Mortar Blasts Hit Central Baghdad

[cal04]

Several loud mortar blasts shook central Baghdad late Thursday and a plume of smoke rose close to the Sheraton and Palestine hotels, a guarded complex that houses many journalists and foreign contractors.



Reuters correspondents based close to the compound heard at least three explosions, followed by automatic gunfire, at about 11:15 p.m.


Journalists inside the compound said by telephone that at least two mortar rounds landed nearby, adding that nobody was hurt in the attack.


Followers of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr shot down a U.S. helicopter and fought British troops in south Iraq (news - web sites) Thursday in clashes that threatened to reignite a Shi'ite uprising.
Sunni Muslim insurgents have also shown little let up in their fight against U.S.-led occupation forces in Iraq.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=3&u=/nm/20040805/ts_nm/iraq_mortars_dc

[chelsea0011]

1. We've turned the corner

and we are screwed

[schultzee]

5. These articles say the Russians are going to help* and then

we will probably lose the election to the moron.

Two articles from Information Clearing House that are
> from the Asia times. They are predicting that Russia will
> come to help out Bush with that mess in Fallujah, and
> thus help Bush win the 2004 election. I hope this
> prediction is wrong.
>
> When Grozny comes to Fallujah:
>
> Do not be surprised to see three or four divisions of the
> Russian army in the
> Sunni triangle before year-end, with an announcement just
> prior to the US
> presidential election in November.
> http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6625.htm
>
> Careful what you Bush for :
>
> Two predictions: 1) George W Bush will win a second term
> as president of the
> United States. 2) He will be sorry he did.
> http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6624.htm
>
>

[SodoffBush]

2. How long before helos are evacuating the Sheraton

from the rooftops?

[Alpharetta]

3. surprising there haven't been more attacks with more effective results

For our troops' sakes, I'm glad the use of mortars has not been like this article predicted.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/9322387.htm

The article that says the range of the Iraq mortars (5 miles) and thousands of Iraqi infantry well trained in their use in most of Iraq's recent wars.

[leftchick]

4. perhps they are waiting for just the right time to use them?

Like maybe the Repuke National Convention? Not that it would be reported here during the 24/7 aWol* love fest.