Scores Dead In String Of Iraq Blasts

Double-Bombing In Baghdad Targeted Police Recruits; Car Bomb In Mosul Kills At Least 16

(CBS/AP)  Multiple bombs that hit Iraqi security forces in Baghdad and Mosul have killed at least 33 people and wounded dozens more.

Four U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi general were among the wounded.

The bloodiest attack in the capital began when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives vest packed with ball-bearings in a line of recruits at the entrance to Baghdad's police academy. Minutes later, the U.S. military says a car parked 150 yards away exploded, apparently aimed at those responding to the first blast. At least 16 people were killed and nearly 50 wounded.

In Mosul, police say a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives as a joint U.S.-Iraqi convoy drove by in a crowded commercial area. At least 15 people were killed and 30 wounded in that attack, officials said.

The wave of violence took place after U.S. combat deaths dropped to eight in November - one of the lowest monthly levels of the war.

Bloodied police uniforms and a military boot left by victims were scattered with the crumpled metal hulk of the car bomb on the charred street in the aftermath of the bombing, according to Associated Press Television News footage.

The attacker apparently was a teenage boy whose head was taken to a local hospital, a police officer said. An AP photographer saw the head and confirmed it appeared to be a teenage boy.

Those killed included five policemen and 11 recruits, while the wounded included 11 policemen and 35 recruits, according to police and hospital officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information.

The U.S. military initially said the death toll appeared to be about 20 but later said reports indicated six people were killed and 20 wounded.

In Mosul, a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives as a joint U.S.-Iraqi convoy drove by in a crowded commercial area, a police officer said. The officer also declined to be identified for the same reason.

At least 15 people - most civilians - were killed and 30 wounded in that attack, the officer said. An official at the morgue where the bodies were taken confirmed the death toll.

The U.S. military said initial reports show eight Iraqi civilians were killed in Monday's attack. It says two U.S. soldiers and 30 Iraqis were wounded.

Conflicting casualty tolls are common in the chaotic aftermath of bombings in Iraq.

Earlier Monday, a senior Defense Ministry official was wounded in a roadside bomb attack that killed one of his bodyguards, Iraqi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said.

The blast occurred in the Sulaikh neighborhood, a mainly Sunni area in northern Baghdad.

The wounded official, Maj. Gen. Mudhir al-Mola, is in charge of affairs related to the Sunni guards known as the Sons of Iraq who have joined forces with U.S. troops against al Qaeda in Iraq, according to al-Moussawi.

The move is considered a key factor in the overall decline in Iraq violence.

The Shiite-led government assumed responsibility for the Sunnis in Baghdad this fall.

Iraqi forces will need to shoulder a greater share of security responsibility in the coming year. While the new Status of Forces agreement will keep American forces in Iraq for three more years, the agreement essentially states that U.S. forces will be confined to their bases as of June 2009.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reported from Baghdad that, while most military analysts say the Iraqis are not ready to take over security duties yet, there is broad recognition that the national forces have made huge strides in the last year.

In exchange for their vote, the Sunnis won a major concession from the pacts largely Shiite supporters; a national referendum on the agreement will be held by July 30.

[earache4]

Who will be the last to die for a lie?

[pirmin3]

Gotta love that surge.

[earache4]

Would you like me to repeat my answer from the other day?
Posted by IwasHungry68 at 08:24 AM

Does it include the location of the ''slam dunk'' WMD''s?

[earache4]

Hopefully a member of this administration, at the end of a rope.
Posted by IwasHungry68 at 08:44 AM

....If we can still afford to buy rope...

[promaclaura]

A sign of things to come now that we''''ve agreed to the latest "troop withdrawal plan", that is p***ing off the Iraqi people that want us to leave RIGHT NOW.


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Posted by IwasHungry68 at 08:23 AM : Dec 01, 2008

We''ve agreed? Read the article, the Iraqi''s didn''t have to agree to anything with the U.S., it was the Shiites and Sunnis who voted.

-In exchange for their vote, the Sunnis won a major concession from the pacts largely Shiite supporters; a national referendum on the agreement will be held by July 30. -

With the knowledge that Barack will be President and Hillary his Secretary of State, Iraq voted for three more years, Bush is not relevant to them anymore. I''m curious how you will post when Barack and Hillary does not pull out the troops and uses those three years.

[earache4]

With the knowledge that Barack will be President and Hillary his Secretary of State, Iraq voted for three more years, Bush is not relevant to them anymore. I''m curious how you will post when Barack and Hillary does not pull out the troops and uses those three years.
Posted by promaclaura at 08:57 AM

That means American troops have only three more years to find the WMD''s....

[promaclaura]

That means American troops have only three more years to find the WMD''''s....


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Posted by earache4 at 09:00 AM : Dec 01, 2008

I''ve posted with you enough for you to know that it wasn''t about the WMD for me. I followed what was going on in Iraq since the 1st Gulf War and we discussed this. I wish George Sr. would have taken him out and that DID NOT involve WMD at that time. After we left, Saddam became worse and we left him in place (stupid).

So when I heard we were invading Iraq, I thought, "finally they are going to do something about this guy"! 60 Minutes ran regular episodes on the dangers of Iraq, our own government continually discussed him and fretted about his capabilities. It doesn''t matter what President is in charge, or what party, I would have supported a Democrat who ousted him as well.

So, the old "WMD" ploy you use on me doesn''t hold water.

[earache4]

So, the old "WMD" ploy you use on me doesn''t hold water.
Posted by promaclaura at 09:29 AM

How about the old claim this has always been an oil war. Does that make you retain water?

[promaclaura]

How about the old claim this has always been an oil war. Does that make you retain water?


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Posted by earache4 at 09:34 AM : Dec 01, 2008

I''ve answered this one as well, I haven''t seen any benefit of Iraqi oil, have you? How come GW just didn''t take it, if it was just about oil? The U.S. is ready and waiting. Do you think Barack and Hillary will get us some?

[earache4]

I''''ve answered this one as well, I haven''''t seen any benefit of Iraqi oil, have you? How come GW just didn''''t take it, if it was just about oil? The U.S. is ready and waiting. Do you think Barack and Hillary will get us some?
Posted by promaclaura at 09:45 AM

As the Iraqi regime formally opened the bidding for foreign oil companies to resume exploitation of the country%u2019s oil wealth, it was revealed that US %u201Cadvisers%u201D played the leading role in drafting the contracting procedures and steering preferential deals to the big US energy conglomerates.

%u201CA group of American advisers led by a small State Department team played an integral part in drawing up contracts between the Iraqi government and five Western oil companies to develop some of the largest fields in Iraq,%u201D the New York Times reported Monday.

The team of government lawyers and private sector consultants provided %u201Cdetailed suggestions on drafting the contracts,%u201D the Times reported, citing a senior State Department official.

Among the other %u201Cservices%u201D offered by the US advisers was ensuring that the Iraqi Oil Ministry dismissed claims by the Russian oil company Lukoil based on contracts signed with the Iraqi government before the US invasion of March 2003.

[earache4]

wow!! you are such a loser that you can''''t afford rope? foodstamps not buy that for you?
Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:46 AM

you should probably apologize to your parents for growing up such a loser
Posted by jamesm12341 at 07:00 PM

[earache4]

In the hours and days before the United States and Britain invaded Iraq, a team of British Petroleum (BP) engineers in Kuwait taught combat troops from the 516 Specialist Team Royal Engineers how to run the oil fields in southern Iraq. As soon as the troops had secured southern Iraq, Robert Spears, a Scottish manager from BP, was drafted by the British government to help direct the effort to rebuild the refineries.

In mid-July BP took possession of its reward -- one of the first tankers of oil from Southern Iraq, having won 25% of the initial sale of 8 million barrels of the existing stockpiles of Iraqi oil. The previous month California-based Chevron shipped back an equal quantity of oil from southern Iraq.

Nah, not an oil war....

[biblethumpar]

Mission not really but almost accomplished by attacking a nation with nothing to do with 911

[bobbyduck1]

The issue is that the Al Qaeda warmongers need the conflict to continue so they can recruit.

This plays hand in hand with our current warmonger administration who needs the conflict to stay viable so they can continue to spend billions, of which much is being funneled to their contractor buddies.

The only way to stop this is to leave, the sooner the better.

[promaclaura]

The Iraqi PARLIAMENT voted - not the people. The referendum vote happens in July.

And I really don''''t think the insurgents that want us to leave, give a sh** one way or the other, about the outcome of the vote. They''''re going to keep blowing our troops up as long as they''''re there.


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Posted by IwasHungry68 at 10:28 AM : Dec 01, 2008

Well, I guess you''re going to have to be disappointed with Barack and Hillary when they leave our troops there under the pacts guidelines. I''m glad the Shiites listened to the Sunni''s request for the referendum. There are 27 million people in Iraq, Sadr''s protestor''s were in the tens of thousands, a ding in the voice of millions.

If the vote in Iraq passes for our troops to stay, will they under President Obama?

[nikosk11]

Let''s get the f****k out of there and let the ba$tards kill each other. That is the ONLY language they understand, so let them have it.
NO MORE AMERICAN BLOOD.

[beader59]

We need to get out now. We will not stop something that has been going on for centuries. They will not stop killing each other until they are all dead. We have no business being there anyway. Let them kill each other if that''s they way they want to live. But only we can stop the continual death rates of our military there. Pull out quickly. Let the UNited Nations worry about it.

[hotpaulie]

The sad thing is that we can''t just leave. America has to assume some responsibility for the actions of our president. The almighty Bush started this c r ap and now the American people will continue to die and lose money in this godless country.

[centerfall94]

Stay the course! The surge is working!

No, really!

It is!

Really!

LOL!

Get out, let them destroy themselves. You cannot choose democracy for a people that choose to be ruled by religion. They have to want democracy for themselves.

[johnpatrick9]

We weren''t there before bush the worthless came into office and are only there under the pretext of a lie..so to hell with the Iraqis and the lying military-industrial-corporate complex in our Nation..we are now and have been the problem...remember Sadam is dead(big deal), there were no WMDS'' AND the Iraqis (under Saddam) had NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11! This is just a neo-con Republican fascist debacle for both the Iraqi people and America. Absurd!

[earache4]

Who will be the last to die for a lie

[earache4]

Oils well that ends well.....

[inketolstoy]

Cut and run. History is filled with many examples that show that this is the best choice when a country finds itself in a difficult postion, like.....uh, like uhmm.... (If I just close my eyes and put my head under the blanket, it will all go away)

[rondogcd]

It is really sad that all the commentors echo the failed dogma of the 60''s. "warmongers","military-industrial establishment",F**k this sh** that, "he''s to blame", "their to blame", "let them kill themselves","it''s gone on 1000 years". How incredibly selfish and selfcentered you people are. They are real people dying and bleeding. If you are unwilling to help them when they are in need who is going to help you when your crises hits? The National Guard? The Army? the Fire Department? Why? When did you care?

[missingamerica]

. If you are unwilling to help them when they are in need who is going to help you when your crises hits? The National Guard? The Army? the Fire Department? Why? When did you care?

Posted by RondoGCD at 01:39 PM : Dec 01, 2008

So I gather you raised bloody hell when this country''s civil and military response teams failed during Katrina?

Because, you see, their FIRST responsibility is to US - and not to the oil companies and Bush, Cheney, & PNAC, LLP.

[earache4]

Find out who is behind these bombings and kill them all. Take no prisoners.
Posted by mr22587 at 02:02 PM

Dead or alive!!!!

[andrew_693]

bush not only destroyed the economy of his own country but he managed to turn iraq into absolute anarchy

[petro49l]

Al Qada Iraq moves at will in the country because Baghdad does not have a good police force. They concentrate too much on developing a military complement. Strategies and tactics will expel A.Q.I. Tanks and rocket launchers will not win this war. Baghdad should develop a better SWAT team to respond when terrorists strike.

[hermitdave]

All this while the chief liar is telling ABC it was the fault of American intelligence, not his lack of intelligence that got us into the Iraq Crusade.

[byeneocons]

George Bush Jr.: "The surge is working"
John McCain: "The surge is working"
Sarah Palin: "The surge is workin'' gosh darnit, and Joe the Plumber knows that!"

[neo269]

Not Iraq after Saddam - Iraq with OBie as President. Do you really think the terrorists are afraid of him? Do you really think he''ll do anything but Cut-N-Run?

[andrew_693]

bush''s army is already defeated, it has been defeated since day 1. You may have defeated them while wearing uniforms but you cannot defeat the iraqui people.

[yongamerica]

Well, first of all, you''''d have to blame Bush for liberating the insurgents and terrorists from Saddam Hussein''''s control.

Posted by IwasHungry68

These terrorists in Iraq today come from Iran, and other stan countries, like Terrorstan

[earache4]

So, who will be the last to die for a lie?

[evian_ycnan]

So, who will be the last to die for a lie?

Posted by earache4 at 06:45 PM : Dec 01, 2008

In a just world, the liar.

[mrmeatspin]

terrorism is going to be a very lucrative business under liberal control..

and it seems like its warming up now..pretty much everywhere you look..everywhere you go..you hear nothing but terrorist attacking and at ITS WAKE...the liberals are busy defending it..

[mrmeatspin]

George Bush Jr.: "The surge is working"
John McCain: "The surge is working"
Sarah Palin: "The surge is workin'''' gosh darnit, and Joe the Plumber knows that!"

Posted by ByeNeocons at 04:07 PM : Dec 01, 2008
+ report abuse

********

obama: "lets pretend it does not exist"

[grandesign]

Get out, let them destroy themselves. You cannot choose democracy for a people that choose to be ruled by religion. They have to want democracy for themselves.
Posted by Centerfall94 at 12:32 PM : Dec 01, 2008

And what do we do about all the effort to build the infrastructure again? We have a large Embassy over there I think, should will just leave that too?

You know the Iraqis may just blame America for not staying long enough to make the difference--that''s why they will have failed. Not because of religious intolerance.

[angel-jo]

once again, im hearing of bombings! wat is this world coming to when u cant walk down the street without worrying about being shot or blown up! wow! thesse people need to stop the killings and get away from all other humans and leave us innocent people alone.!

[mrmeatspin]

once again, im hearing of bombings! wat is this world coming to when u cant walk down the street without worrying about being shot or blown up! wow! thesse people need to stop the killings and get away from all other humans and leave us innocent people alone.!

Posted by angel-jo at 08:58 PM : Dec 03, 2008
+ report abuse

******now that those warmongering neoconservatives are gone..these terrorists are now free and has full right to killing and violating your rights..

if you wonder what happened..watch a cindy sheehan speech