U.S. general urges balance in Baghdad crackdown

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070107/ts_nm/iraq_dc

U.S. general urges balance in Baghdad crackdown

By Claudia Parsons 38 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi government plans to bring in troop reinforcements to take part in a major security plan for Baghdad but a U.S. general said on Sunday the key to success would be a balanced approach rather than sheer force.


Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced a major security plan for Baghdad on Saturday, vowing to crush illegal armed groups "regardless of sect or politics" -- suggesting he may be ready to tackle militias loyal to his fellow Shi'ites, as demanded by Washington and the once dominant Sunni minority.

Sectarian violence is killing hundreds of people a week, mostly in Baghdad, and securing the capital is seen as crucial to stopping
Iraq's descent into full-scale civil war.
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But, as the deaths of five more Americans were announced in Iraq, the new Democratic Congress warned it make give any such suggestion a tough ride compared to Bush's Republican allies...........

[Eugene]

1. Operation Together Forward IV: This time we're gonna to get it right.

As with the previous iterations, the General's plan relies on Iraqi
forces who can't be trusted. Saddam's hanging showed once again
that the security forces are nearly indistinguishable from the
Shi'ite milias.

Related article: New U.S. Iraq commander says may need three years - Reuters