Been a little distracted lately…

My observation of war is that it provides little more than a bottomless vacuum of waste and tragedy. Not much good comes from so much destruction and loss of life. Regardless of race, creed or color there is an innate force that urges elder statesmen to readily accept violent conflict as a resolution and a strange curiosity that eagerly seduces young men and women to participate. Sadly we are all drawn like moths to a flame…

Swordman – Next time DUCK shipmate!
MSgt - Fairwinds and Following Seas Trooper – You will be missed and never forgotten.

Baghdad Green Zone sees spike in mortars, rockets
28 Mar 2007 15:23:34 GMT
Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, March 28 (Reuters) - Insurgents have stepped up rocket and mortar attacks on Baghdad's international Green Zone where most Iraqi government offices and the U.S. embassy are located, a senior U.S. military spokesman said on Wednesday.
Rear Admiral Mark Fox said nine people were wounded and two killed in three mortar or rocket strikes in three days from March 25. On Tuesday a U.S. contractor and a U.S. soldier were killed, and one U.S. state department employee was wounded.
Insurgents have for years been firing mortar bombs and rockets into the Green Zone, a large area stretching for several miles along the River Tigris surrounded by fortified walls and checkpoints. Usually the attacks do not cause casualties as there are many uninhabited areas within the Green Zone.
Fox said that while the total number of indirect fire attacks in March was on a trend to be lower than in recent months, there appeared to be a change in targets.
"It's clear that there has been increasing targeting (of) attacks against the international zone," Fox told a news conference in Baghdad. Asked if any particular group was responsible, Fox said they came from various sources.
"We're obviously taking some very careful steps and also scrutinizing the points of origin and the nature of any of the patterns," he said.
In the other attacks, two U.S. contractors and two other foreigners were wounded on March 25, and one U.S. soldier, one Iraqi and two other foreigners were wounded on March 26, Fox said. He did not give the nationality of the other foreigners.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR854395.htm

In a moments notice - the moment is all you have

Faint screeching whistle… distant… growing louder… getting closer… pitch cycles downward… quick harsh screams from others near by… realization… “Oh Hell”… body thrown quickly to dusty earth… search out additional cover… press up against tree… check battle buddy… get small - draw up tight… fetal… screeching louder just above… look up to the dark sky… searching in vain… then silence… cover your head brother…cover your head… more silence…CRACK-BOOM! Too close… too exposed… need better shelter… grab buddy… head for blast cover… heart pounding… adrenaline kicking… smell of sulfur… dust in air… Too close – Too close. Hey I think I skinned my knee.

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