[yonif]

7 soldiers dead, 24 of them injured. Firefight in Baghdad with Shiites. Israeli media reporting.

[Alas Babylon!]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Seven U.S. soldiers were killed Sunday in fighting with Shiite militiamen in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, the U.S. military said.

At least 24 other American troops were wounded, the military said in a written statement.

Elsewhere Sunday, supporters of an anti-U.S. Shiite Muslim cleric waged violent demonstrations in four Iraqi cities, punctuated by a gun battle at the Spanish garrison near this Shiite holy city that killed at least 20 people, including two coalition soldiers - an American and a Salvadoran.

The U.S. military also reported two Marines were killed in a separate "enemy action" in Anbar province.

Protesters also clashed with Italian and British forces in other cities in a broad, violent challenge to the U.S.-led coalition, raising questions about its ability to stabilize Iraq ahead of a scheduled June 30 handover of power to Iraqis.





With less than three months left before then, the U.S. occupation administrator appointed an Iraqi defense minister and chief of national intelligence.

"These organizations will give Iraqis the means to defend their country against terrorists and insurgents," L. Paul Bremer said at a press conference.

About three miles outside Najaf, supporters of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr opened fire on the Spanish garrison during a street protest that drew about 5,000 people. The protesters were angry over the arrest of the cleric's aide, said the Spanish Defense Ministry in Madrid.

The attackers opened fire at about noon, said Cmdr. Carlos Herradon, a spokesman for the Spanish headquarters in nearby Diwaniyah.

The Spanish and Salvadoran soldiers inside the garrison fired back, and assailants later regrouped in three clusters outside the base as the shooting continued for several hours.

Two soldiers - a Salvadoran and an American - died and nine other soldiers were wounded, the Spanish defense ministry said. No other details were available.

More than 200 people were wounded, said Falah Mohammed, director of the Najaf health department. El Salvador's defense minister said several Salvadoran soldiers were wounded.

The death toll of at least 20 included two Iraqi soldiers who were inside the Spanish base, witnesses said.

Spain has 1,300 troops stationed in Iraq, and the Central American contingent is of a similar size. The Salvadorans are under Spanish command as part of an international brigade that includes troops from Central America.

Multiple train bombings in Madrid last month that killed 191 people have been blamed on al-Qaida-linked terrorists, who said they were punishing Spain for its alliance with the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Spain's new government, elected just days after the March 11 train bombings, has promised to make good on its pre-election promise to withdraw all Spanish troops from Iraq unless command for peacekeeping is turned over to the United Nations.

In El Salvador, the defense minister said the attack will not alter his country's role in reconstruction efforts.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[DoughtyOne]

I have advocated from the start, a complete disarming of the Iraqi populace in preparation for a lasting peace there. A number of people opposed this saying it was impossible. Folks, peace is impossible without it. Hasn't that become clear enough?

City by city, sector by sector, foot by foot, the Iraqi land must be freed of arms and explosives.

In the interum, isn't there a way to use satellite technology to study who planted explosive devices, and where they escaped to? At night we have infrared tech. We have satellites that can see through cloud cover. When snipers attack our troops, watch where they go upon retreat. Then mount a force and eliminate them.

If it takes more troops on the ground, then we need to make it extemely clear that we're going to bring in those troops until the attacks stop. If they want us to leave, the attacks must stop. Then we eradicate all those who take action to oppose us, including loud mouthed Clerics.

[BlessedBeGod]

Pryers for their souls, and their friends and families. And prayers that the wounded be healed quickly and completely.

[montag813]

What the hell are we doing over there? Why are we holding back? The Arab mind simply does not understand ANYTHING except the merciless application of brutal force. We are rapidly losing control of the situation. The only chance we have to take the upper hand is all of the following:

1. Arrest of any and all Muslim "leaders", imams, etc. who are fomenting rebellion. Any speech calling for violence against the coalition must lead to their arrest and immediate explusion to Guantanamo, with their mosques also shut down indefinitely.
2. Massive force must be applied in key Sunni Triangle cities such as Falujah, Najah, etc. Strict curfews must be enforced, with no regard to civilian casualties for curfew breakers.
3. Immediate declaration that Sharia Law will be BANNED by the U.S. in a future Iraqi state, much as we made similar declarations in postwar Japan. The weasely State Dept has blocked this time and again. It simply must be stated, by the President if need be, so as to totally crush any hopes of Iran and Saudi Arabia that a Muslim state can ever exist, and also to weed out the most extremist "religious" elements for arrest and /or deporation.

[MEG33]

God bless their loved ones.May the perps meet justice.

[Rams82]

Protestor deaths leave Iraq in chaos

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 4 (UPI) -- A demonstration in the southern city of Najaf turned deadly as Salvadoran soldiers -- under Spanish command -- exchanged fire with supporters of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the city of Najaf. Reports from the scene indicate that at least 19 protesters and 4 coalition troops were killed.

The violent clash has left much of the Shiite sections of Iraq in near chaos.

This represents the most serious clashes between coalition forces and the Shiite population. Previous large scale fighting has usually occurred between coalition forces and Sunni population, from which more militant members and former Baath Party members had led a year long resistance to the U.S.-led presence.

But the Shiites -- which had suffered terrible oppression under Saddam's rule -- have been reluctant to resort to violence, preferring demonstrations and political maneuvering to confrontation.

If full scale fighting breaks out, which Sunday night it appeared as very possible -- between U.S. forces and the Shiite followers of Sadr, it would represent the largest setback for the U.S. occupation of Iraq so far, as Iraq's 60 percent Shiite population, which has rarely fought the coalition -- could be forced to choose sides. That would set the stage for a bloody civil war, or more widespread opposition to the U.S.-led presence from a population that has arguably benefited the most from the U.S. invasion.

Tensions increased earlier this week between the U.S. and the Shiites, as Sadr's followers have been protesting the suspension of his weekly newspaper, al-Hawza by the Coalition Provisional Authority. The recent arrest by coalition forces of a Sadr deputy, Mustafa al-Yacoubi, has further inflamed tensions. While Sadr is a very junior cleric and commands far less respect than other top religious leaders, his charismatic blend of Islamic fundamentalism and gadfly criticism of the CPA has built him a significant and dedicated following in parts of Iraq.

After the estimated 5,000 demonstrators traded gunfire with the troops in Najaf, crowds turned out in Baghdad, Kerbala, and Sadr's home village of Kufa to "declare war on the American occupation," said one supporter.

The vast Shiite slum of Sadr City -- named for Moqtada's cleric father who was killed by the Baath regime in 1999 -- went into near chaos Sunday afternoon after the news of the fighting in Najaf.

After a demonstration by hundred of people protesting Yacoubi's arrest demonstrated in a Baghdad square -- where sporadic gunfire was heard but casualties witnessed by UPI -- the members of Sadr's banned militia, the Mehdi Army, were seen arming themselves and preparing for combat outside Sadr's offices in Sadr City.

Trucks and minibuses with license tags from all over the predominantly Shiite south of Iraq were seen streaming in to Sadr City and unloading waves of young men in the black t-shirts of the Mehdi Army, which has previously never openly displayed weapons banned by the occupation forces.

In front of Sadr's headquarters, they were seen arming themselves with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket propelled grenade launchers and organizing in military formations before deploying throughout the neighborhood in cars and pickup trucks.

The men were also seen forming roadblocks to prevent entry into the neighborhood, which has upwards of 3 million people living in one of the most densely populated urban settings east of the Gaza Strip.

As night fell, U.S. military vehicles, tanks and troops could be seen setting up roadblocks around the neighborhood themselves and reports of widespread fighting in the area have been reported by sources in the neighborhood.

One resident told UPI by phone that Sadr's militia had seized all five of Sadr City's police stations are were declaring their own form of martial law. There are also reports that U.S. infantry backed by helicopters and tanks have entered the neighborhood to reclaim the police facilities from the militia.

These developments come even as all of Iraq has been waiting for the U.S. response to the horrific attack and mutilation of four government security contractors in Fallujah, a Sunni city 35 miles west of Baghdad.

Fallujah has been the scene of repeated attacks against American troops and is widely thought to be a stronghold of anti-U.S. forces in Iraq. U.S. coalition and military officials had vowed a major response to the killings of the four -- who were burned and hung from a local bridge. At the same time, protesters had been striking in central Baghdad all week in response to the closure of the Hawza newspaper, but each day had seen only peaceful protests until Sunday. Whereas the U.S. military still has most of Fallujah cordoned off and that city of 500,00 continues to await a response.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040404-125026-9116r

[Getsmart64]

looks to me like our boys are getting ready to kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.....hope not but it could come to that..

[Mo1]

we need to get more special ops guys in there so we can killed these terrorists

[OneTimeLurker]

Does this mean it's not just a few foreigners and die hard baathists doing this now?

[kabar]

As we get closer to June 30, the scale and ferocity of the attacks will increase. It is no accident that the Spanish contingent was attacked. This is a coordinated attempt to influence US public opinion that must defeated. If Kerry put our national interests ahead of his political ambition, he would issue a statement strongly condemning the attacks and stating that he supports the President's position of staying the course.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Elsewhere Sunday, supporters of an anti-U.S. Shiite Muslim cleric waged violent demonstrations in four Iraqi cities

Four Iraqi cities?

How can that be. I was told just yesterday, on this forum, that only one Iraqi city was a problem.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Could you add the "at least 24 additional wounded" to title?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

It's time to quit playing games with this scum and burn the Sunni Triangle to the ground.

[jbstrick]

Is this the Islamofacists equivalent to the "Battle of the Bulge"? One last desperate push to weaken and split the allies?

The enemy always fights the most desperate at the end.

[LibWhacker]

Well, we have to outlaw islam. Any other solution is simply window dressing -- except, perhaps my favorite plan: Sealing off all muslims who are out of infancy on reservations, and raising the babies as English speaking Christians who revere our Founding Fathers. Killing them all is out of the question as it would wreck havoc on our conscience.

Reservations or an outright ban on islam? Which will we opt for when we finally come to our senses?

[cookcounty]

"a Salvadoran......"

Not possible. This is a unilateral operation.

[StriperSniper]

MO-AB!

MO-AB!

MO-AB!

MO-AB!

MO-AB!

MO-AB!

MO-AB!

[Bombard]

This is a war folks. Things like what happened on Sadar City tend to happen when a power hungry leader such as Sadar tries to impose his will on people. Sadar is a minor mullah trying to play on his dead fathers legacy to attain political power. He is not affraid to kill other more moderate leaders to attain his goals. He is prime for an all expense paid trip to GITMO. It will get worse before it gets better. Remember that Sadr is the type of person we are fighting against the type who will kill to attain their goal of domination.

[Happy2BMe]

10 U.S. Troops Killed in Iraqi Violence (4 April, 2004)