In addition to the 20,000 troops, I keep seeing that the rules of engagement

[lectrobyte]

are to be changed. Has anyone seen more details on this? Sounds like shades of "search and destroy", but I'm not sure, thanks.

[coalition_unwilling]

1. More like "free fire zones," I suspect. n/t

[Monkeyman]

3. Yep with curfews anything that moves bye bye

[Avalux]

2. Here, read this -

the horrid details are indeed, search and destroy. :(

* American forces, partnered with Iraqi units, will clear high-violence Sunni and mixed Sunni-Shia neighborhoods, primarily on the west side of the city.
* After those neighborhoods are cleared, U.S. soldiers and Marines, again partnered with Iraqis, will remain behind to maintain security, reconstitute police forces, and integrate police and Iraqi Army efforts to maintain the population’s security.

http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.25396,filter.all/pub_detail.asp

[cwydro]

4. Body counts anyone?

Deja vu all over again.

[Kagemusha]

5. ...Wait a minute... where's the attack on Sadr City in this?

It's not a mixed Sunni-Shia neighborhood. It's not primarily on the west side of the city. What gives?...

Or is this just, beat the militias back a little for show, pound hard on the Sunnis with enthusiastic govt support?

Sounds like the latter. According, even, to the AEI.

[lectrobyte]

6. Thanks.

[global1]

7. More U.S. Troop Deaths. More Iraqi Civilian Deaths. More......

exposes of U.S. troops killing innocent civilians in cold blood. More trials. More of our scared young military going to prison because they were put into a situation that was untenable.