Blair's Farewell Tour Makes Stop in Iraq (greeted by Mortar blast in Green Zone)

[Ghost in the Machine]

Published: 5/19/07, 4:25 AM EDT
By DAVID STRINGER
BAGHDAD (AP) - Outgoing British leader Tony Blair, whose premiership has been dominated by his unpopular decision to join the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, arrived in Iraq on Saturday for his seventh - and final - visit as prime minister.

Blair, who was making an unannounced visit before he steps down from office in June, planned to reassure Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that his departure will not bring an end to Britain's support.

Three mortar rounds or rockets exploded Saturday in the Green Zone, wounding one person, after Blair arrived there for talks with Iraqi leaders. Blair's official spokesman downplayed the incident, saying there was "nothing to suggest anything other than business as usual."

A fourth projectile exploded just outside the Green Zone, U.S. Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said. Fintor did not say where the blasts occurred and made no mention of Blair's presence.

The blasts occurred about 11:30 a.m., soon after Blair arrived for meetings with al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani. It was unclear how far the explosions occurred from the meeting site.

http://home.bellsouth.net/s/editorial.dll?bfromind=7812&eeid=5219969&_sitecat=1505&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=3&ck=&ch=ne

When I first clicked on this story the title said "Blair farewell visit to Iraq greeted by mortar blast in Green Zone". They changed it before I got it posted.

[Swamp Rat]

1. "nothing to suggest anything other than business as usual."

In other words, Dick Cheney is a fucking liar.

Four mortar rounds or rockets exploding daily in the Green Zone is "business as usual," but McCain and Pence say it is "just like any open-air market in Indiana in the summertime." :eyes:

liars! LIARS! LIARS!!

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. You nailed it, Swamp Rat.

liars! LIARS! LIARS!

[Lasher]

2. Darn ungrateful Iraqis, always ruining our parades through the Green Zone!

He we take the time and trouble to kill a million of them, occupy their courntry, and steal their oil - and for what? Lord Vader can't even have one single uninterrupted lovefest without those annoying explosions, and now Lapdog Blair's farewell tour is ruined.

[Ghost in the Machine]

4. !!

:spray: