Iraq: rockets or mortars hit Green Zone

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

A series of rockets or mortars were fired toward the U.S.-protected Green Zone early Saturday, a day after radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mahdi Army militia fighters to cease attacks for another six months.

Nearly 10 blasts were heard in the sprawling area in central Baghdad starting about 6:15 a.m., and the U.S. public address system there warned people to "duck and cover" and to stay away from windows.

Maj. Brad Leighton, a U.S. military spokesman, confirmed the Green Zone was hit by indirect fire, the military's term for a rocket or mortar attack, but could not immediately provide more details.

The U.S. military blamed what it calls Iranian-backed Shiite militias for a series of deadly rocket attacks in Baghdad earlier this week, including one against U.S. outposts in Baghdad that wounded three American soldiers.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_green_zone

[gateley]

1. What the fuck are we still doing there? And what the fuck have we done to

that country?

[xchrom]

2. do we have a surge -- or do they have a surge?

i keep forgetting.

[sabra]

3. Iraq: rockets or mortars hit Green Zone

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - A series of rockets or mortars were fired toward the U.S.-protected Green Zone early Saturday, a day after radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mahdi Army militia fighters to cease attacks for another six months.

Nearly 10 blasts were heard in the sprawling area in central Baghdad starting about 6:15 a.m., and the U.S. public address system there warned people to "duck and cover" and to stay away from windows.

Maj. Brad Leighton, a U.S. military spokesman, confirmed the Green Zone was hit by indirect fire, the military's term for a rocket or mortar attack, but could not immediately provide more details.

The U.S. military blamed what it calls Iranian-backed Shiite militias for a series of deadly rocket attacks in Baghdad earlier this week, including one against U.S. outposts in Baghdad that wounded three American soldiers.

Another struck Camp Victory, the main U.S. military headquarters, and an Iraqi housing complex on the capital's southwestern outskirts on Monday, killing at least five people and wounding 16, including two U.S. soldiers.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_green_zone;_ylt=Ah77s1MPgSQkVZHpTDqfBzus0NUE

[Mnemosyne]

4. Yep, looking better over there all the time! n/t

[tularetom]

5. When I read that al Sadr had extended the cease fire for six months

I wondered how long he was going to be able to hold back the hotheads.

Looks like it wasn't very long.

[xchrom]

6. didn't they get the ''we gotta surge.'' memo?

[jeff30997]

7. Camp Victory ?

Is that optimistic or just plain ridiculous?

[NanceGreggs]

8. Is this that legendary corner ...

... we were told would someday be turned?

[maddezmom]

9. Green Zone targeted in morning attack By JOHN AFFLECK, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD - Rockets or mortars hit the U.S.-protected Green Zone early Saturday, just a day after powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mahdi Army militia to extend its cease-fire by another six months.

Starting about 6:15 a.m., nearly 10 blasts could be heard in the sprawling area along the Tigris River that houses the U.S. and British embassies, the Iraqi government headquarters and thousands of American troops.

Maj. Brad Leighton, a U.S. military spokesman, confirmed the Green Zone was hit by indirect fire — the military's term for a rocket or mortar attack — but could not immediately provide more details.

It was the fourth time this week that U.S. outposts in Baghdad appeared to be the targets of rocket or mortar attacks, killing at least six people and wounding both Iraqis and Americans, including at least two U.S. troops.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=Am3TvZuF868BbALOOJB4_EGs0NUE