Of course the cable news networks is still relatively silent on this (except Olberman last night):
Iraq’s prime minister on Wednesday gave gunmen in the southern oil port of Basra a three-day deadline to surrender their weapons and renounce violence as clashes between Shiite militia fighters and Iraqi security forces erupted for a second day.
At least 55 people have been killed and 300 wounded in Basra and Baghdad after the fighting spread to the capital’s main Shiite district of Sadr City, police and hospital officials said.
The secure Green Zone also is under attack now:
Suspected Shiite extremists also unleashed rockets or mortars against the U.S.-protected Green Zone in central Baghdad for the third day this week.
Three Americans were seriously injured in the attacks on Wednesday, U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said. At least four Iraqis also were killed after at least two mortar or rocket rounds fell short in Shiite areas of Baghdad.
A resumption of intense fighting by al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia could kill more U.S. soldiers and threaten – at least in the short run – the security gains Washington has hailed as a sign that Iraq is on the road to recovery.
Of course by Shiite extremists they mean Iran and al Qaeda. I guess the AP lost the John McCain memo.
Speaking of McCain he is supposed to give a “big speech” on Iraq today. I wonder if he will even mention the events over the last day, or if he even knows.