Baghdad car bombs leave dozens dead

[Turborama]

Source: AP

Two car bombs exploded in Baghdad this morning, killing at least 31 people, breaking what has been a period of relative calm since the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The biggest blasts in the Iraqi capital in a month occurred as commuters were starting their working week, underlining the challenges facing Iraqi security officials in stabilising Baghdad as US forces end combat operations and Iraq's police and military assume responsibility for protecting the capital.

At least 10 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in western Baghdad's affluent Mansour neighborhood, Army Brigadier General Ali Fadhal, who is responsible for the western half of the city, told the Associated Press. He said another 10 were wounded in the attack, and security officials were investigating whether it was the work of a suicide car bomb targeting a crowded commercial area near an AsiaCell store, one of Iraq's biggest mobile phone providers.

The blast sheered off large sections of the concrete walls from the surrounding buildings, and chunks of rubble were strewn around the street. Dozens of Iraqi army and police officers surrounded the area, keeping journalists at bay.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/19/twin-car-bombs-baghdad

[truthisfreedom]

1. Remember when the war started and all of the explosives were stolen from unprotected bunkers?

It's still happening.

[COLGATE4]

2. Yes, the return to Iraqui control of their own security

is going swimmingly.

[saigon68]

4. Never Ending War

Thousands more Gold Star Mothers

[Billy Burnett]

3. Repig warmongering meme: Bush's surge worked! The surge worked!

Now Obama: The surge worked! We can draw down, the surge worked. The surge worked! The surge worked! The surge worked!

[Faygo Kid]

5. Car bombings kill dozens, injure more than 100 in Baghdad

Source: Washington Post

BAGHDAD - Six car bombs detonated across Baghdad on Sunday and a suicide bomber exploded a car in nearby Fallujah, killing a total of 37 people and wounding more than 100 in the deadliest day of violence in Iraq since the United States announced the end of combat operations three weeks ago.

The scope of Sunday's attacks -- especially a pair of simultaneous car bombings -- illustrated how uncertain the security situation remains as the United States hands over more security responsibility to its Iraqi counterparts and a political void deepens each day that Iraqi leaders fail to form a new government .

Traffic snarled in parts of Baghdad as Iraqi police tightened checkpoints after the twin car bombings struck at 10 a.m. in the Mansour and Kathumya neighborhoods, killing 29 people and wounding 111, according to Iraqi security authorities.

Witnesses said the booby-trapped vehicle in Mansour targeted a busy market area near an office of the Asiacell phone company and a popular restaurant. Ten people died. . . .

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/19/AR2010091900807.html?hpid=moreheadlines&hpid=topnews

---

Earth to George Bush and Dick Cheney: This will NOT end well. I marched against the war in Vietnam in 1969-70, and against this atrocious war in 2002-03.

I take no pleasure in noting that I was right both times.

[OhioChick]

6. Never ending n/t