Carnage in Baghdad

While we argue over who did what during a war that ended 30 years ago, Iraqi "minutemen" (Michael Moore's phrase) continue to target those trying to rebuild their nation:

IRAQ'S descent into a chaotic cycle of violence worsened yesterday when at least 47 people were killed and 114 injured in a massive car bombing outside Baghdad's police headquarters.

The devastating explosion ripped through a bustling market district at the end of Haifa Street, where dozens of young men were queuing for a chance to join the police force.
[...]
The latest attack on Iraq's fledgling security services came two days after fierce clashes between US troops and insurgents in the Haifa Street area, which is considered a bastion of Saddam Hussein loyalists.

Police sergeant Haider Hamid said the vehicle detonated outside the entrance of the al-Karkh police centre at 10am Baghdad time. The blast sent shrapnel through the area, scattering body parts and leaving pools of blood smeared on the pavement.

Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib toured the scene of the attack and blamed the bombing on "Arab groups" as angry locals cursed US President George W. Bush.

"These are planned operations aimed at killing citizens in Baghdad. Probably Arab groups are behind such attacks. We will crush these terrorists," Mr Naqib said.

In Baquba, north of Baghdad, 12 Iraqi policemen and one civilian were killed in a gun attack in the city, where 70 people died in a suicide bombing outside a police station on July 28, police said.

Iraqis curse the Americans for failing to restore order, and they cheer on the "insurgents" who are...killing people trying to set up security forces to restore order. That sums up the whole situation, pretty much.

Iraq is sliding into chaos on President Bush's watch, while the Democratic non-entity changes his Iraq strategy every five minutes. And then there's Ralph Nader and the other fringe candidates, who would abandon Iraq to its fate. What a choice for the American voter.

And whatever happened to these "human shields" who were so anxious to protect Iraq when Saddam was running the country, anyway?

Posted by damian at September 14, 2004 12:02 PM