Baghdad suicide bomber kills at least 43 people

BBC ^ | July 18th 2010 | Gabriel Gatehouse

[Cardhu]

A suicide bomber has killed at least 43 people and injured 40 more southwest of Baghdad, Iraqi police say.

The attack targeted government-backed Sunni militia members lining up to be paid in the town of Radwaniya.

The Sunni militia fighters, known as the Sahwa or Awakening Councils, were once allied with al-Qaeda, but turned against the militant group in 2006.

Struggle for IraqCoalition questions Baghdad glazier Iraq: Key facts and figures Q&A: Parliamentary polls Among the dead were at least six soldiers and three accountants, the Associated Press news agency reported.

At least 13 soldiers were also wounded, along with four accountants.

"There were more than 85 people lined up in three lines at the main gate of the military base to receive salaries when a person approached us," a survivor, 20-year-old Tayseer Mehsen, told the Reuters news agency at Mahmudiya hospital.

"When one of the soldiers tried to stop him, he blew himself up."

IRAQ POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE Continue reading the main story 18 Jul: Suicide bomber kills 43 in attack on government-backed Sunni militia in Radwaniya near Baghdad 7 Jul: Series of bombings targeting Shia pilgrims attending festival in Baghdad leave more than 40 people dead20 Jun: 26 killed in twin suicide car bombings close to bank in Baghdad 21 May: Car bombing kills 30 at market in Khalis, Diyala province 10 May: 100 killed in a series of shootings and suicide bombings, including 45 in Hilla, Babil province 23 Apr: 58 killed in wave of bombings in Baghdad 4 Apr: Triple suicide car bombings near embassies in Baghdad kill 41 26 Mar: 40 killed by two bombs in Khalis, Diyala province 7 Mar: 35 killed in attacks across the country on election day.

[Cardhu]

"There are fears that the political uncertainty could hinder the planned withdrawal of all US combat troops from Iraq by the end of August, in preparation for a full military departure by 2012."

[Paladin2]

Iraq needs direct deposit.

[Cardhu]

It sure does, it would end these payday bombings.

[Venturer]

I]This is a strange place. If a certain portion of the country killed my people daily and had blown away 45 of my people I would start killing everything suspected of being Taliban or Al Quaeda.

Probably what we should have done in this country after 911.
What we may do if they bring it back again.

What the Mexicans should do with drug dealers.

[tlb]

>>> suicide bomber kills at least 43 people

If the three accountants hadn’t died they would have precise totals.

[SonOfDarkSkies]

But I’ll bet part of every Iraqi muslim feels in some small way that these bombings are the will of Allah for allowing the influences of modernity to thrive in Dar al Islam.

[Allegra]

But I’ll bet part of every Iraqi muslim feels in some small way that these bombings are the will of Allah for allowing the influences of modernity to thrive in Dar al Islam.

Nope.

Most of them hate this and are demoralized by it.

[Arrowhead1952]

Stay safe ping,

[SonOfDarkSkies]

I recognized that you certainly know first hand...and I don't.

But I'm thinking not about what they express or even have a self-awareness of.

There is a small part of all humans that dislike modernity (and rightly so)...and that dislike is undeniably a part of Islam.

As we all know, human beings are not uniform but have a jumble of emotions, beliefs, thoughts, etc. A person may be demoralized by something on one hand and still, in some secret place, understand and even support the very event they are demoralized by.

That's what I meant by what I originally said.