Green Zone has been attacked regularly for a week now

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hPrvKT9HD3A5RHja3VeR_u1PsROAD8VKLH4O1

Front Row for Green Zone Mortar Salvos

By BRADLEY BROOKS – 3 hours ago

BAGHDAD (AP) — My window panes rattled again Tuesday morning. That told me two things: Another mortar attack was under way and the mood in the Green Zone was about to change quickly.

Joggers disappear from the streets. People normally walking around in T-shirts and jeans toss on body armor and helmets. Any plans to leave your compound are abruptly canceled. Nerves become strained. E-mails zip between Green Zone pals, asking if anyone was hurt.

The war — usually fought on the other side of the 15-foot concrete blast walls — is falling again on Baghdad's famous fortified oasis that includes the U.S. and British embassies, many Iraqi government offices, thousands of soldiers and security staff, a few journalists and others.

The Green Zone has been a target for mortars and rockets for years. But this week has been particularly noisy and dangerous.

[napi21]

1. But, but, but, McCain just said "We're WINNING! Don't tell me

he's WRONG!!!!!!

[ColbertWatcher]

3. McCain is still right...

...the Green Zone is being attacked with http://wikiality.com/Fritillaria_Persica">flowers and http://wikiality.com/Candy">candy.

[Squatch]

2. A 60mm mortar only weighs ~50# and can be easily concealed

It has a range of about 3500m, so anybody with a donkey cart can take pot shots at the Green Zone compound and still make a clean getaway.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Katyusha rockets are a little harder to conceal.

But those have been hitting the Green Zone too.

[Squatch]

6. True, but they have a longer range

increasing the number of places from which a rocket could be fired from a concealed position.

[wtmusic]

10. Yup...you do not want to be near where this comes down:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. I see the Countersurge is working brilliantly now... n/t

[lapfog_1]

7. If we don't make deals with everyone in Iraq

and payoffs... big payoffs... with the agreement to give us time to make an orderly withdrawal...

This picture will repeat.

[Robbien]

8. So that is what this is all about. Article: U.S. forces surround Sadr city

Baghdad, March 25, (VOI)- U.S. forces surrounded Sadr city, eastern Baghdad, while the Baghdad Operations Command imposed a curfew on it as of this afternoon until Wednesday morning, the official spokesman for the Baghdad's operations said on Tuesday.


"The curfew on vehicle and pedestrian traffic started at 6 pm on Tuesday until 6 am on Wednesday," Major General Qassem Atta, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

Eyewitnesses said that U.S. forces surrounded Sadr city on Tuesday's afternoon, closed all city's inlets, and replaced Iraqi forces inside the city.

Eyewitnesses also said that sounds of discontinuous gunfire and explosions are heard at different neighborhoods of the city. Power went off at some parts of Sadr city, while people there rushed to buy foodstuff preparing for security deterioration.

One of the eyewitnesses told VOI "U.S. forces allowed four firefighting trucks and three ambulances to enter the city." He added "People are afraid that U.S. forces may conduct wide-scale attacks and raid operations in the city."

http://uruknet.info/?p=m42392&s1=h1

[wtmusic]

11. This could get ugly but fast. nt

[ashling]

9. Not to worry

The surge is working