Yesterday in the Anbar province of western Iraq, Iraqi troops supported by Sunni tribesmen battled Sunni insurgents, killing 50 and capturing 80.
The fighting was unusually fierce for an Iraqi-led operation and was also notable because of the collaboration of tribesmen in volatile Anbar province. In recent months, the U.S. military has aligned itself with dozens of tribal sheiks who are collaborating in an effort to drive the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq from the vast desert territory.
Meanwhile back in Baghdad, U.S. forces are stepping up operations in Sadr City.
"We have conducted special operations in Sadr City for some months, but this will be the first time we will launch full-scale operations there and the first time we will have a permanent presence there," Col. Billy Don Farris, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade, told Reuters.
"We are going to go to every building and every house and incrementally clear the area," he said.
A U.S. military spokeswoman in Iraq, Lt. Col. Josslyn Aberle, declined to comment about future operations.
A spokesman for Sadr, Abdul Razak al-Nadawi, said the Mahdi Army would not react with force to U.S. operations because Sadr has asked his followers to "calm down and to show self-control against what is done by the occupation."
While U.S. and Iraqi forces went on the offensive in Iraq, Vice President Cheney went after the anti war crowd here at home. Noting that the House had already passed a nonbinding resolution that opposes Bush's Iraq policy, Cheney said that Congress will soon have to vote on legislation that's binding.
"I sincerely hope the discussion this time will be about winning in Iraq, not about posturing on Capitol Hill. Anyone can say they support the troops, and we should take them at their word. But the proof will come when it's time to provide the money and the support," Cheney said. "We expect the House and the Senate to meet those needs on time and in full."
Well, let's see who's willing to step up.
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