U.S. Suspends ‘Land Travel’ Outside The Green Zone For Civilian And Diplomatic Officials
U.S. Suspends ‘Land Travel’ Outside The Green Zone For Civilian And Diplomatic Officials
Today, the United States “suspended all land travel by U.S. diplomats and other civilian officials throughout Iraq, except in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone.”
The move comes days after Blackwater USA was “allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of civilians during an attack on a U.S. State Department motorcade.” From the State Department’s notice:
In light of a serious security incident involving a U.S. embassy protective detail in the Mansour District of Baghdad, the embassy has suspended official U.S. government civilian ground movements outside the International Zone (IZ) and throughout Iraq. [...]
This suspension is in effect in order to assess mission security and procedures, as well as a possible increased threat to personnel traveling with security details outside the International Zone.
In March, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) claimed, “There are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods, today.” Since that time, according to the Bush administration, the situation in Iraq has dramatically improved. Last week, Gen. David Petraeus and President Bush touted “security gains” in Baghdad.
Yet violence has actually risen since the President’s escalation in January. The situation in Iraq is more dangerous for diplomats as well. The 1,000 State Department employees in Iraq are now required to wear “protective gear,” as attacks have increased within the Green Zone.
U.S. diplomats are also returning from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder and other “debilitating, stress-related symptoms that have afflicted many U.S. troops.”
So much for leisurely strolls through Baghdad markets.
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47 Responses to “U.S. Suspends ‘Land Travel’ Outside The Green Zone For Civilian And Diplomatic Officials”
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Sounds like that "surge" is doing a bang-up job...
September 18th, 2007 at 10:12 pmMcCain and the GOP war mongers will have to really rotate to spin this bad news. One has to believe this "directive" has been in place for quite a while--when the President has to sneak in and out of his quagmire--it is a to claim things are "improving." I am becoming sick of seeing fully armed US soldiers kicking in Iraqi doors in the name of spreading democracy.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:13 pmI'm waiting for Rep. Boehner to introduce legislation authorizing Bush to declare Iraq in "a state of Mulligan" thereby allowing a total redo. Yanno, except for the squandered life and limb.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:14 pmGreat new comment system.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:15 pmI don't like the rate of Return on Success we're getting.
Did Bush and Petraeus try to sucker us into a subprime mortgage?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:21 pmOne of the things I hate most about this administration is that the constant flow of lies and manipulation have stripped me of my ability to remain rational and sane. Sometimes I have to pull my tin foil hat down extra tight.
Could this be a precursor to some kind of engagement with Iran? Battening down the hatches, so to speak?
There, I said it. I'm a freak.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:23 pmYeah, but they sure put on the world's most awe inspiring dog and pony show ever seen in the Green Zone. Why would anybody want to leave?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:37 pmAnymore evidence needed that the Surge is a complete failure and the biggest farce from these idiots in Washington?....Didn't think so.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:41 pmThanks Blackwater! And thanks Bush for staffing our war with 180,000 private contractors since our military didn't have the resources to carry out your illegal war. This reminds me of PBS's Frontline: Private Warriors. Crooked policies bring crooked results... If only Bush understood the horrific calamity he's caused... and for what?
September 18th, 2007 at 10:50 pmIf this is what success or winning looks like....
September 18th, 2007 at 10:51 pmLuvin the new comment system. Where's all the trolls? LOL
September 18th, 2007 at 10:53 pmWell, Petreaus did report "mixed progress." Unfortunately, he didn't mention that it was mixed with 3 parts failure.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:54 pmBush didn't directly cause this, it was indirect due to his lack of skills as a leader, and lack of intelligence.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:59 pmWhy would anyone want to travel outside of the 'Forbidden Zone'?
I've seen this movie before.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:02 pmEven the Iraqis don't want GOP photo ops in their neighborhoods.
What a proud moment in history to be an American!
Is it 2009 yet?
PEACE
September 18th, 2007 at 11:03 pmSo let me get this straight:
September 18th, 2007 at 11:10 pmThe surge is a failure despite what McCain and Graham say.
The mercenaries are not able to protect officials.
We supported Shiites last week and Sunnis this week.
We are supplying arms and money to warlords who were shooting at us last month. Isn't it obvious we don't know what we're doing?
The boy-king and his minions continue to spin the truth, keeping us in the dark with aid from their friends in the media.
Yet, the war drums for striking Iran are getting louder.
They'd better stock up on extra lobster tortellini and champagne in the Green Zone. I wouldn't want them to starve to death in their enforced isolation.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:11 pmInstead, "strolling leisurely though the thriving and colorful open air markets" is now the mandatory mode of transportation for all State Department staff.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:18 pmIraqi government is determined to throw out all the Blackwater mercenary contractors, so this has caused a major lock down for US officials and members of Congress.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:25 pmYe Gods, who wants 160,000 PLUS psychotic, gun-toting, UNEMPLOYED mercs wandering around this country w/ nothing to do?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:37 pmOh hell yeah, things are going GREAT in Iraq -- in the Green Zone....sorta.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:45 pmTP...Faiz, thanks for the registration system.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:47 pmWhy suspend travels?
Anbar is a success...right? RIGHT?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:58 pmThat's too bad. Now Katie Couric won't be able to go to market and write a puff piece about how well the surge is working.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:59 pmI had heard that this was related to the possible ejection of all the Blackwater hired guns..... yes?
September 19th, 2007 at 12:13 amThat makes sense, Terry.
September 19th, 2007 at 12:50 amNow, let me get this straight:
The United States Government was employing mercenaries to provide security for a State Department Motorcade?
Apparently the "surge" didn't provide enough troops for the United States military to provide security for Government Officials?
We're outsourcing our military, folks. And, at the same time. politicizing it. We will soon have the most loyal military money can buy, if we're not there already.
And, as far as ejecting Blackwater from Iraq, I heard one news commentator today questioning whether or not the Iraqi Government even has the authority to do that. Now, what do you think the implications are for the sovereignty of any Government, when that government is forced to allow foreign mercenaries on its soil without its consent.
tic...toc...tic...toc...
September 19th, 2007 at 1:25 amThis is proof the "surge" is working and things are so much better?
I can see only two basic positions on this "war":
1. You support this "war" and therefore support a draft (and should be signing your butt up if you are military age and able) OR
2. You don't support this occupation and you want a responsible redeployment of our troops.
Can any "war" supporter tell me why a draft is not being sought after? Everyone agrees that, because of Iraq, we are currently in a situation where we can not support action on ANY other threat. Not to mention our military is at a breaking point at the current status.
Why wouldn't the draft be an option? -- Because the war supporters would have to go to war and that will change quite a few minds. This occupation would be over in a before the draft got started. Why else would we pay a Blackwater employee over $30,000 a month for the same job the many of the military do for $30,000 a YEAR? -- And at least they would be accountable to someone.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:27 amFollow the Yellow-cake uranium Brick road...
The Emerald City in lock down...
Dorthy, we ain't in Kansas anymore.
All's I can say with this Blackwater deal is, I'm glad to see the Iraqis standing up to rogue malitias by throwing them out.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:43 amSmell the progress. (sigh)
September 19th, 2007 at 2:03 amIs this a sign of "progress"? Or maybe it proves the surge is working?
I need a Bush-to-English dictionary to figure out whether or not it is....
September 19th, 2007 at 2:33 amLet's close the books on this whole disastrous misadventure. Bring home the troops! Restore habeas corpus! Renounce preemptive war forever! Bar the government from ever again hiring private goon squads! OR, alternatively, change the name back to Department of War in an attempt at rectification of names and showing our true colors.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:36 amSo what's the problem? Everyone knows the best shopping is ALWAYS in the Green Zone. Best rugs in town, at bargain, nay, giveaway prices.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:46 amThat's it, the perfect new Republican Iraq line: "The Surge, Making Iraq Safe for Shopping".
I don’t like the rate of Return on Success we’re getting.
I was thinking about that "slogan", and I figured out why it bothers me so much. Besides sounding too stupid, what with shades of "return on investment" to appeal to the rich people who think in no other terms, if it means what Bush implies it means, then bring the troops home now. He claimed that it means that our troops will come home when they have success in their missions. Well, as everybody, both war-lover and critic alike, has said, our troops have done everything asked of them. So if our troops have successfully done "everything asked of them", then they should start returning home now. Or does this depend on some new definition of the word "success" with which we were previously unfamiliar?
September 19th, 2007 at 6:55 am#27 Briseadh na Faire:
We’re outsourcing our military, folks. And, at the same time. politicizing it.
Indeed. And that's worked out really well throughout history.... </snark>
Cheers,
September 19th, 2007 at 7:28 amCheney's private army in Iraq causing problems? Nah, they have a 'get out of jail free card', remember? They will 'make nice' and carry on as usual. The last thing that will happen is for them to be held accountable. This administration doesn't operate that way after all.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:56 amMaybe this is what Betray-us and the Chimp call "progress"? In Orwell's world, it might be. Otherwise, it's a downright lie.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:59 amMorning Wayne! I think we all surmised and Congress knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that when they gave Bush permission to define "success", the games would only be beginning. Permitting an indvidual to define in his own terms something as critical as this is tantamount to giving a dictator the keys to the country and it's future. More unchecked power given to Bush by Congress (and yes, that includes Democrats alike). What were they thinking? Sure, they allude to benchmarks but guess what: Bush totally ignored the fact that the benchmarks were not met and cooked the books not to include that material fact. This guy is so slimey that unless you clearly define things down to the precise word, he will weasel and lie his way out of it all or just simply ignore what the parameters of the "deal" happen to be. He will hijack the conversation and, instead, fill the space with inane spin and nonsensical verbage just to boggle one's brain. This is the work of a very profoundly psychiatrically compromised individual who has used these tactics all of his life. His illness is nothing new; in fact, he's probably been practicing it for decades in an attempt to get his own way and trample his way to the top.
But my point is that for Congress to know this from dealing with him over the years and give him the benefit of defining "progress" when he's never clearly even defined the "purpose of the mission" (or he did and then kept moving the goalposts when he'd become outed) is clear derelection of duty on the part of Congress. Why would they trust this man with the lives of our military when he's never honestly complied with or fulfilled any request they've asked of him for documents, emails, etc.?? I fault Congress here equally for engaging themselves in another one of Bush's diabolical board games. I fault Congress equally for continuing this charade for oil call Iraq. I fault Congress equally for endangering the lives of our military when they know that there can be no military victory. I fault Congress as much for the "war crimes" being committed in Iraq each and every day.
It's time to hold this Congress accountable and guilty for the blood of nearly 4,000 of our fallen heroes as well as the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent iraqis who have lost their lives (and their country) for Bush's OIL.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:08 amYes, this IS progress in Iraq. Ray Hunt ( ceo hunt oil) just made the first oil deal in Iraq. He bought the prospecting rights from the Kurds. No doubt his position on Bush' foreign intelligence commitee gave him the insight.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:05 amStop whining, you liberals! The war is working. People in elite positions continueing to make huge profits, thats what this war is all about, and guess what? It's working. Just because Ray Hunt is an ex executive of haliburton, a major contributor to Bush' campaign, a member of bush' foreign intel group, and a personal friend of W doesn't mean he's not an American! His good fortune is evidence that America is thriving, not in spite of, but BECAUSE of the war in Iraq.
Haven't you ever heard of 'trickle down'?? Maybe Hunt will hire some of us to work at his mansion thus reducing the unemployment rate.
But I thought there was all this "success" and "progress" in Iraq?
September 19th, 2007 at 9:36 amWhen did the US State Dept start using private armies for protection? What about the US Army? For that matter, when did they start contracting out services like food preparation/ If I read my Beetle Bailey correctly (and I think I do), the Army used to have guys like Cookie, who made the food, and Beetle, who pulled KP... when did all this privatizing happen, and who made that decision? It's hard to imagine Eisenhower walking around London protected by Blackwater guards...
September 19th, 2007 at 9:44 amAbout time they threw those private contract "security" forces out.
They have caused enough damage.
They sure make lots of $$$$$$ in the process as well.
Unless of course the Bushies will come up with some kind of BA to keep them on.
September 19th, 2007 at 10:36 amSomeone should look into some of the kilings of US troops that the Generals said wasn't their job. Tillman had sharp shooters kill him, Johnson's attack is unknown but the Iraq jails had contract people dressed as soldiers and ordered our troops on how to torture. America has changed from a country that lead human rights to a country that looks just like the enemy.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:11 amBy keeping them in the Green Zone, Bush gets to control the message. Can't have our Reps coming home and telling us the way things really are over there.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:17 amMercenary, Contractor, Mercenary, Contractor?
I'm comfortable calling a truck driver or food service worker in Iraq a contractor and by the narrowest of definitions even the security personnel could be classified this way also. Reference any dictionary and the term mercenary is more appropriate for the service the armed personnel are providing and to call them anything but that is intellectually disingenuous.
So think about it this way for a second - 180K + security contractors (assuming truck drivers and dishwashers are included) 160K+ members of the US Armed Forces....hmm more contractors them regulation troops. So if we see the Iraqi government successfully expel Blackwater, that's yet to happen, then who takes up the security of the Green Zone and all the phony diplomats being guarded by the mercenaries?
Is this the straw the breaks the American Politicians back? How do we fill the gap of what we have and what we need to have in Iraqi?
Re-instituting the Draft is the most obvious answer. Getting hundred's of thousands of new recruits into the service, maybe even millions of them if we really need that many. I sure would make the man power issue of invading and then occupying Iran and Syria easier to solve. We couldn't possible float the economic debt of running both of those invasions on the back of contractors.
If I read my resent history accurately and I'm sure any of you will correct me, Blackwater or Dyncorp, or Triple Canopy have all been committing these types of transgressions since the beginning of the invasion. Go check YouTube, DailyMotion, or any other video uploading site to watch your fill of them shooting and hooting on the streets of Iraq.
Why are we seeing this towards the end of the Republican ownership of this Middle Eastern Strategy? Give it to a Democratic President so he/she can call up the draft? Let the chattering heads scream look what the Dems did!
Anyway its painted and from every angle I look at it Intellectually Disengenous is what it says to me.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:38 amYou guys just don't get it. The military and the contractors are going to be testing the flying cars and jetpacks we've all been promised since the 1950s. The future's so briight, we gotta wear jetpacks!
September 19th, 2007 at 12:32 pmso why aren't the "main stream" media people all over this story?
September 19th, 2007 at 12:33 pm