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

MyWay News ^

[Happy2BMe]

By KHALID MOHAMMED

(AP) A demonstrator tries to contain the crowds during an anti-American protest in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday...
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NAJAF, Iraq (AP) - Supporters of an anti-American cleric rioted in four Iraqi cities Sunday, killing eight U.S. troops and one Salvadoran soldier in the worst unrest since the spasm of looting and arson immediately after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The U.S. military on Sunday reported two Marines were killed in a separate "enemy action" in Anbar province, raising the toll of American service members killed in Iraq to at least 610.

The rioters were supporters of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. They were angry over Saturday's arrest on murder charges of one of al-Sadr's aides, Mustafa al-Yacoubi, and the closure of a pro-al-Sadr newspaper.

Near the holy city of Najaf, a gunbattle at a Spanish garrison killed at least 22 people, including two coalition soldiers - an American and a Salvadoran.

(AP) Supporters of al-Sadr's self-styled militia, the al-Mahdi Army, walk towards Kufa, Iraq, Sunday...
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Fighting in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City killed seven U.S. soldiers and wounded at least 24, the U.S. military said in a written statement.

A resident said two Humvees were seen burning in the neighborhood, and that some American soldiers had taken refuge in a building. The report could not be independently confirmed, and it was unclear whether the soldiers involved were those who died.

A column of American tanks was seen moving through the center of Baghdad Sunday evening, possibly headed toward the fighting.

The military said the fighting erupted after members of a militia loyal to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took control of police stations and government buildings in the neighborhood.

Protesters 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.

(AP) American special forces join coalition soldiers as the Spanish base comes under attack outside...
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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 the holy city of Najaf, supporters of 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.

(AP) American soldiers take cover as the Spanish base comes under attack outside Kufa, 15 kms north of...
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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.

(AP) A Salvadorean soldier runs for cover as his base comes under attack outside Kufa, 15 kms north of...
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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.

"It reinforces even more our decision to continue helping a country that is suffering," Juan Antonio Martinez said Sunday.

The protesters were upset over the detention of al-Yacoubi, a senior aide to the 30-year-old al-Sadr, who opposes the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Al-Sadr is at odds with most Shiites, who hope to gain substantial power in the new Iraqi government.

Shiites comprise about 60 percent of Iraq's 25 million people but were brutally repressed by the regime of Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim.

(AP) An American soldier runs for cover as the Spanish base comes under attack outside Kufa, 15 kms...
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At coalition headquarters in Baghdad, a senior official said on condition of anonymity that al-Yacoubi was detained Saturday on charges of murdering Abdel-Majid al-Khoei, a senior Shiite cleric who returned to Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion. A total of 25 arrest warrants were issued, and 13 suspects have been arrested, the official said.

Spanish-led forces said they did not participate in the arrest.

In central Baghdad's Firdaus Square, police fired warning shots during a protest by hundreds of al-Sadr supporters against al-Yacoubi's arrest. At least two protesters were injured, witnesses said.

In Kufa, near Najaf, al-Sadr supporters took over a police station and seized guns inside. No police were in sight.

In the southern city of Nasiriyah, Italian troops traded fire with militiamen demonstrating against al-Yacoubi's detention, said Lt. Col. Pierluigi Monteduro, chief of staff of Italian troops in the region. One Italian officer was wounded in the leg.

Also in the south, British troops clashed with protesters in Amarah, according to the Ministry of Defense in London. It was unclear whether there were casualties.

Al-Sadr's office in Baghdad issued a statement later Sunday calling off street protests and saying the cleric would stage a sit-in at a mosque in Kufa, where he has delivered fiery weekly sermons for months.

Al-Sadr supporters also were angered by the March 28 closure of his weekly newspaper by U.S. officials. The Americans alleged the newspaper was inciting violence against coalition troops.

The two U.S. Marines, both assigned to the 1st Marine Division, were killed by an "enemy action" in Anbar province Saturday, the military said. One died Saturday and the other Sunday, the statement said without providing details.

Anbar is an enormous stretch of land reaching to the Jordanian and Syrian borders west of Baghdad that includes Fallujah, a city where four American civilian contractors were slain Wednesday.

At a checkpoint in Samarra, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, that was manned by Iraqi Civil Defense personnel, a bomb killed three security officers and wounded another, workers at Samarra General Hospital said.

In Kirkuk, also in the north, a car bomb exploded, killing three civilians and wounding two others, police said.

Bremer on Sunday announced the appointments of Ali Allawi, the interim trade minister, as the new defense minister and Mohammed al-Shehwani, a former Iraqi air force officer who fled Iraq in 1990, as head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service.

Late Sunday, U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and a team that will assist Iraqis in the political transition to an interim Iraqi government arrived in Baghdad, the United Nations said.

[Happy2BMe]

Our blood, sweat, and tears - THEIR GAIN!

[samtheman]

The biggest failure of the Johnson Administration was giving priority to political objectives over military ones. All US administrations should be aware of that failure, including this one.

[Dog]

The rioters were supporters of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. They were angry over Saturday's arrest on murder charges of one of al-Sadr's aides, Mustafa al-Yacoubi, and the closure of a pro-al-Sadr newspaper.

They are going to have alot more to be mad about after we smoke al-Sader's butt with a JDAM.

[Happy2BMe]

A demonstrator tries to contain the crowds during an anti-American protest in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday April 4, 2004. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)

American special forces join coalition soldiers as the Spanish base comes under attack outside Kufa, 15 kms north of Najaf, Iraq, Sunday April 4 2004; Gunmen opened fire on the Spanish garrison near the holy city of Najaf on Sunday during a huge demonstration by followers of an anti-American Shiite Muslim cleric.One Salvadoran, one American, one Iraqi soldier and at least 14 Iraqis died, and more than 130 people were wounded. (AP PHOTO/Gervasio Sanchez)

American soldiers take cover as the Spanish base comes under attack outside Kufa, 15 kms north of Najaf, Iraq, Sunday April 4 2004; Gunmen opened fire on the Spanish garrison near the holy city of Najaf on Sunday during a huge demonstration by followers of an anti-American Shiite Muslim cleric.One Salvadoran, one American, one Iraqi soldier and at least 14 Iraqis died, and more than 130 people were wounded.

An American soldier runs for cover as the Spanish base comes under attack outside Kufa, 15 kms north of Najaf, Iraq, Sunday April 4 2004; Gunmen opened fire on the Spanish garrison near the holy city of Najaf on Sunday during a huge demonstration by followers of an anti-American Shiite Muslim cleric. (AP PHOTO/Gervasio Sanchez)

A Salvadorean soldier runs for cover as his base comes under attack outside Kufa, 15 kms north of Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, April 4,2004. Gunmen opened fire on the Spanish garrison near the holy city of Najaf on Sunday during a huge demonstration by followers of an anti-American Shiite Muslim cleric. (AP PHOTO/Gervasio Sanchez)

Supporters of al-Sadr's self-styled militia, the al-Mahdi Army, walk towards Kufa, Iraq, Sunday April 4 2004. Gunmen opened fire on the Spanish garrison near the holy city of Najaf on Sunday during a huge demonstration by followers of an anti-American Shiite Muslim cleric. Four Salvadoran soldiers and at least 14 Iraqis died, and more than 130 people were wounded.

[xJones]

Saddam was right, he knew how to control these barbarians.

[mikegi]

Where were our Apaches??? They could have broken up this attack in seconds.

[section9]

Another day in Iraq, peeps.

Look, let's all calm down and let the Marines do their Fallujah thing. You'll find that Al-Sadr will sober up real quick when that occurs.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Happy2BMe]

"Where were our Apaches . . ."

Our vulnerability is greater right now than it has been since we first attacked Iraq.

REASON: Huge TURNOVER of troops - ROTATION going on.

The ragheads know this and are taking every advantage of it.

[TomGuy]

The biggest failure of the Johnson Administration was giving priority to political objectives over military ones. All US administrations should be aware of that failure, including this one.

Exactly.

The Coalition did not finish the Iraq war before trying to move to a political settlement. Now, the Coalition forces are facing growing opposition from more than just the old Saddam supporters.

The Coalition may still have 'to finish that war' before a new government will succeed.

[Happy2BMe]

Can't wait for the FatLady to sing at Fallujah - it will be SWEEEEET!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Where were our Apaches??? They could have broken up this attack in seconds.

Better question would be: Where are all of these so-call iraqi friends of ours?

[mitchbert]

Your point, I am coming to believe, is why we're not seeing some quick and emotional response. When it comes, the message will be clear. JMHO.

[oceanview]

my guess - the rules of engagement have been changed and does not allow the use of helicopter based attacks. it pains me to say it, but I would bet anything that is it.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Can't wait for the FatLady to sing at Fallujah - it will be SWEEEEET!

It will? And what do we win when this happens?

[Eddie Dean]

my guess - the rules of engagement have been changed and does not allow the use of helicopter based attacks. it pains me to say it, but I would bet anything that is it.

That's the problem... we are still at war, and no one seems to notice.

[LonghornFreeper]

As much as I would like to believe that, it is becoming more and more evident that we aren't seeing an overwhelming response because one isn't coming. I hope I am wrong, but we'll know for sure in the next few weeks. If, as I fear, Washington overrules the generals, and our response ends up being underwhelming, it will signal the begining of the end for any hope of victory in Iraq. Note that finding a few individual suspects who actually did the shooting is not an effective response. What must be addressed is the multitudes of people who stood and cheered on their actions.

[AntiGuv]

[TomGuy]

That's the problem... we are still at war, and no one seems to notice.

I say we didn't finish the war before trying to move to the political settlement. Until the war gets finished, we will see growing tensions from various factions. The Coalition moved too quickly from 'war mode' to 'law enforcement mode'.

[Happy2BMe]

Two Police Chiefs Killed in 24 Hours in Iraq (Aril 3, 2004)

[jackbill]

One of the things that is pissing me off is the constant blather that it will take years to train Iraqis. In 1952, I received 16 weeks basic training and was sent to Korea as a heavy weapons infantryman. What takes so long?