U.S. Troops Storm Iraqi Health Ministry (Again)

Editor's note: it's worth noting what this story says about much of the media's acceptance of the idea that there is a "sovereign government" in Iraq.

U.S. troops barged into the Health Ministry building early this week, seizing several guards, destroying doors and tinkering with official documents.

U.S. officials in Baghdad have declined comment on the reasons that spurred them to storm the building in the heart of Baghdad. They also have given no explanation for their detention of the guards.

A health ministry source, refusing to be named, said: "U.S. forces stormed the building of the Health Ministry … and captured several guards assigned to protect it, destroyed several doors and tinkered with its contents."

The source said the troops have refused to issue a statement with regard to the 'attack' or the reasons that led them to do so.

It is the second raid by U.S. troops on the Health Ministry building.

Early in 2007, the troops made an unannounced assault on the building and detained a Deputy Minister Hakem al-Zamili.

Zamili, a member of the political wing of the movement led by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, is still languishing in a U.S. jail allegedly for fomenting sectarian violence.