One killed and 34 wounded in mortar strike on US army base in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040108/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_worldwrap&cid=1514&ncid=1480

BAGHDAD (AFP) - One US soldier was killed and 34 were wounded in a mortar strike on a military base west of Baghdad, a military spokesman said.

"One soldier was killed and 34 wounded," the spokesman said.


About six mortar shells struck the Logistical Base Seitz, located northwest of Baghdad, in the attack at 6:45 pm (1545 GMT), the military said.


The toll had earlier been put at 35 wounded, with some of the soldiers listed as seriously injured.

The attack came as civilian administrator Paul Bremer announced the imminent release of 100 Iraqi prisoners in a bid to promote reconciliation ahead of a handover of power in six months.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040108/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_paid_to_stay&cid=540&ncid=1480

GIs in Iraq Scoff at Re-Enlistment Bonus

BAQOUBA, Iraq - At a checkpoint on the barren plain east of Baqouba, word of a new U.S. Army plan to pay soldiers up to $10,000 to re-enlist evoked laughter from a few bored-looking troopers.


"Man, they can't pay me enough to stay here," said a 23-year-old specialist from the Army's 4th Infantry Division as he manned the checkpoint with Iraqi police outside this city 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.


His comments reflect a sentiment not uncommon among the nearly two dozen soldiers in Iraq (news - web sites) who have spoken with The Associated Press since the Army announced the increased re-enlistment bonuses for soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Kuwait on Monday. Other soldiers at home were divided about the offer.


The soldiers in Iraq who spoke about the bonuses were serving in a range of assignments, from training the new Iraqi army at a base east of Baqouba to patrolling some of the most dangerous roads in the country, like those leading north from Baghdad.

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[The_Casual_Observer]

1. As if to say

"The attack came as civilian administrator Paul Bremer announced the imminent release of 100 Iraqi prisoners in a bid to promote reconciliation ahead of a handover of power in six months."

This reporter would like you to infer that those darn "bad guys" just aren't playing by the rules. Perhaps the bad guys don't read the paper or watch Fox news to find out about all the great things Paul is doing for them.

The news earlier was pretty goddamn cheery, why, lots of the wounded were going right back to work, according to CNN.

[annagull]

2. WTF is that? 5hrs later and we get more rehash about Bremer?!

And no details?! How many Goddamn news channels and reporters are there in the world and this is what we get? Does the politics ever stop with these fuckers? Nothing is sacred with the black hearted Bushes around.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Ok so they were reporting no deaths

and now they are reporting one KIA... may he rest in paece

But then yuo look at the AP piece on KIA and NONE have been reported...

Anybody else see the inconsistency?

Oh and by the way, if memory serves, we had not breached the 480 yet... but suddenly we did with a pasion?

Nam games all over again insofar as casualties.