Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Blood and Guts Cover Baghdad As Al Qaeda Strikes With Bombings, 17 Dead So Far

Al Qaeda in Iraq struck Iraq's Baghdad at the busiest time of day today and the death toll right now sits at 17.  In essence, more civilians have died in the past year in Iraq than in the previous 4 years combined...the war is back on, al Qaeda is ready to take over.

The story comes from The Miami Herald.



Bombings kill at least 17 in Iraqi capital


BAGHDAD -- Multiple bombings rocked central Baghdad on Wednesday, striking mainly near the heavily fortified Green Zone where key government offices are located and killing at least 17 people, Iraqi officials said.

The attacks were the latest in a relentless push by Sunni militants to undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government's efforts to maintain security in Iraq, two years after the pullout of American troops from the country.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombings but such systematic and brazen attacks against government buildings, security forces and Shiites in general bear the hallmarks of al-Qaida's affiliate in Iraq. The terror group has become emboldened by the successes of its fellow militants in the civil war next door in Syria and by widespread Sunni anger at the government in Baghdad.

The deadliest of Wednesday's attacks took place across the street from the Foreign Ministry building, when two parked car bombs went off simultaneously in two different parking lots. Those explosions killed at least seven people and wounded 17, a police officer said.

Shortly afterward, a suicide bomber walked into a nearby falafel restaurant where he set off his explosives-laden belt, killing five people and wounding 12, the officer added. The restaurant and others around it are often used by officials or visitors waiting for security escorts to take them inside the Green Zone.

Also Wednesday morning, a parked car bomb went off in Khilani Square in the Iraqi capital's commercial center, killing five people and wounding 11, another police officer said. Security forces sealed off the area as firefighters struggled to put out the blaze ignited by the bombing. Smoke billowed from several stores and stalls as some vendors hurriedly stuffed their goods into big bags and carried them away on their backs.

Two medical officials confirmed the causality figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to media.

Iraq has seen resurgence in violence over the past year. According to U.N. figures, 2013 had the highest death toll since the worst of the country's sectarian bloodletting began to subside in 2007. The U.N. said violence killed 8,868 last year.

Al-Qaida's affiliate in Iraq has in the past staged spectacular attacks on Iraqi government ministries such as in August 2009, when suicide bombers hit the Finance Ministry and the Foreign Ministry ministries, killing more than 100 people. The bombings were quickly claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq, as the group was known at the time.

6 comments:

The Duhnmharu said...

This is what happens when a status of forces agreement is not signed. It was all under control attacks were almost zero. But Iraqi president said no to signing. I wager he wishes he would have signed it now. As long as Sunni and Shiite are killing each other off in large numbers, it keeps them too busy to focus on the infidels. Amazing how many die under the name of religion, Allah and Islam. Clearly a violent ideology Often wonder how they got this far in the world. The old My religion is better than your religion ... kill in the name of god and you are always justified. One of these days I would hope the Muslims have had enough of killing to re invent Islam and bring it out of the stone ages and leave behind the violence is so adores.

Anonymous said...

It gets re-invented. From My religion is better than yours(what the Colonists did to the Natives), to We are the best country in the world ever(American Foreign Policy 1945-Present).

Lt. Colonel(retired) Reza Pejman

The Duhnmharu said...

Religion has been the cause of more deaths since time immemorial. Islam has for some reason singled out Christianity for special attention why is that? 125,000 dead Chritians world wide last year courtesy of Islam thats an impressive body count for a religion of peace.

As for the we are teh best country in the world, I guess Iran has a long way to go.

Wyhen tsunamis hiot Asian countries, whose fleet is offshore delivering food, medical aid and water... Not Iran. When earthquakes shake these third world coutnries and destroy cities, who send in people to help find the living and bury teh dead.. Not Iran . Iran is insular and for that reason it can never be great. It will always be mediocre in what it does. IN only one area is Iran great. It is in exporting its culture of death worship and terror... In those areas Iran is great. It could be otherwise, but Iran does not want to change. Would it be that teh Crescent of Islam was flying above an Iranian warship that was delivering aid to a devastated country, instead of supporting terror. How much different the world would look at iran. Iran is not the best country in the world, but it could start to try and be one of teh best But I fear teh Mullahs who lead teh country and teh IRG and others prefer their death culture rather than belonging to the international community that tries to help. America is not the greatest or the best, but they believe it , and their actions speak volumes. Iran on teh other hand her actions clearly show she wants to be teh greatest in killing jews, other arabs , other religions . Not a way to build a country or a way to make it great As for the natives, they got shafted for sure, but so do many Sunni and Shiite etc. Iran will never be great or teh best until the Mullahs are gone teh IRG belled the basij disbanded and freedom rings in Iran. That will be the day Iran starts to be great and not before

Anonymous said...

We don't make such claims. Every nation has its uniqueness and history. Only arrogant people make claims their country is the best in the world.

I don't think Iran is the best nation on earth. You on the other hand think America is. Every country has its problems, Iran and America included. And every country has its positive bright spots, again Iran and America included.

Iran has not waged offensive war for 200 years. America has overthrown governments and installed dictatorships for decades.

1949 Syrian coup d'état
1953 Iranian coup d'état
1954 Guatemalan coup d'état
1958 Indonesian coup d'état
1961 Cuba: Bay of Pigs
1960 Congo Crisis(overthrow of Lumumba)
1961: Dominican Republic Coup
1957-1975: Vietnam
1964: Brazil Coup
1966: Ghana coup
1973: Chile Coup
1976: Argentina Coup
1980's: Arming the Contras death squads.

This of course is an incomplete list.

Learn the misery you inflicted through this arrogance, before you spout drivel about how you are the greatest country ever. There's a whole world out there who suffered and continue to suffer so that you and yours can live your so-called American dream.

Lt. Colonel(retired) Reza Pejman



Holger Awakens said...

I thought it was "Persia" ?

:Holger Danske

Anonymous said...

No it's Iran. Persis was what the Greeks used to call the region/people. Hence the ruins at "Persepolis." Reza Shah formally requested for the country to be called Iran by the international community in 1935.

America is named after an Italian explorer. It could have been named Columbia. Imagine the mixup with Colombia?

Lt. Colonel(retired) Reza Pejman