Iraq, with an Iran Provocation Extra

4 Marines died today, and Hiro Ibrahim Ahmed, the wife of President Jalal Talabani was the target of an assassination attempt, a roadside bomb targeting her as she went to cultural festival.

Note that this was in Baghdad, not Kurdistan.

I would also point to this story describing a pretty massive buildup at the Al Kut air base, which is just 35 miles from the Iranian border.

I can't see this as anything but a deliberate provocation, or a prelude to an attack on Iran.

I think that Bush may attack Iran out of a petulant need to leave something else on his successor's plate.