Psycho4Bud
02-15-2007, 03:09 AM
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Thousands of U.S. troops swept house-to-house through mostly Shiite areas virtually unopposed Wednesday in the opening phase of the long-awaited Baghdad security crackdown. But four U.S. soldiers were killed outside of the capital in an area not covered by the operation.
Elsewhere in Baghdad, Iraqi soldiers and police set up new checkpoints across the city of 6 million people, snarling traffic and forcing people to walk across bridges jammed with cars and trucks.
Staff Sgt. Michael James, 32, of Chillicothe, Mo., said the area in northeastern Baghdad had been targeted before but not in such force.
"This is the final clearing. We're trying to hit all the major hotspots. I don't think it has ever been cleared as fully as it will be today," said James, of the 3rd Stryker Brigade, Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
James said he wasn't surprised that the troops did find more as they hunkered down in a so-called Joint Security Station in the area for the night.
"It's never clear. These guys are going to have safe-houses all over the place. Whenever we come into one area, I'm sure they just move on," he said. "Just our presence alone is enough to push the bad guys out. They're not stupid enough to fight an entire battalion, because they will lose."
The increased security measures drew a mixed response from Iraqis â?? some angry over the inconvenience, others embracing any effort to stop the rampant violence.
"My friends and I who are the old women of the neighborhood went to the soldiers and welcomed them and prayed that God would help them to defeat the terrorists," said Um Sabah of the Mashtaal area in eastern Baghdad. "Although, the presence of army and vehicles is not very comfortable, we welcome it because it is for the sake of Iraq."
Baghdad sweep meets little resistance - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070215/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq)
I do believe that sweet old lady said it all right there.......:thumbsup:
Have a good one!:jointsmile:
Elsewhere in Baghdad, Iraqi soldiers and police set up new checkpoints across the city of 6 million people, snarling traffic and forcing people to walk across bridges jammed with cars and trucks.
Staff Sgt. Michael James, 32, of Chillicothe, Mo., said the area in northeastern Baghdad had been targeted before but not in such force.
"This is the final clearing. We're trying to hit all the major hotspots. I don't think it has ever been cleared as fully as it will be today," said James, of the 3rd Stryker Brigade, Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
James said he wasn't surprised that the troops did find more as they hunkered down in a so-called Joint Security Station in the area for the night.
"It's never clear. These guys are going to have safe-houses all over the place. Whenever we come into one area, I'm sure they just move on," he said. "Just our presence alone is enough to push the bad guys out. They're not stupid enough to fight an entire battalion, because they will lose."
The increased security measures drew a mixed response from Iraqis â?? some angry over the inconvenience, others embracing any effort to stop the rampant violence.
"My friends and I who are the old women of the neighborhood went to the soldiers and welcomed them and prayed that God would help them to defeat the terrorists," said Um Sabah of the Mashtaal area in eastern Baghdad. "Although, the presence of army and vehicles is not very comfortable, we welcome it because it is for the sake of Iraq."
Baghdad sweep meets little resistance - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070215/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq)
I do believe that sweet old lady said it all right there.......:thumbsup:
Have a good one!:jointsmile: