U.S. and Iraqi Forces Crack Down on Insurgents After Two Violent Days

[Rose Siding]

Published: February 20, 2005
Filed at 11:55 a.m. ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Shiites stung by two days of suicide bombings that left nearly 100 dead attended services in fortified funeral tents on Sunday in hopes of avoiding a third straight day of attacks. U.S. Marines and Iraqi security forces launched a joint operation to crack down on insurgents in troubled cities west of Baghdad, as the military announced the death of another soldier.

Shiite politicians, poised to take power for the first time in Iraq's modern history, have vowed not to allow the bloodshed to begin a civil war despite attacks Friday and Saturday that left at least 91 dead -- including a U.S. soldier -- and at least 100 wounded. The attacks came as Shiites celebrated their holiest day of the year.
...
--In a separate shooting in Baghdad, foreign troops killed a woman and injured another person traveling with her on the dangerous road to Baghdad's international airport, al-Hamadani said.

Associated Press Television News cited witnesses as saying the unidentified men who opened fire were in a convoy of three white sport utility vehicles, which are frequently used by foreign security contractors. The small white car the slain woman was traveling in could be seen on the road, its shattered windows splattered with blood.

http://nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq.html?hp&ex=1108962000&en=19d82506d5c9dedc&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[murray hill farm]

1. Sad, isnt it?

That our own "democracy" has been so subverted...and that we now look to the rest of the world to stand up and protest..and maybe to save us from our own leaders? And also...we now have to look to the rest of the worlds media to report the truth to us.

[LinuxInsurgent]

2. crack down on the civilian population in the towns

is more like it.

The insurgents always get away...always...the people getting hit by American forces right now are the civilians who live in the unfortunate neighborhoods targeted for raids.

The insurgents are winning...they attack, leave...and leave the U.S. to antagonize the civilian population with their raids...further enraging them and fueling the insurgency.

Only a matter of time.

[truth2power]

3. WTF?

"the unidentified men who opened fire were in a convoy of three white sport utility vehicles, which are frequently used by foreign security contractors."

Sounds like an inside job. I've read that the US has a vested interest in promoting chaos so we have a reason to stay. Hmm...

[jazzjunkysue]

4. Time to break out the napalm, again, boys!

"Cuz ahh dahn't lahk ta luz."