US troops abandon posts in Sadr City

[ck4829]

"U.S. troops on Tuesday abandoned checkpoints around the Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City on orders from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the latest in a series of moves by the Iraqi leader to assert his authority with the U.S. administration.

The U.S. military announced the deaths of two soldiers in fighting in the Baghdad area on Monday, bringing the number of troops killed in Iraq this month to 103.

More insurgent violence was also reported against civilians, with at least 11 people killed, including four children, and 21 others wounded when a suicide car bomber struck a wedding party in Baghdad.

U.S. forces disappeared from the checkpoints within hours of the order to remove the around-the-clock barriers by 5 p.m., setting off celebrations among civilians and armed men gathered on the edge of the sprawling slum that is under the control of the Mahdi Army militia run by radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061031/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[acmavm]

1. And I'll bet they were damn happy to skedaddle.

[Jacobin]

2. And so the end begins

The horrors of allowing Iraqis to control their own destiny!!! Why, they may even be able to form a government of some type and evict the occupying forces!!!

[eleny]

3. You mean they were told to cut and run?

[Roy]

4. Nahhhhh......

Just pull back closer to the embassy roof.
:sarcasm: