Al-Sadr militiamen battle U.S. and Iraqi forces in four cities

[leftchick]

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/218/world/Al_Sadr_militiamen_battle_U_S_:.shtml

<snip>BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) Insurgents loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr battled fiercely with U.S. and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf on Thursday and fighting quickly spread to other Shiite areas, threatening a shaky two-month-old truce. A U.S. military helicopter was shot down, injuring the crew.

''The cease-fire is over because of the actions of the occupation forces, and the situation has started to deteriorate,'' warned Sheik Abdul Hadi al-Daraji, a spokesman for al-Sadr in Baghdad.

Al-Sadr's men also fought with U.S. troops in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, shot at government offices in the southern city of Amarah and clashed with British forces farther south in Basra, Iraq's second largest city.

<snip>
The fighting was the worst flare-up between authorities and al-Sadr's forces since a series of truces two months ago ended weeks of violence that began after the U.S.-led occupation authority closed al-Sadr's newspaper and arrested a key aide. The newspaper was recently allowed to start printing again, but tensions had been rising in recent days between al-Sadr's Mahdi Army and Iraqi and U.S. forces.

[wtmusic]

1. Can you say, "Ci-vil war..."?

C'mon Junior, it's easier the second time

[David Dunham]

2. This situation will be get worse and worse.

[Ripley]

3. Sounds like a war to me.

But CNN just calls it "more violence in Iraq." Like your typical violence in any inner city in America.

They don't even show the soldiers fighting anymore. Come on, a helicopter was shot down! It's getting worse...August might be as bad as April!

Please stop this madness!

[leftchick]

4. because it is the Iraqi National guard....

or whatever the hell they call them that are fighting the insurgents. Our Military is only there for backup...... at least that is what my tv tells me. :eyes:

[Just Me]

5. Flowers & cheers,...freedom & democracy.

We have greedy freakin' morons running this country.

It's embarassing.