U.S. Troops Accidentally Fire at Official

I knew we were getting frustrated with these guys, but, shoot 'em? Dang.

U.S. Troops Open Fire Accidentally Fire on Card Carrying Member of Iraqi Governing Council

The Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq Nov. 12 — U.S. troops opened fire accidentally on a car carrying a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, the Iraqi administration said Wednesday. The council member escaped injury but the driver was hurt.

Mohammed Bahr al-Uloum, a Shiite Muslim cleric, was traveling inside the U.S.-guarded compound, known as the "green zone," when the shooting took place. The statement did not give a time, and U.S. officials at the military press center said they knew nothing of the incident.

The statement said a U.S. officer on the scene expressed his regret over the shooting and apologized to the cleric. article

Better luck next time.

I think Juan Cole has called the situation pretty well. The fact that Bremer has been having trouble and coming back to Washington to discuss it, and the talk about trying to more quickly advance an Iraqi "self-government" and removing the U.S. installed governing council, are most likely moves to get the "insurgency" out of domestic headlines as the presidential election approaches.

Juan notes that this has worked pretty well for getting Afghanistan attacks with their American casualties out of the headlines.

On the other hand, part of the reason Afghanistan attacks are out of the headlines is because the Iraqi ones are taking the space. It could still be a good political move and work the way Josh notes if we have some other headlines to take the place of the continuing attacks in Iraq.

And I know that can be arranged. We have Syria on line, but that may not be arranged quickly enough (although I should never underestimate the rush job this administration can pull, particularly with so willing a Congress).

So, I'd watch for some more evil terrorist attacks to hit before the election, even if Iraq gets her own government between now and then.

IMHO