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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraqi |
| 2005-04-29 |
| BAGHDAD, April 29 (UPI) -- At least 24 people were killed and 98 wounded as insurgents targeting Iraqi forces in Baghdad blew up bombs in a horrific three-hour melee. The carnage resulted from two roadside bombs and nine car bombs, seven of which were suicide attacks, CNN reported. The 24 dead does not count those suicide bombers, officials said. Police said at least 13 of those killed were Iraqi police or soldiers. The attacks came in or near the capital, primarily in minority Sunni communities. There were no reported U.S. casualties. A tape purportedly from al-Qaida's Iraqi leader, Abu Musab Zarqawi, called for more attacks on U.S. forces, the BBC said. The speaker on the tape identifies himself as the notorious Jordanian militant and vows not to let President Bush enjoy "peace of mind." |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #10 The western public is losing interest in the war-- not battle fatigue, but a sense that it's not getting any worse for us and may be getting a bit better. The MSM try to deny this, but the public recognizes that the struggle in Iraq is now between Iraqi democrats and Iraqi fascists. Bad news for Z-man. |
| Posted by: thibaud (aka lex) 2005-04-29 1:59:18 PM |
| #9 mhw: based on the number of suicide bombers already used by the terrorists (they have averaged between 10 and 50 per month for the past year or so), the supply of 'martyrs' is pretty substantial For a Muslim military force, they are substantial. But compared to the number of suicidal attacks by Japanese, Vietnamese Communist and Chinese Communist forces against Uncle Sam's positions in the wars of the last 100 years? There is a reason that Israel has beaten all the Arab armies combined - a strong Muslim instinct for self-preservation. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-04-29 1:41:52 PM |
| #8 based on the number of suicide bombers already used by the terrorists (they have averaged between 10 and 50 per month for the past year or so), the supply of 'martyrs' is pretty substantial one interesting question that we (or at least I) don't have a good answer to is whether all the selfboomers are motivated by Islamic or Baathist or tribal ideology or to what extent is the supply of selfboomers enhanced by monetary payment (or the promise of such) or to are people blackmailed into being selfboomers (e.g., we know your wife was seen without her veil yesterday, do what we tell you or we'll rape her and tell the Iman that it was her fault). |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-04-29 12:24:52 PM |
| #7 As I have pointed out before, all random violence does is antagonise the general population. It shows that they have failed in their strategy of attacking US and coalition troops and are now gravitating to soft targets that serve no purpose other than to keep them in the MSM headlines. It also hastens the day when Shiias and Kurds will sweep through Sunni areas arresting and killing until the Sunnis get their collective lightbulb moment. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-04-29 10:55:46 AM |
| #6 That seems awfully ineffective -- 3 hours of explosions comprising two IEDs and nine cars (with drivers, of course) -- to kill only twentyfour locals. Frightening, yes, but not a good use of limited human resources (I assume they still have practically unlimited booming supplies). Any thoughts from y'all who actually know something on the subject? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-04-29 10:53:57 AM |
| #5 The good ole UPI at work: At least 24 people were killed and 98 wounded as insurgents targeting Iraqi forces in Baghdad blew up bombs in a horrific three-hour melee. A tape purportedly from al-Qaida's Iraqi leader, Abu Musab Zarqawi, called for more attacks on U.S. forces, the BBC said. Obvious question: If Zarq is "targetting" U.S. forces, how come the first sentence says the bombs were targetting Iraqi forces? Either UPI is biased or Zarq is getting desperate after losing his laptop. My hunch... a little of both! BTW, were any U.S. forces killed in these attacks? The article doesn't say so, and my hunch is no. |
| Posted by: BA 2005-04-29 10:43:15 AM |
| #4 The guerrillas are making a big mistake. In Vietnam, the Vietcong killed about a dozen government workers and officials a day. But they stayed away from randomly targeting civilians - where a civilian was killed, it was because he had either refused to join them or had refused to pay the "taxes" they had imposed on him. Iraqi guerrillas are making enemies at random. No one, no matter how anti-American he is, is going to take the death of a loved one, from a random guerrilla attack, lying down. These guerrilla actions are creating enemies out of people who are anti-American, and who might not ever grow to like Americans, but will now have a reason to stick it to the guerrillas because they hate them more. I understand that the guerrillas are trying to demoralize the American public by dominating the media headlines, but the bottom line for most Americans is how many GI's are coming back in body bags. No amount of headlines about dead Iraqi civilians - sad as they are - is going to shift American public opinion. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-04-29 10:08:43 AM |
| #3 primarily in minority Sunni communities Maybe Sistani is sending a message? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-04-29 10:02:57 AM |
| #2 3 hours of explosions. Mein Gott. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-04-29 9:55:11 AM |
| #1 Berlusconi's ransom money at work. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-04-29 9:51:07 AM |