US helicopter bombs Al-Sadr office in Suwaira, south of Baghdad

Kuwait News Agency ^ | 2006 Oct 22

[Wiz]

BAGHDAD, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- A US helicopter on Saturday bombed an office of Al-Sadr militia in Suwaira, 45 kilometers south of Baghdad, witnesses said.

Witnesses told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that a US helicopter fired four missiles on the militia's office, noting that a number of militiamen were killed and wounded in the bombing, but the presence of Iraqi and US forces made it impossible to figure a death toll.

[Wiz]

The recent unrest in Baghdad seems to be a result of a new phase of Operation Together Foward, and other minor operations around Iraq, rather than increasing strength of terrorist groups. Muqtada Al Sadr's Mahdi Army has been relatively silent avoiding clashes with security force. However, as security forces have begun to target Mahdi Army elements, Mahdi Army has become once again active, which may have contributed to increasing casualties including those in Baghdad. There are negative voices from the military about the results of Operation Together Foward, but I view this not as negative, and the unrest in Baghdad as a result of the once silent Mahdi Army engaging battles with security force and US Armed Force once again, rather than the failure of the operation. Since months ago, Mahdi Army has been silent, and that may have provided Mahdi Army to reorganize and increase its strength to prepare for another battle. The clashes between US Armed Force and Mahdi Army indicates a new phase and shift of security plans and battle against terrorists, resulting in temporary unrest, and the next battle to destroy Mahdi Army with Al Sadr dead, or captured alive.

[festus]

Why we ever let Al Sadr live I'll never understand.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Ping

[oyez]

After the past few days, US should be initiating heavy strikes. What's this one rocket attack? What the Hell are we doing? Is it to close to the elections to carry out an appropriate action.

[river rat]

Damn!

Who did the fat man finally piss off?

This POS has lived at least a year too long.

If we continue to destroy an al Sadr "outpost" daily, until killing this POS or convincing his thugs to surrender him to our tender mercies -- I'll know we're serious about killing him and those who support him..

If not -- then this is cheap and meaningless pre-election bullshit.

Semper Fi

[FlyVet]

Possibly waiting until enough Iraqis hate his guts that it's more feasible.

[sageb1]

As far as I'm concerned, this guy is now fair game. Git 'er dun!

[doc1019]

I can’t, for the life of me, understand why this piece of human detritus (Al-Sadr) is still breathing!

[jmc1969]

The NY Times and the WP has made the President very afraid to make a mistake in Iraq. After 911 he cut loose and made the stakes clear, now he saying sorry for saying 'you are with us or against us' and 'dead or alive'.

[spyone]

As far as I know, he has a murder charge out on him, which we decided to "overlook"... a giant mistake.

[DB]

I think letting Sadr live is one of our biggest failures in Iraq. He should have been dead a year or more ago.

[stylin19a]

great change of tactics...go after the bad guys...hard !
misunderestimating Pres. Bush again !

[bnelson44]

ping

[CyberAnt]

Me either .. maybe now we can take this guy out.

I don't like his allegience with Maliki - and I wish the guy who was the provisional PM was back in power - I can't remember his name, but I can see his face. He was a secular guy - and he would have been a better choice.

[oceanview]

and politically, it hasn't helped him. 40% of americans were always going to follow the MSM and the Dems and be against this war in the end. didn't the administration realize that? write them off, and go after the 60% of americans who want to win this thing, who want action.

[NormsRevenge]

FRuits of the meeting earlier today?

U.S. President George W. Bush speaks during a video teleconference with Vice President Dick Cheney (on screen) and military commanders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington October 21, 2006. Bush said on Saturday he would make 'every necessary change' in tactics to respond to spiraling violence in Iraq, and he acknowledged a drive to stabilize Baghdad had not gone as planned. Pictured from second left, are: National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Deputy National Security Advisor J.D. Crouch, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State on Iraq David Satterfield, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Army General John Abizaid and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Marine Gen. Peter Pace. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Eric Draper/White House/Handout/Reuters)

[Rokke]

"WE had him in Falludja-- "

Sadr was never in Fallujah. He was stirring up the Shites in Najaf while we were killing Sunni's in Fallujah.

[Just A Nobody]

Ohhhhh I see, so it's all "Bush's Fault"

[petertare]

Sadly, the national news is reporting jihadi/alqueda marches/parades taking place with large turnouts of armed thugs in masks. Many of these have reportedly taken place in the vicinity of US bases. OK, so I still wonder why they have not been met with B52s?

Nothing like a little fireworks in the middle of a parade.

It seems based on present policy, there is no enemy in Iraq. Certainly no one that should be eliminated by force of arms. Just what kinda conflict is this?