Mission in Iraq not-so-accomplished today

It seems like just yesterday that I was blogging about a gullible article from the Wire Service that Must Not Be Named declaring that mission was now accomplished in Iraq.

A little premature?

Tensions in Iraqi City of Kirkuk Raise Security Concerns PBS Newshour 07/28/08:

Kirkuk was one of two cities in Iraq hit by violence today. Two dozen people were killed, nearly 200 were wounded when a female suicide bomber killed herself amid a crowd protesting Iraq's draft election law.

The attack re-ignited longstanding tensions among Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, each blaming the other for the bombing. A citywide curfew followed the chaos.

Three bombs kill 11 in Baghdad during pilgrimage Reuters 07/28/08

Ned Parker managed to be more analytical and reality-based than the A********* P**** in his Iraq clings to a rickety calm between war and peace Los Angeles Times 07/28/08.

The drill is getting pretty familiar by now. Conditions are improved? That means we need to leave the troops there to keep success going. Conditions are getting worse? That means we have to keep the troops there because otherwise The Terrorists would think Dick Cheney has a little wee-wee. Everything eventually gets resolved? That means we have to leave the troops there forever.


McClatchy provides a daily report on incidents of violence in Iraq. People who follow this even casually are not so likely to be swept away by these periodic declarations of Mission Accomplished. McClatchey's roundup for 07/28/08 includes this news from Baghdad:

Two female suicide bombers and one IED targeted the pilgrims of the Imam Musa Al-Kadhim, who is the descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, on the anniversary of his death in Karrada neighborhood this morning. At least 26 people were killed (including 2 traffic policemen, one policeman) and 65 others injured, police and medical sources said. Also a cerfew for vehicles is announced to be from 5 am on Tuesday till 5 am Wednesday.

Tags: iraq war

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