Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Sadr Ceasefire Over

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's leaders faced their gravest challenge in months Tuesday as Shiite militiamen loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr battled government forces for control of the southern oil capital, fought U.S. and Iraqi troops in Baghdad and unleashed rockets on the Green Zone.

Armed Mahdi Army militiamen appeared on some Baghdad streets for the first time in more than six months, as al-Sadr's followers announced a nationwide campaign of strikes and demonstrations to protest a government crackdown on their movement. Merchants shuttered their shops in commercial districts in several Baghdad neighborhoods.

U.S. and Iraqi troops backed by helicopters fought Shiite militiamen in Baghdad's Sadr City district after the local office of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa Party came under attack, the U.S. said. Residents of the area reported intermittent explosions and gunfire in the area late Tuesday. -- Associated Press

Oh, yeah. It's over. I can't help but think this is the U.S. promoting a Iraqi civil war. They are actively sending Iraqi troops against the Mahdi army in Basra. Of course Sadr's people in Baghdad will have reprisals, I wouldn't be surprised if we have full scale fighting in Baghdad.

What was it McCain said? We are winning in Iraq, Sorry, that was yesterday Senator. Pay attention.