Basra, Iraq - Heavy fighting breaks out in southern Iraqi city

Reuters (excerpt) ^ | March 25, 2008 | Aref Mohammed

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

BASRA, Iraq, March 25 (Reuters) - Heavy fighting erupted on Tuesday in Iraq's southern city of Basra where Iraqi authorities have clashed with members of the Mehdi Army militia, a Reuters witness said.

An Iraqi military official said Iraqi forces had launched operations to "cleanse" Basra of armed groups.

"Sounds of explosions were heard in different areas of Basra and columns of smoke have been rising from northern districts of the city," the witness said.

~ snip ~

[Aaron0617]

incase anyone missed it there were protests by Basran citizens against the amount of violence in Basra.

violence they claimed was coming from milita groups

[JennysCool]

a Reuters witness said.

Well, there you go.

[Anti-Bubba182]

The usual gambit is as US elections get closer Iraqi violence goes up.

[the_Watchman]

“Heavy fighting breaks out” does not convey the sense of the article. The headline would easily lead the casual reader to conclude that the insurgent forces were the aggressors.

The actual news appears to be that the Iraqi government forces have started an outright assault on the hold-out Army of Mehdi. This would be very good news. However, Reuters cannot bring themselves to write the headline that way!

[Fred]

Time for a little visit with ALLAH!!!

[hermgem]

This violence is designed to be a stimulant to those political powers that want to retreat.
Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barak Obama do you notice?
Really sad your calls cost lives, including those of our troops.

[OCCASparky]

I've been hearing how our local CongressRAT (Carol Che-Porter) says no progress is being made there.

You hear that, Carol? The Iraqis are doing for themselves once the Brits left Basra. Sounds like progress to me!

[NY Attitude]

Cannot understand just why he is still alive. Mookie should have bitten the big one a long time ago.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Iran.

[oneolcop]

LOL, Actually, I read a report that Mookie was in Iran and very sick from “food poisoning” Apparently he came pretty close to getting his 72 virginians. Haven’t heard that he recovered, but haven’t heard he didn’t either...

[HAL9000]

Reuters - IRAQI PRIME MINISTER MALIKI IN BASRA TO OVERSEE OPERATION AGAINST ARMED GROUPS — BRITISH MILITARY SPOKESMAN

[Son House]

Iraqi forces had launched operations to “cleanse” Basra

Our Troops have given them the chance to fight for themselves, and they are, no thanks to Reid, Pelosi, Klobachar, Kennedy, Clinton, Obama, Murtha, Kerry, and all other elected Democrat weaklings.

[Bulldawg Fan]

Did the British completely surrender the city or are a few left around town?

[Wavrnr10]

Smash them like grapes....then their houses....and their families....and their dogs!!!

[agere_contra]

They didn’t “surrender” anything. They handed power over to the Iraqi Govt forces - those same forces who are pounding the paramilitaries now.

[jhpigott]

ping

[maquiladora]

Wonder will Iran do anything to help their buddies in Basra?

[jhpigott]

don’t know about “help”, but i imagine they instigated this mess.

If Sadr’s Mahadi army gets going again, things could get ugly over there

[maquiladora]

"...Explosions rang out across central Baghdad as rockets fired from Shiite areas slammed into the U.S.-protected Green Zone for the second time this week...."

"...Al-Sadr's headquarters in Najaf also ordered field commanders with his Mahdi Army militia to go on maximum alert and prepare "to strike the occupiers" — a term used to describe U.S. forces — and their Iraqi allies, a militia officer said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't supposed to release the information...."

"AP Television News video showed smoke from explosions rising over the city and Iraqi soldiers exchanging gunfire with militia members."

- http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3oYeFwuWKCusr2jrojs98w8wD8VKGDL00