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
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
12:20 pm
Normal –
“The draft was in full force during Korea and ‘Nam, I should know, but the apathy was still apparent. Case in point, At Hartsfield, I got in a taxi to go home and happened to mention I just got back from ‘Nam. He looked old enough for WWII, but he just looked in the mirror and said “so what?””
there’s a fantastic military blogger/writer who I think you’d really like – Bob Bateman (can’t remember his rank). he used to teach military history at West Point, he served a few tours in Iraq, right now, he’s back at the Pentagon, but I think he’s heading my way sometime next year (Lille, if I remember rightly).
anyhoo … he brought up the point that most people don’t have a member of their immediate family that has served in the military – making the military this “foreign” body that no one really understands much less has personal ties to.
he’s a great read – really explains how things work for us civilians (even though both parents served, that was waaaayyyyy before I was even a glint in their eyes)
@@
June 26th, 2009
12:21 pm
GGG @ 12:02:
Topic Du Jour?
I wrapped up my 11:55 with just that — relevant by extension. Your topic discussions?
9:04 (Andy) — 9:28 (Andy) — 10:22 (Andy) — 10:22 (Andy) — 10:33 (Andy) — 9:30 (I’m not gay) — 9:46 (Again, not gay) — 9:51 (Again?) — 10:33 (once again…)
Any other advice you’d like to give me before I’m out?
Don’t bother….I’m out with this comment submission.
TnGelding
June 26th, 2009
12:21 pm
Paul
June 26th, 2009
11:14 am
And it looks like he is going to have to take out Iran and N. Koreas’s nuclear facilities as well, if their leaders don’t stop making threats. Not to mention missile launching sites.
TnGelding
June 26th, 2009
12:27 pm
Doggone/GA
June 26th, 2009
11:56 am
And with NO deferments!
JokesOn
June 26th, 2009
12:28 pm
USinUK.
Hope all is well. Keep up the good fight.
Normal
June 26th, 2009
12:29 pm
USinUK…Thanks for the heads up…I’ll check him out
————-
Has she really left? WHEW!
Dusty
June 26th, 2009
12:32 pm
Well, I see this blog has toned down a bit. About time. As @@ noted, it gets tiresome.
Andy pictured terrorists loading themselves with tons of explosives to murder the innocent as pathological acts of depravity. I can’t think of a better description. But the “usuals” furiously declared his statements as everything from delirious to dementia, a state which they mostly maintain.
Andy did not think Bookman’s words were supportive of USA efforts in Iraq. A definite downer in tone. That may be because Bookman has seldom supported US efforts in the MiddleEast as directed by Bush. Bookman is less obvious now that Obama is President. Only those with short memories forget Bookman’s previous opinions.
So, Paul pours oil on the water with even a bit about the weather.
DebbieDoRight waxes sweetly about what we expect of politicians without a single presidential insult as in the old Bush days.
Normal is back to “Bless your heart” and “Love love love!”
One bird brain has not repeated his claim that the “CIA created drug addicts”!!
This is going to be a long, hot summer. Pray for rain. It cools the temperament.
GayGrayGeek
June 26th, 2009
12:34 pm
@@ – “I know you are but what am I” is the best you can do? Sad. Just simply Sad.
USinUK
June 26th, 2009
12:34 pm
JOKESY!!!! good to see an old friend .. am upstairs now … hope to see you there …
The Truth is Way Out There
June 26th, 2009
12:41 pm
Well! Some people are just too anonymously sensitive.
TnGelding
June 26th, 2009
12:41 pm
Dusty
June 26th, 2009
12:32 pm
Finally, something we can agree on; your last sentence.
Have a great summer. Stay cool, calm and collected!
The Truth is Way Out There
June 26th, 2009
12:43 pm
And, I guess Dusty is trying to become a reporter. Bless her heart.
Dusty
June 26th, 2009
12:49 pm
Dear TnGelding, 12:41
Thanks for the summer wishes.
I am always cool, calm and collected even though we don’t have air conditioning. Conservatives just know how to do it!
Normal
June 26th, 2009
12:50 pm
AW TRUTH, you stole my line…hehe
Dusty
June 26th, 2009
12:57 pm
Dear “Truth is Way out There”. 12:43
WHAT? A reporter? I’ll have you know I was EDITOR of my HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER!! (Nobody else could read and write! They all went to elementary school up north!)
the evil rich
June 26th, 2009
9:33 pm
What’s the problem, all you libs cared about was getting out of Iraq. And, btw, where’s the top terrorist – Osama – I thought that was Nobama’s #1 objective? Good hunting!