Explosions rock downtown Baghdad, killing 4

[IndianaGreen]

Source: AP

Dec 15, 12:33 AM EST

Explosions rock downtown Baghdad, killing 4

By LARA JAKES
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) -- An Iraqi police official says four people have been killed in a series of explosions near the heavily protected Green Zone.

The police major says three car bombs were detonated Tuesday within minutes of each other shortly after 7:30 a.m.

The police major spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

A U.S. military spokesman, Army Lit. Brian Wierzbicki, reported three or four explosions outside the Green Zone.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_IRAQ?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-12-15-00-33-49

[IndianaGreen]

1. BBC: Series of car bombs kill four in Baghdad

Series of car bombs kill four in Baghdad

A series of car bombings has hit the centre of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, killing at least four people and wounding about 14, police say.

The blasts occurred outside the heavily fortified Green Zone.

There has been a recent upsurge of violence in the city. A week ago, at least 127 people were killed in multiple car bombings.

Officials have accused al-Qaeda of trying the destabilise the country ahead of elections due in March.

One of Tuesday's bombs exploded near the Iranian embassy and another near the foreign ministry, officials. It is not clear where the third bomb was detonated.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8413160.stm

[Goldstein1984]

2. Is it only me, or...

does it just not carry a lot of weight anymore when an "official" says something?

Iran is the only thing separating Iraq from Afghanistan/Pakistan. A clever politician could almost argue it's in our national interest to invade Iran since we're in the neighborhood anyway.

So, when I hear "official" reports about Iran's increasing nuclear weapon capability, I wonder.

And then there's all that oil...

Iraq isn't going to be stable anytime in the future. If only to show that U.S. imperialism failed, someone will cause problems there when we withdraw.