"Iraqi official assassinated in Baghdad"-- Al Jazeera

[TexasLawyer]

Iraqi official assassinated in Baghdad

Thursday 10 February 2005, 0:44 Makka Time, 21:44 GMT



A senior government official in Baghdad, a US soldier and three members of a Kurdish political party have been killed in the latest attacks since the 30 January election.

Police in Baghdad said a director in the Ministry of Culture and Housing was assassinated on Wednesday evening when unknown assailants attacked his car. In Baghdad's Haifa Street neighbourhood, three members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party were killed in an ambush. This was followed by clashes between Iraqi and US troops and an unknown number of fighters.

A US soldier was killed on Wednesday in an attack on his convoy north of the Iraqi capital near Balad, the US military said. Two people were detained following the attack, which occurred some 70km north of the capital.

Troop reduction

Meanwhile, the US military announced that the number of its troops in Iraq would be reduced, after an initial increase ahead of the 30 January elections. "We should be at pre-election levels in spring," Lieutenant General Lance Smith, deputy commander of the US Central Command in Iraq told reporters at the Pentagon.

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http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/827325A8-90CC-49A6-BA8E-EF92B2824FA6.htm

[hector459]

1. Stop looking at Iraq and look at that empty SS trust fund!!!

You know better than report BAD news from Iraq.

[TexasLawyer]

2. Silly of me!

It won't happen again. I'll focus on today's REAL crisis-- the SS system's possibly diminished benefits in 2042.

[louis-t]

3. "possibly diminished benefits "

meaning: worst case scenario. estimates reported are extremely conservat*ve. (sorry, have a hard time typing THAT word)

[Supersedeas]

4. or look at Iran's 'gathering threat' or look at Jacko or look its March

Madness