Violence spreads to Basra, as US grabs al-Qaeda suspects in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20031111/wl_afp/iraq_worldwrap_sched&cid=1512&ncid=1480

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Four Iraqis were killed and nine others wounded when a roadside bomb ripped apart a car in the southern city of Basra, while the top US ground commander announced the capture of 20 suspected al-Qaeda members. snip

In other violence, US jet fighters bombed a house south of Baghdad used for anti-coalition attacks after troops captured its six occupants in another show of its massive firepower. snip

A US military official told AFP that US jet fighters also bombed a house apparently used as a base for anti-coalition attacks.

"We used F-16s to precision bomb the house," said Captain Dan Froehlich, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne's Third Brigade.

He said the house near Mahmudiyah, south of the capital, was used to plan attacks on coalition forces and to stash weapons.

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[Judi Lynn]

1. Myers and Rumsfeld seem o.k. with keeping things as they are in Iraq

From the article:

"Our field commanders say they don't need more troops," General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CNN on Tuesday. "The troops on the ground say they have what it takes to do the job."

"Needless to say, if at any moment military commanders indicated that they need more US troops, I would certainly recommend to the president that we do increase the number of troops, but the advice we're getting is just the opposite," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also told CBS television.

But he added: "I am perfectly willing to recommend to the president we increase the number of forces if in fact this is in the best interest of the country."

I think we know now, why Bremer took off!

Meanwhile, the US overseer in Iraq, Paul Bremer, left Monday evening for the United States, a spokesman said, but refusing to give a reason for the unexpected departure. He was expected back in a few days.