new wave of death in iraq
Insurgents struck at the heart of the Iraqi government on Wednesday in two huge and deadly bombings that exposed a new vulnerability after Americans ceded control for security here on June 30. Nearby American soldiers stood by helplessly — despite the needs of hundreds of wounded lying among the dead — waiting for a request for assistance from Iraqi officials that apparently never came
The bombings, the worst since American forces handed over security responsibilities for cities to Iraq at the end of June, shook the Iraqi government’s confidence that it was ready and able to secure the nation.
Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki called for a reassessment of his security measures, calling the attacks “a vengeful response” to his recent, optimistic order to remove blast walls from the streets of Baghdad
The explosions, one close to the heavily fortified Green Zone and the other less than three miles away, sent plumes of smoke billowing over the capital, ripped a gaping hole in a compound wall and set cars ablaze, trapping drivers inside.
Up to twelve separate incidents took place in Baghdad yesterday with the death toll standing at 87 and some 550 injured according to the Ministry of Health (Media sources report the death toll as high as 95). These figures are expected to rise in the coming days as more information becomes available. The attacks started at around 10.45am and took place over a period of approximately 35 minutes. The main casualties occurred at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance offices – both targeted by vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED). The Ministry of Health was also reported to have been damaged however WHO has confirmed that this was not in fact the case.
The heaviest loss of life took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where at least 60 people are reported to have been killed and over 250 wounded. The building has suffered extensive damage with most of the front face of the 10 story structure blown off by the force of the explosion.
The Ministry of Interior said that the attacks on the Ministries occurred within three minutes of each other and were then followed by improvised explosive devices (IED) in other parts of the city including Salhiya and Al Baiyaa neighbourhoods. Three incidents of indirect fire also took place in the International Zone with the point of impact in the vicinity of the Cross Swords and the US Embassy.
Attackers paid $10,000 (£6,060) to get a bomb-laden truck past checkpoints and next to the Iraqi finance ministry in last week’s attacks, one of the suspected masterminds said in a confession broadcasttoday. Seeking to fend off criticism over security lapses, the Iraqi military released what it said was the confession of a Sunni man it identified as the planner of one of the two suicide truck bombings. Iraqi lawmakers and other officials have traded blame and called for investigations into how the bombers were able to get the trucks so close to government institutions in the heart of the capital
The security pact also contains a provision that allows the Iraqi government to request assistance from the U.S. military if it feels security conditions warrant, this seams a good idea to iraqi people than trusting their own weak iraqi troops
this is part of the fall dowen of the image of iraqi goverment as the strong hold army that will take over after US troops leave iraq
today iraqi people want to know how we spend millions of iraq money on building an army that sell it posts for few thousands dollers ,and how those people will not sell iraq borders for more
iraqi prim minster hids behind acussing bath and radical fighters from surrounding countries ,till today no iraqi leader can point the finger at the real country how give money to armied groups to kill iraqi people
iraqi goverment has to change their polcy of ignoring the problem and foucisng on accusiations ,iraq problem lay in the false national recounslation btween all it groups and ethincities ,making it possible for our nieghboors in the east to play on each party and group gread for power and make iraqi people pay a high price of blood and displacment
Date: August 25, 2009