[Farson]

Today, Iraqi security forces suffered a major blow to it's operational capability. Overall violence is down in the country, but insurgents are stepping up attacks on the government, with civilians suffering mass casualties.


Coordinated blasts hit Baghdad; kill at least 103



BAGHDAD – A series of coordinated attacks struck Baghdad Tuesday, including three car bombs that blew up near government sites. At least 103 were killed and 197 wounded in the worst wave of violence in the capital in more than a month, authorities said.

A total of four attacks, which also included a suicide car bomb on a police patrol, showed the ability of insurgents to strike high-profile targets in the heart of Baghdad and marked the third time since August that government buildings were targeted with multiple blasts that brought massive bloodshed.

It also was another embarrassment to Iraqi forces in their expanding role as front-line security as U.S. forces plan their withdrawal. The U.S. military has sent some troops and forensic equipment to assist the Iraqis in the aftermath, said Army Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner, a military spokesman.

....

About an hour before the Baghdad blasts, a suicide car bomber struck a police patrol in the mostly Sunni district of Dora in southern Baghdad, killing at least three policemen and one civilian and injuring five people, said a police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media.

Iraqi police said at least one of the Baghdad blasts was a suicide bomber — driving a bomb-rigged ambulance heading for the Finance Ministry. The other two explosions may have been car-rigged bombed detonated by timer or trigger. It's a freakin' mess over there, is the only way to rule in the Middle East with an oppressive regime? Is this what awaits us in Afghanistan?

The unemployment rate in Iraq is as high as 60%, can there even be any kind of stability under occupation with such high unemployment?

Invading Iraq was such a bad idea. My heart goes out to all those who have suffered in this conflict, foreign and domestic. This is a most tragic first decade of the new millennium.

[formobilagsw]

leave me alone dude, I want to know what woman got rushed to the hospital from tigers house last night....

[Marinausa]

It's a freakin' mess over there, is the only way to rule in the Middle East with an oppressive regime?

This very well might be the truth of it. It as if the only way to keep age old grudges and down right barbarism in check is to have a leader that is heavy handed and barbaric himself. No one complains about the corruption or brutality of the leader in charge, if it's their guy. And if it's not, and then they get their guy in then they feel it's ok to behave in the exact way they were just treated.

Invading Iraq was such a bad idea. My heart goes out to all those who have suffered in this conflict, foreign and domestic. This is a most tragic first decade of the new millennium. Iraqis were suffering before Saddam, during Saddam, and now after Saddam. It's not really different except who is on the recieving end (eg. the Kurds are doing better now). Invading Iraq may have been a bad idea but sometimes you get stuck with choosing and evil. We had sanctions imposed on Iraq that was causing suffering and starvation. There was just no good answers. I will say the "war" and following policies were very poorly run. Maybe if we had had a better strategy in the beggining it would be much different today.

[Xcqjwarl]

PS. 103 more deaths for the Leftists to blame on US forces, even though it was commited by other Arabs.

[Poreponko]

PS. 103 more deaths for the Leftists to blame on US forces, even though it was commited by other Arabs.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

[Bugamerka]

leave me alone dude, I want to know what woman got rushed to the hospital from tigers house last night....

Do you want her phone number ????

[Txaizdxx]

PS. 103 more deaths for the Leftists to blame on US forces, even though it was commited by other Arabs.

Why would you say that ?

Your "asshole buddy Bush" set the fire to begin with and bears the initial blame to be shared with his followers !

How can one blame our troops ? Their's is not to reason why, their's is but to do or die !

Obama made a call he will not survive.

[Adamanta]

Here is what Bush said in a 2004 radio address:

"The liberation of Iraq was good for the Iraqi people, good for America, and good for the world. The fall of the Iraqi dictator has removed a source of violence, aggression, and instability from the Middle East. The worst regime in the region was given way to what will soon be among the best."

That was over 5 years ago. How soon is "soon". Still waiting.

http://www.ciaonet.org/special_secti...pi_gov_02.html

Andrew

[Trikaduliana]

PS. 103 more deaths for the Leftists to blame on US forces, even though it was commited by other Arabs.

Look, they're already starting to do it:

Maybe if we had had a better strategy in the beggining it would be much different today. Damn leftists blaming US forces.

[b7RKli4l]

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

Oh, I don't know. I think that might be a great strategy.

[g4YthYXx]

Here is what Bush said in a 2004 radio address:

"The liberation of Iraq was good for the Iraqi people, good for America, and good for the world. The fall of the Iraqi dictator has removed a source of violence, aggression, and instability from the Middle East. The worst regime in the region was given way to what will soon be among the best."

That was over 5 years ago. How soon is "soon". Still waiting.

http://www.ciaonet.org/special_secti...pi_gov_02.html

Andrew

as long as needed....

Or we could give up and run home like you wish leaving the nuts to take over the country.

[heinz_1966]

as long as needed....

Or we could give up and run home like you wish leaving the nuts to take over the country.

And why should anybody give an open commitment of blood and treasure to a country that posed and poses little or no conventional threat to any other country?

Andrew

[chelviweeme]

PS. 103 more deaths for the Leftists to blame on US forces, even though it was commited by other Arabs.

I wouldn't go that far, but it is true that we brought this to Iraq. We didn't stop Saddam when he was actually killing Iraqis, waited until that was mostly over, and then brought war to that country, thus adding injury to injury. I'm not sure Iraqis should or do see this as a good thing.

[f6HLLFcw]

feel sorry for the innocents who died and their families. the timing is important. the Iraqi parliament have been discussing the "voting law" and it seems many dont like it. look for Iran involvement. anyways RIP for the innocents.

[drgshmcm]

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

Hmm....apparently I wouldn't have had to hold my breath very long, eh? Didn't take too long for people to blame the actions of others on the US/Bush or w/e. Weird that so little number of people believe in personal responsibility. I guess the Oklahoma City bombing is also the fault of the US. Timothy McVeigh had nothing to do it it.

[Z1IRo4Ap]

And why should anybody give an open commitment of blood and treasure to a country that posed and poses little or no conventional threat to any other country?

Andrew

Treasure? It's not treasure, it's paper. The reason that we are giving paper, and blood, is to secure oil. All the anti-war leftists who thought, and / or still think, that Uh-bama is going to withdraw from Iraq, are deluded.

[freeprescriptionplanrrx]

Hmm....apparently I wouldn't have had to hold my breath very long, eh? Didn't take too long for people to blame the actions of others on the US/Bush or w/e. Weird that so little number of people believe in personal responsibility. I guess the Oklahoma City bombing is also the fault of the US. Timothy McVeigh had nothing to do it it.

Well now you're just taking poetic license.

You said:

PS. 103 more deaths for the Leftists to blame on US forces, even though it was commited by other Arabs.

Now I guess you could apply the meaning of "forces" in broad terms, since you didn't say 'troops,' or 'military.'

Regardless of how ruthless Saddam was, there weren't car bombs going off every month killing hundreds of civilians in the middle of Baghdad. But hey you could just consider it blow back from all the shit Saddam did to the Shi'as.

But Iraq was probably the most cosmopolitan country in the Persian Gulf, under Saddam. It certainly isn't anymore.

[Stovegeothnon]

Now I guess you could apply the meaning of "forces" in broad terms, since you didn't say 'troops,' or 'military.'

You're right. I was thinking in my head to include the Bush admin, ect. I obviously didn't convey my thoughts well. Rephrased, my statement still stands. The car bomb is not the doings of America nor can the blood of those people be place on our heads.

Regardless of how ruthless Saddam was, there weren't car bombs going off every month killing hundreds of civilians in the middle of Baghdad. But hey you could just consider it blow back from all the shit Saddam did to the Shi'as.

But Iraq was probably the most cosmopolitan country in the Persian Gulf, under Saddam. It certainly isn't anymore. You are also correct (in the bolded) here. But what do you think the ruthlessness of Saddam entailed? There may not have been car bombs going off in Baghdad but the Kurds are also not being gassed or exterminated. Mentioning the deaths under Saddam vs current times is a wash to me. The victims are different but are victims none-the-less.

[WFSdZuP3]

Treasure? It's not treasure, it's paper. The reason that we are giving paper, and blood, is to secure oil. All the anti-war leftists who thought, and / or still think, that Uh-bama is going to withdraw from Iraq, are deluded.

Gee, how nice to know that all the planes, helicipoters, tanks, jeeps, bullets, grenades and other miscellaneous equipment we've already lost/will lose/will abandon there when we're done is nothing but paper.

Makes me feel so much better about it all.

[HoqCBYMl]

A day will come when these people will recognize, as has most of the world, that suicide blasts killing civilians en masse are a one-way ticket to death and destruction for all in the long run. Time...yes it will take time. But when that day comes those zealots who were so vehemently against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars will be viewed as shallow products of a never before seen materialist, consumer culture...morally bankrupt in their personal lives and demanding "peace" for those they would never even speak to if they passed them on an American street.