Bush: Iraq is returning to normal

[laststeamtrain]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Bush: Iraq is returning to normal
Warren P. Strobel and David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers

last updated: March 27, 2008 09:04:51 PM

WASHINGTON — President Bush, saying that "normalcy is returning back to Iraq," argued Thursday that last year's U.S. troop "surge" has improved Iraq's security to the point where political and economic progress are blossoming as well.

Bush coupled his description of the situation in Iraq, meant to lay the groundwork for next month's report to Congress by U.S. military and diplomatic chiefs, with a forceful slap at war critics.

"Some ... seem unwilling to acknowledge that progress is taking place," Bush said in a speech at the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. He accused war opponents of constantly shifting their critique, adding: "No matter what shortcomings these critics diagnose, their prescription is always the same — retreat."

In touting progress in Iraq, however, the president appeared to gloss over developments that most would characterize as a far cry from "normalcy," even by Iraqi standards.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/31825.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. So, the definition of "normal" is now "civil war"?

:eyes:

[NMDemDist2]

11. you took the words right out of my mouth, my dear Peggy! n/t

[Botany]

2. Iraq the last 24 hours

Iraq the last 24 hours:

One of the 2 major oil pipelines have been blown up,
the Green Zone has been hit again, and in the south
Shi forces loyal to Sadr are in open conflict w/ Shi
troops loyal to Maliki. And as of 3/19 we are starting
year # 6 in Iraq.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/27/iraq.main/?ir ...

Iraq's offensive against what it characterizes as "outlaws" of hard-line Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia began Tuesday in Basra, Iraq's second largest city.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has been overseeing the operation in southern Iraq, has given militants an ultimatum to surrender their weapons by Saturday.

The fighting, which also saw Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone -- home to the U.S. Embassy and the Iraqi government -- come under fire, has threatened to unravel a delicate al-Sadr cease-fire credited with reducing bloodshed between Sunnis and Shiites.

Since Tuesday, clashes in Basra and throughout Iraq's Shiite heartland have left more than 100 dead and many wounded in Basra, Baghdad, Hilla, Kut, Karbala and Diwaniya.

snip

A provincial council official also said insurgents sabotaged an oil pipeline Thursday in Zubeir, a town near Basra. The attack sparked a large fire on the pipeline, which transfers crude oil to tanks in the city.

Meanwhile, the FBI identified the remains of two U.S. contractors who had been missing in Iraq for more than a year, a bureau spokesman said Thursday.

[pasto76]

21. The "pipeline"

There is an oil refinery in Bayji. I spent most of my deployment on the K-2 airfield (called Lancer when I was there; 3-66 ARMOUR)at least twice "the pipeline" was attacked. We were told that 2 bad guys would drive across a field on a motorcycle, the passenger would fire an RPG at the ground, and then they would ride away leaving a monstrous flame jetting into the sky. It would burn 2 or 3 days.
This scenario made me think that an RPG7 warhead was much more powerful than I thought.

UNTIL...once again I find myself living on FOB Lancer attached to A/14 ENG for operation trailblazer. One day as my dozer operator was clearing the shoulder of the road by asr hershey, an armed iraqi came running down the hill. He was probably pretty close to being shot. However, turned out that he was a Guard for the "pipeline" His job was to sit on a hilltop with an AK and shoot at any bad guys F-ing with it.

He had coem down to warn us that my bulldozer was about to crush the pipe. In the states, such a pipeline would be buried 10 feet underground or so. But this was Iraq. No, the pipeline, such a vital and critical part of the Iraq infrastructure, such a crucial part of the alleged and much promised "Reconstruction" - WAS ONLY BURIED INCHES UNDER THE SAND. I kicked a shallow hole in the sand there it was. The motorcycle operation made sense now. Hell, a harsh look in it's general direction may have ignited it!

Now five years later, I wonder if we have done anything to protect this pipeline from sabotage....I frequently see BAYJI, IRAQ - An oil pipeline was blown up today.....in the news. Please people, this whole military operation is insane. Maybe General Patreaus is on the right track, but I beleive that it is years too late. How many more soldiers have to die so Chickenshit Freepers can talk about how "we" kicked ass.

SGT Pasto
C/244 ECB(H)

[Botany]

30. Welcome to DU SGT Patso!

So glad that you are back home now.

This whole thing is insane beyond any notion of rational thought.
It is like after Pearl Harbor Roosevelt attacked New Zealand
and then fixed the 1944 election.

Thank you for your service I just wish it was in a different theater
of operation.

In March of 2007 @ a demonstration when we were starting year
5 of this stupid war I had a marine medic (Navy corpsman?) crying
in my arms ... he had been home for about 4 months and was still
haunted by "demons." He told that the whole "supply chain" was
f***ed up and that he had to ask his Captain for 9 mm clips because
they hadn't gotten resupplied by KBR ... his Captian gave him his.

BTW did you see bin Laden or any of the people behind 9/11 in Iraq? :sarcasm:

P.S. Forget the Freepers it is so much easier to talk about war and kicking
ass than to go and sign up ..... BTW my brother was on his way to the Pentagon
on 9/11 and my best friend's son just got back from Iraq.

[Thepricebreaker]

26. Did you forget to mention this is all IRAQ gov operations.. not USA.

[tanyev]

36. U.S. Armor Forces Join Offensive In Baghdad Against Sadr Militia

Source: Washington Post

U.S. Armor Forces Join Offensive In Baghdad Against Sadr Militia

Americans Appear To Take the Lead As Iraqi Units Wait

By Sudarsan Raghavan and Sholnn Freeman
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, March 28, 2008; Page A01

BAGHDAD, March 27 -- U.S. forces in armored vehicles battled Mahdi Army fighters Thursday in Sadr City, the vast Shiite stronghold in eastern Baghdad, as an offensive to quell party-backed militias entered its third day. Iraqi army and police units appeared to be largely holding to the outskirts of the area as American troops took the lead in the fighting.

Four U.S. Stryker armored vehicles were seen in Sadr City by a Washington Post correspondent, one of them engaging Mahdi Army militiamen with heavy fire. The din of American weapons, along with the Mahdi Army's AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades, was heard through much of the day. U.S. helicopters and drones buzzed overhead.

The clashes suggested that American forces were being drawn more deeply into a broad offensive that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, launched in the southern city of Basra on Tuesday, saying death squads, criminal gangs and rogue militias were the targets. The Mahdi Army of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a Shiite rival of Maliki, appeared to have taken the brunt of the attacks; fighting spread to many southern cities and parts of Baghdad.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3245917

[saigon68]

39. We are in the long awaited Civil War

[damntexdem]

43. Again.

In Iraq, civil war is only 'long awaited' during brief pauses.

Dubya's "the surge is working" pause meant this: the Shia militias were rearming.

[Barrett808]

29. Round-up of Daily Violence in Iraq, Thursday 27 March 2008

Round-up of Daily Violence in Iraq, Thursday 27 March 2008
By Sahar Issa | McClatchy Newspapers

The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondents in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It's posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy's Washington Bureau.

Baghdad

12 mortars hit the Green Zone starting at 10 am until this report was prepared at 2 pm, Thursday, said Iraqi Police. The U.S. Embassy said no one was injured.

2 mortar rounds fell on Ur neighbourhood, east Baghdad near an open air marketplace killing one civilian, injuring two.

2 mortar rounds hit Karrada Kharij Street, central Baghdad injuring 1 civilian.

17 wounded Iraqi Army soldiers from Basra were taken to al-Yarmouk Hospital for treatment.

Clashes in al-Mansour district, from Iskan neighbourhood to Abu Jafar al-Mansour began this morning between Mahdi Army members and security forces. 3 Iraqi Army soldiers were injured and the clashes continued at the time of publication.

A parked car bomb exploded near the Red Crescent office, Andalus Square, in central Baghdad causing some material damages to its outer wall.

Clashes between Mahdi Army members and National Police in al-Amin neighbourhood started this morning and continue until the preparation of this report at 2 pm. Casualties have not been reported until this time.

The office of al-Da'wa Party in al-Shaab neighbourhood has been torched, causing only material damages.

3 mortars hit al-Alawi bus station, central Baghdad, killing 2 civilians, injuring 15.

Updating Sadr City news, since the fighting started on Monday until now, the toll has reached 38 killed and 47 wounded, Iraqi police said.

Gunmen kidnapped the civil spokesman of the Baghdad Security Plan, Tahseen al-Shaikhli. An armed group attacked his home, took him captive, let his family go and torched his house. They also took a government pick up truck, loaded it with 26 pieces of weaponry belonging to his security detail.

8 Iraqi soldiers were wounded in clashes between Iraqi Army and members of the Mahdi Army in Talbiyah, north Baghdad at around 3 pm Thursday.

Random fire by gunmen passing in a speeding car killed a father and his son, 13 years old in Talbiyah, north Baghdad at 5 this afternoon.

1 civilian injured when gunmen opened fire randomly across Sabah al-Khayat Square in Shaab area in north Baghdad at around 5 pm.

1 mortar round fell in Battawin neighbourhood, which is a largely commercial area in central Baghdad, injuring 2 civilians at 5 pm.

Clashes between gunmen and Iraqi Army in Zafaraniyah, southeast Baghdad at around 5.30 pm left 2 soldiers seriously injured.

2 mortar rounds hit the Ministry of Interior, al-Tasfeerat compound in central Baghdad at 6 pm killing 1 employee and injuring 4.

A mortar shell hit a residential building in Karrada Dakhil, central Baghdad at 6.15 pm, injuring 2 residents and causing material damage.

Clashes broke out between National Police and gunmen in Husseiniyah neighbourhood at around 6.30 pm and the clashes continued at the time of publication.

4 mortar rounds hit the US military base in Rustamiyah at 6.30 pm. No casualties were reported and no comment was available from the US military at the time of publication.

Gunmen target a police patrol at the entrance of al-Hurriyah neighbourhood at 8 pm injuring 1 policeman.

Thursday at 8 pm the Shoala Police Station fell in the control of an armed group.

5 unidentified bodies were found in Baghdad by Iraqi Police today. 1 in Ur, 1 in Zayuna, 1 in Husseiniyah, 1 in Mansour, 1 in Alawi al-Hilla, Sheikh Ma'roof.

Basra

Fighting in Basra between the Mahdi Army and the security forces has been ongoing since early Tuesday, and the toll of the fighting is at least 97 killed and around 300 injured, a medical source in the Directorate of Health in Basra said.

Hilla

Clashes have resumed in the city centre of Hilla city causing the injury of 30 people, 22 of whom were police and army, 8 civilians amongst who was a woman and the death of 1 soldier and 2 policemen.

Clashes in Chiffel neibourhood inside Hilla city continue, and the offices of al-Da'wa Party and the Supreme Council were torched by members of al-Mahdi Army causing the death of 3 policemen and the injury of 4.

Maysan

Gunmen torch Badr Organization Bureau located in Hitteen Square, in the centre of Amara city. They launched 4 RPGs at the bureau, three of which hit the bureau and burned the building to the ground. The fourth hit an adjacent house, injuring one of its inhabitants.

Clashes between Iraqi Army and Mahdi Army members as the regular army was crossing what is commonly known as the Yugoslav Bridge, north Amara. 2 civilians were killed and 7 injured by cross fire.

Salahuddin

Gunmen attack a Sahwa, US sponsored militia, member's house in al-Khadhraa neighbourhood, downtown Samara and kill both him and his son and injured his wife and one of his daughters. Joint forces, Iraqi army and US military announce a curfew in order to search for the armed group, said First Lieutenant Muthanna Shakir. US military did not include this report in their release.

A roadside bomb exploded yesterday, Wednesday targeting a Support Force, CLC, checkpoint on the main road near Awja city injuring 7 Sahwa members and 2 civilians.

A mortar shell fell on Tel al-Jarad, Baiji city, yesterday evening killing a woman Mona Ajaj, injuring 5 civilians, amongst whom were 3 children and a woman.

IED exploded targeting a soldier as he left his home going to work, in Malha neighbourhood, north Baiji, causing his death.

Diyala

5 unidentified bodies were found in a mass grave by security forces in al-Zor area, Muqdadiyah district, 25 km to the east of Baquba.

Local police found 4 bodies in al-Asaiba village, Shahraban district, 8 km south of the town of Baladruz. They were immediately sent to the coroner's department in Baladruz General Hospital, where through procedures the bodies were identified and collected by their families and returned to al-Shamsiyah village, their home town.

A roadside bomb exploded targeting a civilian car in the town of Khanaqin injuring 2 civilians.

The District Commissioner's office in Khan Beni Saad was targeted with mortar fire by the Mahdi Army today. The security forces announced a curfew in the town in order to track the armed group.

Anbar

2 ready-to-use improvised explosive devices were found by Iraqi Police near 40 Street in a garbage container at 7 am Thursday. They were propane gas cylinders (used for cooking) with an addition of TNT explosive material. They were removed safely by the police and a curfew aided the security forces to capture the outlaws and the curfew was lifted at one pm.

5 Iraqi Army soldiers from Anbar were killed in the fighting in Basra. Their bodies were returned to their families today.

Kirkuk

A suicide car bomb targeted an Asayesh, a Kurd security intelligence agency, vehicle killing an officer, Captain Tayib Mahmoud, and injuring 2 of his security detail and 5 civilians in the proximity of the explosion. The incident took place in al-Quds Street, Tiseen neighbourhood, downtown Kirkuk city early Thursday morning.

Gunmen assassinated the Commander of Garmian Peshmerga Forces, of the KDP. The gunmen opened fire upon his motorcade in a town near Daqooq, south Kirkuk, killing him and 4 of his security detail.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/212/story/31750.html

Security developments in Iraq, March 27

March 27 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1930 GMT on Thursday.

* denotes new or updated item

* BAGHDAD - Nine people were killed and 95 others wounded in clashes between Iraqi security forces and Mehdi Army members in different parts of Baghdad, said Major-General Qassim Moussawi, spokesman for Iraqi security forces in Baghdad.

* BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed one U.S. soldier in eastern Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

* HAMZA - Three policemen were killed and three others, including two soldiers, were wounded in clashes with Mehdi Army fighters in Hamza, 35 km (22 miles) south of Hilla, police said.

* DIWANIYA - One gunman was killed and eight others captured after they attacked a police patrol in central Diwaniya, 180 km (112 miles) south of Baghdad, army Colonel Ghasan Mohammed said. One policeman was wounded in the attack. * BAGHDAD - A mortar bomb wounded two people in the Batawin neighbourhood of central Baghdad, police said. BAGHDAD - Five bodies were found across Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Two soldiers were wounded in clashes with Mehdi Army fighters in Zaafaraniya district in southern Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - One person was killed and four others wounded when two mortar rounds landed on an Interior Ministry prison in eastern Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Gunmen kidnapped Tahseen al-Sheikhli, a civilian spokesman for the Baghdad security plan, designed to make the capital safer, from his home in Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - The Green Zone diplomatic and government compound in central Baghdad was hit by repeated rocket and mortar fire in some of the worst barrages in months.

BAGHDAD - Shi'ite militants clashed with Iraqi security forces in Baghdad's Washash, Iskan, Shurta, Hurriya, Kamiliya, Fudhailiya, Ur, Shula, Mashtal and Sadr City districts, Baghdad security plan spokesman Major-General Qassim Moussawi said. Civilians and security force members had been killed or wounded, he said, but he gave no figures.

BAGHDAD - Eight soldiers were wounded in clashes with Mehdi Army fighters in Talabiya in eastern Baghdad, police said.

BASRA - Fighting between Iraqi security forces and the Mehdi Army militia continued in Basra. A police source in Baghdad put the latest death toll at 51 people killed and 225 wounded since a major Iraqi military operation began on Tuesday.

KUT - At least 49 people have been killed, including six policemen, and 75 wounded in two-day clashes in the city of Kut, 170 km (105 miles) southeast of Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Three people were killed and 15 wounded by a mortar attack on a bus terminal in central Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Gunmen attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint in the Sadr City district of northeastern Baghdad, wounding four soldiers, police said.

DAQUQ - Gunmen attacked an Iraqi army patrol in the town of Daquq, 45 km (30 miles) south of Kirkuk, killing four soldiers, police said.

AL-RIFAI - Gunmen attacked Iraqi troops heading to Basra, killing two soldiers in the town of al-Rifai, near Nassiriya, 375 km (235 miles) southwest of Baghdad, police said.

KIRKUK - A car bomb killed two Kurdish Peshmerga security force members and wounded six, including two civilians, in the northern city of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

MAHAWEEL - A roadside bomb exploded near a police patrol, killing four policemen and wounding four in the town of Mahaweel, 75 km (45 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

NEAR BAQUBA - The bodies of four men were found with gunshot wounds to the head in a village near Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad, a hospital source said.

BAGHDAD - The bodies of three people were found in Baghdad on Wednesday, police said.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

BAGHDAD - Thousands of supporters of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr marched in Baghdad to protest against a three-day-old crackdown against his followers in the southern city of Basra and to call for the downfall of the U.S.-backed government.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27782195.htm

[ryanmuegge]

32. All of this chaos and bad news, but no coverage from the media to focus on the bigger picture

that the surge is not going that well.

This stuff is horrible news.

[Barrett808]

41. Indeed, and if half of these items were reported on the nightly news...

...US public opinion would probably be close to universally opposed to the occupation.

[sam sarrha]

3. wet brain alcoholic is having the DT's.... hallucinating peace

[struggle4progress]

33. No, really, Iraq is full of the same pink elephants one sees at the White House

[Nitrogenica]

4. He has to lie. That's what this proves.

It's not that he doesn't know it, I think he feels he has too in order for some creepy grand election scheme to work.

*'s only skill is running for office. He can't lead, and certainly can't make sound decisions about anything. He's a complete and utter failure, other than campaigning.

He often mentions how much he likes campaigning, almost too often.

He's CREEPY.

People voted for him.

[12string]

6. Bush the campaigner

IMHO,bush is no great campaigner.Granted,far too many voted for this imbecile but,the greatest testament to his campaign skills is the fact that he was never elected.I think the part he loves about campaigning is the back door illegal manipulation of the election process and the subsequent looting he and his criminal cabal orchestrated.

[bdamomma]

5. in bush's warped mind yes, normal to him means more death

blood and destruction. This man needs to be committed really, doesn't anyone of those Senators or Reps know that yet? He is our worst nightmare.

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. No - bush is not your worst nightmare - nightmares are not reality - Bush is

.
.
.

Bush loves having the power over life and death

He wasn't nick named the Texacutioner for nothing.

Hitler didn't kill for the love of killing - Hitler wanted to "purify" what he thought was the "supreme" "race"

George Bush kills because he likes the power to kill ANYBODY

And he's getting away with it.

Look at George Bush's pictures lately

He has an expression of glee mostly.

Manson was an angel compared to George.

A country run by a madman

That's the USA

[bdamomma]

20. yea, we know or some of us who are not in denial know

he's a madman, now if only we could get everyone else to catch on, may be something would be done. Ignorance/denial seems to be the norm right now.

[darue]

7. can't we get the ship's doctor to find him mentally unfit for duty? along with first officer dick

seriously, I think there are grounds to appoint a guardian and put him somewhere where he can get the help that he needs.

[Zynx]

8. Yeah, it was actually unusually stable for a few months. They're getting back to it now.

[dchill]

9. It's a joke that writes itself.

"Some ... seem unwilling to acknowledge that progress is taking place," Bush said. Yup.

[Doctor_J]

12. Normal, as in before the few months of calm. Not normal like before Dr. Death

invaded the country.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

al-Sadr seems to disagree....

The foundation for the surge "success" was the Shiite cease fire since August.....It is going to get very bloody over the next few months and this is nothing but a pre-emptive excuse.

He accused war opponents of constantly shifting their critique, adding: "No matter what shortcomings these critics diagnose, their prescription is always the same — retreat." WHAT A LOAD

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

13. al-Sadr seems to disagree....

The foundation for the surge "success" was the Shiite cease fire since August.....It is going to get very bloody over the next few months and this is nothing but a pre-emptive excuse.

He accused war opponents of constantly shifting their critique, adding: "No matter what shortcomings these critics diagnose, their prescription is always the same — retreat." WHAT A LOAD

[Kingofalldems]

14. Can't wait for the Kristol reaction to this week

Should be an interesting spin.

[OhioChick]

15. .....

:wtf:

Since he feels that it's "normal" over there, maybe he should drop in for a visit.

[grytpype]

16. Jesus, is he nuts?

There are are major battles taking place all over Iraq!!!!

How in the f*ck is that normal?

The man is f*cking insane! How can anybody not see that???

[bdamomma]

23. If we can see that he's nuts, don't you think the Congress knows

he is out of his mind, and they don't want to bring it to the attention of the American people?

[Historic NY]

17. Yup it sure is SNAFU dead contractors bodies turning up, soldiers....

being killed, bombs going off, Iraqis fighting Iraqis.......Yup I would agree with him its a SNAFU again.

[Octafish]

18. Bush is insane.

The only thing crazier than the drunken warmonger Bush is Corporate McPravda spewing the line he's the president of the United States.

[hatrack]

19. Pay no attention to those exploding pipelines! Just ignore that mortar fire hitting the Embassy!

Remain calm! All is well!

[bdamomma]

22. no I think * would care more about the pipelines and so would Cheney

than the Green Zone.

[Wizard777]

24. Okay so they can't get Bush and Reality into the same room.

Maybe it's like matter and antimatter. If Bush and reality touch. It will cause an explosion that will destroy the universe.

[blayne]

25. Oh, that's rich!

It is going to be a hell in a hand basket kind of week over there.

[Zorra]

27. Bu*h speaks, therefore he lies. n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

28. does he mean like under Saddam = normal

[magellan]

31. Something's definitely blossoming

...but it ain't political or economic progress.

[Hulk]

34. He wouldn't recognize "normal" if it jumped up and bit him in the ass.

This guy is the king of lies. Why even quote the lying son-of-a-bitch?

he is "normal"....lol.

[Vinca]

35. Maybe we should all chip in and send a few newspaper subscriptions

to the White House.

[VWolf]

37. Shrub = Baghdad Bob nt

[Supersedeas]

38. collateral damage is just part of the normal lexicon for TX Oilmen

[ckramer]

40. It will never be normal after someone got raped

That's where Iraq is.

[damntexdem]

42. Well, that's true -- it's returning to its normal state of civil war.

That has been the norm since the U.S. invasion.