The Crackdown Continues

More good news out of Iraq regarding the US crackdown on the Mehdi Army:

About 600 fighters and 16 leaders of the radical Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, have been captured by security forces in Iraq, the US military says.

The statement said 52 operations had been conducted in 45 days targeting the militia, which is loyal to Najaf-based cleric Moqtada Sadr.

Sunni extremists were also the focus of the crackdown, the US military said.

US and Iraqi forces are currently preparing for a broad offensive in the strife-torn Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Over at Ace of Spades HQ, Ace says, "Now, all these killings and captures of Sadrists and Al Qaeda -- bear in mind, this is in preparation for the actual 'broad offensive.' I think that's a sweet teaser-trailer. Can't wait for the actual movie."

Agreed.

This story being from the BBC, however, they feel the need to add " In other developments" at the end of the story followed by five bullet points of bad news from Iraq. The BBC can only rest easy when all good news is accompanied by at least five negative stories. They also quote a "UN envoy" as saying that Iraq is sliding "into the abyss of sectarianism." I think that envoy's just a little upset at what cock-blocks those Iraqi children are.