Clashes break out in central Baghdad

[bluestateguy]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-07/07/content_1581182.htm

BAGHDAD, July 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Street clashes broke out in central Baghdad on Wednesday as insurgents opened fire with their assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades at US troops and Iraqi security forces, witnesses said.

The clashes erupted when the Iraqi National Defence soldiers started to search Saddamiyat al-Karkh neighborhood near Haifa Street in central Baghdad to look for weapons and insurgents, Xinhua correspondent at the scene said.

Gunfire and explosions rocked central Baghdad as fighters from the both sides traded fire at the neighborhood.

US troops rushed to the scene to back the Iraqi forces, but they were forced to withdraw immediatly after being fired by insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades.

[acmavm]

1. Expect news of another bombing on a safehouse soon.

.

[Flagius]

9. You mean...

You mean a wedding party?

[leftchick]

2. forced to withdraw??

guess it is time to bring in a couple of thousand pound bombs ala Falluja style.

[No Mandate Here.]

3. I was surprised to (not) see any Online headlines

this morning. There are six newspapers on my bookmarks list- starting locally and including the Pittsburgh PostGazette, NYT, WaPO, and San Fran Chron. It took until the Wapo before there was any mention of Iraq at all, and only the Chron mentioned the American casualties.

It is abhorrent that a day with four American fatalities doesn't even make the news in this country. This link is from a Chinese Newspaper?

I just looked at the wires on NYT. I see that PeopleSoft has cut its earnings forecast. I can face the day now.

[hansolsen]

10. Media mogels determined to make "handover" a success

The corporate owned media knows this is Shrub's best chance for re-election. Put a damper on bad news coming out of Iraq between now and November.

The difference between now and the week before the "handover" is amazing. There is just as much violence and carnage on the ground in Iraq, but yyou would never know it from the news coverage -- coverage of fighting has been cut at least in half, and I'd say cut back 80%.

Ain't a "free" press a wonderful thing! Sure wish we had one.

[Quahog]

12. I fired off an angry email to CNN for this reason

Fat lot of good it will do. No mention anywhere on their web site of the four American soldiers killed in action yesterday. I guess no news is good news, eh?

[cal04]

4. Iraqi PM targeted

Iraqi PM targeted

Baghdad - Three devices exploded near the Baghdad residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on Wednesday morning, wounding three men and a woman, an Iraqi police officer on the site said.

"This happened at between 9:00 and 9:15 when we heard three explosions caused by flying objects," said police Lieutenant Safaa.

Allawi was not present at the home at the time, an official said.

The US military had no immediate word on what caused the blasts.

The attacks came only hours Allawi was set to unveil a long-anticipated law giving him the authority to impose emergency measures to safeguard the country's security.

The new law gives Iraqi officials the ability to institute martial law for limited periods of time and under special circumstances. -AFP/AP


http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1553960,00.html

[leftchick]

5. omg...look at these babies in the way...

A U.S. Army soldier asks an Iraqi girl to move away from an area during clashes between U.S forces and insurgents in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad July 7, 2004. Insurgents battled U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces in central Baghdad on Wednesday as the interim government signed into effect a new security law giving itself wider powers to combat militants. REUTERS/Akram Saleh


:(

[leftchick]

6. update: Two Iraqi national guards killed in heavy Baghdad gunbattle

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/iraq_us_unrest_baghdad

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A heavy gunbattle broke out on the streets of central Baghad as insurgents shot at Iraqi national guards and US soldiers, supported by helicopters, minutes before the announcement of new security laws by the Iraqi government, witnesses said.

Two national guards were killed and 10 wounded in the battle on Haifa Street, next to Al-Talaya Square on the western side of the Tigris River, a national guard lieutenant told AFP from Al-Karkh hospital.


"Two national guard were killed and 10 wounded," Abu Noor said.


The Iraqi guardsmen battled back with support from US troops in Humvees and helicopters.

[jmcgowanjm]

7. According to my map Haifa Street runs thru/by all media HQ

and every important ministry ending at Green Zone.

It's maybe 3 miles long. It changes names or ends
in both directions.

Also, it runs parallel to the Tigris maybe 3 blocks away
and 5 bridges cross from this street.

So, you'd think that maybe an intrepid journalist
could maybe get up 5 stories and tell/show us
what the Fuck is going on.

[electricmonk]

14. Doonesbury answered this this week.

Monday's strip.

[jmcgowanjm]

8. BBC: 2 Helos fired at bldg on Haifa Street

Black smoke poured from building.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3873101.stm

I saw Jane CNN reporting this AM from her usual spot.
You know, she had to be looking at that smoke
while reporting, but is it important for CNN
audience... nah, we'd just get confused.

[leftchick]

13. Was janie all sunny smiles again?

like all is well while bombs are going off around her? What a maroon...

[yellowcanine]

11. Dang freedom haters. Don't they know we are there to help? Bush said so.

Are you going to believe Bush or your lying eyes? Sheez!

[theHandpuppet]

15. CNN reported...

.... that US troops were not forced to withdraw, but voluntarily withdrew when they ascertained that Iraqi National Guardsmen had the situation under control. Two dead and 10 wounded doesn't sound like a situation "under control" to me!