Rumor of Terrorist Kills 769 People, 307 also injured
Good morning.
Today we see the deadly consequences of a mere RUMOR that a suicide bomber could be among a pilgrimage of people in Baghdad.
Seven Hundred sixty nine Shiite pilgrims (Mostly women, old men and children) were killed in a stampede as they became engulfed in panic as they crossed a bridge in Baghdad. Thousands rushed to get away, away from the rumored terroist, and in doing so trampled over and crushed each other, and some fell into the tigris river and drowned because they didn't know how to swim.
Tensions already had risen among the Shiite marchers because of a mortar attack two hours (killing 7 people) earlier on the shrine where they were heading. Then the crowd was slowed by barriers about a quarter of the way across the Two Imams Bridge.
About 1 million pilgrims from Baghdad and outlying provinces had gathered near the shrine, about a mile from the bridge, for the annual commemoration of the saint's death (Ironically).
Thousands crowded onto the bridge to get to their destination, when someone said they heard that a suicide attacker was among the crowd.
Like a matchstick, the Iraqi's are ready to ignite. There is no crying wolf in Iraq. There is no wolf, only reality.
Signing off for now.
Status Update, Killings and Lies and Videotape
Good morning,
Here is a RECAP provided by AP news for today:
_ Two rockets slammed into the parking lot of the Oil Ministry building wounding an employee and damaging several vehicles, police said. Only one missile exploded; the other failed to detonate.
_ Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Brig. Gen. Numan Salman Faris, director of the district rapid response force in Baghdad's Azamiyah district.
_ The Iraqi Islamic Party accused the government's Shiite-led security forces of being behind the recent killing of 36 Sunnis.
_ An Italian armored vehicle was hit by U.S. fire on the road to Baghdad airport last week, but nobody was injured, the Foreign Ministry said. The shooting occurred on the same road where an Italian secret service agent was killed by U.S. fire in March.
More updates as they come in.
Have a nice day
Rival Shite Groups Kill
Good afternoon,
Clashes erupted between two rival Iraqi Shite groups this afternoon.
Dozens of martyr fighters attacked Iraqi policemen setting off car bombs and small arms fire. So far 13 are reported dead and wounded 43. This violence took place in 5 southern cities.
The violence began when supporters of "Radical" Cleric Al-Sadyr tried to reopen his office. When Shiites opposed to Sadyr tried to block this move, violence broke out. Al-Sadyrs office was set on fire and destroyed.
Quoted from the Associated Press:
21 pro-al-Sadr members of parliament and three senior Cabinet officials announced they would refuse to perform their duties indefinitely to protest the Najaf attack.
Municipal officials loyal to al-Sadr in several southern cities issued similar declarations.
As word of the Najaf attack spread, clashes broke out between the two Shiite rival groups across central and southern Iraq. The violence extended to the country's second largest city, Basra, where several hardline Shiite groups are competing for influence.
Fighting was reported in at least six Basra neighborhoods as al-Sadr's followers attacked SCIRI offices and the headquarters of SCIRI's Badr Brigade militia, setting it ablaze, police said. Al-Sadr's headquarters in Basra was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire, according to police.
Hold on to your hats folks. The scent of civil war is growing stronger. I'll keep running death totals as they come in.
Have a nice evening.
Three bombs in one
Good morning,
This morning we wake up to the news that six people were killed and 21 injured. All were victims of martyr car bombers and small arms fire. Three of the six killed were Iraqi policemen. Attacks from dozens of gunmen onto Iraqi police forces were launched right after the car bombers blew themselves up.
Deputy justice minister Awshoo Ibrahim escaped a second assassination attempt in two days when gunmen fired at his convoy, killing four of his bodyguards and wounding five according to police.
In other news, Mr. Evangelist Pat Robertson's comment that the US should assisinate Venezuela president didn't really bother Mr. Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld said that it was Mr. Robertson's 1st ammendment right, Freedom of Speech to make the comment he did. I wonder if Mr. Rumsfeld would have felt the same way if Mr. Robertson's was directed to the US president.
Have a nice day.
Civilians and Medics Bombed, 43 die
Good morning,
Today 43 people were killed, mostly civilians in a well coordinated 3 car bomber attack in Baghdad. Two martyr car bombers targeted one of the cities major bus stations, one bomber pulled the switch outside the station near military patrol, and the other one ignited himself in the station's open air parking lot where buses carry passengers. A third car bomber blew himself up in front of a nearby hospital where many of those who were injured were being brought in.
Another 85 were wounded in these attacks.
US military say that 32 civilians and 68 were wounded. I'll update the actual number if and or when the final body parts are assembled.
Have a nice day.
20 More Killed in Baghdad Attacks
Good afternoon,
A slurry of slaughter today around Baghdad. A martyr car bomber killed 6 Iraqi civilians and one US soldier, as he plowed and detonated his vehicle in a US Convoy that was waiting at an intersection. More than 90 were also wounded in this attack.
More than another dozen people were killed in scattered attacks around the capital.
That's it for now.
4 US Servicemen and 11 People Killed
Good morning,
Three US Servicemen and one more US Marine were killed today. The 3 US soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. The marine was killed by small arms gunfire in Ramadi.
A car bomb also hit members of a radical Shiite militia in northern Iraq as attacks nationwide killed at least 11 people.
Fourty eight American service members have been killed in Iraq since July 27th. All but two were in combat.
Have a nice day.
14 US Marines Killed In Iraq
Good Morning,
Today 14 US Marines were killed. They and their civilian intrepetor (who was also killed) were on patrol near the Syrian in their amphibious assault vehicle, when they were blown to smitherines by a roadside bomb.
An American freelance journalist was also found dead hours after he and his female translator were abducted. His translator was wounded. Boom lights out.
Have a nice day.
7 US Marines Killed in Iraq
Good morning,
Just another Tuesday morning, wishing it was Friday morning.
Today we woke up to the news that 6 US Marines were killed in action in Western Iraq. A seventh marine was killed when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.
These recent deaths now bring the total US military death count since the beginning of the attack on Iraq to just over 1,800.
Have a nice day.
