The Surge Begins

100 militants captured near Najaf according to the U.S., Iraqi forces also report 200-300 dead

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - In its first full statement on what Iraqi officials called a major battle with a messianic cult south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Monday that 100 militants were captured in the operation.
It made no mention of Iraqi officials' accounts of 200-300 cult followers killed in nearly 24 hours of fighting near the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf.

And the surge begins.