Iraqis furious over series of bomb blasts

[Sara Johnson]

Iraqis furious over series of bomb blasts

Published: 00:00 August 16, 2011

Kut: Iraqison Monday were furious at security officials and Prime Minister Nouri Al Malikifollowing more than dozen bomb blasts across Iraq in the worst attack thisyear, one that highlighted Al Qaida's resolve and ability to wreak havoc.

"Where is the governmentwith all these explosions across the country? Where is Al Maliki? Why doesn'the come to see?" said Ali Juma'a Ziad, a shopowner in Kut, where the worstof the violence occurred. Ziad was brushing pieces of human flesh from thefloor and off equipment in his shop.

Al Maliki's spokesman and themilitary spokesman did not answer tele-phone calls.

Twin explosions rocked themarket in Kut, 160 kilometres southeast of Baghdad, where Ziad works.

The bloodbath comes less thantwo weeks after Iraqi officials said they would be open to a small number of USforces staying in the country past a December 31 withdrawal deadline.

Coordinated

The blasts were coordinatedto go off yesterday morning and included parked car bombs, roadside bombs, asuicide bomber driving a vehicle that rammed into a police station and evenbombs attached to lightpoles.

The scope of the violence —seven explosions went off in different towns in Diyala province alone —emphasised that insurgents are still able to carry out attacks despite repeatedcrackdowns by Iraqi and US forces.

Earlier this month, Iraqipolitical leaders announced they would begin negotiations with the US todetermine whether to keep a small number of American forces in the country pastDecember 31.

All US troops must leave bythe end of this year, but both Iraqi and US officials have expressed concernabout the ability of Iraqi forces to protect the country.

Theodore Karasik, a MiddleEast security expert at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analyst,said Al Qaida in Iraq is trying to disrupt the internal Iraqi political processand send a message to the Americans.

"It seems that Al Qaidain Iraq is playing a propaganda game at the same time it's trying to show thatit can still carry out deadly violence," Karasik said.

Brutal attacks

Here is a list of the worst attacks to hit Iraq in 2011.

January

· 18: Asuicide attack against a police recruitment centre in Tikrit kills 50 andwounds 150 others.

· 20:50 killed in nationwide attacks, including 45 in twin suicide car bombings inKarbala as pilgrims mark a holy day.

· 27: Aseries of attacks across Baghdad kill 53, including 48 who died when a car bombstruck a condolence ceremony in a Shiite district of the capital.

February

· 12: Asuicide attack against a bus carrying Shiite pilgrims near Samarra kills 33.

March

· 29: Amassive attack mounted by Al Qaida commandos against provincial governmentoffices in Tikrit kills 58 and injures 97.

May

· 5: Asuicide car bomb against a police station in Hilla kills 24 policemen. Theattack is claimed by Al Qaida's front group, the Islamic State of Iraq.

· 19:Three attacks in Kirkuk kill 29 people, mostly policemen.

June

· 3: Abomb attack against a mosque in central Tikrit followed by a suicide attackagainst a hospital where victims were being treated leave 24 dead.

· 21:Twin suicide attacks against the governor of southern Diwaniyah province kill26. The governor was unharmed.

· 23:Three attacks in Baghdad kill 24.

July

· 5:Twin suicide attacks in Taji kill 35 people.

August

· 15:At least 66 people are killed in nationwide attacks in 17 cities.

http://gulfnews.com/...blasts-1.852099

[FRUSTRATED]

IT'S NOT AL-QUAIDA YOU DUMBASSES!!! IT IS "AL-SADR" KILL HIM ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tjmunson]

As far as I know Al Qaida has already claimed responsibility for the attacks. The reason they gave was to cause "chaos" within the Iraqi government. IMO, Al Qaida knows that Iraq is the USA's golden goose and will do anything to bring down the current government and stop the process.

I would also tend to believe that Sadr is in alignment with the Al qaida belief system and would be more than happy to work with them to bring this plan of overthrowing the current GOI to fruition.

Peace

[Francie26]

Al-Sadr IS Al Qaida!

[tileman1814]

Al-Sadr IS Al Qaida!

Kill the whole damn bunch of them and keep US military bases in the country with about 500,000 soldiers with orders to kill the bad guys on sight.

Semper Fi !!!