Neutrality is No Protection
Suicide bombers have struck four times in Baghdad's morning rush hour, killing 34 people and wounding 224 near the Red Cross offices and police stations, in the city's bloodiest day since Saddam Hussein's overthrow.
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Iraq's police chief Ahmad Ibrahim, who is also deputy interior minister, told a news conference 26 of the 34 dead were civilians and eight police. Sixty-five police and 159 civilians were wounded. He did not say if foreigners were killed.
The explosions, sirens and smoke plunged Baghdad into fear and chaos at the outset of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The onslaught "is not only criminal, it's sacrilegious", U.S. Brigadier General Mark Hertling told reporters.
Speaking later at the news conference, Hertling said all the Monday morning attacks were suicide bombings, while a fifth had been foiled by Iraqi police. A suspect was seized alive in that attack and was believed to be a Syrian national, he said.
Get the rest of the story from Reuters
Matt's Chat
In order to be objective, you report both the good and the bad. WMD is a commentary site, not a media outlet, but when a story like this comes along, we are compelled to express our opinions.These terrorists don't care who they kill. They have attacked the media (NBC), international peace organizations (the UN), and now humanitarian aid organizations (Red Cross/Red Crescent). I deplore these actions and call them the cowardly acts that they are: Terrorism.
Those who would shriek in glee that there isn't a "good news" story to tag on to this should reflect on that attitude a bit. This is serious business, and these people who hide behind a religion that they do not follow need to be brought to justice. And I don't mean a court of law.
Now, who has a problem with that?
Mark's Remarks
Amen, Matt, to your thoughts...This article speaks volumes to me, as is some of the reaction that I find from the UN and the Red Cross folks.....Here are some examples:
"We always believed we were protected by the humanitarian work we do," ICRC spokeswoman Nada Doumani told Reuters after the powerful morning blast on the Red Cross's doorstep on Monday.
"We thought that people knew us and we were protected by the work we did. We thought we were different from the rest."(Reuters)
"We are very shocked by this terrorist attack because the target of the attack was the very symbol of humanitarian aid in Iraq," said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
"It means that one of the interests of these people is to expel every foreigner without distinction of mandate," she told AFP.
Maybe now these people will see that it is not just Americans who these people are after....it is not just us 'overzealous dogooders,' that it is everyone who does not think the way that they do or add to their power. These terrorist hate everyone not like them, not just Americans. I hope this spurs more nations to action, but it will probably be spun into a "where was the security?" story......
This is a terrible, dangerous situation. Our troops and now aid workers are in harm's way...I guess it is the best idea just to pull them out, let the evildoers win, and get ready for 9/11 part deux? I do not think so...These animals must be brought to justice.....No flag of neutrality or anything is protection against these animals. They will not stop until they have destroyed all freedom loving institutions....and if we allow the liberals to control the day, that is what will happen...We must bring these people to justice, if Iraqis are to have a free society, and if our way of life is to continue to future generations......Losing soldiers is terrible, it is...I have military in my family, and I do not want them to die...however, the deaths of our loved ones and fellow citizens will be cheapened by the patented Clintonesque "pullout and run" policy. It will only embolden terrorists to strike. Why do you think things progressed since the first Twin Towers Bombing in the 1990s? Nothing was done but lip service and some video game style missile attacks, which did little. There was no followup.....and eventually the terrorists escalated to the point they murdered 3,000 people. Now we are at the same crossroads as in Somalia, as in the aftermath of hte first Trade Center bombing...Do we simply turn tail and run, and embolden America's and the world's enemies...or do we stay and fight and root out these evil animals and bring justice. To me, the choice is simple...if we turn tail and run, we will embarrass ourselves, let down the Iraqi people, and engender more terrorist attacks at home. We have to continue the fight....We have to realize IT IS NOT A VIDEO GAME...We have to be ready for the casualties, which are horrific, but pale in comparison to Korea, to Vietnam, to World War II. We have to quit being so damned spoiled a people that we turn tail and run.
