State orders flak jackets in Baghdad's Green Zone

[Barrett808]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

State orders flak jackets in Baghdad's Green Zone
By Mike Drummond | McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD — The dress code at the Blue Star restaurant inside Baghdad's Green Zone now calls for vest and hat.

Flak vest and Kevlar helmet, to be precise. And it's a good thing.

At least four mortar rounds hit inside the Green Zone about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, killing two Iraqi civilians, according to a U.S. soldier who could not speak for attribution because he's not authorized to talk to reporters.

Meanwhile, a State Department official, after initially denying that State had ordered its 1,000 Baghdad personnel to wear protective gear, said that a copy of the order obtained by McClatchy Newspapers was an undiscussable security breach.

Saturday's attack followed a barrage of up to 35 mortars and rockets that slammed into the Green Zone - considered the safest place in Baghdad - on Wednesday.

Recall that this story first broke on May 9th:

U.S. Embassy: Wear Flak Jackets, Helmets
U.S. Embassy Workers in Iraq Ordered to Put on Flak Vests, Helmets if Outdoors in Green Zone
By ROBERT H. REID Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD May 9, 2007 (AP)

A sharp increase in mortar attacks on the Green Zone the one-time oasis of security in Iraq's turbulent capital has prompted the U.S. Embassy to issue a strict new order telling all employees to wear flak vests and helmets while in unprotected buildings or whenever they are outside.

The order, obtained by The Associated Press, has created a siege mentality among U.S. staff inside the Green Zone following a recent suicide attack on parliament. It has also led to new fears about long-term safety in the place where the U.S. government is building a massive and expensive new embassy.

The situation marks a sharp turnaround for the heavily guarded Green Zone long viewed as the safest corner of Baghdad with its shops, restaurants, American fast-food outlets and key Iraqi and American government offices.

The security deterioration also holds dire implications for the Iraqi government, which uses the Green Zone as a haven for key meetings crucial to its ability to govern. On Wednesday, for example, Vice President Dick Cheney held meetings in the Green Zone with Iraq's prime minister.

(more)

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3155382

But officials later denied the report.



Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/17960.html

[aquart]

1. "Undiscussable security breach." Yup. They're wearing flak jackets.

So we can't protect the Green Zone now, either. Great surge.

[rodeodance]

3. hey--didn't you hear, this is 'undiscussable'

[saigon68]

8. "Freedom is on the March" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[jmowreader]

9. Obviously the new Iraqi constitution contains a Second Amendment

The Second Amendment to OUR constitution talks about a "well-regulated militia" and "the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

The Iraqis just took that amendment to its logical conclusion: "A well-regulated militia would have land mines and artillery, wouldn't it?"

[saigon68]

10. LOL

[dipsydoodle]

2. I like this bit

"Meanwhile, a State Department official, after initially denying that State had ordered its 1,000 Baghdad personnel to wear protective gear, said that a copy of the order obtained by McClatchy Newspapers was an undiscussable security breach."

Sounds like a quote from Francis Urquhart "You might think that : I couldn't possibly comment"

[uppityperson]

The security breach is that they are supposed to wear protective gear?

Yeah, like no one looking at them might notice, right? Or is security gear now so small that they can be hidden. Helicopters. I hope they have enough helicopters standing by. (viet nam reference)

[Contrary1]

5. Helicopters won't be necessary...

This president would rather have everyone in the Green Zone dead, than
to admit defeat and evacuate. That's just the kind of guy he is.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Where is McCain now? Does Pence still think it's like an Indiana summer markrtplace?

[jmowreader]

12. Remind me not to go to any Indiana summer marketplaces

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Thank God We're Winning

I'd really hate to see what losing looks like.

[Magleetis]

7. Yet

another reason to be optimistic about the situation in Iraq.

[KansDem]

11. Can't they just buy them from the vendors during one of their daily walks through the marketplace?

Isn't that how John got his?