Dozens Die in Wave of Attacks in Iraq

[BSB]

I'm so glad we spent all that blood and treasure to bring democracy to Iraq even if it is a tad untidy. Isn't it wonderful?

BSB

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Dozens die in wave of attacks in Iraq

msnbc.com news services
4:04 AM EST December 22, 2011

Iraqi security forces inspect a crater caused by a car bomb attack in the neighborhood of Karrada in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday.

At least 57 people have been killed and 179 wounded in a wave of violence across Iraq's capital Baghdad Thursday morning, a spokesman for the Iraqi health ministry said.

The wave of attacks targeted neighborhoods around the city in an apparently coordinated campaign of violence designed to wreak havoc.

The blasts were the worst violence to hit the country since a political crisis between Iraq's Sunni and Shiite factions erupted this weekend.

The political spat, which pits Iraq's Shiite prime minister against the highest-ranking Sunni political leader, has raised fears that Iraq's sectarian wounds will be reopened.

Iraqi officials said at least 12 blasts went off early Thursday morning in nine neighborhoods around the city.

The violence ranged from sticky bombs attached to cars to roadside bombs and vehicles packed with explosives.

Most of the violence appeared to hit Shiite neighborhoods although some Sunni areas were also targeted.
'Scared and crying'

In the southwestern neighborhood of Karrada, where one of the victims was killed, sirens could be heard as ambulances rushed to the scene and a large plume of smoke rose over the explosion site.

"My baby was sleeping in her bed. Shards of glass have fallen on our heads. Her father hugged her and carried her. She is now scared in the next room," said one woman in western Baghdad who identified herself as Um Hanin. "All countries are stable. Why don't we have security and stability?"

Raghad Khalid, a teacher at a kindergarten near the Karrada blast, said "some parts of the car bomb are inside our building."

"I saw all the windows were blown out and glass scattered everywhere. The children were scared and crying," Khalid said.

the rest at: http://news.mobile.msn.com/en-us/articles.aspx?afid=1&aid=45762201&pg1=2501

[Plane]

Seems like having hundreds of Timothy McVeigh clones running around.

Will the most cruel be the one left in charge finally?

[Xavier_Onassis]

The US had to leave  because the Iraqis don't want us there. I am sure that there are many underground activities and secret agents commanded by the US in Iraq, most of them Iraqis.

The US made a democracy there at least sort of possible. The rest is up to the Iraqis. If they blow themselves up, so be it.

[BSB]

XO "The US had to leave because the Iraqis don't want us there."

While there were Iraqis literally dying for us to leave, the real reason we left was do to a legal issue. The Iraqi government wanted our troops to be subject to Iraqi law. Diplomats aren't even subject to the host countries laws, how could we have American soldiers subject to Iraq's laws? We couldn't, so Obama had to get us out.

Anyway, it makes little difference now. We've strengthened Iran's hand, lost aprox 4000 US servicemen and women, had 20,000 wounded in action, many so seriously Kramer would enjoy mocking them, and blew a trillion dollars using a Chinese credit card. 

Good job Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld. You knew nothing about Iraq, and even less about war.

BSB

[Xavier_Onassis]

I agree that this war was a dreadful mistake, mongered in order to make Juniorbush a 'war president' and therefore winning him a totally undeserved second term.

The US was right to leave. I agree about that as well. Iraqis should run Iraq. I hope they manage to do it well.