Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 37 Near Shrine
By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
Published: January 4, 2009
BAGHDAD — A woman wearing an explosive belt blew herself up near the entrance of a revered Shiite shrine Sunday morning in Baghdad, killing at least 37 people, many of them Shiite pilgrims, according to the Ministry of the Interior. As many as 53 others were wounded in the attack, which occurred during a Shiite holy month.
The suicide bombing outside the Imam Moussa Al-kadhim shrine in the Kadhimiyah neighborhood came nine days after a Dec. 26 car bomb killed 24 people and wounded 46 others after it had exploded on a busy road near the same shrine.
The timing and location of each bombing appeared to be intended to reignite sectarian violence, from which Iraq had shown signs of emerging in recent months.
Sunday’s attack, which occurred at about 11:30 a.m., came during Muharram, among the holiest months for all Muslims but particularly for Shiites, who prepare to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Imam Hussein was killed during a battle against the forces of a Sunni caliph in 680.
The entire story can be found here.
This was Mark's AO (area of operations) for 10 months during the "surge." It was a very, very tough neighborhood when Bravo Co. arrived. But during the last year, it has been very quiet there. It would be tragic to seen the gains made lost in an attempt to reignite the sectarian strife.
3 comments:
How can these people ever live in peace?
They aren't interested in getting along in peaceful coexistence.
Just in ridding the world of all who have different beliefs.
For every radical extremist Muslim there is purported to be hundreds who are peace loving.
If they all joined forces against evil, maybe there could be a change?
I am sick and tired of hearing about it, and of our soldiers being sacrificed for people who won't change.
Agreed.
I guess I am the lone man out on this one. The fact that Mark, and Matt and Jacob put forth the effort to help change the situation from the horrible ways of life to where children can walk to school or even have a school shows there can be change. Our boys have it started. Don't let this be another Vietnam where we capture a hill on Monday and return it to the VC on Wednesday. Thousands of Iraqis have been influenced by our American presence and this will lead to a better life and country for them.
I agree I wish there would be more that stand up and be counted. They have started and it will continue until the good out number the terrorists. They are just a bunch of thugs and not real citizens of the country of Iraq, in my humble opinion or course!
Hope this new year finds both of you and your boys doing well.
Pops
Post a Comment