Showing posts with label Baghdad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baghdad. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon 127 killed in Iraq bombings

12/09/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post



In another wave of bombings in Irag, 127 died in blasts that took place within several minutes from each other. About 400 people were injured. Iraqi security forces were scouring the site of explosion particularly at the Baghdad Finance ministry and in a location close to the a police patrol in Doha on December 8, 2009.

The bombing is the worst after the October bombing which killed about 155 people in two car bomb incidents. The carnage brought ambulances and rescue workers to the scene. No one has claimed responsibility of the blood bath. Civilian and military officals worry that this round in violence can cause instability in the government before next year’s election. (Photo Credit: AP) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Two massive suicide bombings rock Baghdad

10/26/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




At least 140 people were killed and more than 500 were injured in two suicide bomb explosions detonated last Sunday. October 25, 2009 in Central Baghdad, Iraq. The blasts which shattered buildings occurred outside the Green Zone, the heavily guarded area where government facilities are located.

According to the police the first bomb struck near the justice ministry. It was immediately followed by a strong car blast at the provincial government headquarters. At least 25 employees of the Baghdad Provincial Council were among those who died.

These bombings were the most severe after the August suicide bombing which claimed the lives of about 100 innocent victims. The bombing this weekend occurred at a time when the Iraqi parliament is deliberating whether to pass a law that will allow national elections to be held in January.

Although Pres. Barack Obama reiterated America’s commitment to keep troops in Iraq during his meeting with Prime minister Nouri al Maliki, the United States is contemplating withdrawal of combat forces by August next year.

No one has claimed responsibility for the twin bombings though blasts of this scale are usually attributed Al Qaeda and to Sunni insurgents who want the overthrow of Shiites who dominate the management of the Iraqi government. (Photo Credits: AFP/ al Rubaye, A; AFP) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Iraq bloodbath kills 95

8/20/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Iraqis who have been used to killings that average about 200-300 per month are alarmed by the recent carnage that brought 95 dead and more than 500 injured. The deaths come from coordinated detonation of cars, trucks, and mortars on key targets in Baghdad---among the deadliest this year. One such bomb has exploded near the finance ministry wounding at least 200 people, mostly innocent civilians. Two Al Qaeda militants were arrested in connection with the senseless blasts.

“I am saddened that the violence continues, including an appalling string of attacks today in Baghdad which took the lives of scores of innocent people," UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki-moon ABCNews (08/19/09, Barker, A.)

A Sunni politician Falah Hassan Zeidan condemned the terrorist attacks in the city where the parliament, national government, and international community are located. Admitted by government officials, he complained of the laxity of the security men tasked to keep peace in the area.

The cowardly attacks have increased since the partial withdrawal of US forces last June. However, the decision to keep for about 2 years American military forces in the capital city remains. (Photo Credit: minnimarg) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Iraqi troops take over US military servicemen in major cities

7/01/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


After the successful surge spearheaded by Pres. George Bush, the time is now to pull out the US military servicemen who serve in major cities---This has stabilized a dangerous country before it is turned over to the Iraqi people.

It’s a kind of victory for peace that this is happening, but it will take time to know if the Iraqi military will be able to maintain the advance of peace and order in the area. This is a time to recall the great men and women of the US armed forces who put their lives in line to help a troubled country.

As thousands of Iraqi troops and police take over check-points, the barbaric elements of society raised their challenge to the Iraqi government by exploding bombs and killing people.

“A car bombing devastated a food market in the city of Kirkuk, killing at least 33 people and wounding 90. The early evening attack, which bore the hallmarks of Sunni extremist groups like al-Qaida in Iraq, was the second in the Kirkuk area since a truck bombing killed 82 people on June 20.”-----AP/ Yahoo News (06/30/09, Gamel, K; Barzanji, Y.; Gearan, A.)

Because militants still operate Iraq, it is hard to say what will be the outcome of the take over. The Iraqis are optimistic that the future is in the hands of their people. The world shares the people’s optimism that a regime of peace and democracy will usher in growth and prosperity for the country. If they slid back to the path of violence, a fresh round of social upheaval will waste the effort of those who make peace possible. (Photo Credit: Mccalibur) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Iraqi shoe-thrower gets 3 years in jail

3/12/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
30 year old Muntadhar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who rose to notoriety and fame for interrupting a Bush-Maliki conference in Baghdad in December 2008 has been sentenced to 3 years in jail on Thursday, March 12, 2009. He went on a shoe-throwing rampage which targeted, but missed visiting US president George W. Bush.

Swearing innocence to the charge of assault he said, "what I did was a natural response to the occupation,” referring to the US-led Iraq war against Saddam Hussein. For violating journalistic ethics and endangering the life of a dignitary, al Zeidi got the minimum sentence (max.15 years) to the charge which he can appeal. Upon hearing the sentence, some of al Zeidi's relative's fainted.

In a world where the boundary between right and wrong is often disputed, many in the Muslim world who laud the journalist's action was disappointed with the verdict. Others who look at his misplaced display of anger and think of the assault as an immature tantrum think the sentence serves him right. =0=
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PostHeaderIcon A shoe fly-by for Pres. George W. Bush

12/15/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


A shoe from an irate journalist in Baghdad was thrown on Pres. George W. Bush when he attended a news brief about the war with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The US president made light of the incident after he dodged being hit before the man, restrained by security service personnel, was whisked out of the conference room. Shouting invectives, the disruptive hysterical Iraqi hurled the second shoe on Bush, but landed off target just the same.

Pres Bush’s unannounced farewell visit in Baghdad was probably the last before he ends his presidency in January 2009. (Photo Credit: AP) =0=

NOTE: The general reaction of the Arabs and Muslims about the shoe-throwing tips support for the journalist. This speaks of how people in that part of the planet view what is right and wrong. There are those who applaud the show of rage. They celebrate suicide bombers and wail in full drama when someone gets killed violently. Others wonder if there is anything to be damned about the angry shoe. But certainly, in the civilized world, in a saner environment, it's not the way to treat a head of state, no matter how unpopular he can be.

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