BAGHDAD, July 24, 2008
8 U.S.-Allied Fighters Killed In Iraq
Police Say Female Suicide Bomber Strikes In Baqouba; 24 Wounded
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(CBS/AP)
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The attack comes as the U.S.-backed Iraqi military is promising to launch a major offensive in Diyala province aimed at taming the last major insurgent belt north of Baghdad. Baqouba is the province's capital.
The woman, who was shrouded in a traditional black Islamic robe, detonated her explosives belt at about 8:30 p.m. as she approached a group of Awakening Council guards in the central New Baqouba area, a police officer said.
The officer, who read the police bombing report but spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information, and witnesses said the local Awakening Council chief, Naaim al-Duliami, was killed along with seven of his bodyguards.
The U.S. military in northern Iraq said troops were investigating the bombing and it could not immediately confirm that the attacker was a woman.
The Sunni turn against al Qaeda has been credited by the U.S. military as a key factor in driving down Iraq's violence to its lowest point in more than four years. Also cited are the U.S. troop buildup and a cease-fire declared by anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr for his Shiite militia.
Members of the U.S.-allied Sunni groups have frequently been targeted by al Qaeda in Iraq and other insurgents seeking to derail the security gains.
Earlier Thursday, gunmen killed three Awakening Council members in drive-by shootings at checkpoints in the Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah in northern Baghdad, according to a leading member of the group, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.
Baqouba and other areas in Diyala been hit by several bombings in recent months as Sunni insurgents show they retain the ability to cause casualties. Two suicide bombers attacked army recruits at a Baqouba military camp last week, killing at least 28 people and wounding 57.
Insurgents have increasingly been using women to stage suicide bombings in a bid to avoid security measures. Women are more easily able to hide explosives under their cloaks and they often are not searched at checkpoints.
Laying the groundwork for the expected new Diyala offensive, American soldiers of the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment have been searching caves and blowing up suspected hideouts believed used by al Qaeda near the mountain town of Qara Tappah, about 50 miles northeast of Baqouba.
They also checked IDs of adult males in each house and detained some on suspicion of being al Qaeda operatives as part of this week's sweep, "Operation Cat's Eye."
U.S. commanders have said they will assist Iraq's government in pursuing the Diyala offensive against militants who are trying to regroup in the area.
American soldiers held talks Thursday with local officials in Qara Tappah, about 30 miles west of the Iranian border and close to the Hamrin mountains. The town, with a mixed population of Arabs and Turkomens, had become a safe-haven for al Qaeda, U.S. officers say.
In June, a female suicide bomber targeted a crowd of soccer fans celebrating Iraq's 2-1 win over China in a World Cup qualifying match, wounding 34 people near a cafe in Qara Tappah, which means Black Hill.
On Thursday, a U.S. patrol struck an improvised explosive device in the area but no one was seriously injured, the military said.
In another reminder of the dangers still facing Iraqis, the 18-year-old son of the chief editor of a U.S.-sponsored newspaper was shot to death Wednesday as an American patrol passed nearby in the northern city of Kirkuk, police said.
Police Brig. Gen. Sarhat Qadir said it was unclear who fired the bullet that killed Arkan Ali Taha, suggesting it might have been a sniper aiming at the Americans.
"Police until now are still investigating and we can't say whether the Americans are to blame or the attackers," Qadir said.
The U.S. military said American troops came under small-arms fire from a purple sedan while they were on a foot patrol in the volatile city, 180 miles north of Baghdad.
"The soldiers returned fire in self defense, killing a passenger in the car. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody," the military said. It said one soldier was wounded in the gunbattle.
In other developments:
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as usual,,, a very misleading heading,,,
NO USA Fighters were killed,,,
iraqis were killed and wounded,,, non were USA
they are both worthless huge wastes of money,,,
Everytime our troops had him in their sites, Washington told them to back off!
Muqtada al-Sadr is in charge of the cease fire Bush is in charge of the "surge"--lets see what happens.
as usual,,, a very misleading heading,,,
NO USA Fighters were killed,,,
iraqis were killed and wounded,,, non were USA
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Posted by terrorislamt at 03:11 PM : Jul 24, 2008
dan rather would be proud!
point you must hand-search
bomb-straped Iraqis.
Why else would they call these
people "awakened?
And these guards are so awakened that
they all stand close enough together so
that one broad can take 8 of them
at one time.
On their day off the fellows that
program suicide bombers work with
the Sunni Check point guards to
adjust their level of "awakening"
just enough so that they can still
walk to the check point.
So with 160 thousand troops,
80 thousand criminal body guards and
thousands of delusional Sunnis
we still cant bring troops home.
Maybe what we need, and they''d fit
in quite well with those now assisting
our troops, is for Bush to pardon all
killers, rapists and child molesters
and deploy them as "surge #2".
And to believe that you are "awakened
Posted by terrorislamt ..Terrorsalami you friggin idiot ALLIED key word,sheesh
Posted by notblue
this is not about religion you fool ! these women blow themselves up because of some army *** rape them and turned their life into hell !
We are invaders, occupiers, killers and rapists. The U.S. has no credibility in the world and even less in the Middle East. Then we have these same law breaking Republican morons asking for more with McSame. God Forgive America!!!!!
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Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:43 AM : Jul 25, 2008
+ report abuse
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you mean torturing TERRORISTS to get information to save you???
the day bush drags your patethic liberal arse and force you to wear a belt to kill ''innocent'' muslims..THEY DAY WE SEE EACH OTHER EYE TO EYE..till then..you are nothing more that a terrorist zombie.
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Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:42 AM : Jul 25, 2008
+ report abuse
***********
enjoy it!
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Posted by kretos_d at 06:00 PM : Jul 24, 2008
+ report abuse
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another anti-american pro-terrorist liberal..is that right..what else did those mean evil military guy do?? (mind you these are the same people who are soooooooooooooooooo effing concerned about the safety and welfare of our soldiers that they want them back..YEAH RIGHT!)
"In June, a female suicide bomber targeted a crowd of soccer fans celebrating Iraq''s 2-1 win over China in a World Cup qualifying match, wounding 34 people near a cafe in Qara Tappah, which means Black Hill."
WHAT is this now?? she did it because she was ''raped'' by soccer fans..
I am more concerned about these liberals..than terrorists.
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by samsel3
July 26, 2008 11:10 AM PDT
- Hunt, Cheney and the Bush family are members of the organisation PNAC, Project For A New American Century.
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Reply to this comment
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See all 24 CommentsOn January 26, 1998 in a letter to the President the PNAC asked Clinton to invade Iraq and get rid of Saddam Hussein. He refused their request. George W. Bush took their agenda and got it done...........Mission Accomplished !