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Kind of hard to keep selling that "we're winning the surge" meme when the Green Zone is being shelled, isn't it? CBS's* Lara Logan reports that 4 soldiers were killed and 31 injured (2 killed and 17 injured, 5-7 seriously in the Green Zone) today. Not surprisingly, Iraqi losses, other than the deaths of a family of four for non-specified reasons in Basra were not mentioned. Gorilla's Guides lists a far more serious count of 25 dead and 57 wounded, but I can't be sure if that includes Iraqis in the total.

Throughout the country by 21:30 the GZG authorities admitted to 25 dead and 57 wounded. There is very heavy fighting going on in Sadr city. The Americans have it under siege and are refusing all access to the city. American helicopters have bombed the city repeatedly. American snipers are being deployed on the roof tops. Imam Ali spokesmen say they are now desperately short of medical supplies. The Red Crescent attempts to get emergency medical supplies to the city which we reported yesterday have failed because the Americans will not let them through.

There are reports that the fires caused by the American bombing of the Jameela market are spreading and that there is no water being pumped to the city.

Of course with Petraeus and Crocker testifying in front of Congress, it's hard to make a convincing argument of the effectiveness of the surge when they can't even protect the Green Zone from being shelled.

UPDATE: Siun at FireDogLake has more, including the absurdity of blaming Iran for attacks on US forces.

* changed to reflect correct network