Two killed in Iraq green zone

Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:52 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, Security

From NBC's Libby Leist
The State Department confirms that two U.S. citizens have died in Iraq this week from indirect fire by rocket and mortar attacks in the Green Zone.

The first person, a contractor for the US Army, died on Monday, March 24, and this afternoon, we have confirmation that another U.S. citizen has died from the latest round of fire.

The State Department says of this latest death "no further details, pending notification of next of kin."

*** UPDATE *** The Iraqi government has ordered a full (24 hours per day) curfew for Baghdad through Sunday. While curfews have been the norm over the past three years, this is the first curfew in Baghdad since mid-January.

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Comments

Send Obama over to take a look, he has done nothing to about this disaster! He needs to take a vacation oh no I am sorry "a long weekend" to see the IRAQ WAR UP CLOSE!
IT IS THE WRIGHT THING TO DO!

GET THE WRIHGT EXPERIENCE (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:00 PM)

Send Obama over to take a look, he has done nothing to about this disaster! He needs to take a vacation oh no I am sorry "a long weekend" to see the IRAQ WAR UP CLOSE!
IT IS THE WRIGHT THING TO DO!

GET THE WRIHGT EXPERIENCE (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:01 PM)

I don't think this should be a surprise. After all, as you can read in the news, the insurgency is returning after the surge started to draw down. What is more troubling is the fact that fireband cleric Al Sadr has now decided to wage war and retake the Baghdad suburb.
It is a serious understatement to say that the Green Zone is safe; terrorists will certainly strike anywhere and undo whatever little progress has been made. That is why I thought McCain's claim that the war is progressing is null and void. The war simply is worthless.

Bull the Dog (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:05 PM)

Hillary voted for this disastrous war.
Hillary Rodham Clinton Flip-Flops on Iraq
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dFmTAPmrbo

Banko (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:06 PM)

Yeppers the surge is REALLY WORKING isn't it?
Bring the damned troops home NOW!

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:10 PM)

Chuck , these are the things undecideds need to hear being discussed. The Rev Wright crap that the candidate didn't say himself is of no consequence to me. move on,this is becoming tabloid now, thought it was just Fox news but MSNBC this morning had more "Wright Stuff". We want to hear the ISSUES!! We're not voting for Wright.

Stacey, MN (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:12 PM)

my grandson is there right now.Cheny calls him a volunteer.I call Cheney a s-- of a b--ch devil and his smirky beady eyed boss worse than that.Nancy Pelosi will go down in history as the first and worst speaker of the house.She couldn't wait to get that office and take impeachment off the table.I hope all the money her family is making in this war gets lost in the recession.As for Mccain--get lost.Obama too racist and too whiney.Hillary is tought and is still standing with all the hate coming from her own party plus the republicans.I remember in New Hampshire the veterans families were voting and working for her because of all the things she had done for the veterans.She will stay in it until the end and so will we.It is now on line the amounts of money that Obama has taken from the hedge fund donors,the pharmacuetical cos.and all those corrupted big companies that he vows he never took a dime.He is also a liar.

Nobama (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:13 PM)

ps----those that blame the entire war on Hillary need to look at the rest of congress--also watch Bushs War shown on PBS-----listen to the lies that Powell was forded to feed the public---

Nobama (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:15 PM)

John McCain, Hillary Clinton and GWB HEAR THIS:

YOU are responsible for this!!

YOU sent our loved ones into WAR!!

I blame EACH OF YOU!!!!

NO MORE WAR!!!!

FOOLS!

Obama 08

Jessica (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:18 PM)

GET THE WRIHGT EXPERIENCE said: (which I assume is SUPPOSED to be "WriGHt")

"Send Obama over to take a look, he has done nothing to about this disaster! He needs to take a vacation oh no I am sorry "a long weekend" to see the IRAQ WAR UP CLOSE!
IT IS THE WRIGHT THING TO DO!"
*****************************************************

Yes - because he doesn't understand the war. Is that your feeble argument?

Obama didn't vote for the war - the other two candidates DID.

Obama opposed it from the start - opposed the notion of "nation-building". The other two candidates put their seal-of-approval on the Bush theory of foreign policy: "bomb them till the love us".

So, pray tell, how would visiting Iraq help the troops? What would help the troops is getting a president who FUNDS them properly. Who takes CARE of them when they return with injuries - physical OR mental. Who honors our troops by more than just wearing a lapel-pin.

Read a book.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:19 PM)

4002 - How sad. How many dead, and maimed, Iraqi women and children are also casulties of this awful war? Do we want to know? Do we care?

Condolences to all these families.

We must get out of Iraq!!!

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:19 PM)

Funny thing how all this blew up just after the Dick Cheney's visit, hmmmmmmm?

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:19 PM)

Nobama Yes the bushies lied about Iraq. HRC bought the lies hook, line, and, sinker. Her refusal to apologize for her vote speaks volumes about her lack of priciples and opportunism.

Bill Rochester NY (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:20 PM)

On another subject... Have you noticed the difference between the "big problems" being experienced by Clinton and those of Obama? Obama's problems are caused by associates but Clinton's problems come right out of her mouth.

Keith in PA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:20 PM)

Send Obama over to take a look, he has done nothing to about this disaster! He needs to take a vacation oh no I am sorry "a long weekend" to see the IRAQ WAR UP CLOSE! IT IS THE WRIGHT THING TO DO!
GET THE WRIHGT EXPERIENCE (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:00 PM):

Why should Obama go over. He is going to bring us home. Why don't you send McCain over. He is the one saying the surge is working. In fact, why don't you go with him and you two keep a permanent vacation over there. We'll miss you, not!

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:23 PM)

Nobama,
What has is all this stuff Hillary has done for the veterans? What?

We know that now we have to request specifics because we've seen how infrequently the facts actually back up the claims.

Just Wondering (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:25 PM)

Obama.

Only hope.

New vision.

We need drastic foreign policy changes.

Obama has the answers.

Ron, TX (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:25 PM)

Sen. Chuck Hagel says that there were 'misrepresentations' leading up to the Iraq War

Why doesn't anybody else have the courage to say this ?

I think Ron Paul (bless his heart) has said as much

Time for OBama to tell the truth:
George Bush LIED ABOUT WMDs
Geroge Bush LIED US INTO the IRAQ WAR

... and Klinton and McCain 'enabled' this LIAR !!

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:28 PM)

Newsflash! Obama was not in the Senate when the war vote went down.

And for those of you who believe he would have voted against the war, give me a break. He has said that he doesn't know how he would have voted had he had the same information as the US Senators! Do a youtube search for Obama on Iraq and see for yourselves. So, his argument about being against the war from the start is shaky, at best.

Oh wait...I was against the war from the start...does that mean I'm qualified to be President?!?

Jill F., Tulsa, OK (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:32 PM)

And John McWar wants to "help" the American economy by spending 12 BILLION dollars a MONTH in Iraq for the next 100 years! He wasn't kidding when he said he didn't know much about the economy! End this war and bring the money back home to help American's.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:32 PM)

Hillary voted for this war!!!!!!

McCain does not have a clue when he says the surge is working. Working against who?

Let's get permission from the families first. But then let's film with respect and honor the return of our soldier's flag covered coffins as they arrive home and make sure every single event is placed on the nightly news. And then lets see just how long those who support this chaos and no-win policing action where our troopers are sitting targets continue to support the McCain doctrine and give Hillary a pass for voting for this war.

By the way McCain and Hillary....where is Bin Laden?

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:32 PM)

This abominable blunder has never been worth one drop of American blood. May God protect, comfort and bless our troops - and may God and the American public hold to account those responsible! Enough is enough! NO MORE WARMONGERING PROFITEERS!!

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:34 PM)

There are three people dead in the green zone get your story straight. Did you forget to mention the wounded? Such stupid reporting. You forgot to mention the Basar dead, oh thats right they are only civilians read 100 then 200. And Bush said today that this is good news. Who cares about Wright. I don't. I do care about the Iraqs that are suffering and dieing. Your news on the candidates turned to smut, just like Fox.

VI WI (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:35 PM)

Amen First Read. This is what should be covered instead of did Sen. Obama eat tacos or did Sen. Clinton kiss some babies today. I know that Iraq isn't as sexy as the ongoing Democratic nomination but this should have priority. Iraq has been given very little coverage and the press has not done their jobs. Iraq should be front and center until all of our boys (and girls) are brought home. I am sick of the ever-changing rationale for the war and I am just plain sick of the arrogance of the Bush administration. McCain states that the surge (read: escalation of troops) is working. It is not! At everyone of Mr. McCain's rallies someone needs to ask him to define success. Every well planned military strategy (or any sane strategy for that matter) has a beginning, middle, and ending. What is the ending Mr. McCain? What are your metrics for success? He nor Bush have a plan and they are playing games with our soldiers' lives. There is no way that McCain should be allowed anywhere near 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Sen. Obama will annihilate this man in the General Election. If people really want an end to this stupid war and vote for McCain then we get what we deserve.

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:38 PM)

"War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone.... Before man was, War waited for him." (Cormac McCarthy)

It's crappy reality, but we have no choice but to stick it out, unless we want to watch a civil war and ethnic cleansing that will make the current casualty figures look pretty good.

It sucks that we're in Iraq, but there's no way to change the past. We have two choices. Stay or Go. One will likely spur the death of hundreds of thousands of people. The other will mean comparatively small casualties and moderate inconvenience for the most priveleged citizens on the planet. I think innocent lives are worth our inconvenience. After all, the phrase, "Freedom isn't free." Doesn't just mean die to defend your freedom. It means SO much more. It means that we have to sacrafice for those who aren't free. I'm not going to be so cliche as to actually write the Spiderman line, but you KNOW what I'm talking about. I give you my word as a fighter who believes in his cause, if you COULD ONLY SEE what we've done for those people. The media only shows you the bad, because you're more likely to click on it or not change the channel, (which is mind-boggling, but sadly true). There's SO MUCH GOOD, and a huge chunk of it comes from contractors like these who lost their lives. Civilians, mind you, with a CHOICE to be there.

I know it's hard to believe, and if you don't believe me, well then I don't know what else to say.

It'd be nice, Obama, to pretend we hadn't gone to Iraq. But it doesn't matter what would HAVE been nice. It doesn't matter would you WOULD have voted, or what argument you DID SUPPORT. It's your opinion NOW and in the future that matter, and withdrawal is a mistake.

And Hillary ... well ... skl;djf[qiebfr iepfinkn. Pretty Much. Actually, you could probably even spin gibberish, couldn't you?

Soldier Not Blinded (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:39 PM)

And this is what "success" looks like to John McCain. He ought to get himself a pair of glasses. After FIVE years of war, not even the heavily fortified Green Zone is safe from attack.

Good thing for McCain that he's got "credibility" in the bank, as Chuck Todd asserted, so few in the press will dare question whether Iraq is the glorious success McCain is hyping it to be.

I'll believe the Iraq war is "won" when McCain himself can stroll through that market again, but this time, without the bullet-proof vest, the helicopter gunships overhead, and US army snipers on the roof. I wonder when he thinks that might be?

Houston (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:42 PM)

And according to Bush/McCain/Cheney things are going just fine in Iraq. Al Qaeda is on the run! But wait! This latest battle is between the Iraqi government and Iraqi's who don't support that government. In other words, a civil war. But Bush and Co. keep pushing the 9/11 connection, warning of Al Qaeda. The Bushies will say and do anything to keep from admitting the complete and utter failure of their insane policy to democratize Iraq and the Middle East. And their nasty, devasting war will go on and on and on....Bush's Legacy: Unending war and a U.S. economy unable to pay for it except with the lives of our children.

R.Merrell (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:43 PM)

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the slain.

Perhaps their families should send a thank you note to Barack Obama for his steadfast opposition to the war; his voting against funding, his demand for a timetable for withdrawal, and his entering legislation to make the US military presence in Iraq a felony as part of his strident call to end the war. Oh wait...he didn't do that. Whoops! I misspoke. At least he was against the war when he wasn't in the Senate and it didn't matter.

But at least he plans to remove 1-2 brigades a month...oh wait, that was Bill Richardson's idea which Hillary adopted in January. That must be part of Obama's "I agree with Senator Clinton" agenda. My mistake.

Shtuey (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:43 PM)

Democrats!! This should be a wake up call. We need each other's support to end this war so no more soldiers are killed. I support Obama right now, but will vote for Hillary is she is the nominee. There is too much at stake this election for us to vote for McCain out of spite!!!

Myra, Indiana (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:43 PM)

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:47 PM)

As we go to the polls to vote in November, I hope you all take care to consider how your Senators and Congressmen and women voted back in 2002.

It's a disgrace that only a handful of people stood up to Bush and Cheney.

It wasn't enough.

Please, if we want change then we have to do our part as citizens. Bring smarter people to DC, not just people who rubber stamp every Administration's wish.

We need people in DC who have some backbone and who will INVESTIGATE EVERY SIDE OF AN ISSUE before casting importants votes.

Our children & grandchildren's futures depend on it.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:47 PM)

This nation building effort is foolishness. Waste of tax payer money and pointless loss of life. These people have been fighting for centuries. Mr. McCain as it is obvious we can not grasp the vastness of your wisdom, please elaborate on 'the end game' in this protracted conflict. I know I probably won't be around in 95 years but i'm curious....are we going for like a Hard Rock Bagdad or what? What is enough?

Mr. McCain I don't get it... (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:51 PM)

People - Write your congressmen!!!!
We want out now!!!!!!

Explosions in the Green Zone where we should have trusted MCCAIN and CHENEY and Petraues who says it is SAFE?

Time to get out now. While you spend time typing here do the right thing and contact the people in charge of the budget and the finance. CONGRESS

Freeman Female, Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:53 PM)

I blame Bill Clinton for 8 years of failed diplomacy.

Hillary (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:54 PM)

Why don't you ever have Thomas "Pottery Barn" Friedman on MSNBC anymore? I would love to hear his opinion on the election and the surge.

Idaho (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:57 PM)

We need people in DC who have some backbone and who will INVESTIGATE EVERY SIDE OF AN ISSUE before casting important votes.

Our children & grand children's futures depend on it.
Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:47 PM
-----------------------------------------------
And the complicit MEDIA have to do the WRIGHT thing.
You were blasted with lies about the war on every Boston TV station and every Boston Newspaper! THAT'S WRIGHT! They are the best distorter's of truth, the media! WE can not trust government or media, we are adrift, and way far WRIGHT! AND DAM PASTORS ARE SUSPECT TOO!

ASK A MILLION QUESTIONS!! (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:58 PM)

Did anyone see Frontline's "Bush's War"? I couldn't believe the lack of thought that went into the invasion of Iraq. I have never liked the Bush administration but even I was stunned by the incompetency exhibed at the highest levels of our government. If Obama is anything, he is a thoughtful man who would not be as blinded by ideology as Rumsfeld/Cheney etc were. I am all for letting him have a go at it. I am especially encouraged by how many generals are backing him.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:59 PM)

ASK A MILLION QUESTIONS!! (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:59 PM)

I wonder how long it will take the Republicans to figure out the only beneficiary of this entire Iraq adventure on our part will be Iran.

We can't prevent that. We can only delay it. And at a cost of how many billion a month now?
Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:47 PM)
-------------------------------
275 MILLION A DAY!

HP Boston (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:00 PM)

Libs yelled about how Maliki wouldn't fight for his own country against Shiite extremist but then when he cracks down on the Shiite extremist they complain about that too. The extremist aren't going to lay down and wait to get killed, they will try to fight back and kill Americans but that doesn't mean America has no business there. Prior to 911 Shiite extremist killed more Americans than did Al-Qaeda and all other Sunni extremist combined. It's good to see the War On Terror finally get around to the Shiites.

toby hill, tx (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:01 PM)

Dick and George should go they started it.

scott wells, evanston, il (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:03 PM)

What if...back when all this hogwash from the Bush administration started, what if Cheney and his henchmen had put their puppet "W" up on TV to say to us: "Hey, how about we go over to Iraq in order to bring freedom and democracy to that nation"? Does anyone truly believe that the American people would have jumped on THAT bandwagon? It simply amazes me that after FIVE years of ABSOLUTELY NEEDLESS suffering and death on all sides that anybody can make the argument that we need to stay in Iraq for even one more day. I'm as much for "freedom and democracy" as the next rational person, but if that had been the argument from the get go, it never would have happened and we all know it.

Kaye,NC (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:05 PM)

Hey shtuey

Your Girl Billary didn't even READ the NIT!!!! So she either sent us into this embarrassing travesty because she AGREED that it was the right thing to do, or she was too stupid to even read it and just went long with it.

Which one is it Shtuey?

She flip flops about it all the time, never apologizing for her vote or admitting it was wrong, yet kind of saying she was "briefed" about it but didn't really read it and was "tricked" into it?

The BIGGEST vote of her life and she either got it TOTALLY wrong, or she didn't take it seriously and got TRICKED.

Either way is just PATHETIC and if you can honestly say that you TRUST this woman you are just as foolish and ignorant as she thinks you are.

DUH

FOOLS!!!!!

Jessica (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:07 PM)

-----------------------------------------------
And the complicit MEDIA have to do the WRIGHT thing.
You were blasted with lies about the war on every Boston TV station and every Boston Newspaper! THAT'S WRIGHT! They are the best distorter's of truth, the media! WE can not trust government or media, we are adrift, and way far WRIGHT! AND DAM PASTORS ARE SUSPECT TOO!

ASK A MILLION QUESTIONS!! (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:59 PM)
*****************************************************
Geez. Obsess much? We get it. You don't like Rev. Wright. Let it go my friend. Let it go.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:07 PM)

Here's the plan for George W. Bush:

Impeach him
Remove him from office
Prosecute him criminally
Send him to prison for the rest of his wretched days

Tom in California (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:07 PM)

This is not a newsflash!

In October 2002, BEFORE being elected to the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama made a speech opposing the Bush Administration's plan to go to war in Iraq because he felt it was an ill-conceived venture which would "require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undermined cost, with undetermined consequences."

Get your facts! http://obama.senate.gov/issues

Nicky, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:12 PM)

I love how everyone says its republicans' fault we're there.

My favorite is, "I wonder how long it will take the Republicans to figure out the only beneficiary of this entire Iraq adventure on our part will be Iran." by HP Boston

The Democratic majority in Congress could have ended this war by now. And back when Republicans controlled Congress, more Democrats voted IN FAVOR of invasion than voted against it.

Why don't you take some responsibility for your elected representatives, HP? The President is not a representative. That's why an electoral college, not the popular vote, is the ultimate decision maker. It's not his job to support the majority opinion, it's to follow personal convictions. If they're flaws convictions, so be it, but don't put all the blame on one party just because it makes you feel more detatched from something you don't support.

EJ, Florida (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:18 PM)

Obama's main stump speech is that Hillary voted for the authorization to go to war. Tom Daschel, Patrick Kennedy, John Kerry, Chris Dodd, Ben Nelson, Ron Kind, should I go on? What do these people have in common? Voted for the war and support Obama. Poor judgement??

Rose, clearwater (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:24 PM)

Now that some of the Shiite militias have decided to end their cease fire, will the fragile coalitions with Sunni groups in Al Anbar also fall apart?

Did anyone notice what color glasses Cheney was wearing on his recent visit?

Mel, Illinois (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:25 PM)

Couldn't we fix a lot of our problems with 275 million a day? This would go along way paying off our deficit and helping the poor in our own country.

Brother Odd (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 3:31 PM)

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