Iraqi, US forces seal Baghdad neighbourhood

[maddezmom]

BAGHDAD, Jan 22 (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Iraqi forces sealed off a predominantly Sunni neighbourhood in Baghdad on Monday, but the Defence Ministry said it was not the start of a promised new offensive in the capital.

U.S. President George Bush is sending more than 21,000 fresh troops to Iraq to help the Shi'ite-led Iraqi government stop Shi'ite death squads and Sunni insurgents blamed for spiralling sectarian violence that threatens all-out civil war.

Most of the reinforcements, 17,000, are to be deployed in Baghdad, where U.S. generals say previous offensives failed because there were too few boots on the ground to hold neighbourhoods that had been cleared in house-to-house sweeps -- and because the government failed to go after Shi'ite militias.

~snip~

"There are ongoing operations in Baghdad. We are continuing to clean areas and confiscate weapons," U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver said on Monday.

When asked whether Monday's clampdown on Adhamiya district was the start of a planned new sweep to regain control of Baghdad's streets from gunmen who kill hundreds every week, he said: "We are not going to witness any big announcements."

more;http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22762997.htm

[pinniped]

1. Is this worse than a simple civil war?

threatens all-out civil war

[lligrd]

2. Did They Use Duct Tape And Plastic?

I wonder if Baghdad is enjoying their freedoms?