Sunni Leader Seems to Be Target in Baghdad Bombings
Two car bombs exploded in the capital city on Monday, killing at least 11 people in what appeared to be a coordinated attack on a leader of the citizens groups that have turned against Sunni insurgents, Iraqi officials said.
The blasts, which were only a few hundred feet apart, went off around noon in the quiet city of Karada. The blasts went off just before American defense secretary, Robert Gates, left Iraq in an overnight visit.
There were no indications that the bombs were meant to send a message to him, however, they were trying to send a message, it seems. The attack seemed geared toward the so-called Awakening groups, mostly Sunni tribesmen now allied with American and Iraqi forces to defeat Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia. These groups have been largely targeted by insurgents.
The first bomb was rigged to a blue minibus which pulled into a parking lot, and then exploded. The second was in a black VW Golf, which was set in a busy cross section of shoppers and shopkeepers. Witnesses said the bomb seemed to be detonated by remote control; not a suicide attack like the first.
At least 30 more were injured in the blast including many shopkeepers who were attending to their business on the busy street as the bombs went off
For the past few weeks I have been following events in Africa, specifically in Darfur, because it does not get the airplay that the Middle East does. However, I feel that the Middle East should not be underplayed and that many of the same horrific acts that occur in Darfur are happening in the Middle East, unfortunately I think Westerners are becoming desensitized to it from over exposure, we’re almost ready for the next war. I decided to do a story from this region because I want to stay aware and not become desensitized to the horrific warfare continuing around the world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/world/middleeast/12iraq.html?ref=middleeast
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