Mosul a ghost city as troops press ahead with (‘the mother of two springs’) offensive

[sabra]

Source: Azzaman

The northern city of Mosul, home to nearly three million people, is now a city of ghosts.

As Iraqi troops, assisted by U.S. marines, intensify their attacks, severe shortages of clean water, health services and essential foods have already emerged.

...

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is personally commanding the operation which he initially code-named ‘the lion’s roar’ then changed into ‘the mother of two springs’ a nickname for Mosul know for its long and pleasant spring.

But the massive attack in which troops have been given free hand to search, arrest and storm residential areas is meeting resistance particularly from the city’s tribal leaders.

One chieftain refusing to be named said the troops had no intelligence of who the gunmen were and where they were bases. “Their arrests and raids are arbitrary,” he added.

Reports on casualties are scarce as the troops even forbid media people from moving.


Read more: http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news/2008-05-15/kurd.htm

[maddezmom]

1. Iraq army rounds up suspects in assault on Al-Qaeda

MOSUL, Iraq (AFP) — Iraqi security forces carried out mass arrests in the main northern city of Mosul as a new crackdown against Al-Qaeda entered its second day on Thursday, officials said.

About 275 people were detained overnight on top of 560 people seized since Tuesday, defence and interior ministry officials said. Fifty of those arrested have since been released.

"The terrorists are hiding in residential districts of the city to avoid (confronting) security forces," interior ministry spokesman Major General Abdul Kareem Khalaf said.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki who travelled to Mosul on Wednesday to spearhead the latest drive, codenamed Mother of Two Springs, spent the night in the city of more than one million people, officials said.

more:http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i1Pt7MWwPQRoHHSTn24KQhzJZpJg

[sabra]

2. McCain says we just need another 5 years of this and then we'll WIN!

:eyes:

[Art_from_Ark]

4. WEll, I thought we won 5 years AGO!

At least, that's what Flightsuit McCodpiece said

[ohio2007]

3. Iraqi prime minister in Mosul to direct offensive against Sunni militants

BAGHDAD: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki took personal charge Wednesday of a military operation to rout al-Qaida in Iraq in what the U.S. has described as the terror group's last major stronghold, even as a tenuous cease-fire took hold over Baghdad's Sadr City slum.

The campaign in the northern city of Mosul was the third by al-Maliki in two months as he attempts to stamp out Shiite militants and Sunni extremists across the country.

But even as al-Maliki directed operations against al-Qaida in Iraq, a suicide bomber probably belonging to the organization killed at least 22 people and wounded another 40 at the funeral of a Sunni grammar school principle just west of Baghdad.

Col. Faisal al-Zubaie, the director of police in nearby Fallujah, said the bomber blew himself up inside a funeral tent in the village of Abu Minasir, 35 kilometers (28 miles) outside the capital. The funeral was being held for Taha Obaid, who was shot and killed Tuesday in his school.

There was no reason for that shooting, but the funeral was being attended by many members of so-called Awakening Councils, Sunnis who switched allegiances and are now fighting al-Qaida.

snip



http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/14/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq.php

al Sadr had no luck expelling Maliki from Basra and then his "aides" wanted to enter an immediate cease fire when the slum was being squeezed. Dunno if these AQ types will do better as they kill and blow up anything walking on two or four legs

[ohio2007]

5. Al-Maliki offers amnesty in Mosul

BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has offered members of armed groups in Mosul an amnesty in exchange for surrendering their weapons. He says the gunmen have 10 days starting Friday to hand over medium and heavy weapons and receive unspecified monetary compensation in return.

The statement also offers amnesty to those described as "duped" into taking up arms against the government as long as they were not involved in crimes against civilians and did not "have blood on their hands."

Al-Maliki's amnesty offer comes one day after he flew to Mosul to take personal charge of a major crackdown against al-Qaida in Iraq militants in the northern city.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080516/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_amnesty

Maliki stood in Basra and in Sadr city. The Iraqi's may be ready to lose the US crutch taking this amnesty stand in Mosul.

[KamaAina]

6. The surge is working! The surge is working!

La, la, I can't hear you!