Attacks kill 24 in Baghdad despite security crackdown (69 wounded)

[Barrett808]

Attacks kill 24 in Baghdad despite security crackdown
by Jay Deshmukh

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Bombings and shooting have killed at least 24 people and wounded 80 in Baghdad as a previous raid by US and Iraqi troops into a Shiite militia stronghold stoked political controversy.

At least five bomb blasts killed a total of 19 people Tuesday, two rockets fell inside the highly fortified Green Zone and five Iraqis were killed in a bank robbery, security officials said.

...

The first bomb hit at dawn, when a roadside booby-trap ripped open a minibus and a taxi in the downtown Nahda area. Nine commuters were killed and eight wounded, an interior ministry official said.

Almost immediately afterwards, two more blasts targeted a police patrol nearby, wounding three officers, he added.

Four hours later, two bombs detonated in rapid succession in the crowded Shorjah market in the commercial heart of the city.

Ten people were killed and 69 wounded in the blasts, which set fire to several shops. Five days ago 10 people were killed in Shorjah when an explosives-laden moped detonated.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060808/ts_afp/iraq

[saigon68]

1. FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH

[bemildred]

2. The "crackdown" is entirely imaginary.

Putting more targets troops out on the street does nothing to restore order. That ought to be evident by now, by the US military command does not let observation of the course of events interfere with any of their long held preconceptions about what works and what does not.

[Barrett808]

3. But the plan isn't just to erect checkpoints and patrol Haifa Street...

...No, the plan is to shake the hornet's nest by raiding "death squads" in Sadr City. Some day soon, newly redeployed US forces will kill the wrong people, and the Shi'a will turn out in the millions.

[bemildred]

4. Yeah, I know.

Nothing quite like pissing off the Mehdi Army to "restore order". I really wish they would bring our guys home. Haven't they put up with enough of this?

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. In about a year, the fact that there is a civil war going on there

will be out in the open & freely discussed. Until then we have to endure the lies and denials.

[SpiralHawk]

6. republicons love these Nation Building efforts

they say they are against nation building. Then that's all they do. And then they FAIL at it.

More con lies -- for the sake of oil crony profits.

[rodeodance]

7. AP Bombings, shootings kill 33 across Iraq

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060808/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=ApVboBOA2INK5K7XAGygTQKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OTB1amhuBHNlYwNtdHM-
Bombings, shootings kill 33 across Iraq

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 2 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A series of bombings and shootings killed at least 33 people Tuesday, most in the Baghdad area, as more American soldiers patrolled the streets of the capital in a make-or-break bid to quell sectarian violence.


Nearly 60 people were wounded in the blasts, police said. The explosions began when three bombs went off simultaneously near the Interior Ministry in central Baghdad, killing 10 people and wounding eight, police Lt. Bilal Ali Majid said.

Two more bombs ripped through the main Shurja market, also in central Baghdad, killing 10 more civilians and wounding 50, police Lt. Mohammed Kheyoun said.

At least 13 other people were killed or found dead Tuesday, most in the Baghdad area, where tension between Sunnis and Shiites runs the highest.

[rodeodance]

8. may be carried out by---criminal gangs and freelance gunmen

But such declarations alone will do little to curb the violence, much of which is believed carried out by criminal gangs and freelance gunmen settling personal scores.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Relatively quiet day in paradise, eh? Must be the last throes kicking in

[WCGreen]

10. At least they ar3 performing below average now....

That is good news...

Less that 100 for today, at least...