More carnage in Iraq as U.S. withdraws from cities
These are dangerous times in Iraq. From the AP, filed within the hour:
“BAGHDAD (AP) — A booby-trapped motorcycle loaded with nails and ball-bearings exploded in a crowded bazaar Friday in Baghdad, killing at least 15 people, Iraqi officials said. The attack struck just four days before the deadline for U.S. combat troops to withdraw from cities.
The wave of violence that has killed more than 200 people this week has raised fresh doubts about the ability of Iraqi forces to provide security as their American partners become less visible.
The explosion occurred just after 9 a.m. when the market was packed with young people buying or selling motorcycles in central Baghdad, according to police and hospital officials.
Ghaith Abdul-Allah, 35, was unloading motorcycles he planned to sell from his truck when the blast occurred.
“I saw a ball of fire and some motorbikes were lifted about 10 meters (yards) into the air,” he said. “When the smoke from the explosion vanished, I saw a large number of young men lying on the ground soaked in blood.”
… The escalation in violence is overshadowing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s declaration of a “great victory” in the U.S. pullout from urban areas by Tuesday’s deadline. He has declared June 30 a national holiday to be marked with celebrations.”
Unfortunately, this spate of attacks had to be expected, and there’s not much to be done except ride them out. I doubt they’re occurring because of a real security vacuum created by our departure; those gaps in security will show over time, not all at once. Rather, it represents a coordinated campaign by terrorists to demonstrate their continued relevance at a high-profile moment in Iraq’s transition. They’re trying to send a political message to an Iraqi domestic audience that Maliki’s government is not as strong as it pretends to be.
The Iraqis want their country back, and we need to let them have it, for better or worse.
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216 comments Add your comment
DB, Gwinnettian
June 26th, 2009
7:39 am
The Iraqis want their country back, and we need to let them have it, for better or worse.
Even if it isn’t really a “country” as such after we’ve withdrawn, which is likely to be the case.
Of course I really wonder if we’re ever going to really leave, or if every President for the next twenty years will find some horses— excuse to keep soldiers there.
Normal
June 26th, 2009
7:43 am
Not that it matters, but I’ve said from the beginning that by staying there we are just delaying the inevitable. It’s time to leave and let the Iraqi’s sort it out between themselves…
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 26th, 2009
7:47 am
Way to go bookman, glorify a mindless act of violence, what does it take to load yourself up with tons of explosives and murder the innocent?
Maybe we should denounce this for what it is, a pathological act of depravity instead of giving them the propaganda and power that they seek from you?
Doggone/GA
June 26th, 2009
7:53 am
“instead of giving them the propaganda and power that they seek from you?”
Don’t know much about the power of violence, do you?
DB, Gwinnettian
June 26th, 2009
7:54 am
glorify a mindless act of violence
Andy, you’re such a frigging liar, if there were anything to that preachy nonsense you claim to pray to, you would’ve been struck dead years ago.
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
7:55 am
“instead of giving them the propaganda and power that they seek from you?”
haha … yeah … cuz everyone knows the AJC is the favorite reading of Iraqis everywhere.
halfwit.
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
7:56 am
Normal – well said
DB, Gwinnettian
June 26th, 2009
7:57 am
halfwit.
An insult to all the decent, hard-working halfwits out there. Hang your head in shame.
Normal
June 26th, 2009
8:02 am
USinUK: Thank you. Coming from you, high praise, indeed.
__________
WHINER: Life must be easy for you now that you have distilled it into it’s simplest form. Hating everything and everybody…Must be nice…Just sayin’…
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
8:05 am
Gwinecian – LOL
Normal – please – I’m just trying to keep up with your standards!
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 26th, 2009
8:12 am
Don’t know much about the power of violence, do you?
These people strap bombs on children, they load up women with explosives, they turn the mentally challenged into robot bombs and they aim them at the innocent, so yeah, liberals, go right ahead and legitimize these sick acts of degeneracy as though they are some sort of heroism against “evil.”
What else would we expect from you?
We know which side you are on.
Corey
June 26th, 2009
8:13 am
We can’t stay there forever applying lipstick to that pig and never should have gone there in the first place. A short sighted venture borne of self-aggrandizement.
clyde
June 26th, 2009
8:15 am
It won’t take Iraq long to recede into the abyss after we leave them alone.Iran is waiting in the wings.It’ll be all over in a couple of months.
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
8:18 am
oh, dear. someone seems to be off their meds today.
“liberals, go right ahead and legitimize these sick acts of degeneracy as though they are some sort of heroism against “evil.””
in whiner’s world, reporting something is the same as cheering it on.
Donovan
June 26th, 2009
8:18 am
Hmmm…let’s see. Iraq, bad war. A Republican war. Afghanistan, good war. A Democrat war. You won’t hear any bad stories coming from Bookman and his band of liberals about Obama’s Afghanistan. That empty suit will have this war cleaned up quicker than a Hollywood movie.
Mrs. Godzilla
June 26th, 2009
8:21 am
The violence breaks my heart, but we must get out.
Ever seen the old Star Trek with the entity that fed on violence and hate? Andy reminds me of that.
Doggone/GA
June 26th, 2009
8:23 am
“What else would we expect from you?”
You REALLY don’t know much about the power of violence, do you?
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 26th, 2009
8:25 am
in whiner’s world, reporting something is the same as cheering it on.
I’m guessing that maybe these libs have not yet read the blog column-
These are dangerous times in Iraq.
If America suffered such an attack would the libs be penning columns that “these are dangerous times” in the US? (It’s an honest question, I suppose.)
Unbelievably, even the America hating Urinal managed to call 9/11 an “outrage.”
The Truth is Way Out There
June 26th, 2009
8:28 am
Iranian ambassador tells CNN CIA may have killed Neda.
Well, given our sordid history of meddling in other countries in order to secure access to oil reserves for oil companies and other such activities, why wouldn’t some people make such statements and have folks believe them. For all we know, it could well be true.
Normal
June 26th, 2009
8:30 am
When you think about it, the ratcheting up of the violence in Iraq could be an attempt by the Taliban/etc. to take pressure off of Afganistan. Two front wars are rarely won, and we seem to be making progress in Afganistan…
I hope we go full throttle on Afganistan and leave Iraq. Just supposin’
The Truth is Way Out There
June 26th, 2009
8:32 am
Unbelievably, even the America hating Urinal managed to call 9/11 an “outrage.”
Unbelievable in your little mind, you and your “Urinal” obsession or fetish or both. Yes, that’s believable.
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
8:34 am
whiner –
gee. you’re right. right after 9/11, NO one reported the whole “orange alert” BS. NO one reported the “bottled water! duct tape! plastic sheeting!” NO one reported the shoe bomb, anthrax, no-liquids-on-airplanes scares.
I take the half-wit comment back. you don’t even achieve that.
Jo Atlanta
June 26th, 2009
8:34 am
We need to understand that we cannot police a civil war that is religious in nature. The war destabilized a bad regime, but provided nothing to replace it. Until there is a strong leadership, there will be no peace. The Iraqi extremists will continue to try to undermine the “other side” even though it hurts their own people. We cannot help them unless we are ready to step in and take over. We will not do that because we are “the good guys”.
Turd Ferguson
June 26th, 2009
8:36 am
Relapse friends. Our Lord and Saviour, Obama has a plan.
Wide stance Andy
June 26th, 2009
8:36 am
“Obama’s Afghanistan”
WOW!!! Detached from reality are we??? This boob doesn’t seem to understand we were attacked from Afghanistan soil, and the Republicans in charge of Afghanistan at the time refused to help us by handing over thier “guest”…
Go back to apologizing for your Republican Governor in SC, and quit supporting the Taliban…
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
RW-(the original)
June 26th, 2009
8:37 am
and we seem to be making progress in Afganistan (sic)
I won’t be around to read the response and we’ll probably be several floors up when I get back, but I’d love to see that comment quantified in some detail.
Wide stance Andy
June 26th, 2009
8:40 am
So RW,
I guess we should fold up shop and exit Afghanistan? Can we put a “Mission Unaccomplished” banner on an Aircraft carrier, put Obama in a flight suit and have him swagger across the deck?
Er, we WERE actually attacked from Afghanistan soil, you’re intelligent enough to actually realize that.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 26th, 2009
8:41 am
gee. you’re right. right after 9/11, NO one reported the whole “orange alert” BS. NO one reported the “bottled water! duct tape! plastic sheeting!” NO one reported the shoe bomb, anthrax, no-liquids-on-airplanes scares.
Taking all steps necessary to protect yourself from violence is glorifying it?
Is this all you got, stunt dummy?
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
8:44 am
“Taking all steps necessary to protect yourself from violence is glorifying it?”
oh, yeah. duct tape and plastic sheeting. THAT’s gonna save you. well argued, whiner.
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
8:45 am
(quick … someone call him a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhmbulance)
The Truth is Way Out There
June 26th, 2009
8:45 am
And, here in America, we have folks like Sarah Palin going around during an election campaign trying to incite the same sort of violence with statements about pallin’ around with terrorists. Evil lurks in dark places and that woman is dark to even dare to make such a remark. It was calculated and cold and just as evil as the words used by others to incite acts of terrorism.
@@
June 26th, 2009
8:45 am
With al-Hakim, the U.S. and Iran’s go-to-guy in Iraq is on death’s door, it’s only gonna get worse, jay.
I’ve always thought that the draw-down should have centered around Iraq’s next election.
And wouldn’t you know, Iraq’s Shiites (Iran) have oil UNIONS mucking up the works from Basra.
Obama shouldn’t have used such “strong language” against the Iranian regime.
Pull out and watch the militants exploit. I can just hear them now…..”Obama never really cared about Muslims — his words didn’t matter.”
Obama needs to talk less. Stop showing his hand at the table.
The Truth is Way Out There
June 26th, 2009
8:47 am
Well, I certainly hope that whiner is not taking my critique as a personal attack. I simply offer fact over fiction.
Normal
June 26th, 2009
8:50 am
RW-(the original)
June 26th, 2009
8:37am
—————
You are right RW, I don’t have any special reports stating military sucesses, I just have a gut feeling. The Afgani’s seem to be taking matters into their own hands, if the reports are to be believed. We both agreed that the orders not to fire on civilians was probably not a good idea, because the Taliban will continue to use them as shields, but it is the very presence of our troops in the field and the knowledge of more coming that, I believe, is the explaination of the renewed violence in Iraq. Just supposin’…My opinion is all…Just sayin…
Mrs. Godzilla
June 26th, 2009
8:50 am
Turd lemonade…..
the little tart!
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
8:51 am
pssst … truth way out … the whinge-nut is talking about me … (wah-wah-waaaahhhhhhhh)
although, to be honest, I’m so used to his asinine post-and-move-on/refusing-to-engage M.O., I’m shocked that he’d actually deign to reply.
Mrs. Godzilla
June 26th, 2009
8:53 am
Great toon
The Weapon of Choice for the 21st Century
http://www.caglepost.com/cartoon/Cardow/66054/Weapon+of+Choice.html
Joe Matarotz
June 26th, 2009
8:58 am
Not for nothing, Jay, but I don’t think your opinion counts for anything here, and I don’t think you have demonstrated any qualifications to comment intelligently on what is going on in Irag. Just my 2 cents.
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
June 26th, 2009
9:00 am
Well, I certainly hope that whiner is not taking my critique as a personal attack. I simply offer fact over fiction.
What you are doing is called debate, I have no issues with that.
Parading my name around coupled with the phrase “wide stance,” entirely different subject.
mm
June 26th, 2009
9:01 am
Whiner,
Nevermind the crazy christians blowing up doctors and clinics, molesting kids, etc.
Doggone/GA
June 26th, 2009
9:02 am
“I don’t think you have demonstrated any qualifications to comment intelligently on what is going on in Irag.”
Ok…and what are YOUR qualifications for commenting here?
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
9:03 am
“I don’t think you have demonstrated any qualifications to comment intelligently on what is going on in Irag”
well. at least he spells it correctly.
and, frankly, unless someone is an expert in the middle east, has worked in the state department and/or has lived there, does ANYone have the qualifications to comment??? no.
this is a blog. we discuss things. things that we may not be expert on but affect our world, so we weigh in on them.
don’t like that? then don’t blog.
Peadawg
June 26th, 2009
9:04 am
“Nevermind the crazy christians blowing up doctors and clinics, molesting kids, etc.”
Speaking of molesting kids…RIP MJ!
GayGrayGeek
June 26th, 2009
9:04 am
Truth @ 8:47 – Andy lives in His Own Special World. He’s a Veruca Salt on steroids, an 8-year-old brat who will gleefully walk into a room, poop in the middle of it, then shriek with a tantrum when told that doing so was Not A Good Idea.
And, as with all such 8-year-old brats, the easiest and best thing to do is to ignore him, with the occasional meta-chat about him (such as now).
Peadawg
June 26th, 2009
9:04 am
Sorry…had to do it.
AmVet
June 26th, 2009
9:06 am
Ahhh. And we were so close to vistory in Iraq.
At least according to the deadly, incompetent, bloodlusting BushCo sycophants.
“You won’t hear any bad stories coming from Bookman and his band of liberals about Obama’s Afghanistan.”
I’m guess I’m no REAL liberal then. I have called it Quagmire Part Deux, especially since Obama’s “surge”.
Busy day today, boys and girls.
Enjoy your weekend…
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
9:06 am
Hey G-cubed! hey Peadawg! happy Friday!
Normal
June 26th, 2009
9:07 am
Peadawg…That’s not right…but it is funny…
Peadawg
June 26th, 2009
9:07 am
Amen USinUK!! TGIF!!!
Peadawg
June 26th, 2009
9:08 am
I know it’s not right, but I couldn’t help myself. All this arguing and bickering…had to make ya’ll laugh