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U.S. airstrikes kill at least 4 in Baghdad

Bush sees 'defining moment'

By Jon Ward
March 29, 2008

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President Bush yesterday called fighting in southern Iraq a "defining moment in the history of a free Iraq," raising the stakes for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as he seeks to rout militia fighters who have already disrupted the country's oil flow.

Mr. Bush's comments came hours after U.S. warplanes joined that fight in Basra late Thursday night by shelling targets at the request of the Iraqi army, which has waged the battle mostly on its own since Tuesday.

Militia fighters were reported to have blown up one of Iraq's two main oil-export pipelines, significantly threatening the country's exports. And in Baghdad, U.S. forces have clashed with residents of Sadr City, the area named after the Iraqi cleric to whom many of the militia forces are loyal.

During a press conference at the White House with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Mr. Bush also denied that the withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq is a blow to the U.S.-led coalition there.

Mr. Bush said the growing violence in the southern oil port of Basra and in Baghdad is "a good test" for Mr. al-Maliki.

"It's going to take a while for them to deal with these elements. But they're after it, and that's what's positive," Mr. Bush said.

Rocket attacks on the U.S.-controlled Green Zone have increased this week, killing one U.S. civilian, wounding several others, and prompting the State Department to warn embassy personnel to seek shelter and wear protective gear.

Mr. al-Maliki also appeared to have extended the deadline for militia fighters to surrender and turn in their weapons. The Iraqi prime minister said earlier this week that the deadline would expire yesterday, but then his office announced that Basra residents had until April 8 to turn in weapons.

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