Burst of blasts strikes Baghdad's Green Zone

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

updated

A barrage of about a dozen rockets struck near Baghdad's fortified Green Zone diplomatic and government compound on Sunday evening in what appeared to be one of the biggest strikes in weeks.

The rockets could be heard whistling past from the east of the Iraqi capital as they flew in the direction of the riverside compound and exploded, Reuters correspondents on the opposite river bank said.

The strikes took place during a heavy sandstorm. U.S. forces normally use helicopters to retaliate against fighters who target the Green Zone, but sandstorms prevent the helicopters from flying, letting fighters strike with impunity.

U.S. and Iraqi forces say Shi'ite militiamen have fired more than 700 rockets and mortars over the past month, many aimed at the Green Zone and most fired from the capital's Sadr City slum, stronghold of the Mehdi Army militia of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27352657.htm

[MissWaverly]

1. I believe Condi Rice's inflammatory remarks have not helped

by criticizing Al Sadr and accusing him of cowardice of hiding in Iran while his followers risk their lives is a double insult. The
truce by Al Sadr is what has made the last year a stand off in Iraq. What guidebook on diplomacy is she following?

[LiberalFighter]

3. Don't you know that she is the expert and has her own book?

[MissWaverly]

24. I heard no one will publish her Op Eds

there are certain individuals who are held accountable for BushCo, Gonzo was one and I think Condi is another.

[saigon68]

27. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[MissWaverly]

28. gee, too bad Bush is not a pastor

then the media would scrutinize every thing he says or does, even his hair, it's not
like he as president should be held accountable by the press, nah, what did Oprah
do wrong this week?

[saigon68]

30. The Corporate media wll not critique their own sock puppet

[Botany]

2. The surge is working only 700 attacks on the Green Zone in a month.

U.S. and Iraqi forces say Shi'ite militiamen have fired more than 700 rockets and mortars over the past month, many aimed at the Green Zone and most fired from the capital's Sadr City slum, stronghold of the Mehdi Army militia of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

[MissWaverly]

25. Yes, and bush is paying sunnis not to shoot us

91,000 are paid 13 mil a month, so who are these folks shooting at us, people that had a check delayed in the mail?

[maddezmom]

4. looks like at least 8 in Green Zone and 14 others in other parts of Baghdad

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, April 27 27 Apr 2008 16:36:25 GMT
Source: Reuters
April 27 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1630 GMT on Sunday.

* BAGHDAD - At least eight rockets or mortars struck the Green Zone fortified government and diplomatic compound in Baghdad in a volley launched under the cover of heavy dust storms, police said. At least 14 struck other parts of the capital, killing two people and wounding 18.

* BAGHDAD - The U.S. military announced the following incidents in Sadr city:

-- A helicopter fired a missile killing two fighters planting a roadside bomb late on Saturday.

-- A drone aircraft spotted two armed fighters and fired a rocket killing both late on Saturday

-- A helicopter killed one fighter planting a roadside bomb after midnight.

-- A helicopter killed a fighter who fired on U.S. troops on Sunday morning.

-- U.S. troops returned fire against a fighter who shot at them, killing him

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27171162.htm

[chill_wind]

5. And that is how we will eventually see the conclusion of this debacle, I'm predicting.

Images of helicopters on the embassy rooftop--rescuing thousand of terrified American occupiers-- diplomats, press corps, contractor business men-- from The Green Zone on international TV.

[chill_wind]

6. Already rec'd, but I'll kick. n/t

[bdamomma]

22. that Green Zone is not immuned from attacks

they want us to leave.

[cal04]

7. Baghdad Green Zone blasted under cover of storm

Militants bombarded Baghdad's Green Zone with rockets on Sunday, taking advantage of the cover of a blinding dust storm to launch one of the heaviest strikes in weeks on the fortified compound.

The strikes appeared to defy a renewed call for a ceasefire by Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, which has seen many of his masked gunmen leave the streets of the Sadr City slum where they hold sway in eastern Baghdad.

Reuters correspondents heard the missiles whistling overhead and exploding inside the heavily fortified government and diplomatic compound on the west side of the Tigris River in Baghdad. Sirens wailed, ordering people to take cover.

Iraqi police said eight missiles or mortars had hit the Green Zone and another 14 fell in other parts of the Iraqi capital before nightfall in several quick bursts, killing two people and wounding 20.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2008-04-27T190508Z_01_L04340788_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ.xml

[Bigmack]

8. Iraq Green Zone shelled amid sandstorm

Source: AP

Iraq Green Zone shelled amid sandstorm
By KIM GAMEL –
BAGHDAD (AP) — Suspected Shiite extremists hammered the U.S.-protected Green Zone Sunday in the fiercest salvo in weeks, apparently taking advantage of a sandstorm that blanketed the capital and grounded the American aircraft that normally prowl for launching teams.
Thunderous explosions resounded throughout the evening as rockets or mortar shells slammed into the heavily fortified area in central Baghdad.
Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, meanwhile, rejected terms set by the Iraqi government for lifting a crackdown against his Mahdi Army militia.
Sirens wailed in the Green Zone, which houses the U.S. Embassy and much of the Iraqi government on the west side of the Tigris River. The public address system warned people to "duck and cover" and stay away from windows.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed the area was hit by indirect fire, the military's term for rocket or mortar attacks, but said it had no immediate word on casualties.
The Green Zone has been regularly shelled since fighting broke out over a U.S.-backed government crackdown against militias that began in late March. At least four Americans, including two soldiers, have been killed in the attacks.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3oYeFwuWKCusr2jrojs98w8wD90ADOO00

---

All that technology and firepower... beaten by a sandstorm.

Damn.... the Green Zone is a mortar magnet.

[villager]

9. amid sandstorm... or shitstorm?

n/t

[hobbit709]

10. Shades of Dune

[SpiralHawk]

11. "Don't worry. I'm in charge. I'm the decider. Smirk." - Commander AWOL

"You know you can depend on me & VP Dickie 'Five Military Deferments' Cheney to do a heckuva job strategerizing and deciderizing. Smirk."

- Commander AWOL

[Trajan]

29. Now THERE is a name I haven't seen in a few years ...

Mo Paul .....

Damn ..... Wasnt he a Yahoo Chatter ? ... Religion Room ? ... Politics Lobby ? ....

Was MoPaul a DUer ?

[DesertRat]

12. Freedom's on the march

:eyes:

[mcollier]

13. The clock on the wall says its time to go!

Let's stop calling it the green zone... It should now be called: the central front in the war on the occupation...

Once we're out they can call it whatver they want because it's theirs, not ours...

[saigon68]

14. Time to spool up the engines

[Joanne98]

15. Baghdad Green Zone blasted under cover of storm

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Militants bombarded Baghdad's Green Zone with rockets on Sunday, taking advantage of the cover of a blinding dust storm to launch one of the heaviest strikes in weeks on the fortified compound.

The strikes appeared to defy a renewed call for a ceasefire by Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, which has seen many of his masked gunmen leave the streets of the Sadr City slum where they hold sway in eastern Baghdad.

Reuters correspondents heard the missiles whistling overhead and exploding inside the heavily fortified government and diplomatic compound on the west side of the Tigris River in Baghdad. Sirens wailed, ordering people to take cover.

Iraqi police said eight missiles or mortars had hit the Green Zone and another 14 fell in other parts of the Iraqi capital before nightfall in several quick bursts, killing two people and wounding 20.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0434078820080427

[rurallib]

16. Sounds like victory is at hand

BTW why are we still there if the 'war' ended 5 years ago?

[Faygo Kid]

17. It smells like victory. This is the "last throes," as it were.

Here's what Bush will do:

Attack Iran.

More tax cuts for the rich.

Meanwhile:

The Dems will sit on their fannies and wonder how to deal with the Rev. Wright situation.

George Stephanopolous will turn to Sean Hannity for advice.

In other words, business as usual.

[TeeYiYi]

19. We've certainly turned the corner NOW! . . .

TYY

[KoKo]

18. I' ve not seen ONE REPORT OF THIS...after watching CNN/Blitzer this a.m. and

in and out checking MSNBC/Faux News. It's a DEAD story. No war coverage......it's dead...gone and with it the PEACE ACTIVISTS who have been working against BUSH WARS...and CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY!

Don't Cover it...and it doesn't exist...according to the "McCorporate Media" lack of coverage.

SHHHHH! There's a war on...but there's an ELECTION IN PROGRESS...Don't Ask...don't tell. :-( This is our Democratic Party...(I don't expect anything else from the Repugs.)

[saigon68]

20. I see the Good Reverend Wright on every channel again

They even shade the bad video to make him look blacker and they seem to speed up the video to make him look more like a lunatic.

[bdamomma]

23. sickening media

they have nothing else to focus on. Sad, the media is nothing but an enabler for this thuggish regime we have. Just pure propaganda.

[saigon68]

26. Yes and Today is another "Wright Fest"

[formercia]

21. That's what they get for showing Predator footage for PR

Once the insurgents saw how vulnerable they were from above, even in darkness, they figured a way around it.