US denies Karbala withdrawal

[Dover]

US denies Karbala withdrawal


Saturday 22 May 2004,

US occupation forces have denied withdrawing from Karbala despite claims from a resistance leader that a pull-back from the city centre was being arranged.


Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said on Saturday he had heard the reports but was "not aware of any withdrawal going on in Karbala".

"We've repositioned some forces inside of Karbala but it's quite a stretch to consider that to be anything remotely resembling a withdrawal." he said.

Kimmitt's comments came after the Mahdi Army of Shia leader Muqtadar al-Sadr said it would end its armed presence in Najaf and Karbala as soon as the US withdraws its forces...cont'd >


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D61622A9-3CF6-4F38-9C38-1B84E81C8BEE.htm

[qanda]

1. Mark Kimmitt= The New and Improved Baghdad Bob

eom

[Myrina]

2. "We've repositioned some forces ..."

Uh, 'repositioning' them so they're real close to a convenient exit route would be considered a pull-back to most people, General ...

:freak:

[bemildred]

3. Send in the clowns, there ought to be clowns ... nt

[maddezmom]

4. the US repositioned Fallujah

and then we handed over power to a Baathist....but that was only for a day. :eyes: Wonder if we'll "reposition" and then hand over power to al-Sadr?? :shrug:

[bemildred]

5. Does make one think of Faloojah.

The rhetoric, the conflicting "stories".
I was wondering whether we have a case of commanders on the
ground taking matters into their own hands again.

[Journeyman]

6. "Soldiers! Advance to the rear!". . .

n/t

[Karenina]

7. What exactly is the purpose

of the U.S. *MIC in Karbala and Najaf? Kill more of them sandniggers and blow up their "heathen" holy sites? :argh:

[maggrwaggr]

10. it's takin' the fight to the terrurists!

uh .... I mean killing lots of innocent women and children and bombing holy sites so that Iran will decide to step in and invade Iraq so we can finally nuke IRAN!

Right about on election day. Stage a retributory hit here in the states and you've got Bush-For-Life!

[Robbien]

8. Kerbala Street Life Revives as U.S. Troops Withdraw

By Suleiman al-Khalidi

KERBALA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqis ventured back onto the streets of Kerbala on Saturday after U.S. forces withdrew, giving the holy city some respite after weeks of clashes between U.S. troops and Shi'ite militia fighters. There was no official word from U.S. commanders, but residents said U.S. troops, including tanks and armored vehicles, began pulling out early on Friday.

On Saturday the streets were once again busy with traders and shopkeepers after weeks of subdued activity.

Despite the withdrawal, residents said they expected fighting to resume in the days ahead and said militiamen loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr remained holed up in the city center, even if they were less visible than before.

Militia fighters, who refer to themselves as the Mehdi Army, said they were ready to resume fighting at any time. "We are awaiting any moment for the resumption of fighting and it's possible we may start it," said a fighter called Abu Karar, leader of a group of about 250 gunmen positioned near the Imam Hussein mosque, a central Kerbala landmark.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5225508

[mike1963]

9. It's not a "withdrawl", it's a "tactical positional permutation."

:eyes: