At Least 122 Killed In Iraq Violence

Suicide Bombers Target Shiite Marketplaces In Baghdad And Town North Of Capital

(AP)  Violence has increasingly erupted in towns and cities outside the capital in recent weeks, as insurgent fighters take their fight to regions where U.S. and Iraqi forces are thinly deployed. The U.S. military and its diplomats have voiced cautious optimism about the sweep and emphasized that the full American surge force would not be in place until June. Crocker brought the same message.

"All of this will be very hard. But if I thought it impossible I would not be standing here today. I pledge my full support to this mission and to the people of Iraq, and I know you will do the same," he said.

When he finished speaking a military band struck up, "It's a Grand Old Flag."

Crocker, an Arabic speaker, is among the most experienced U.S. diplomats in the Middle East. He had been ambassador to Pakistan since 2004 and served as ambassador to Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait, with other assignments in Iran, Qatar and Egypt.

In 2003, he was assigned to the Baghdad embassy when Iraq was being run by the Coalition Provisional Authority. In 1983 he was thrown against a wall but not seriously hurt when the American Embassy in Beirut was hit by a car bomb. In 1998, when he was in Damascus, the ambassador's residence was overrun by rioters. Crocker was not hurt.

The Shaab neighborhood was one of the first that U.S. and Iraqi forces tackled when the security crackdown began Feb. 14. It was also the scene of a bombing nearly two weeks ago in which officials said a car bomber used children as decoys to get near the busy complex of shops and street vendors.

At Imam Ali hospital in the poor Shiite Sadr City neighborhood, where many of the Shalal wounded were taken, cries of pain and grief filled bloodstained corridors.

Salam Hussein, who was near the Shalal market when the bombers struck, said two of his relatives were killed and three others were wounded. He said most of the victims were women and children, including six siblings.

"I saw headless children and body parts everywhere. I brought four wounded to the hospital. But resources there are very limited. The refrigerators at the morgue are full. It's a disaster," he said at the hospital.

Nahid Abdul-Ameer, who runs a soft drink stand about 100 yards from the market, said he saw the two bombers explode their vests at the same moment. He was cut by flying glass but was able to help with carrying away the dead and wounded.

"People went out to shop today in large numbers. They had a false sense of security," he said. "People were removing dead bodies on pushcarts normally used for cases of vegetables and fruits," he said.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose backing is dropping even among fellow Shiites, issued an angry statement pledging to bring bombers and their backers to justice.

"We call on you (Iraqis) not to allow the evil ones to triumph and to cooperate with your armed forces. ... Justice will reach them sooner or later," he said.

On Wednesday, Shiite militants and police went on a shooting rampage against Sunnis in the far northwestern city of Tal Afar, killing as many as 70 men, execution-style. The killings were triggered by twin truck bombings there the previous day that killed 80 people and wounded 185.

The Islamic State in Iraq, an umbrella group of insurgent and terror groups — including al Qaeda — claimed responsibility for the Tal Afar bombing attack in an Internet statement.

[j-whitman]

Lars,,, You're 19 years old -- ENLIST & SERVE YOUR COUNTRY

[randalds]

Oh no, theres no civil war in Iraq. Just a little patience (and more troops) and they will all be going to Sunday school, baking apple pies, and living the American dream. Because isn't that what everyone wants? And king george is just the one to force it upon them. He is just doing his christian duty. Oh yes, ol dubya, is a wonderful christian. Just ask any of his oil buddies.
Posted by msmithdznr at 08:29 AM : Mar 30, 2007

lol! That's right because inside every radical Muslim is an American Christian struggling to get out.

[lars008-2009]

Widow attends massacre trial wearing Mohammed cartoon
http://eye-on-the-world.blogspot.com/2007/03/widow-attends-massacre-trial-wearing.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/blog/israel_palestine_cartoon.gif
http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/
http://face-of-muhammed.blogspot.com/
http://www.internetcurrentevents.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Best_Friends
http://www.scientomogy.com/south_park_scientology.php
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/010009.php#more
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/sarticle.php?id=12146
http://www.mohammeddance.com/
http://anonymous-infidel.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_anonymous-infidel_archive.html
More lies by the Imams
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004505.htm
Egypt republished them in OCTOBER to general ho-hum.
http://egyptiansandmonkey.blogspot.com/2006/02/boycott-egypt.html
http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/ArabCartoons.htm
Iran Holocaust Cartoon Contest Translated...
http://switch5.castup.net/frames/20041020_MemriTV_Popup/video_480x360.asp?ai=214&ar=1280wmv&ak=null
The float carried two identical cartoon-style papier-mache figures, each wearing a suicide-bomber's belt and carrying a dagger and a pistol. The first was labelled 'the cliche,' the second was labelled 'the reality.'
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24507_German_Muslims_Seething_at_Carnival_Parade&only
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1265687.php/Carnival_attracts_3_million_in_Germany_-_Muslims_offended__Roundup_

[lars008-2009]

NONE OF US IS FREE UNLESS ALL ARE FREE!!!

WHY DO MUSLIM COUNTRIES NOT GRANT EQUAL RIGHTS TO NON MUSLIMS???

FASCIST NAZI ISLAM SAYS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATES ISLAM LAW...

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

For example, in 1981, the Iranian representative to the United Nations, Said Rajaie-Khorassani, articulated the position of his country regarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by saying that the UDHR was "a secular understanding of the Judeo-Christian tradition", which could not be implemented by Muslims without trespassing the Islamic law.

http://www.un.org/terrorism/
http://www.un.org/terrorism/strategy-counter-terrorism.html
http://www.un.org/

[iceman_1960]

"Oh no, theres no civil war in Iraq. Just a little patience (and more troops) and they will all be going to Sunday school, baking apple pies, and living the American dream." Posted by msmithdznr

This satire isn't very far from Bush's own Pie-in-the-Sky rhetoric about the goals in Iraq.

It's what Bush "believes."

"Don't confuse me with the facts. I know what I believe."

That's been Bush's attitude about this war all along.

Too bad so many have to die to keep Bush's castle floating in the sky.

[dogband]

Americans are simply targets of opportunity inside a civil war. The quicker we remove ourselves, the quicker we stop Americans from being killed or injured for no purpose at all.

When Americans go on patrol, they do not tell the local police in fear that our destinations/goals will be revealed to the enemy. And we are supposed to establish a democracy when we cannot trust the friendlies? Holy ***!! Anyone who believes this will happen is just plain stupid, and should immediately insist that your daughter, son, niece or nephew or neighbors kid or you yourself hop on a plane and help make this happen. Good God almighty, how friggin stupid can a population become?

[msmithdznr]

Oh no, theres no civil war in Iraq. Just a little patience (and more troops) and they will all be going to Sunday school, baking apple pies, and living the American dream. Because isn't that what everyone wants? And king george is just the one to force it upon them. He is just doing his christian duty. Oh yes, ol dubya, is a wonderful christian. Just ask any of his oil buddies.

[mcvet]

'benefit the most' - most of what? government healthcare - as if the top 1% uses government healtcare, 'investments' oh like government investments? ***?

Love socialism? Move to Hugo's Venezuela!
Posted by badaxmofo at 10:14 PM : Mar 29, 2007

Why can't you fascist just come out and admit why you support the LOSER you call a President. It's not because of any reason other than you are just plain GREEDY. I would respect you so much more if you were honest. You are willing to let everyone of us suffer, die and worse as long as YOU don't have to pay any more taxes. That's well within your rights to say that but at least BE Honest!! Sieg Heil

[mcvet]

The statistics for America's defense during the Clinton years reveal the deep-seated animosity of the administration toward those who served in the military. The Army was cut from 18 divisions to 12. The Navy was reduced from 546 ships to 380. Air Force flight squadrons were cut from 76 to 50
Posted by badaxmofo at 10:24 PM : Mar 29, 2007

Amazing! Now you tell us that the Pathetic LOSER we now have in office can't control a country not much bigger than the state of Ohio with that number? NOW that's INCOMPETENT. 12 divisions and we still can't see peace in Bagdad? Now I know you, being a fascist, never intended that result from your post but that's exactly what the results are. Sieg Heil.

[crater7]

IT GETS WORSE; Cheneyburton, the Governments largest defense contractor, is doing business with Iran, throug, subcontractors. Makes one wonder why they move over seas?

[bluestardad]

Bush family Saudi Arabia is funding the Sunni insurgents! And Bush himself is funding Sunni Al Qaeda in Lebanon with the money from Iraq!

[crater7]

SAUDIS BLAST U.S. "ILLIGITIMATE FOREIGN OCCUPATION" IN IRAQ.
BUSH ADMISISTRATIONS RESPONSE, "FORCES ARE IN IRAQ LEGALLY AND BY "IRAQS INVITATION."
By invitation only, please come and invade my country, bomb us into submission, and kill our children, and in reward give us the freedom to paint our fingers, and declare a democracy. Thank you Mr. Bush.

[karlimhof]

I SHAMEFULLY OFFER MY SINCERE APOLOGY TO THE FAMILIES OF OUR CITIZENS WHO HAVE DIED, TO THOSE IN IRAQ, TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY, FOR THE BARBARIC ACTIONS OF MY GOVERNMENT SINCE THE BEGINING OF THE BUSH WAR.

AN AMERICAN CITIZEN

[randalds]

The one hundred and twenty two who died in Iraq today were us. Until we accpet that, until we internalize that. Until we really understand that we have seen the enemy and he is us, we'll continue to murder them in the name of some people's ego and greed. Is this what we have become? Murderers? Is this what our "leaders" have brought us too?

Sadly the answer is yes. They have made cold-hearted murders out of all of us. If there was a god I'd pray that he forgives us for what we have let them do to us.

[randalds]

One hundred and twenty two people, so far, died in Iraq today. Many hundreds more were wounded and many of them will die. These were real human beings. They had desires, blood in their veins, ambitions and life. They were once babies who had real mothers and fathers look down upon them with joy and tears. They had mothers, fathers, children wives and husbands. They had jobs and bills and hopes and dreams and a life to try to look forward to and we killed them just as surely as if we had pushed the trigger on the bombs that blew them up. Still I never see a self-proclaimed Christian offer a single prayer for them. Why? Because to evangelical Christians like singingrick they were not real human beings. They were not worthy of their prayers because that hadn't accepted Christ as their personal saviour. They were not Christians and therefore are going to hel*l anyway so why bother. That is the disease of religion. That is it's sickness. That is what makes it the worst burden of mankind. There will always be death and torture and hate and bigotry on murder and genocide and all of the other SH*IT that goes along with praising a "god", until we get religion out of our worldview. Religion is equal to death.

[feelfree1]

emhawks,

Thanks for the "War Prayer".

[feelfree1]

Re: "Keep it up except try to be a little more angry with each other."

Razor sharp!

[feelfree1]

Re: "The savage attacks came as a new American ambassador began his first day on the job"

Wow! This guy got right to work!

[randalds]

I wish it was a thousand dead on every side every day, die die die. Keep it up except try to be a little more angry with each other. More please, war is so wonderful. I just love to hear the death count. more more more
Posted by terryates at 11:39 PM : Mar 29, 2007

I too wish it was a 1000 dead on each side everyday, but for a more humane reason then you. Because with a death toll of a thousand a day then maybe it would finally sicken enough people to demand that our "leaders" stop playing politics with human lives, to stop having these egotistical pis*sing contests and to stop spending all of their time trying to prove who has the bigger balls and just cut it the FU*CK out! Real human beings are dying just for their greed and their egos and nothing else! It IS time for a REAL peoples revolution!

[iceman_1960]

Mark Twain's "War Prayer" was written as a satire on pro-war religiosity.

(In the one chance in a thousand that anyone didn't realize that.)

Mark Twain wrote "The War Prayer" during the Philippine-American War. It was submitted for publication, but on March 22, 1905, Harper's Bazaar rejected it as "not quite suited to a woman's magazine." Eight days later, Twain wrote to his friend Dan Beard, to whom he had read the story, "I don't think the prayer will be published in my time. None but the dead are permitted to tell the truth." His editor was "responsible to his Company," he explained, "and should not permit laughs which could injure its business." In his private notebook, Twain expanded his thoughts about the rejection of the story into a series of maxims about freedom of speech:

"None but the dead have free speech.

None but the dead are permitted to speak truth.

In America -- as elsewhere -- free speech is confined to the dead.

The minority is always in the right.

When the country is drifting toward Philippine robber-raid henroost raid, do not shirk your duty, do not fail of loyalty, lest you win and deserve the reproach of being a "patriot."

The majority is always in the wrong.

Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform."

Words of Mark Twain.