Baghdad Finally Calm Under Massive U.S. Presence

In Baghdad, a daytime curfew and a massive American street presence ensured a peaceful end to a violent week, in which top officials argued over timelines and security and a U.S. soldier went missing.

Monday, a U.S. soldier of Iraqi descent traveled outside the fortified Green Zone to spend the holiday with Iraqi relatives. His kidnapping prompted a major search by U.S. forces across Baghdad.

"We have detained a number of personnel for possible connection with, or knowledge of, this kidnapping," U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. Bill Caldwell said. "We're using all assets in our arsenal to find this American soldier."

This week, Iraqis celebrated Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan -- which was also an extremely bloody span of time in Iraq. On average, 40 Iraqis died each day, with more than 300 Iraqi soldiers and police killed.

The U.S. military marked a grim milestone, with at least 96 service members killed this month, the highest death toll since last October.

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