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Gates: Baghdad Bombings May Show Insurgents’ Desperation
American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry J. Gilmore

Posted on 02/02/2008 9:52:54 AM PST by SandRat

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., Feb. 2, 2008 – The double-suicide bombings in Baghdad on Feb. 1, carried out by two women, may indicate desperation on the part of a beleaguered insurgency, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters here.

The insurgents’ use of women to launch suicide attacks may be “a manifestation of the success of our military operations,” Gates told reporters at Fort Campbell, Ky. Feb. 1, after meeting with 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldiers and military spouses.

More than 70 people died and dozens were injured as the result of two suicide bombings carried out by two women in separate areas of the Iraqi capital city, according to news reports.

The actions of terrorists in employing women to conduct such horrendous attacks “is totally against the culture of the Arab world (and) is totally against Islamic faith,” Gates said. “We just have to make sure that the people of Iraq and others in the Middle East recognize how horrible these people are in terms of the culture they’re trying to attack.”

Al Qaeda’s callous disregard for human life is why Sunni residents united to eject the terrorists from Anbar province, Gates said.

As U.S. and Iraqi security forces and concerned local citizens groups continue to pressure al Qaeda and other insurgents, it is evident the terrorists are fast-losing whatever influence they’d previously possessed over the Iraqi population, he said.

Also due to the success of the surge operations, terrorists in Iraq are now having difficulty mounting vehicle-borne bomb attacks, Gates said.

Some news reports say the two women who launched today’s Baghdad suicide-bomb attacks may have been mentally challenged.

“And, the fact that they’re having to resort to using women, and possibly women who don’t know what they’re being asked to do, also may suggest that they’re having trouble getting foreign fighters to come into the country and sacrifice their lives,” Gates said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; US: Kentucky; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; bombing; desperation; frwn; iraq
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1 posted on 02/02/2008 9:52:56 AM PST by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
FR WAR NEWS!
If you would like to be added to / removed from FRWN,
please FReepmail Sandrat.

WARNING: FRWN can be an EXTREMELY HIGH-VOLUME PING LIST!!

2 posted on 02/02/2008 9:53:28 AM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat
Yes. It did demonstrate al Qaeda's desperation.

And it was sick.

Sick, sick, sick.

Horrible beyond rational imagination sick.

May those who perpetrated that yesterday rot in Hell forever.

3 posted on 02/02/2008 9:59:13 AM PST by Allegra (A chicken in every pot and a pair of new socks every day.)
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To: SandRat
I’ve thought for some time many of the male suicide bombers used before were a few bricks short of a full load as well.
4 posted on 02/02/2008 10:01:14 AM PST by afortiori
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To: SandRat

What has been on my mind is what happens to the insurgents that are captured. Hopefully they are turned over to Iraqi authorities, given a 1 day trial and hung.


5 posted on 02/02/2008 10:03:05 AM PST by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
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To: SandRat

Using women as suicide bombers is not new. It goes back as far as I can remember when the Algerians were against the French.


6 posted on 02/02/2008 10:04:05 AM PST by NY Attitude (You are responsible for your safety until the arrival of Law Enforcement Officers!)
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To: SandRat

This disgusting act ought to wake up even the islamists to what they have become. Incredibly amoral monsters. They have been so for many years, but this time no one will be able to overlook reality.


7 posted on 02/02/2008 10:04:14 AM PST by RightWhale (oil--the world currency)
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To: NY Attitude

These people were retarded and therefore not suicide bombers. This one is different.


8 posted on 02/02/2008 10:05:38 AM PST by RightWhale (oil--the world currency)
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To: RightWhale

I understand that they were retarded. But the use of women as suicide bombers is not new.


9 posted on 02/02/2008 10:09:44 AM PST by NY Attitude (You are responsible for your safety until the arrival of Law Enforcement Officers!)
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To: NY Attitude

This ought to be the final straw. Even ordinary jihadists should be throwing up in disgust right now.


10 posted on 02/02/2008 10:11:40 AM PST by RightWhale (oil--the world currency)
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To: SandRat

11 posted on 02/02/2008 10:15:09 AM PST by G8 Diplomat (Creatures are divided into 6 kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Monera, Protista, & Saudi Arabia)
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To: SandRat
The actions of terrorists in employing women to conduct such horrendous attacks ''is totally against the culture of the Arab world (and) is totally against Islamic faith,'' Gates said.

Apparently not. Why do our pols continue to make these claims when it's obviously a common tactic of Muslim extremists?

12 posted on 02/02/2008 10:16:46 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: RightWhale
From seeing their culture first hand women are treated as sub-human. They are beaten in public by their husbands, cannot attend schools and are constantly in a state of servitude to the male gender. I really do not think that the male population really cares who is a suicide bomber. It is the act of psychological warfare and its ensuing effects.
13 posted on 02/02/2008 10:17:02 AM PST by NY Attitude (You are responsible for your safety until the arrival of Law Enforcement Officers!)
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To: NY Attitude

That is all true and well-known. The bombing is different in that they used retarded young women who did not have any idea what they were doing. Even jihadists ought to be disgusted.


14 posted on 02/02/2008 10:20:01 AM PST by RightWhale (oil--the world currency)
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To: RightWhale

Agreed that should be disgusted.


15 posted on 02/02/2008 10:21:07 AM PST by NY Attitude (You are responsible for your safety until the arrival of Law Enforcement Officers!)
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To: NY Attitude

What is need now is an islamist somewhere who will stand up and say it. Is there such a courageous one anywhere? Don’t hold your breath, but a non-islamist saying it doesn’t get it done.

Where is Omar bin Laden?


16 posted on 02/02/2008 10:25:01 AM PST by RightWhale (oil--the world currency)
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To: Allegra
May the perps get unrelenting torment from Satan’s minions for all of eternity.
17 posted on 02/02/2008 10:52:09 AM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: NY Attitude

Using women may not be new but Down’s Syndrome Mentally Challenged is something entirely different and absolutely despicable.


18 posted on 02/02/2008 10:55:11 AM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: RightWhale

The American Liberals will.


19 posted on 02/02/2008 10:56:19 AM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

Sure. Right after Cinderella’s new dress is done.


20 posted on 02/02/2008 10:57:50 AM PST by RightWhale (oil--the world currency)
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