Conducted A Cordon And Search Operation Of Sadr City, Would This Improve The Security Situation In Baghdad?
The group agreed that such an operation would eliminate around 50-60% of the Mahdi Army’s medium and heavy weapons, including rockets and mortars, and this would have a very positive effect on Baghdad’s security situation. The group stated that this should be a U.S.-only operation that stresses operational security to prevent any information leakage from the Iraqi government to militia leaders. The members all agreed that, as has been done in other areas of Baghdad, as U.S. forces search Sadr City, they should use barriers to cut Sadr City into four to six smaller areas. The group stated that the Sadr Movement/Mahdi Army’s initial reactions to such an operation would be to initially go to the Iraqi government and demand that the U.S. be forced out of Baghdad by Prime Minister Al Maliki. They would also attempt to conduct large demonstrations to distract attention in an attempt to move weapons and high level personnel out of the city. Their last option would be to resist by combat. This
