U.S. halts civilian travel outside Green Zone

[The Decider]

U.S. suspends civilian travel outside Green Zone - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com

BAGHDAD - The United States on Tuesday suspended all land travel by U.S. diplomats and other civilian officials throughout Iraq except in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone following a weekend incident involving private security guards in which a number of Iraqi civilians were killed. Also Tuesday, the Iraqi Cabinet decided to review the status of all foreign security companies amid mounting public outrage over the alleged killing of civilians by the U.S. Embassy’s security provider Blackwater USA. Exploiting that anger, anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demanded the government ban all 48,000 foreign security contractors, whom Iraqis have long viewed as mercenaries. In a notice sent to Americans in Iraq, the embassy said it had taken the step to review the security of its personnel and possible increased threats to those leaving the Green Zone while accompanied by security details. “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 US government civilian ground movements outside the International Zone (IZ) and throughout Iraq,” the notice says.

Looks like American civilian reliance on private security contractors has backfired in Iraq.

Does this mean we Americans can no longer shop and stroll in Baghdad like John McCain? Damn.

[Praxius]

And they claimed there was improvements in security in Iraq due to the Surge.... and yet, the only place to travel now is within the Green Zone? Sounds a lot like 1 or 2 years ago.

But yeah when you think about it, I have to fully agree with al-Sadr that they are Mercs..... heck, they're the very definition of a Mercenary.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Praxius And they claimed there was improvements in security in Iraq due to the Surge.... and yet, the only place to travel now is within the Green Zone?

Yep, conditions are improving even though people are supposed to stay exclusively in the 'green zone.'

Also, there's been a "surge" in the number of "private contractors" in Iraq (it's now at about 180,000): 180,000 private contractors flood Iraq - Yahoo! News

Grandpa h.

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: The Decider U.S. suspends civilian travel outside Green Zone - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com Looks like American civilian reliance on private security contractors has backfired in Iraq. Does this mean we Americans can no longer shop and stroll in Baghdad like John McCain? Damn.

I was sooooooooooooooooooooo looking forward to buying a new pair of dancing shoes there. Perhaps John can help me out? I might even give him a buck or two to do it... if I knew for sure the expected outcome is what would happen.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: Praxius And they claimed there was improvements in security in Iraq due to the Surge.... and yet, the only place to travel now is within the Green Zone? Sounds a lot like 1 or 2 years ago. But yeah when you think about it, I have to fully agree with al-Sadr that they are Mercs..... heck, they're the very definition of a Mercenary.

I don't think most of them deny being a mercenary, though they're a little more on the security guard side of mercenary.