It took the US less than two hours to nab those responsible for the attack.....
I am sure we were sitting there waiting for them to attack.
January 30, 2005 - 3:06PM
Seven people were arrested following the rocket attack on the US Embassy that killed two Americans, the US military said today.
"Following the 7.45pm attack on the embassy, the men fled the scene of the rocket launch, but were tracked to a residence in south-eastern Baghdad," the statement said. "Task Force Baghdad ground troops descended on the home, detaining all seven suspects."
"This was a great example of quick reaction on the part of some superb cavalry troopers," said Brigadier General Michael Jones, assistant division commander for the 1st Cavalry Division and Task Force Baghdad.
"It's one more example to the insurgents that Iraqi and multinational forces will hunt down those responsible for these acts of terrorism."
The rocket fell into the Embassy's compound on the eve of Iraq's national elections near the building itself in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad.
One civilian and one navy sailor, both assigned to the Embassy, were killed in the rocket attack, a military official said. Four Americans were injured.
Meanwhile, Labor leader Kim Beazley said Australia's embassy should still be moved to Baghdad's fortified Green Zone despite the attack on the US mission.
Mr Beazley today renewed his call for the Australian embassy to be moved into the Green Zone, but admitted that would not make it immune to attack.
"Nowhere is safe in Iraq ... but there are places that are safer than others, and the Green Zone is safer than just about anywhere else in the area where there is intense insurgency, and that includes Baghdad," he told the Seven network.
Australian diplomats should remain in Iraq even if the country descended into civil war following today's election, Mr Beazley said.
"The things that they're dealing with, the fact that they're there is pretty important," Mr Beazley said.
"So I would leave the diplomats there but it's time they were in the Green Zone.
"If they could not do their job then you wouldn't, but at the moment all the advice seems to be that they can at least do some useful things."