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Show U.S. troops fight Sadr's army but seldom use his name -THE BAGHDAD, Iraq As the bullets whizzed past 1st U. Ben Hartig earlier this month, he scrambled for cover and glanced up at a giant Sadr City billboard of the cleric Muqtada 'We've killed so many of his Mahdi Army militia guys, but they just keep shooting and shooting, yelled Hartig, 23, of Concord, Calif., as he struggled to be heard over the cacophony of Bradley Fighting Vehicles firing back with 25mm cannons. "Sadr is a really tough enemy." Not officially. In Washington and in the capital's heavily fortified Green Zone, American military and diplomatic officials have rarely mentioned Sadr and his militia when d& scribing their enemy. Instead, U.S. troops have clashed with "criminal elements" or "special groups," a phrase used by the military to refer to Iranian-backe- d fighters. But according to U.S. infantry soldiers, Mahdi Army fighters and the American brigade commander here, much of the recent fighting in Sadr City has pitted militiamen loyal to Sadr against the U.S. and Iraqi militaries. On Tuesday, thousands of Iraqi troops moved into the district without any significant opposition from the militia. The delicacy of the U.S. terminology underscores both the fragility of the security gains in Iraq and the U.S. government's efforts to tie Iran to the ? - t ( .. -- ' , ! It, an. - " t ANDREA the fighting surrounding the wall of Sadr City, Baghdadjraq, is treated by ongoing violence. American officials worry that if they provoke Sadr, he could call off e, 801-344-25- 40 Editors 3 0 5 0 3 Elyssa Mecca. Gibby said Mahdi still reports to Sadr. "Sadr has not repudiated him. Haji Mahdi fits in the organization," he said. "I think OMS leaders are comfortable with him." U.S. officials described a list of top special groups targets who they said had all been trained in Iran, though Mahdi Army leaders said none of them were rogue elements but Mahdi Army commanders who report directly to Sadr. The leaders also denied that any of them received funding or assistance from Iran, saying the U.S. military was trying to undermine the Mahdi Army's . Customer Service Jim . ": which is Arabic for Mahdi Army. "There are hundreds of them throughout Sadr cease-fir- e the City , and we'll keep up the that is credited as one of the fight against them until they main reasons for the drop in stop attacking us." In the view of U.S. officials, violence. At the same time, tying the fighters to Iran bolsters every bona fide member of the the American case that the Ira- Mahdi Army is obeying Sadr's and any member nian government is subverting cease-firU.S. interests throughout the fighting U.S. or Iraqi troops is by definition violating his Middle East. For U.S. soldiers involved in leader's order and therefore the clashes, the battle has been a rogue element. Senior U.S. more straightforward. military commanders said "Of course we're fighting they were targeting only those JAM," said Col. John Hort, the rogue elements, whom they refer to either as special groups commander of the brigade in or simply criminals. Sadr City, referring to Jaish Yet that distinction does not account for a man who has been one of the U.S. military's top targets in Sadr City: Tah-see-n the senior Mahdi Army commander in the enclave. Hort said the goal was remove Freiji and other top to Established in 1873 A Lee Newspaper targets as threats, either by detaining or killing them. 375-510- 3 Hort and other officials describe Freiji, believed to be Newsroom in his late 30s, as "mainstream Toll free JAM." They said that the U.S. FAX military initially targeted him www.heraldextra.com in 2006 and 2007 for his role in sectarian attacks on Sunnis, Street address: 1555 N. Freedom Blvd., Provo, UT but that he was taken off the Send mail to: P.O. Box 717, Provo, UT 846034)717 list of targets after he heeded last August. Sadr's cease-fir- e News In March, though, he resumed his attacks after Prime MinisExecutive Editor Randy Wright rwrightheraldextra.com launched an Nouri ter Rose Editor Amie aroseheraldextra.com Metro offensive against Shiite militias aparkinsonheraldextra.com Angie Parkinson City Editor in the southern city of Basra ddicksonheraldextra.com Darnell Dickson Editor and later in Sadr City. Sports U.S. officials said that Freiji Grace leong Business Editor gleongheraldextra.com commands a full brigade in Life & Editor Andrus eandrusheraldextra.com Style " f I , . An Iraqi Army soldier injured in backed by Iran. "In terms of public enemy No. 1 in Sadr City, it's Haji Mahdi," said Gibby , using an honorific that signifies a person has made the pilgrimage to . - r. Editorial Page Editor na. had traveled to Iran several times for training by Iranian agents and by Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite movement .tt'"'" iHj,;,; "TTTT, . WASHINGTON POST Sadr City, directing 6,000 to 8,000 men. They said he has given orders to launch rockets d and mortar shells; fire grenades and AK47 assault rifles; and set roadside rocket-propelle- Post BRUCEWashington U.S. soldiers. reputation as a nationalist targets as "criminal elements." The strike killed or wounded several Mahdi Army commanders, including a top lieutenant to Freiji named Arkan movement. There was Baqir who was responsible for the kidnapping of five British contractors last year, according to US. officials. A member of a prominent Shiite family, Saidi had been in Iran as recently as Muhammad Ali Gibby said. Hasnawi, whose death was confirmed by Mahdi Army leaders, was responsible for the kidnapping of eight tribal leaders last October, in addition to multiple rocket and mortar attacks on American and Iraqi troops, U.S. officials said. Hasnawi, 35, joined Sadr's militia in 2003 and battled American forces in Najaf in 2004 and Sunni insurgents other fighters received support in recent years, according a to Jamal from Iran. Mahdi Army commander in "He is not just a fighter, but a social and political leader," the southern city of Kufa. "He was devoted and extremely said Salam 40, a obedient to Muqtada Mahdi Army leader in Sadr City. "You can say he is like a Harmoushy said. tribal chief. He was basically American military commanders in Sadr City acknowlthe government security system when there was no govedged that even leaders of ernment." special groups have close ties to mainstream Mahdi Freiji operated command centers next to both of the Army leaders and top Sadr aides. major hospitals in Sadr City, "The special groups all have including a structure in the median of the road next to direct communication with Sadr Hospital that U.S. military OMS," said Capt. Ron Underofficials nicknamed "Tahseen's wood, an intelligence officer trailer," said Maj. Bryan Gibby, with the unit responsible for the intelligence of ficer for southeastern Sadr City , using the brigade, the 3rd Brigade a U.S. military abbreviation for Combat Team, 4th Infantry the office of Muqtada U.S. military officials said Division. The U.S. military struck the the top special groups leader in site with missiles about 10 a.m. Sadr City is Mahdi Khaddam Alawi on the morning of May 3. The They said statement disZirjawi, whose noms de guerre closing the attack identified the are Abu Ahmad and Abu Ray- bombs, including powerful ones known as explosively formed penetrators that the U.S. military has said are supplied by Iran, Mahdi Army leaders in Sadr City and the southern holy city of Najaf confirmed that Freiji is the top commander in the Baghdad enclave and receives his orders directly from senior Sadrist leaders in Najaf. They denied, however, that he and February and had been considering fleeing there in the past few days to evade capture, the officials said. There was Jawad Kazim a rocket and mortar specialist who carried out a rocket attack on a U.S. outpost last month that left 15 soldiers wounded, U.S. officials said. A veteran of the Iran-Irawar, Tulaybani is said to walk with a limp caused by a leg injury. rtiiu iiicic was lauiau uaiiz. known as Abu Dure, teared througnout tne capital for sectarian attacks on Sunq nis. "All those great military leaders are under the command of Sayyid Muqtada said a senior aide to Sadr, using an honorific for the cleric and speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. "They will continue fighting for Sayyid Muqtada until the last American is driven out of our country." Sadr's followers are r. sup- posed to be observing the cease-tir- e he imposed last year, which the U.S. command has said is still in effect. But that's not the way it has seemed to soldiers in Sadr City . jtynenheraldextra.com Tynen Senior Managers President & Publisher Director Circulation Director Advertising Craig Dermis 5 cdennisheraldextra.com Stephen 2 skelseyheraldextra.com 7 ggfetserheraldextra.com Kelsey George Gretser Chief Financial Officer Mark Heintzelman Production Manager Larry Hatch 9 lhatchheraldextra.com I.T. Brian 5 btregaskisheraldextra.com Manager mheintzelmanheraldextra.com Tregaskis Human Resources Jeremy Walker Marketing Michele Roberts House approves financial relief for military personnel JimAbrams THE ASSOCIATED ., WASHINGTON Setting aside differences over the war in Iraq, the House voted unanimously Tuesday to provide financial and tax relief to military personnel The action came as the Senate debated a major expansion in college education benefits for veterans. said Rep Jim McDermott, would In the run-u- p to Memorial Day, the "ensure that service to our nation does not House was taking up more than a dozen disadvantage those who serve." bills either to help or honor veterans and The wartime Congress has been consisthose on active duty, highlighted by the $2 tently sympathetic to the needs of military billion tax package. personnel and veterans. Veterans fundThe bill, passed 403-0- , allows active-dut- y ing for this fiscal year saw its biggest reservists to make penalty-fre- e increase in the history of the Veterans withdrawals from retirement plans, and Affairs Department, and Congress acted makes permanent a law including combat quickly to improve medical care after the of injured soldiers at Walter pay as earned income for purposes of the Reed Army Medical Center was revealed. Earned Income Tax Credit. It provides a tax credit of up to $4,000 "We fund the war, we must fund the for Small businesses that continue to pay warrior," said Veterans' Affairs Committheir National Guard and Reserve emtee Chairman Bob Filner, ployees while they are on active duty and Among dozens of other veterans-relate- d makes thousands of veterans eligible for bills, the president has signed legislation to address the issue of veterans' homeowner loans. "I would prefer to call it the thank you suicides and help them repay student loans. Also signed into law was a measure bill," said Ways and Means (mmittee echoChairman Charles Rangel, requiring all federal buildings to comply ing sentiments that Congress needs to do when a governor orders flags lowered to honor soldiers killed while more to show appreciation for those serv- to half-staing in Iraq and Afghanistan. serving. "I think their hearts are in the right Rangel said that appreciation included the GI education bill that the House passed place," American Legion spokeswoman last week as part of its Ramona Joyce said of lawmakers. "For legislation and now is being considered by the most part they either have veterans in jererrty.walkerheralotectra.com mrobertsheraldextra.com 2 NEWS TIPS: On nights and weekends, call 344-255At other times, contact an editor above. CORRECTIONS: The Herald corrects errors of fact appearing In its news and opinion columns. If you have a correction, call 344-253- HOME DELIVERY 375-510- " 3 ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED Delivery by 6 a.m. Mon-Fr- i 7 a.m. Sat-SuFor missing papers, call by 9:30 a.m. 373-645- 0 RETAIL 344-294- 6 ADVERTISING FAX 356-301- 2 The Daily Herald (ISSN 0891-2777- , USPS 143-060- ) is published mornNew subscriptions, restarts, delivery or ings, Sunday through Saturday,, weekby Lee Publications, a division of billing information, call Lee Enterprises, Inc., 1555 N. days from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Freedom Blvd., Provo, Utah 84604. SUBSCRIPTION PROGRAMS Periodicals postage paid at Provo, Daily & Sunday Utah. Postmaster: Send address Thur, Fri. Sat. Sun & Holidays' changes to The Daily Herald, P.O. Box 717, Provo, Utah 84603-0717- . Thursday Only SUBSCRIPTIONS . st t Sunday Only Thur, Sun & Holidays 'Holiday delivery includes delivery the weeks of Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Pioneer Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. the Senate. That bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, would essentially guarantee a full universcholarship to any public, sity for people who serve in the military for three years. Some of the House's fiercest critics of the war in Iraq spoke on behalf of the veterans' bills. The tax relief measure, PRESS MEMBER, AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS ff contents Copyright 2008, Daily Herald. Any reproduction or other use is strictly prohibited without written permission. All war-spendi- their district or VA facilities in their district. Veterans in general, I would hope, would be a nonpartisan issue." The tax relief bill is paid for by closing e a loophole where taxpayers avoid paying taxes by renouncing their U.S. citizenship. It also bans the practice of government contractors setting up sham companies overseas to avoid paying Social Security and Medicare taxes. high-incom- Rep. Rahm Emanuel, said more ., than 12,000 companies, including defense contractor KBR, have set up subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Similar bills passed the House and Senate last year but the two chambers couldn't find common ground. The legislation now moves to the Senate. Among other House bills considered Tuesday and heading for the Senate: I HR 3681 allowing the VA Department to purchase national media outlets to provide information on benefits. HR 3819 requiring the VA to pay non-Vhospitals for care while emergency patients wait for transfer to VA facilities. HR 5729 expanding care for children with spina bifida whose Vietnam War veteran fathers were exposed to agent orange. I HR 5826 approving an annual increase for veterans' disability . A compensation. HR 5554 expanding care for those sufstress disorder fering from and substance abuse. f The scales of justice Includes Low-- & could bankrupt you! 4 1);.' Argon Qualifies for Utility . 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