"Pockets of Resistance"

I wonder if this is what Shrubby had in mind when he said that things were "stabilizing" and there were only "pockets of resistance:"

British soldiers beat back attacks by militiamen loyal to a radical Shiite cleric in southern cities Saturday, and U.S. forces stormed Muqtada al-SadrÂ’s stronghold in Baghdad.

[snip]

U.S. troops backed by armored vehicles and helicopters also stormed al-Sadr’s office in Baghdad’s Shiite district of Sadr City, a militia stronghold, and detained three people, witnesses said.

[snip]

A U.S. military convoy was attacked on the main highway Saturday near Abu Ghraib, destroying an SUV that burst into flames. After the attack, children cheered around the burning car, shouting “Long live al-Sadr,” until U.S. troops opened fire nearby.

[snip]

The uprising in Basra on Saturday was the strongest show of force in days, with hundreds of black-garbed and masked fighters massing on the streets and attacking passing British patrols. At least two Iraqis were killed and four British soldiers wounded, a British military spokesman said.

[snip]

The latest death brings to 764 the number of U.S. service members who have died since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Of those, 556 died as a result of hostile action and 208 died of non-hostile causes.