Mortar rounds slam into Green Zone and central street in Baghdad

Source: IHT/AP

BAGHDAD: Mortar rounds slammed into the U.S.-controlled Green Zone on Tuesday and a central Baghdad street being reopened to the public, officials said. At least four people were injured, all of them on the central street, officials said.

The attack occurred just before 4 p.m., with at least two rounds exploding in the Green Zone and two others across the Tigris River on Abu Nawas Street, police said.

The Iraqi government has recently announced plans to reopen the street, known for its fish markets and riverside restaurants, before the U.S.-led invasion of March 2003.

The U.S. Embassy confirmed explosions in the Green Zone but said no casualties were immediately reported.

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/15/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Explosions.php

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The subtext here is that the perps no longer fear counterfire.

Also there is this story:

Four people killed in mortar barrage on Baghdad residential area

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200705/15/eng20070515_374869.html

I'm curious...

Mortar attacks on the Green Zone have become more regular, blatant, and accurate. The story about how the denizens of the GZ are angry at the lack of protection testifies to the same thing. Now, for that to be so, the perps have to feel more confident in planning and carrying out their attacks, they are getting closer, firing more shells before moving, e.g. 4 instead of 2 here, and taking more time to prepare their attacks. All of those testify to a reduced concern with counterfire, which when rapid and accurate leaves little time to fool around after an attack. One can infer also that there is less fear of being spotted and targeted when preparing an attack. We seem to be getting more daylight attacks, too.

Why that is so is a different question, and I could only speculate. Reduced air cover and air support come to mind, more mortar teams in the area, lack of counterfire batteries, changes in rules of engagement. It's hard to say out here in TV land.

Counterfire would only destroy a neighborhood and not get the mortar.

Problems of fighting in a huge urban area.

But the oil fields are secure for the Bush cabal so all is well.

Although I do believe they used to fire at these bozos sometimes, with artillery or helicopters. It could also be that the perps are getting closer than they used to, which leads back to lack of boots on the ground.

they've completely suspended their normal operations in order to launch this massive search for the missing troops. The interviewer asked if this wouldn't put more troops in harms way, and the general was completely dumbfounded.

Exactly the sort of thing you get when things are governed by political considerations, not military ones. The need to avert media coverage of US troops captive and being abused overrides everything else. It doesn't fit in with the Bushite dick-waving image.

I think they're totally incompetent.

But I think part of the incompetence comes from there being nothing but career political hacks left in the officer corps.

It seems that the bushies would rather it appear that the Green Zone is safe. I'm looking for the link.
And here it is.

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070515/NEWS07/705150361/1009/NEWS07

<snip>

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. Embassy employees in Iraq are growing increasingly angry over what they say are inadequate security precautions in the heavily fortified Green Zone, where recent mortar and rocket attacks have claimed the lives of six people, including two U.S. citizens.

In spite of the attacks, embassy employees complain, most staff members sleep in trailers that one described as tin cans that offer virtually no protection from rocket and mortar fire. The government has refused to harden the roofs because of the cost, one employee said.

A second official called it "criminally negligent" not to reduce the size of the embassy staff, which a year ago was estimated at 1,000, in the face of the increasing attacks and blamed the administration's failure to respond on concerns that doing so might undermine support for President George W. Bush's Iraq policy.

"What responsible person and responsible government would ask you to put yourself at risk like that? We don't belong here," the employee said, adding that "they're not going to send us home because it's going to be another admission of failure."

Embassy employees have been ordered not to talk about security concerns or precautions with reporters, but three State Department employees in Baghdad discussed the issue with McClatchy Newspapers. All three asked not to be identified for fear for their jobs.

One mortar attack at a time.

I don't know where they will find 5000 sitting ducks but that is their plan.