U.S. military cites Green Zone attacks

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - The U.S. military acknowledged "an increasing pattern of attacks" against the Green Zone, a day after a mortar barrage against the heavily fortified area sent soldiers and contractors scrambling for cover.

Militants fired a volley of mortar rounds into the Green Zone, which houses the U.S. and British embassies, as well as the Iraqi government on the west bank of the Tigris River, officials said. The U.S. Embassy said no casualties were reported, but the attack was the latest in what has become a nearly daily occurrence despite stringent security measures aimed at protecting the area.

Rear Adm. Mark Fox, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, declined to provide details on the number of attacks against the Green Zone, which is also known as the International Zone, but said they were increasing.

"It's clear that there is an attempt to get lucky shots, and there is unquestionably an increasing pattern of attacks here against the International Zone. There's no doubt about that," Fox said at a joint news conference with Iraqi military spokesman Qassim al-Moussawi.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_green_zone

[truth2power]

1. "International Zone"? How many other nations' nationals

reside in the Green Zone?

Just asking. I'm probably not up to speed on this.

[Botany]

2. Don't forget Poland

[gratuitous]

3. "An attempt to get lucky shots"

As opposed to the American wehrmacht strategy of blowing up anything that moves, then putting a bullet in the back of the head of anyone still alive. Reduces the amount of "luck" required to a minimum.

But don't worry, Mr. Fox (An admiral? In Baghdad?); from what I hear, the "insurgents" are a pretty resourceful and adaptive bunch. They'll soon be making strategic strikes that hit their targets with much greater frequency, rather than trusting to "luck" that by lobbing a mortar round into the so-called Green Zone they might hit something of importance.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. "Let Freedom Reign!"