Two stunnng headlines

Forgive my recent lack of posts here. It's been a busy two weeks - but at least a few days of "normal" ops lie ahead.

But others have been offering actual news from Iraq in my absence.

Like the Washington Post:

Iraqi Troops, Tribesmen Kill 50 Suspected Insurgents

Fierce Battle in West Lasts Several Hours

By Joshua Partlow, Washington Post Foreign Service

BAGHDAD, March 1 -- Iraqi security forces backed by Sunni tribesmen killed dozens of suspected Sunni insurgents over several hours of fighting Wednesday in a village in western Iraq, Iraqi police officials said Thursday.

The fighting was unusually fierce for an Iraqi-led operation and was also notable because of the collaboration of tribesmen in volatile Anbar province. In recent months, the U.S. military has aligned itself with dozens of tribal sheiks who are collaborating in an effort to drive the Sunni insurgent group Al-Qaeda in Iraq from the vast desert territory.

U.S. And Iraqi Forces Arrest 16 Suspected In Killings And Kidnappings

By Kirk Semple

BAGHDAD, Feb. 27 — American and Iraqi troops on Tuesday stormed several buildings in Sadr City, Baghdad’s main bastion of Shiite militancy, and detained at least 16 people suspected of participating in militia violence including killings, kidnappings and torture, the American military and local officials said.

The early morning raids appeared to be the largest military operation in Sadr City since the new American-led crackdown began this month, intended to wrest control of Baghdad, the capital, from sectarian militias.

Mrs Greyhawk, meanwhile, has chastised me for not pointing out that I do contribute to another blog besides this one, and that I have done a few posts there these past few weeks. I say readers here are aware of that, but obviously I yield to her wisdom.