Reaction: US Embassy staff to wear flak jackets, helmets to work

There is a new policy among workers at the US Embassy in Baghdad that requires workers to wear flak jackets and helmets anytime they are outside a "solid" building. This includes walks outside and in unprotected (I guess "soft") buildings. While some my criticize this new policy and use it to show things are not going quite as planned in Iraq, I am personally glad they are doing something about worker safety. The job has to be stressful enough as it is with all the mortar attacks constantly going on around you. And with the Green Zone far from impregnable I think it's a good policy to have in place. It really sucks these people have to be on the ground in that situation at all, but since there is little choice in that matter I think it's good they are at least protecting them as best as can be afforded in the situation.

Reaction: Iraqi Parliament Attack

A suicide attack rocked the Iraqi Parliament Cafeteria today killing 8, including 2 members of parliament, and injuring over 20. Besides the obvious human losses, the scariest aspect of the attack is that it occurred in Baghdad's "Green Zone," which is the most secure area in Iraq. According to CNN.com, there are five different security checkpoints that must be passed to get into the Parliament building, including bypassing bomb-sniffing dogs. BBC reports that many of these checkpoints occur within meters of one another.

My first reaction to this is obviously one of sadness. Anytime innocent human lives are taken it is a great loss for individuals and families, regardless of their political beliefs, ethnicity, religion, etc. My second reaction is one of concern. US occupying forces have been unpopular in the region for several years running now and for an infiltration of this magnitude to occur in the Green Zone almost certainly requires help from the inside. If some of the most trusted security forces can no longer be trusted it shows just how widespread this resentment really is. My third reaction is one of pride and admiration for the Iraqi lawmakers who have stood up in the face of these attack and claimed it will not stop them from doing their job and an emergency meeting has been called for Friday to drive this point home. Their strength and resolve in the face of their friends and coworkers deaths and injuries sends a message louder than any President Bush or Tony Blair could.