THANKS, MOOK:

U.S., Iraqi forces enter Sadr City (Sudarsan Raghavan, 3/05/07, The Washington Post)

More than 1,100 U.S. and Iraqi troops pushed into the Shiite militia haven of Sadr City on Sunday, the largest operation in nearly three years in the sprawling, turbulent slum. Control of the area is viewed as pivotal to stabilizing the capital and preventing Iraq's slide toward civil war.

Riding in Humvees and armored personnel carriers, the troops erected checkpoints and conducted door-to-door searches for illegal weapons and militia fighters. They met no resistance, according to U.S. military, Iraqi officials and residents. No weapons caches were found and no suspects were detained, the military said. [...]

Sunday's push occurred only after al-Sadr had agreed to support al-Maliki's new Baghdad security plan, Iraqi officials said, and after negotiations with civil leaders and al-Sadr's representatives on the role of U.S. troops in Sadr City.

The operation lasted several hours and primarily targeted an area near a busy market, according to residents interviewed in Sadr City. By afternoon, there were no signs of U.S. or Iraqi soldiers in the densely crowded streets lined with posters of al-Sadr and banners lauding the Mahdi Army.

Textbook.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 5, 2007 8:35 AM