British diplomats survive Baghdad bombing

[bemildred]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A convoy of British diplomats and guards was blasted by a roadside bomb in western Baghdad on Thursday but the British embassy said no one was injured.

"An incident occurred this morning involving British embassy personnel travelling outside the International Zone," an embassy spokesman said in a statement. "There were no injuries."

Iraqi police sources said two people were hurt in the attack in the Mansour district. It is close to the International Zone, better known as the Green Zone, a fortified area that houses the British and U.S. embassies and much of the Iraqi government.

Diplomats move around the rest of Baghdad only with heavy security. Maintaining contacts with senior Iraqi politicians and officials, as well as other embassies, does mean travelling outside the Green Zone.

Reuters

[saigon68]

1. Diplomats move around the rest of Baghdad only with heavy security

FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH

[bemildred]

2. Heavy insecurity, I would say. nt

[saigon68]

3. Blackwater security

Very Very Expensive

Sometimes leading to a Rose Petal parade

[daleo]

6. The latest Harper's has an interesting article

It is by a recent Oxford graduate who was hired by a U.S. propaganda firm for the summer of 2005. His description of the experience is fascinating, especially:
- the surreal nature of trips outside the Green Zone.
- the rampant corruption of both the foreigners and the Iraqis that assist them.
- the falsification and manipulation of the "news" from Iraq.
- the waste of U.S. tax dollars.
- the general levels of cynicism among all the participants.

[woodsprite]

4. Hmmm. Were those diplomats any of the people

who want Tony out of office? Maybe it was a botched attempt to eliminate the opponents. Just my first thought though. I need to read more.

[wellst0nev0ter]

5. Gee, Reminds Me Of Philadelphia

In case you didn't know, apparently serving in Eye-Rack is safer than living in inner-city Philadelphia -- IF you massage the numbers and disregard the fact that a small percentage of the troops operate outside the bases on a regular basis.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082500940_pf.html