KERBALA, Iraq (Reuters) - Two suicide bombers killed at least 85 people and wounded more than 100 in the Iraqi cities of Kerbala and Ramadi on Thursday in one of the country's deadliest days for months.
The attacks raised fears of an escalation in sectarian tensions, coming as they did in one of Shi'ite Islam's holiest cities, Kerbala, and the Sunni Arab stronghold of Ramadi.
The first bomber detonated an explosive belt laced with ballbearings and a grenade in Kerbala, killing 50 and wounding 69 in the worst single attack in
Iraq since July.
Television pictures showed pools of blood in the street, which was littered with debris. Passers-by loaded the wounded into the backs of cars and vans, and one black-clad woman stood crying while clutching her dead or wounded baby to her chest.
Soon afterwards, another bomber blew himself up near a group of police and army recruits in the western city of Ramadi, a day after seemingly coordinated attacks across Iraq killed at least 58.
The Ramadi attack, which killed 35 and wounded around 40, was the latest in a long string of assaults on police and army recruits, tasked with taking over the lead in the fight against the largely Sunni Arab insurgency from the U.S. military.
The assault in Kerbala was the second in the city in as many days and happened within sight of the golden dome of the Imam Hussein shrine, one of the holiest sites in Shi'ite Islam.
"The bomb was caused by a suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt, walking among people," said Lieutenant-Colonel Razak al-Taee of the Iraqi police.
"Explosives experts found wires, ballbearings and a grenade used in the explosion," he told al-Iraqiya state television. "Experts estimate he used between 7 and 8 kg (15-18 lb) of TNT (explosives)."
On Wednesday, a car bomb wounded three people in the first attack of its kind in Kerbala since December 2004. In March 2004 coordinated suicide bombings during an annual religious festival in the city killed more than 90 people, an act blamed on al Qaeda in Iraq.
Kerbala, 110 km (68 miles) southwest of Baghdad, is home to two of the three holiest shrines in Iraq, the other being in nearby Najaf. Any attack in the city is almost certain to have sectarian motives.
WORST ATTACK SINCE JULY
The Kerbala bombing was the bloodiest single attack in Iraq since July 18, when a fuel truck bomb killed 98 people in the town of Musayyib, south of Baghdad, although in November two suicide bombers killed 77 people in two Shi'ite mosques in the town of Khanakin in northern Iraq.
Me, too.Originally posted by: shira
Gee, I know an easy way to eliminate ALL U.S. casualties.
Originally posted by: M00T
Don't even try to call this a photochop.
As the commander and chief, he should have made them take down the sign if it were "incorrect."
By allowing it to remain, he is approved the message.
Originally posted by: conjur
Today's death toll is now 110 (163 over the last two days)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5525105,00.html
Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Originally posted by: conjur
Today's death toll is now 110 (163 over the last two days)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5525105,00.html
Death toll from today's attack is over 130 with 7 U.S. soldiers killed.
Originally posted by: Aimster
Dying.
This is good news.
Before I used to read about 1-5 dying every several days. Now I don't see anything on the front page.
Hi anti-Bush people. Welcome to my thread
I for one would hope Aimster will STFU now. Hi moron, your thread is beyond stupid.Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Originally posted by: conjur
Today's death toll is now 110 (163 over the last two days)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5525105,00.html
Death toll from today's attack is over 130 with 7 U.S. soldiers killed.
Originally posted by: Aimster
Topic: Situation In Iraq Has Improved
Topic Summary: I am not reading about anymore U.S Soldiers..Dying.
This is good news.
Before I used to read about 1-5 dying every several days. Now I don't see anything on the front page.
Hi anti-Bush people. Welcome to my thread
Originally posted by: homercles337
Hey nutz, is this "mission accomplished?"Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Originally posted by: conjur
Today's death toll is now 110 (163 over the last two days)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5525105,00.html
Death toll from today's attack is over 130 with 7 U.S. soldiers killed.
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Waaaaaa people die in war? Waaaaa! No way! MOMMY! Why do people die in war!? Why don't they shoot at eachother with beebee guns!?!??!?! WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Waaaaaa people die in war? Waaaaa! No way! MOMMY! Why do people die in war!? Why don't they shoot at eachother with beebee guns!?!??!?! WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
You're an ass.
Originally posted by: homercles337
Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Originally posted by: conjur
Today's death toll is now 110 (163 over the last two days)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5525105,00.html
Death toll from today's attack is over 130 with 7 U.S. soldiers killed.
Hey nutz, is this "mission accomplished?"
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Waaaaaa people die in war? Waaaaa! No way! MOMMY! Why do people die in war!? Why don't they shoot at eachother with beebee guns!?!??!?! WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
You're an ass.
Why? That's all this "omg people are dying in war" translates to.
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Waaaaaa people die in war? Waaaaa! No way! MOMMY! Why do people die in war!? Why don't they shoot at eachother with beebee guns!?!??!?! WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Originally posted by: Aimster
wow
looks like I created this thread at the wrong time.
Lots of people have died today.. including 5 GIs
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: Aimster
wow
looks like I created this thread at the wrong time.
Lots of people have died today.. including 5 GIs
Well, thanks for recognizing the loss of our heros.
It's not their fault they were sent into harm's way for a phoney purpose by people like you and Bush.
Originally posted by: palehorse74
I wish that all of my fellow Americans would rediscover the concepts of "conviction" and "sacrifice;" concepts that were alive and well no more than 50 years ago, but have somehow been left behind in the dust of the "I Want it Here and Now" generation.
Less than 3000 US dead in 4+ years of fighting OEF and OIF... As a soldier, I recognize the possibility of and necessity for death in warfare, and I accept it. Why can't all Americans do the same?
The goal in Iraq and Afghanistan is to democratize the middle east and Central Asia; and thus bring them out of the 7th century. Is it possible? I guess we'll have to wait and see. The point is that the overall intentions are worthy of respect, and it's therefore worth the effort to actually WAIT and see!
This is a long-term project folks. This is not a 1hr TV-series episode wherein the good guys overcome the bad guys in 60minutes or less. This "war" will be one that takes decades! Don't you all understand that!?
In the end, I believe that we (The Western civilized world) can triumph.
But for that to happen, it's going to take conviction and more sacrifice on everyone's part.
The goal here is to make our childrens' children safe. Is that too abstract or intangible for you to fathom or accept?
Stay the course people, and for God's sake, please don't politically force a premature withdrawal. -I- am willing to go over there time and time again to do my part in building their nations. All I ask, if you are not willing to risk your own arse, is that you support me and give the entire mission time to succeed (decades) so as not to make my efforts and sacrifice null and void.
Dont you get it? Are you simply too soft or afraid to accept the longterm sacrifices?
FACT: More than 2500 US soldiers died in a single day of fighting on D-day. The men and women of that era damn well knew the true meanings of the words conviction and sacrifice.
Wake up people. Please.
Originally posted by: Todd33
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Waaaaaa people die in war? Waaaaa! No way! MOMMY! Why do people die in war!? Why don't they shoot at eachother with beebee guns!?!??!?! WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Just like all of your post, you say dumb $hit to aggravate people. I suppose we should send your quote to the families of the dead 2000+ Americans and 30,000+ Iraqis. Or maybe when your mom get hit by a car we can all reply "people die on the roads, waaaaaaaa". You are a punk kid and it shows.