Iraq 'Green Zone' attack kills 3

From Wall Street Journal WORLD online

By BEN LANDO
BAGHDAD—Rockets fired into the heavily fortified International Zone in central Baghdad killed three people and injured 15, including two hurt Americans, all of whom worked for a private security company contracted to the U.S. government, the American Embassy said Thursday.

In a statement, the Embassy expressed its condolences for the two Ugandans and one Peruvian killed in the attack. The nationalities of the other 13 injured aren't known.

The Embassy would not give any additional details, including location of the incident. No diplomats were involved, an official said.

"All the dead and injured worked for a U.S. government security contractor which protects U.S. government facilities in Iraq," the Embassy statement said.

While insurgents frequently target the International Zone, better known as the "Green Zone," fatalities have become relatively uncommon. Mortar and rocket attacks have reduced as violence generally across the country has improved.

The area is a collection of embassies, government ministries and other offices, businesses and homes, encircled by concrete blast walls. Entry is allowed only through fortified checkpoints.

It was formerly the headquarters of U.S. occupation and diplomatic operations here, including the Coalition Provisional Authority, which ran the country in the immediate aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Jeremiah the hebrew prophet writes, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'The broad wall of Babylon will be completely razed, and her high gates will be set on fire; so the peoples will toil for nothing, and the nations become exhausted (because of the) fire,'" (Jer 51:58).

Will the blast walls surrounding the Green Zone be completely torn down at the time of the burning of the cities of Iraq? Will the burning cause the U.S. to abandon Iraq, and withdraw all 50,000 support personnel in an admission of failure at reconstruction?

If that happens, the next two judgments on Babylon pronounced 2,600 years ago by Jeremiah will have happened here in our time.