A firefight erupted Sunday night in Kufa, Iraq, when U.S. troops clashed with insurgents loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the troops' commanding officer said.
Lt. Col. Pat White said...about 30 insurgents were killed. There was no information on possible U.S. casualties.
...The encounter comes after about three days of a shaky truce that has been marked by sporadic fighting. Al-Sadr pledged on Thursday to withdraw most of his militia from the Najaf region, which includes Kufa, if U.S. forces did the same.
CNN article
Lt. Col. Pat White said...about 30 insurgents were killed. There was no information on possible U.S. casualties.
...The encounter comes after about three days of a shaky truce that has been marked by sporadic fighting. Al-Sadr pledged on Thursday to withdraw most of his militia from the Najaf region, which includes Kufa, if U.S. forces did the same.
Interestingly enough, it's a truce, even though there has been "sporadic" fighting. I don't think I understand the meaning of "truce" as we are using it here.
But here's what I want to look at again....
About 100 Iraqi police who arrived in Najaf over the past week to begin joint patrols with U.S.-led coalition forces on Sunday apparently deserted their posts, U.S. military officials said.
In the past few days, U.S. forces coordinated and trained with Iraqi police to begin patrols in Najaf, a Shiite holy city, that has been besieged by fighting between U.S. forces and al-Sadr's militias.
It is not clear why the police left the city, but their disappearance added to the skepticism at the U.S. military base in Najaf that a unilateral peace agreement announced three days ago by Shiite representatives would quell the ongoing violence.
In the past few days, U.S. forces coordinated and trained with Iraqi police to begin patrols in Najaf, a Shiite holy city, that has been besieged by fighting between U.S. forces and al-Sadr's militias.
It is not clear why the police left the city, but their disappearance added to the skepticism at the U.S. military base in Najaf that a unilateral peace agreement announced three days ago by Shiite representatives would quell the ongoing violence.
Skepticism about quelling the violence in Najaf. What about being able to handle the whole friggin' country come July 1, 2004, about four weeks away?
Coalition officials had hoped to eventually turn over the security situation in Najaf to Iraqi police, a measure called for by al-Sadr's agreement with other Shiite leaders.
While Iraqi police officers left no clues to a motive for their disappearance, al-Sadr's militia considers them collaborators with U.S. occupying forces and often targets them for attacks. Additionally, Iraqi police are not provided with body armor that might protect them while on duty.
While Iraqi police officers left no clues to a motive for their disappearance, al-Sadr's militia considers them collaborators with U.S. occupying forces and often targets them for attacks. Additionally, Iraqi police are not provided with body armor that might protect them while on duty.
I think it's quite "clear why the police left the city". No clue?!? The reporter is clueless, that's for sure. Al Sadr's militia will kill them if they get the chance, and they don't have any protective armor. What's not clear?
Jeezus. Can I be a reporter, please?
