US Suspends All Civilian Travel Outside Green Zone

AP:

The United States on Tuesday suspended all land travel by U.S. diplomats and other civilian officials in Iraq outside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, amid mounting public outrage over the alleged killing of civilians by the U.S. Embassy's security provider Blackwater USA.

The move came even as the Iraqi government appeared to back down from statements Monday that it had permanently revoked Blackwater's license and would order its 1,000 personnel to leave the country _ depriving American diplomats of security protection essential to operating in Baghdad.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[OkieMon]

01:34 PM on 09/19/2007

Another reason to "de-privatize" the army. Blackwater is fascist. Cheney is Blackwater. Cheney is fascist.

[considerthis]

01:17 PM on 09/19/2007

It sounds like the Iraqi government stood up to this issue and the US is forcing them to sit back down and be quiet. Just when you think it couldn't get worse, it does.

[Cautious]

01:14 PM on 09/19/2007

From Time Magazine online:

"Furthermore, Maliki told senior aides that he wants to look at ways to change Order 17, a law from early in the post-war occupation of Iraq that some believe provides expatriate contractors immunity from Iraqi prosecution."

Maybe this will help the Iraqi government agree on something and actually get things done.

[Gumby123]

01:07 PM on 09/19/2007

Here's 2 articles that are worth reading regarding the situation in Iraq -

http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001514.html

http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001517.html

[GilpinGuy]

01:42 PM on 09/19/2007

I noticed how there were no details about Mr. Totten. Mr. Totten makes it sound like one big happy romp in the park. Makes you wonder how all those bodies keep being found on the streets every morning. Maybe Mr. Totten needs to tell the State Department to recind that silly order banning land travel because it is too dangerous to go outside the Green Zone. Maybe Mr. Totten is visiting an entirely different country.

[gardengoddess]

12:56 PM on 09/19/2007

It's as obvious as the nose on our faces, the surge is going incredibly well! How else to explain this development? I mean things have become so much better in Baghdad alone that U.S. civilians are now safe to stroll ONLY through the Green Zone to their hearts' content!

Good Lord, what a mess! "Nothing good ever comes of anything that starts out as a lie"...that includes illegal invasions and presidencies.

[GilpinGuy]

01:27 PM on 09/19/2007

You forgot the State Department memo that was issued that all employees in the Green Zone must wear flak jackets and helmets when outside at all times. I guess the daily barrage of mortar attacks can be hazardous to your health. Other than that things are going swimmingly.

[getoffmedz]

12:51 PM on 09/19/2007

The insurgency is in it's final throes.