."

A senior Iraqi military adviser has said the crackdown is taking longer than expected, partly because militia fighters have superior weapons.

In a sign that the Basra fight might be a long one, Maliki's government eased a 24-hour curfew, allowing residents to leave their homes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. People in the city complained that the government should have informed them in advance about the offensive so they could stockpile food, water and other basic needs.

Maliki also extended a 72-hour deadline to April 8 for fighters to hand over medium and heavy weapons.

Dabbagh said Maliki was planning to stay in Basra until order is imposed. "I can't count the days. It depends on the situation," he said.

Residents of Basra reported general calm in the city Friday. But fighting raged in many other places in southern Iraq. South of Najaf, gunmen shot and killed Saad al-Shablawi, mayor of Ghamas, and wounded two of his guards. In retaliation, members of the mayor's tribe went to the Sadr office in the region and set it on fire. They killed two Mahdi militiamen and turned over nine others to Iraqi security forces.

In Souk al-Shiyoukh, a town south of Nasiriyah, the mayor reported clashes erupting overnight when fighters attacked an Iraqi military brigade. In Shatra, north of Nasiriyah, police commanders reported clashes killing two policemen. And in Nasiriyah, police reported fighting between militias and Iraqi security forces in the northeastern part of the city. One person was reported killed.

Dhafir Abu Sadiq, head of the Sadr organization's office in the city of Kut, reported that his men had surrounded dozens of Iraqi soldiers, some of whom decided to join the Sadr forces and others to go home. He said the Mahdi Army now fully controls the Numaniyah region, west of Kut.

In Baghdad's Green Zone, U.S. government employees were going outside only on urgent business and wearing protective gear.

Philip T. Reeker, the embassy spokesman, said employees have the option of sleeping inside the former Hussein palace or in other "hard cover" buildings in the compound, rather than in the compound's thin-roofed residential trailers.

In an e-mail Friday night, Reeker said sleeping in the embassy was clearly a temporary precaution but "highly recommended given the harassing fire we've received in the past week." He went on: "I, for one, have pulled out a cot in my office."

The U.S. military reported repeated clashes in Baghdad with militia fighters.

At 4 a.m. in Sadr City, a helicopter killed four fighters who were engaging U.S. forces with small-arms fire, officials said. At 7 a.m., a U.S. helicopter's Hellfire missile targeted a vehicle armed with rocket-propelled grenades, killing two fighters in the Adhamiyah district of northern Baghdad.

Later in the morning, soldiers fired on militants setting up improvised explosive devices and returning fire from and killing fighters who had rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

"In the last 48 hours, we have seen more extremists," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a military spokesman in Baghdad. He said the military had killed 78 "bad guys" in the past three days. "They are violating the rule of law. They are firing rockets indiscriminately. They are criminals and terrorists, and they deserve to die."

Moguata Al sadr today ordered his follwoers to stop engaging iraq govt forces. This came from news organizations Rueders and was listed on yahoo news.
So that would lead me to believe that the"good guys".Iraqi soldiers american soldiers must have kicked ass good and proper otherwise why would mookie quit. Of course al sadr is in Iran or at least hasnt come out in the open. Score another for the good guys. Ibet there will be knashing of teeth in the tents of the democrat party beause the terrorists lost another and now maybe the iraqi people can live in peace.

Duane Sadar calling for a halt in combat is political. He is very strong around Bagdad and Northern Iraq, he wants to use this now for political gains in the Basra area.

I am sure you did not watch Bush's War on pbs last week, but our military were all set to go in and grab him and the White House [ Bush ] put a stop to it. At this time 2003 he had a militia of 2,000 strong.

Sadar needs to be captured, he is the most dangerous individal inside Iraq politics at this time.

His man power is around 60,000 strong and they faught the Iraq militry for a week man to man and the Iraq military had to call in US support. Even Milaky said he under estimated him.

Why must you keep bringing Democrates on everything, you are one paranoid Republican

Im not paranoid i just like poking you guys trying to get a rise out of you keeping you on your toes. Sadr must have been losing otherwise he would not have left the field of battle .
The iraqi forces called in U S airpower because they dont have their own airpower and airpower is important in any war . I knew you wouldnt like the terrorists being broken down. And obviously you dont like it.

U surely like to try and twist things around Duane but it is not going to happen.

Quote from the news network:
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The strength of the resistance to the week-old offensive has taken the U.S.-backed government by surprise, forcing it to come up with a new tactical plan targeting several Mahdi Army strongholds, a government official said.

The official, who was in Basra but spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information, said al-Maliki also had brought in reinforcements and appealed to local tribal leaders to help secure the area.

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Mike ivy then why did Al sadr quit. If you were in a battle and were winning would you quit? The truth has to be that Al sadr (much to your dismay) and the other terrorists were losing to the iraqi govt and our good loyal american soldiers. The terrorists losing is a bitter pill for you people here to swallow. Isnt it?

why do you keep saying that the terrorists, they are radical religeous fanatics just so you know, loose we are not happy here. Duane no one more then a Vetean wants the bad guys to loose, including me.
It is real hard to discuss anything with you since it is all democrates this, democrates that.

If you read why he is requesting this so he can use this as a political move for the Southern part of Iraq.

And be advised that our military had preperations and ready to go and collect his arse back in 2003, but the Whie House, Bush squashed it.

Mike Ivy those terrorists all of them have no more formal religion in them than i do. They want to kill esp. americans . when ever and where ever they an . And as far as you or any other democrat wanting them to lose when have you ever called for their destruction. I have no idea why Bush may or may not have called off al sadrs capture . Perhaps on the advise of the U s State dept. The very same state dept that advised him to intervene on the behalf of a convicted mexican Murderer in texas . The supreme court stopped that.

this just popped up on this subject matter, as Sadar hides in Iran, all safe and cudley.
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Iran was integral in persuading Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to halt attacks by his militia on Iraqi security forces, an Iraqi lawmaker said Monday.

Haidar al-Abadi, who is with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Dawa Party, said Iraqi Shiite lawmakers traveled Friday to Iran to meet with al-Sadr. They returned Sunday, the day al-Sadr told his Mehdi Army fighters to stand down.

News of Iran's involvement in the cease-fire talks came as an al-Maliki spokesman said operations targeting "outlaws" in the Shiite stronghold of Basra would end when the mission's goals were achieved. Earlier, al-Maliki spokesman Sami al-Askari said the operation would be over by week's end, but he later recanted on the timetable.

The lawmakers who traveled to Iran to broker the cease-fire were from five Shiite parties, including the Sadrist movement. Al-Abadi would not say where in Iran the meeting was held.

The lawmakers hoped to convince Iran to cut off aid to Shiite militias and to persuade al-Sadr to end the fighting. Negotiations were difficult, but the delegation achieved its aims, al-Abadi said.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/31/iraq.main/index.html