3 Blasts in Iraq Seem to Be Aimed at U.S. Compound

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 4 — Three powerful explosions in rapid succession shook central Baghdad on Tuesday evening in what apparently was a mortar attack on the headquarters of the American civilian authorities here.

Iraqi witnesses standing near the gates said the explosions hit the sprawling, walled-in American compound about 7:45 p.m.

A spokeswoman for American military said Tuesday night that four people had been wounded, but she gave no details.

The witnesses said the mortar shells had come from a neighborhood north of the American headquarters and landed inside.

"I looked up and saw trails of white light, and then they exploded inside there," said Muhammad al-Mayehi, an Iraqi, pointing toward the offices of L. Paul Bremer III, the chief civilian administrator, and his staff.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/05/international/middleeast/05IRAQ.html?hp

Or is this the same attack as earlier today?
Time difference and all that.

Either it's the same attack, or 7:45 pm is 'bomb time' everyday

Start it at around 11 est, and expect the bombing reports to start rolling in about an hour later, just after the Scott Peterson trial coverage. It's getting about as predictable as the Weather channel's "the weather on the 8s."

Duh...ya think?

This headline really takes the journalistic pretention to objectivity to new levels of absurdity.

Headline Writer: Well, since we can't confirm the intention of those firing the shells, we can't really assert that they WERE aimed at the US compound, can we?

All People of Common Sense: No, I suppose you can't...(emit slow whistle here....)

for as long as the curfew remains suspended.

Of course, if the US attempts to reinstitute the curfew after Ramadan ends, there will be massive outcry, and a probable uprising in the city.

As far as strategies go, the guerillas who slapped this one together don't "seem" (as the NY Times would have it) to be stupid...

when you attack someone else?

Some idiots in government can't figure this simple thing out.

They are in charge now. I'm not surprised. Is anybody?

He says there have been "several" attacks.. The one yesterday scared the hell out of him.. He says it is not uncommon.. He sleeps in his flak jacket and helmet.. They never know when they will be attacked..

I emailed him yesterday after the attack that killed some people.. I was worried when I did not hear back from him right away, but he just emailed me a few minutes ago..whew!