The Orbis

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A woman stands afraid behind an attacked and looted U.S. Army vehicle, where the blood of U.S. soldiers stains the ground. The past few weeks have been the deadliest since the war began; 90 Americans have died this month, bringing the total number of deaths to 700. Violence has been centered around two areas: the Sunni Triangle, especially the insurgence of Sunni Muslims into the city of Falluja, and confrontations with anti-American Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr in the southern city of Najaf.

Officials blame remaining supporters of Saddam Hussein for the violence, including his Republican Guard and his intelligence agents, and Sadr's militia force. Paul Bremer said that they were "trying to stop the process that leads to elections, to a government that respects the rights of all."

U.S. forces have been instructed to cease offensive operations to allow talks to proceed, but generals say they will use force if the talks are not productive. Military leaders do not want to enter Najaf because of its religious importance to Muslims; doing so, they fear, would prompt even more uprisings and violent retaliations.

Despite the escalating violence, the Bush administration still plans to turn over sovereignty to the Iraqi people on June 30, but maintain that military forces will still be committed to keep order for as long as they are needed.

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