"Dozens of fighters ambushed a U.S. patrol in Baghdad's main Shiite militia stronghold Tuesday, firing rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun bursts as the American push into Sadr City increasingly faces pockets of close urban combat.
U.S. forces struck back with 200-pound guided rockets that devastated at least three buildings in the densely packed district that serves as the Baghdad base for the powerful Mahdi Army militia.
The U.S. military said 28 militiamen were killed as the U.S. patrol pulled back. Local hospital officials said dozens of civilians were killed or wounded.
Such street battles — in tight confines and amid frightened civilians — are increasingly becoming a hallmark of the drive into Sadr City and recall the type of head-on clashes last seen in large numbers during last year's U.S. troop buildup in Baghdad and surrounding areas.
U.S. troops often have fought intense gunbattles as they cleared neighborhoods in Baghdad and former Sunni insurgent havens such as Anbar and Diyala provinces. But roadside bombings and rocket or mortar volleys against bases have been the more frequent mode of attack in recent years."
Maybe it's time for the military draft to be reinstalled in America and let our young citizens and their parents start taking some responsibility for our actions or finally hold our leaders responsible.
This latest street fighting brought American casualties for the month of April to 47 which makes this the deadliest month since last September.
I have reached the disgust saturation point and am just speechless that this disaster continues week after week.
Now the idiots in charge have brought another carrier into play in the Gulf and this will ratchet up tensions with Iran.
Fallon refused another carrier when bush/cheney wanted one and now that he has gone the yes men are in charge.
Posted by: Fallenmonk | April 30, 2008 at 04:04 PM