BAGHDAD, Feb. 25, 2007
More Than 40 Killed Near Baghdad College
Suicide Bombing Part Of New Wave Of Violence In Iraqi Capital
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Play CBS Video Video New Terrorism Tactics In Iraq The U.S. military warns that insurgents are resorting to new tactics in their campaign. The latest rebel attacks utilized dirty bombs to spread poisonous gas. Susan Roberts reports.
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Video Some Soldiers Oppose Iraq War A new opposition to the war in Iraq comes from some men and women in uniform. Hundreds of soldiers have publicly asked Congress to stop the war. Lara Logan has this "60 Minutes" report.
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Video Democrats Try A New Strategy The Democrats failed to pass a non-binding resolution opposing the war in Iraq, so they're trying a new strategy forcing President Bush to change the way the war is being fought. Jim Axelrod reports.
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People gather to inspect the scene of a car bomb blast in central Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007. A parked car bomb exploded early Sunday near the Iranian embassy in central Baghdad, killing at least two people and wounding another four, police said. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
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Interactive New Plan For Iraq Key elements of the plan, excerpts from the president's speech, reaction and more.
The wave of attacks came a day after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki lauded the progress of an ongoing U.S.-Iraqi security operation seeking to cripple militant factions and sectarian killings in the capital.
The suicide attacker detonated a bomb-rigged belt near the main entrance to the college, where students were resuming mid-term exams after the two-day weekend in Iraq. Police said that guards confronted the bomber as he tried to enter the college grounds.
Authorities say most of the victims were students at the college.
A 22-year-old student, Muhanad Nasir, said he saw a commotion at the gate. "Then there was an explosion. I did not feel anything for 15 minutes and when I returned to consciousness, I found myself in the hospital," said Nasir, who suffered wounds to his head and chest.
The school is located in a mostly Shiite district, but does not limit its enrollment to that group. It's part of Mustansiriyah University, which is located in another area of the city, and was the target of twin car bombs and a suicide blast last month that killed 70 people.
In Other Developments:
U.S. military envoys and pro-government leaders have worked hard to sway clan chiefs and other influential Anbar figures to turn against the militants, who include foreign jihadists fighting under the banner of al Qaeda in Iraq. The extremists have fought back with targeted killings and bombings against fellow Sunnis.
The imam of the mosque attacked Saturday had spoken out against extremists — most recently in this Friday's sermon, residents said. Many people in the neighborhood work for the Iraqi military and police forces, who frequently come under militant attack.
"There is no safe shelter for all outlaws," said al-Maliki, who reported that 426 militants have been captured since the Baghdad security campaign began Feb. 14.
But the crackdown also has sent Sunni insurgents fleeing the city to the nearby province of Diyala, which has emerged as a new and busy front for U.S. troops.
It has become so volatile that the Pentagon may delay plans to turn over control of Diyala to the Iraqi military by the end of the year, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon told The Associated Press.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 136 Comments
- See Lars, I can copy and paste too; but at least what I have said is relevant to this century, this war, this hole we are in. What do you suggest we do to get out of it, or do you believe everything is okeedokee?
- Reply to this comment
- Please let me point out the fundamental fallacy of the Vice President%u2019s incessant argument. His attacks on Mrs. Pelosi%u2019s judgment, patriotism or whatever are a bit like an arsonist who starts a building on fire in far-away Iraqitown. He intended to burn down only the mayor Sadaam%u2019s office, but he didn%u2019t listen when the fire marshal told him that the entire town is tinder-dry with straw roofs, and so the fire quickly spreads out of control. In an effort to save money, Mr Cheney then fails to send enough firemen from USAville to put out the blaze or prevent its rapid spread, getting many of them killed over four years of fire fighting. He now scolds the USAville city council for wanting to begin withdraw of their tired firemen, attacking the council%u2019s courage, judgment, and patriotism and further lambastes USAville%u2019s citizens for not having the stomach to continue the fire fight. He often does so in front of a USAville flag and a polite, compliant, prop-like audience of young firefighters. Quite ironic isn%u2019t it? Furthermore, he now says the city council will ultimately be accountable for the destruction of Iraqitown.
- Reply to this comment
- Now boys and girls, who do you think is really to blame for the firestorm in Iraqitown?
Mr. Cheney knows we will withdraw troops soon and doesn%u2019t really care if we do. He just wants to make sure Democrats take the full blame for the carnage already underway in Iraq after we finally leave. He is bellicosely baiting Speaker Pelosi and daring Democrats to withdraw so he can blame them for a failed Iraq. Failure is not an option, it is a foregone conclusion. Success is no longer an option either; get our boys and girls home now. - Reply to this comment
- Lars, I still have your quiz: Which of these actions accomplished more towards wining the war on terrorism? Attacking Iraq under fraudulently falsified pretences or raising billions of dollars for and sending US military support to Indonesia after the tsunami? Holding teenage boys and 80 year-old men indefinitely in GITMO and encouraging the abusive behavior of Abu Graib or sending humanitarian aid and US military helicopters and medics to Pakistan after the earthquake? Which of these actions validate everything the terrorists espouse? Which actions undermine and contradict everything they decry? Which fills their coffers with gold and lines up suicidal volunteers? Which gives hope to the populace and vanquishes terrorists%u2019 sanctuary? Which acts create and nurture those terrorists groups you most want us to see and fear?
The war on terror will not be won through military destruction, but it is certain to be lost if we continue to destroy our reputation in the world as we are now. Any step forward we take with an act of kindness, we give two back to the terrorists with every violent act we justify in the name of war. The terrorists%u2019 greatest victory in Iraq will not be our withdrawal; it was our invasion and continues with our half-baked occupation. The greater ideology will win the war on terror, not the greater body count. - Reply to this comment
- Humans die in larger numbers in civil wars than any other form of warfare; look at the toll of our own civil war. Remember Rwanda? There are not just deaths, but some 2.5 million Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Syria, and other countries that can ill afford and have no desire to absorb them. We are not responsible for creating the ancient inter-sectarian and ethnic hatred that now fuels this conflict; that was the work of Sadaam%u2019s brutal regime and a millennia-old religious feud. We did spark the fire by invading Iraq, threw gasoline on it by failing to provide security, and catalyzed the violence by forming a largely Shia government bent on leaving the Sunni minority powerless and penniless. We toppled Iraq%u2019s Tito, and the fracture of this mideast Yugoslavia has begun, replete with little Milosevics all vying for power. Which one should we support? We cannot hope to close Pandora%u2019s Box, but we may be able to manage the inevitable subdivision of the Iraqi people in a less genocidal way. Senator Biden%u2019s plan for creating a Dayton Accord like separation of the warring sects has the best hope of carrying this out. I wish more Congressmen, from all political walks, would get behind his plan and shove it down this Administration%u2019s throat. Can we afford to wait out this Presidency? How many more of our boys and girls will be lost between now and Jan 09? How many more Iraqis? How many Mohammad Attahs will we spawn?
- Reply to this comment
- During WW II, the Japanese were searching for a way to demoralize the American forces that they faced. Their psychological warfare experts came up with a message that they thought would work well.
They gave the script to their famous broadcaster, "Tokyo Rose," and every day she would broadcast this same message packaged in various ways, hoping to have an impact on American GI morale. What was the message?
It had three main points:
1. Your president is lying to you.
2. This war is illegal.
3. You cannot win the war.
Sound familiar? the Democratic Party has picked up the same message and is broadcasting it to civilians domestic and abroad, and to our troops and our enemies. The only difference is that they claim to support our troops before they demoralize them.
Come to think of it, Tokyo Rose used to tell the troops that she was on their side.
I am often struck by how similar the rhetoric from the left is to the rhetoric from our enemies. Consider this transcript of a taped al qaeda message:
http://memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=802 - Reply to this comment
- To: msgt & advisor
Watch it guys!
Big Bro is probably listening.
If you're talking about more than a two party system aren't you talking about changing (Bush would say overthrowing) the US Gov't?
And if thats true doesn't that make you on the side of the terrorists? Our Gov't has made it clear that this kind of "crazy talk" won't go unpunished...
Posted by btans1 at 01:03 PM : Feb 25, 2007
I shall consider myself warned...lol.
It would not be the first time for me to be so accused. Every neocon that posts here has called me an islamo-fascist, traitor, or terrorist at one time or another....... - Reply to this comment
- The more that we involve ourselves into the affairs of others, the greater the burden that we carry for the outcome...
Posted by kstrisha at 12:50 PM : Feb 25, 2007
Very true and very well stated. - Reply to this comment
- "UNITY 08"
- Reply to this comment
- To: msgt & advisor
Watch it guys!
Big Bro is probably listening.
If you're talking about more than a two party system aren't you talking about changing (Bush would say overthrowing) the US Gov't?
And if thats true doesn't that make you on the side of the terrorists? Our Gov't has made it clear that this kind of "crazy talk" won't go unpunished... - Reply to this comment
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.
