Captain's Quarters reports that U.S. and Iraqi troops have moved into Sadr City. This addresses a complaint that the crackdown had been focused on Sunnis while leaving the Shiites alone.
Combined US and Iraqi forces swept through Sadr City yesterday, arresting more than a dozen suspected militia members and making a statement about the lack of limitation on the new surge operation. The US characterized their targets as "rogue" elements of the Mahdi Army and the captured could include as many as ten Iraqi policemen:
American and Iraqi troops on Tuesday stormed several buildings in Sadr City, Baghdad’s main bastion of Shiite militancy, and detained at least 16 people suspected of participating in militia violence including killings, kidnappings and torture, the American military and local officials said.
Meanwhile back on the home front Democrats step up their attacks on American efforts in Iraq.
Congressional Democrats -- especially new members -- are clamoring for action on the Iraq war, citing polls showing that American voters want to change course, but leaders have delayed significant action.
Senate Democratic leaders announced yesterday that they will postpone for at least another week a debate on war policy, despite efforts by several senators pushing to hold a vote to repeal the 2002 war authorization.
Their window of opportunity may be closing. Violence in Baghdad has dropped, and now Democrats are in a race against time as they seek to achieve defeat in Iraq before combined U.S, and Iraqi forces can bring a substantial end to the violence.
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