U.S.: Sadr City Again a Militants' Haven

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. soldiers trying to calm Baghdad say the sprawling Sadr City slum has once again become a haven for anti-American militants _ and the source of most of the gunfire and mortars directed at them.

In the last two weeks, U.S. forces have suffered several casualties from dozens of shootings, mortar attacks and roadside bombings that American troops believe originated from Sadr City.

Yet the Americans have been restrained in their response, as U.S. and Iraqi leaders strive to avoid a third confrontation in two years with firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army _ the biggest and most dangerous Shiite militia in Iraq.

Instead of venturing into Sadr City in strength, U.S. troops are concentrating instead on the mostly Shiite neighborhoods that surround the militia stronghold. All the while they are drawing fire from Sadr City.

As a result, some American soldiers believe the only way _ in the end _ to curb Shiite militias and halt the sectarian violence will be to confront the militia fighters in their sanctuary.

"I just want to see something done about Sadr City," said Staff Sgt. Brian Beem, 29, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. "Send in the Iraqi army, the U.S. Army _ send everyone in. ... They're going to need it. ... Something's going to have to be done about that place."

That won't be easy.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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