EFE notes, "The deadliest attack occurred in downtown Tuz Khormato, 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of the Iraqi capital, where 11 people died and 60 were injured by the explosion of a car driven into a crowd by a suspected suicide bomber." Lu Hui (Xinhua) reports a Kirkuk bombing left 1 person dead and four injured while 2 Nasiriyah car bombs claimed 4 lives and left sixty-seven injured and a Karbala bombing left 5 dead and eleven injured. Michael Martinez and Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) add, "In Mosul, at least eight people were killed and 12 others were wounded in two separate explosions in the city. Mosul is a largely Sunni city about 400 kilometers, or 248 miles, north of Baghdad." CNN's report also contains a photo essay of the aftermath of some of today's violence. Catharina Moh has a video report for BBC News in which she observes, "Saturday saw a wave of bombings apparently coordinated to hit market areas, cafes and restaurants at their busiest."
Richard Olsey files a report. We're not that desperate. Let's hope Nouri al-Maliki bought Osley a meal before the 'reporter' put out.
BBC News makes an important point, "Correspondents say the areas struck in the capital were both Shia and Sunni districts." RT counts 80 dead and two hundred injured from the "series of bombings" across the country today. Tim Arango (New York Times) points out, "The bombings were the latest in a surge of attacks in Iraq this summer -- before, during and after Ramadan -- that have brought monthly death tolls to levels not seen in nearly five years, according to United Nations figures." Pravda provides this context, "Around 700 people have been murdered in Iraq during Ramadan this year."
Let's assume that the above coverage counted every bombing in Iraq -- okay, let's pretend it happened. Even had that happened, 80 doesn't cover the death toll. In addition, there were shootings today. NINA notes Baghdad police say 2 people were shot dead (suspects) by them in an armed clash, a Qayara home invasion left 1 Iraqi military officer dead (it was his home), an attack on a Mamoon home left five family members injured from gunfire, a Dijail attack on a police officer left him and his wife dead, and a Babil mortar attack left two police officers injured.
This evening, the US State Dept issued the following:
Press Statement
Jen Psaki
Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 10, 2013
The United States condemns in the strongest
possible terms the cowardly attacks today in Baghdad. These attacks were
aimed at families celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the
end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The terrorists who committed
these acts are enemies of Islam and a shared enemy of the United States,
Iraq, and the international community.
The attacks today bear the hallmarks of similar suicide and vehicle bomb attacks in Iraq over the past ninety days. Most of these attacks have been perpetrated by al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). AQI is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. He is also listed at the United Nations Security Council 1267/1989 al-Qa'ida Sanctions Committee.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Abu D'ua, is now based in Syria and has changed the name of AQI to the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS). He has taken personal credit for a series of terrorist attacks in Iraq since 2011, and most recently claimed credit for the operations against the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, the suicide bombing assault on the Ministry of Justice, among other attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Iraqi citizens going about their daily lives.
The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information that helps authorities kill or capture Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. This reward is second only to information leading to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the chief of Al Qaeda’s network, and symbolizes our ongoing commitment to helping our partners in the region eliminate this threat from their territory.
In this regard, the United States is prepared to work closely with the Iraqi Government to confront the threat posed by Al Qaeda in Iraq and other terrorist groups. We look forward to discussing bilateral cooperation in this and other areas, pursuant to the Strategic Framework Agreement between our two countries, during the upcoming visit of Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari next week in Washington.
Our deepest condolences go out to the victims of today's attacks and we hope for the quick recovery of those injured. The United States will stand with the Iraqi people as they work to overcome these horrific attacks perpetrated by a common enemy.
The attacks today bear the hallmarks of similar suicide and vehicle bomb attacks in Iraq over the past ninety days. Most of these attacks have been perpetrated by al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). AQI is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. He is also listed at the United Nations Security Council 1267/1989 al-Qa'ida Sanctions Committee.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Abu D'ua, is now based in Syria and has changed the name of AQI to the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS). He has taken personal credit for a series of terrorist attacks in Iraq since 2011, and most recently claimed credit for the operations against the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, the suicide bombing assault on the Ministry of Justice, among other attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Iraqi citizens going about their daily lives.
The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information that helps authorities kill or capture Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. This reward is second only to information leading to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the chief of Al Qaeda’s network, and symbolizes our ongoing commitment to helping our partners in the region eliminate this threat from their territory.
In this regard, the United States is prepared to work closely with the Iraqi Government to confront the threat posed by Al Qaeda in Iraq and other terrorist groups. We look forward to discussing bilateral cooperation in this and other areas, pursuant to the Strategic Framework Agreement between our two countries, during the upcoming visit of Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari next week in Washington.
Our deepest condolences go out to the victims of today's attacks and we hope for the quick recovery of those injured. The United States will stand with the Iraqi people as they work to overcome these horrific attacks perpetrated by a common enemy.
As disturbing as the violence? The rumors Adnan Hussein (Al-Monitor) reports on:
As soon as the results of the Iraqi provincial council elections in April 2013 were announced, some within political circles and the media speculated that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may seek to postpone parliamentary elections scheduled for next spring to an unspecified date.
The speculations were triggered by a significant decline in Maliki’s popularity, as seen in the provincial elections. This decline, of course, is due to the failure of Maliki's government to achieve its promises, particularly in the area of security and public services.
Initially, there were speculations that Maliki may resort to postponement to buy some time and regain his lost popularity. But later, a rumor arose of the possibility that Maliki and his coalition may conduct a coup against the democratic path of the political process.
This possibility was raised by a Sadrist MP, thus making the coup scenario more credible. The Sadrists are the allies of the State of Law coalition within the National Iraqi Alliance, the largest partner in the current government. They know what is happening on the inside.
In a press statement, Iraqi MP Amir al-Kanani said he feared that there will be no peaceful transfer of power if “the results of the upcoming elections turn out different than what Maliki is aiming for.”
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
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