Many die in Iraq 'sectarian raid'

[DoYouEverWonder]

9 July 2006

Gunmen in the Iraqi capital Baghdad have killed at least 15 people in a sectarian attack targeting Sunni Muslims, according to police.

They say militants stopped cars in the Western area of Jihad, seizing passengers and passers-by, separating Sunnis and shooting them.

There has been an upsurge in sectarian violence in Iraq in recent months.

Sunni Muslims say government-backed Shia militias are behind many attacks. The government denies any involvement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5162510.stm


Glad Bush got rid of Saddam in order to make life better for the Iraqi people. :sarcasm:

[Eugene]

1. AP: Gunmen kill 40 in Baghdad rampage

Gunmen kill 40 in Baghdad rampage

Reuters
Sunday, July 9, 2006; 5:56 AM

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Up to 40 people, including women and children, were killed
on Sunday when Shiite gunmen went on a rampage against residents in
predominantly Sunni districts of Baghdad, Interior Ministry and police sources said.

It was the worst outbreak of sectarian violence to date in the capital, which has
seen hundreds of bodies dumped in the streets over past months amid worsening
communal bloodshed.

<snip>

"Gunmen are killing Sunni civilians according to their identity cards," an Interior
Ministry source told Reuters.

Residents said it appeared the killings were in retaliation for the bombing of a
Shiite mosque in Sunni Jihad district on Saturday night in which at least three
people were killed and 19 wounded.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/09/AR2006070900125.html

Sectarian violence. Communal bloodshed. Can't we call it a civil war yet?

[leftchick]

2. anyone with half a brain knows its a civil war

it has been for over two years now. Who could have predicted, eh? :(

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. And then another 17 were killed by bombs outside a Shia mosque

from the BBC report (update since originally posted, I think):

In more bloodshed hours after the shootings, Baghdad's northern Kasra district was rocked by the double car bomb attack.

Police said the vehicles exploded in a market place near the local Shia mosque, killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens of others.

[leftchick]

3. The US is conducting these raids WITHOUT consent of the "Iraqi Government"

check this out....

<snip>

Shaikh Sabah al-Saaedi, an MP and spokesman for the Fadhila Party, a rival Sadrist movement that is often critical of Muqtada, nevertheless blamed US forces for provoking a conflict and trying to draw the Sadrists into an armed confrontation. Al-Saaedi charged, "America wants to cause the Maliki government and the political project in Iraq to fail altogether, so that a government of national salvation can be installed."

Sources high in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense told al-Hayat that the American operation against the Sadrists in Baghdad had been launched without the knowledge of the Iraqi government and that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was not happy about it!


http://www.juancole.com/

[acmavm]

4. I said yesterday that drawing as Sadr into a prominent place in this

fight will prove to be a mistake. He's been sitting by the sidelines basically, waiting for his chance (according to an article I read). To provoke him is foolish because according to the article he is the one man who can bring full scale fighting into the streets against both the Americans and this government. Al Sistani still has some powers regarding the religious aspects of Iraq, although not nearly as much as two years ago. But al Sadr has the allegiance of the majority of the people and he can work this to his advantage. He's very young to be in the position of influence that he is in, and if he stays alive he can only become more powerful.

[Kagemusha]

5. Well Juan said it seems this Mahdi leader's gone rogue...

It's possible, but there's um, a continuum between rogue and non-rogue when everyone has a gun and knowing exactly where this guy's on is probably impossible for us poor ignorant Westerners. And the distinctions ceased to matter when that mosque got hit and Sunnis got shot in the streets like dogs.

[megatherium]

7. Do you mean the present atrocity (40 dead in machine gun attacks)? nt

[leftchick]

9. No, the raids on homes and Mosques

in Sadr City. But they are all part of the same US actions as the 40 killed incident. The US is stepping up pressure on the Sadr Militia.

[katinmn]

8. Let's not jump to conclusions about who the masked gunmen are

Remember the UK soldiers dressed up as Arab terrorists?

Keeping the pot stirred is what Cheney wants. Also gives Bush an opportunity to stay in Iraq longer.