Iraqi Chaos

[mburbank]

Blasts Kill 125 at Iraq Shiite Shrines
AP


By TAREK AL-ISSAWI and HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writers

KARBALA, Iraq - Simultaneous explosions ripped through crowds of worshippers Tuesday at Shiite Muslim shrines in Baghdad and the holy city of Karbala, killing at least 125. It was the bloodiest day since the end of major fighting.

U.S. intelligence officials have long been concerned about the possibility of militant attacks during Ashoura. Last month, U.S. officials released what they said was a letter by Jordanian militant Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi outlining a strategy of spectacular attacks on Shiites, aimed at sparking a Sunni-Shiite civil war.

The attacks in the two cities took place nearly simultaneously as tens of thousands of Shiite pilgrims gathered for Ashoura, the holiest day in the Shiite religious calendar.





If we cannot protect Iraqis from an attack we are almost certain is coming, on a holiday we already know about at a likely target location, we are in no way in control of the country. As the occupying nation, their safety is our responsability. I'm in no way blaming us for the attack itself, but how can we claim the war is over, that we are 'winning the war on terrorism' , that things are getting better in Iraq when this happens?

If you don't get how major an event this is, imagine if 125 people had been killed at St. Patricks Cathedral in NYC during Easter or Christmas eve services.

One of Al Quaidas major goals is the destabilization of the middle east. Our goals and theirs were perfectly aligned in Iraq and whatevr we achieved by deposing Huseein, they achieved more. Terrorists can now act at will in Iraq.

There is a tipping point out there, for many Iraqis probably already reached, where the question W thinks is rhetorical, "Does anyone think Iraq is worse of with Hussein gone?" is hardly moot. If you think that question is rhetorical, ask yourself this. 125 died today. That still pales besides Husseins torture and genocide. But at what number would the scales begin to balance for you? How many people would have to die in terrorism, how much chaos, anarchy and suffering would you need to see before the scales begin to balance?

I think Iraq is on a nearly unstopable course toward a lengthy civil war. You only need to look at Africa to see what that can do.