Rebels Kills 17 Iraq Security in Bombing Spree

[leftchick]

http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7222637

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents killed 17 Iraqi police and National Guards Monday in another bloody spree of ambushes, bombings and suicide attacks aimed at wrecking Iraq's Jan. 30 national election.

Two explosions rocked Baghdad, including one detonated by a suicide bomber posing as a taxi driver who killed two policemen and a civilian near interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's party headquarters.

The other deadly attacks were centered in the restive Sunni heartland north of the capital, raising further questions among Iraqis on how the country's fledgling security forces will be able to protect voters if they can hardly protect themselves.

In west Baghdad, an explosives-laden car tried to ram through a checkpoint on a road leading to Allawi's party offices but hit a police pick-up truck and blew up, setting nearby vehicles ablaze and sending up plumes of black smoke.

[skypilot]

1. It's interesting that...

...almost all news reports of attacks in Iraq claim that the attacks are aimed at derailing the Jan.30 elections. Do they really think that if there we no elections on the horizon that the bombings would stop?

[leftchick]

2. yes..

they do! Sad isn't it?

[skypilot]

3. It seems to me...

...that this has been a reliable talking point ever since the Madrid bombings. All attacks and alleged threats of attacks are chalked up to attempts to derail elections: Spain's, the U.S's, and now Iraq's.

[geek tragedy]

6. More than one prominent insurgent/terrorist group has stated their goal

of preventing the elections. Ansar al-Sunnah being one.

[skypilot]

7. I'm sure they have all kinds of goals...

...but I bet that even if there were no upcoming elections the bombs would still be going off as long as we have troops over there.

[geek tragedy]

8. True, but there is undoubtedly an increase that is related to the election

The bombings would still be happening, but not as frequently.

Ironic, because the quickest way to get the US out is to hold elections. Any government elected would have been so because of a promise to order the US to leave.

[skypilot]

9. Increase.

I don't know, seems to me that the bombings have been as regular as ever. Maybe it's just me but I've never really perceived an increase or decrease. Just bombs away as usual. And our troops stuck there.

[geek tragedy]

10. Sad that we become desensitized to such horrors. eom

[KansDem]

4. "Iraqi police and National Guards..."

I'm not much on language (although I find it fascinating, particularly in politics!), but when I hear the words "police" and "National Guard" I think of highly organized and trained enforcement bodies. Now however I beginning to believe that these two institutions in Iraq are jokes. What are their true numbers? What is the extent of their training and esprit de corps? Are they really professionals or just some rag-tag collection put their for the "perception" of police and guard? After all, the Bush Administration has been nothing but a "perception," from the stolen election of 2000 to now. No substance, just an image to placate the American people while the Bushistas steal this country blind.

I don't have much hope for Iraq, even with its "police" and "National Guard..."

Let's get out now! As John Kerry might say, "How do you ask an American soldier to be the last one to die for Bush's mistake...?"

[skypilot]

5. Iraqi police and National Guards.

This is probably meant to provide the "perception" that Iraqis are in control of there own country. This perception is supposed to sit comfortably beside the reality of these very police and Guardsmen being killed all the time. I believe it's called Doublethink.