BAGHDAD, Oct. 29, 2007

U.S. General Wounded In Iraq Bombing

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Dorko Is Top U.S. Officer Hurt Since War Began

    • Iraqis gather near bodies at a morgue in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, following a suicide bomb attack on police recruits, Oct. 29, 2007.

      Iraqis gather near bodies at a morgue in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, following a suicide bomb attack on police recruits, Oct. 29, 2007.  (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

    • An Iraqi policeman shows photos of the local head of police patrol in Sadr City, Lt. Col. Imad Taklif Sayhud, who was arrested by U.S. troops during an overnight raid, October 27, 2007. Sayhud was believed to hold close ties with rogue radical Shiite militants, many of whom are engaged in

      An Iraqi policeman shows photos of the local head of police patrol in Sadr City, Lt. Col. Imad Taklif Sayhud, who was arrested by U.S. troops during an overnight raid, October 27, 2007. Sayhud was believed to hold close ties with rogue radical Shiite militants, many of whom are engaged in "criminal" actions.  (Getty Images/Wissam Al-Okaili)

    • A car bomb ripped through a bus terminal, in the town of Kirkuk, 180 miles north of Baghdad, killing eight people and wounding 26, on Oct. 28, 2007. Some of the injured are shown being transported to a hospital.

      A car bomb ripped through a bus terminal, in the town of Kirkuk, 180 miles north of Baghdad, killing eight people and wounding 26, on Oct. 28, 2007. Some of the injured are shown being transported to a hospital.  (AP Photo/Emad Matti)

    • Iraqi army soldiers are deployed to the Turkish border near the town of Zakho, 300 miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 28, 2007. The new U.S. commander for northern Iraqi said that he hopes diplomacy will resolve the standoff over a threatened Turkish incursion against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

      Iraqi army soldiers are deployed to the Turkish border near the town of Zakho, 300 miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 28, 2007. The new U.S. commander for northern Iraqi said that he hopes diplomacy will resolve the standoff over a threatened Turkish incursion against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.  (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

    • This undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Dorko who was wounded in a roadside bombing Monday morning in northern Baghdad, the U.S. military reported.

      This undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Dorko who was wounded in a roadside bombing Monday morning in northern Baghdad, the U.S. military reported.  (AP)

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(CBS/AP)  A U.S. brigadier general was wounded in a roadside bombing Monday in northern Baghdad, the U.S. military reported. He was the highest-ranking American officer to be hurt since the conflict began in March 2003.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Dorko was in stable condition and was evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. His injuries were not life-threatening.

A second soldier wounded in the attack was treated and released.

Dorko is commanding general of the Gulf Region Division.

In other violence Monday, a suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up in a crowd of police recruits in Baqouba, killing at least 29 people, police and hospital officials said. At least 19 people were wounded in the attack.

The recruits were waiting to be allowed inside the camp for the day's training when the suicide bomber blew himself up in their midst, according to a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The attack bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda in Iraq, whose militants have repeatedly targeted police and army recruits to discourage Iraqis from joining the country's nascent security forces.

Mohammed al-Kirrawi, a doctor at the Baqouba general hospital, said most of the victims were struck by iron balls packed with the explosives to achieve maximum casualties. He said the hospital lacked the necessary equipment to save many of the wounded.

"Among the wounded, there are seven in critical conditions and there is little hope that they will survive," he said.

Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, is the capital of Diyala province, where hundreds of Sunni Arab tribesmen and insurgents have in recent months joined the U.S. and Iraqi forces in the fight against al Qaeda.

A 22-year-old Sunni man from Baqouba's central Tahrir area said he was among a group of some 60 recruits when the blast struck.

Akram Salman said it must have been an inside job because the suicide bomber apparently was able to penetrate heavy security surrounding the police camp without being searched.

He said police failed to stop the bomber when he changed course suddenly from the main road toward the recruits.

"The police are infiltrated. Many people join the police but they have affiliations with al Qaeda. These infiltrators made it easy for the bomber to attack us," he said. "There are two main checkpoints on the main road leading to the camp, it would be impossible for a man on a bicycle to pass without being properly searched."

"Al Qaeda has threatened us before and prevented us from joining the police," he said. "They slaughtered many policemen, burned their houses, killed their families and blew up their headquarters. Now, when the people have defeated al Qaeda and cooperated with the government, al Qaeda staged this operation to show their presence and to give a message that they are still in control."

In other developments:

  • A group of kidnapped Sunni and Shiite sheiks were freed Monday, a government spokesman said. Police and relatives have identified the tribal leaders abducted in Baghdad as seven Shiites and three Sunnis aligned against al Qaeda who were on their way home to Diyala province after attending a meeting with the Shiite-dominated government's adviser for tribal affairs to discuss coordinating efforts against the terror group.

  • Turkish Cobra attack helicopters fired rockets into Kurdish rebel positions in mountains near the Iraq border Monday, one of several clashes as government forces kept up the pressure on the guerrillas. Two Turkish soldiers were killed in the fighting, according to reports. In an address to the nation, President Abdullah Gul pledged to remain resolute in the fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, rebels - a fight that has been going on since 1984 and has seen nearly 40,000 people killed.

  • A parked car bomb exploded near a market in Siniyah, just west of Beiji in northern Iraq, killing at least four people and wounding 13, according to the media office of the Salahuddin provincial police department. Police said the bomb apparently was targeting a police patrol but missed its target, killing four members of a family who were heading to the market to do their morning shopping.

    In southern Iraq, meanwhile, the U.S. military turned over security responsibilities to Iraqi authorities in the mainly Shiite province of Karbala, the eighth of the nation's 18 provinces to revert to Iraqi control.

    Quote

    The police are infiltrated. Many people join the police but they have affiliations with al Qaeda. These infiltrators made it easy for the bomber to attack us.

    Akram Salman, Iraqi police recruit
    Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the southern province of Basra's security file would be transferred to the Iraqis in mid-December. The British-led forces overseeing the area already have begun drawing down and pulled back from the center of the provincial capital to the airport on the outskirts.

    "This is the proof of the strong will and resolve of the good citizens of this nation," al-Maliki said at the handover ceremony in Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad. "The reconstruction of Iraq does not hinge on security alone, but security is the key to everything."

    A new commander, Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling of the 1st Armored Division, assumed control of U.S. forces in northern Iraq on Sunday, acknowledging that violence remains high in the area but expressing confidence that the military has al Qaeda on the run. "The levels are still high in some of the northern provinces," he said. "But while they're still high ... they have been decreasing significantly."


    © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
    Add a Comment See all 489 Comments
    by usaprophet November 1, 2007 1:12 AM EDT
    Ron Paul represents a different Republican Party from the one that Iraq, deficits and corruption have soured the country on. It''s ironic that other GOP candidates are scared to death of his message, BECAUSE his is more conservative than theirs. Being anti-war IS conservative. Another key difference between his message and the others is that he is a strong defender in The Constitution, which protects our civil liberties. The other Republican cadidates, who are mostly NWO Oligarchs, want to erase your liberties. They''ve tried hard to exlude him from the spotlight, along with the mainstream press. In late June, despite a life of antitax agitation and pious churchgoing, he was excluded from a Republican forum sponsored by Iowa antitax and Christian groups. Ron Paul does not represent your Father''s style of Republicanism. He represents your Founding Father''s style. He stands for a certain idea of the Constitution; the idea that much of the power asserted by modern presidents has been usurped from Congress, and that much of the power asserted by Congress has been usurped from the states. Though Dr. Paul acknowledges flaws in both the Constitution (it included slavery) and the Bill of Rights (it doesn%u2019t go far enough), he still thinks a comprehensive array of positions can be drawn therefrom: against gun control; for the sovereignty of states; and against foreign-policy adventures. His message draws on the noblest traditions of American decency and patriotism.
    Reply to this comment
    by usaprophet November 1, 2007 1:10 AM EDT
    I support Ron Paul and his non-interventionist foreign policy. Hitlery wants to continue our illegal police action in Iraq until at least 2013, and she does not rule out a preemptive (nuclear) first strike against Iran. Ron Paul voted against the the (undeclared) war in Iraq, which was sold to us with lies. The area is more dangerous now than when we entered it. We destroyed a regime hated by our direct enemies--the jihadists, and created thousands of new recruits for them. This war has cost more than 3,000 American lives and almost a trillion dollars. We must have new leadership in the White House to ensure this never happens again. Both Jefferson and Washington warned us about entangling ourselves in the affairs of other nations. Today, we have 750 foreign bases and troops in 130 countries. We are spread so thin that we have too few troops defending America. And now, there are new calls for a draft of our young men and women. We can continue to fund and fight no-win police actions around the globe, or we can refocus on securing our borders against illegal immigrants and bring the troops home. No war should ever be fought without a declaration of war voted upon by the Congress, as required by the Constitution. Under no circumstances should the U.S. again go to war as the result of a resolution that comes from an unelected, foreign body, such as the United Nations. Too often, we give foreign aid and intervene on behalf of governments that are despised. Then, we become despised.
    Reply to this comment
    by ajmarine1 October 30, 2007 10:47 PM EDT
    "I have difficulties distinguishing "evil and smart" from "good and stupid" sometimes. Which is Bush?"

    I wonder if he himself knows--does he wake up with a schedule full of evildoing, or does he genuinely believe he is doing something good somehow? And if he knows, what about his team and donors--do they all think they are doing good, and if so good for whom?

    I actually suspect most evildoers think they are doing good in some way.
    Reply to this comment
    by speakinup October 30, 2007 10:05 PM EDT
    "Yes, a 1.77 will do for a degree, and apparently a 2.2 will allow you to become President (this is assuming that your father has enough money and connections to keep you out of the war).Regards, Posted by Nancy_Naive

    And pity for someone that has to endure Bill''s BJ will get her the Democratic Nomination.
    Reply to this comment
    by usaprophet October 30, 2007 5:07 PM EDT
    I don''t know about you, but I''m sick of no-win pseudo-wars, like The War on Drugs and The War on Terrorism. I''m sick of undeclared wars like The War in Iraq and unnecessary and protracted police actions like the one in Korea. I''m sick of income taxes, which are unconstitutional because they are are a direct tax and are not equally apportioned as the Constitution requires. I''m sick of back door national ID cards like The Real ID Act. I''m sick of warrantless domestic spying by the Department of Homeland Insecurity and the loss of my civil liberties as a result of Draconian, fear-based Laws with oxymoronic names like The Patrot Act. I''m sick of secret offshore prisons like the one in Guantanamo, where our government tortures prisoners, who have no right to redress of grievance, or to writ of habeus corpus. I''m also sick of the Federal Reserve (a secret group of private banks) manipulation of our worthless, fiat currency. Do yourself a favor. Support the 2008 candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul for President of The United States. I believe he''s our only hope to restore peace, prosperity and freedom in this country. Presidential candidates with the integrity and bearing the positive message of Dr. Paul only come around only once in a lifetime, if we''re lucky. The cause of freedom is too important to let anything stand in the way of our participation in this 21st Century political revolution.
    Reply to this comment
    by red164 October 30, 2007 4:46 PM EDT
    let me guess how can i argue with a person who thinks this country is AUTOMATICALLY EVIL..

    Posted by libsluvsuvs at 02:32 AM : Oct 30, 2007

    Don%u2019t confuse my dissatisfaction towards the Country as a whole with the actions of a few thousand people.

    However I doubt anyone will be holding his or her breath with the hopes you will come around.
    Reply to this comment
    by red164 October 30, 2007 4:38 PM EDT
    http://911truth.org/article.php?story=20071029124230925

    Monday, October 29 2007 - Stories by Topic

    Bradblog Exclusive: FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds Will Now Tell All

    BLOGGED BY Brad Friedman ON 10/29/2007 5:30AM
    EXCLUSIVE: FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds Will Now Tell All - and Face Charges if Necessary - to Any Major Television Network That Will Let Her; She''s Prepared to Name Names, Including Those of Two ''Well-Known'' Congress Members Involved in Criminal Corruption
    The ''Most Gagged Person in U.S. History'' Tells The BRAD BLOG She''s Now Exhausted All Other Channels...
    -- By Brad Friedman

    A REASON TO BE CONCERNED

    We''ve reported over the last few months about various aspects of Edmonds'' case. However, for those unfamiliar with the larger pictures of Edmonds'' allegations and what she would like to testify about before the Congress and the American people --- all based on what she heard and saw first-hand while working as an FBI translator just after 9/11 --- please see the following bullet point summary of just a few of her explosive whistleblowing allegations...

    Information omitted & covered up regarding nuclear related information illegally obtained by certain foreign entities and US persons (government officials) from several US labs being sold to a certain Middle-Eastern group in the United States in 1998-2000. The operation involved individuals with Diplomatic cover, foreign Ph.D. students, and US employees

    Reply to this comment
    by red164 October 30, 2007 4:32 PM EDT
    let me guess


    Posted by libsluvsuvs at 02:32 AM : Oct 30, 2007


    Well you%u2019re certainly not known for thinking.
    Reply to this comment
    by radiob-2009 October 30, 2007 3:36 PM EDT
    Posted by Iceman_1960

    It was a reference to the "bumbling inept character Barney Fife" not Don Knotts.
    Reply to this comment
    by gramto7 October 30, 2007 2:17 PM EDT
    How will history judge Bush as another Nixon or as a Barney Fife/Benedict Arnold. Seeing as I really do not believe Bush had the intelligence to actually "betray" us. History will not look kindly upon him.

    Posted by radiob at 12:13 AM : Oct 30, 2007

    More like a malevolent Pinocchio!!
    Reply to this comment
    by jraf766 October 30, 2007 12:06 PM EDT
    For all your college kids that dont want to give time to our country, they will just be enjoying the drinking and partying, and doing things that you would never think they are doing, go to those websites and you might find your kids on there.

    Whats a take to get a degree a d average.
    Reply to this comment
    by jraf766 October 30, 2007 12:02 PM EDT
    Nobody is serving now are they?

    For all you who think the undeducated come into the military. Im taking college courses right now too for free without touching my GI Bill.

    For all you that are against the military, just remember when there is a disaster in United States, you always need our help.

    I here lots of *** from american people, you dont have a clue on whats going on from your opinions.

    Judge yourself before you judge others and you will see that you have faults.
    Reply to this comment
    by iceman_1960 October 30, 2007 11:32 AM EDT
    "How will history judge Bush as another Nixon or as a Barney Fife/Benedict Arnold."
    - Posted by radiob at 12:13 AM : Oct 30, 2007

    Bite your tongue. Don Knotts [Barney Fife] enlisted in the Army at 19 and served honorably in World War II.







    "What"s the matter? Haven"t you ever seen a man defend Barney Fife"s patriotism before?"
    Reply to this comment
    by hungry1968 October 30, 2007 10:35 AM EDT
    how can i argue with a person who thinks this country is AUTOMATICALLY EVIL..i pretty much have to prove my innocence..i thought it was innocent till proven otherwise..using viable evidences not created by some blogger..

    Posted by libsluvsuvs at 02:32 AM : Oct 30, 2007




    If you want fair and balanced justice, see the story at:
    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/29/eveningnews/main3428089.shtml
    Reply to this comment
    by jraf766 October 30, 2007 9:25 AM EDT
    My condolences go out to the Generals family!

    We need a president that is willing to bring us home. Period, and who allows us citizens to marry who they want and give power back to INS for making such decisions such as waivers from something in the past such a false representation, for dui''s and drug dealers hell no. Everyone else deport them. The goverment has stripped your us citizen rights for who they marry.

    an Iraq Veteran.....
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 October 30, 2007 6:41 AM EDT
    Posted by jraf766

    Tangental perhaps, but not totally of subject, as the US shouldn''t even be there for any one to get bombed, and the discussion centers around the need to recognize that we should get out of it, vs the need to assert our machismo.
    Reply to this comment
    by jraf766 October 30, 2007 6:34 AM EDT
    Got dam you guys, I General got wounded and you guys go totally of the subject.

    Dont matter who is president they are all part of the new world order, look at there old party pictures together, at different function. Dont be a dumb a s s
    and so nieve.

    Vote for General Shinseki a man that has been in battle.
    Reply to this comment
    by brianbwb-2009 October 30, 2007 6:31 AM EDT
    i thought it was innocent till proven otherwise..using viable evidences not created by some blogger..
    Posted by libsluvsuvs

    For the present you are innocent, as you say. The problem is that many times you voice support for the very people who are trying to change this, those who would "detain" (kidnap) murder and torture innocent people, for resisting an illegal act, those who would obviate the constitution with the paradoxically named "patriot act", containing measures in direct conflict with the constitution.

    Do you find it consistent to assert your rights, guaranteed under the US constitution, but cheer for those "in power" who are violating those rights?

    Do you posit that you are deserving of these rights, but that others in the custody of the US, are not, or citizens who are not in custody, but are in opposition to the agendas of the party in power are not?

    You frequently do posit such, and against those who decry the violation of the constitution and corruption, even though in doing so they are also trying to protect the rights you asserted.
    Reply to this comment
    by libsluvsuvs October 30, 2007 5:32 AM EDT
    Posted by red164 at 01:45 AM : Oct 30, 2007
    + report abuse

    ************

    reading your past posts..it seems like you need a website to do your thinking..let me guess you seen or own a few of mr moore''s movie..

    how can i argue with a person who thinks this country is AUTOMATICALLY EVIL..i pretty much have to prove my innocence..i thought it was innocent till proven otherwise..using viable evidences not created by some blogger..
    Reply to this comment
    by red164 October 30, 2007 4:45 AM EDT
    Send a 19 year old kid to a country with no clear mission, no mastery of the local language, little or no understanding of the Iraqi culture, and tell him to drive around in an unarmored vehicle. That is supposed to show the world that we''''re tough?

    Who else does this? Oh yeah, the Soviets did it in Afghanistan. Look how well that worked out for all of us.


    Posted by downtowner97 at 01:33 AM : Oct 30, 2007

    The trolling disinformation agent provocateurs were espousing the surges success just yesterday.
    Reply to this comment
    See all 489 Comments
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