Al-Qaeda Bombings Kill Almost 100 As Multiple Targets Hit In Baghdad [Obama Withdrawal?]

Telegraph(UK) ^ | August 19, 2009

[Steelfish]

al-Qaeda bombings kill almost 100 as multiple targets hit in Baghdad

Almost 100 people have been killed in co-ordinated al-Qaeda bomb and mortar blasts across Baghdad, the deadliest attack since the US army pulled out of Iraq's major cities.

Richard Spencer 19 Aug 2009

Iraqi officials said that 95 people had been killed and more than 500 were wounded.

The attacks, blamed on al-Qaeda, hit government and media buildings in the heart of the city, away from the softer targets of recent explosions, such as Shia mosques.

Baghdad bomb attacks kill 75 people in Iraqi capital Witnesses described seeing bodies lying on the floor of the foreign ministry through smashed windows. The ministry, on the edge of the highly fortified International or "Green" Zone, suffered the worst losses after a truck bomb exploded outside.

The deaths will add to fears that the Iraqi government and security forces have not been able adequately to replace the missing fire-power of the Americans.

[squidly]

O can follow up his “address to the Muslim world” with an address to the Iraqi people, which will surely solve this problem.

[Tallguy]

Again, the withdrawal was negotiated by Bush via the SOFA. Obama is merely carrying it out.

Yeah, but imagine if Bush were still in office and trying to get Congress to pass an important administration initiative (like Obama's Healthcare 'Reform'). The Media would drop coverage of Bush's policy initiative in favor of sensationalist coverage of the Iraqi victims in an effort to tar Bush with the violence & so weaken his agenda.

[Mustangman]

You are sort-of right. Maliki has his own agenda for sure and given his druthers he would just as well be another dictator. The man is no democrat. With this said, Bush was in no position to keep the democracy push going. With Obama crying ‘we surrender’ during the campaign, there was just no way Bush could have kept the pressure on Maliki.

With that said, there is a chance enough forces and good people can keep democracy going in Iraq. There are certainly powerful elements that want human rights. However, by default and in the name of respecting Iraqi ‘culture’, Obama has joined the forces in Iraq that don’t want democracy.

It’s cynical politcs on Obama’s side. Sure, he hates GWB. i get that. But, a substantial person would protect the dignity of the out-going president and therefrore; the dignity of the US of A. If you read history, it’s a precedent in this country.

But, Obama is not a substantial person. He governs and campaigns to keep the press happy. He’s in way way over his head. Once America stops feeling guilty about slavery, he’ll be replaced by an adult.

[adorno]

It is not an “Obama withdrawal” Obama is carrying out the SOFA negotiated by Bush.

Do you think or believe that Bush would've negotiated the "withdrawal" without the pressure from the democrats and from the election cycle of 2008?

My guess is that, if it were up to Bush and his defense advisers, that Bush would not have negotiated to pull our troops out so soon. Oh, yeah, he would've eventually pulled our forces out, but not at the accelerated rate that we're doing now, and especially not from the more sensitive areas of Iraq, like the cities.

The only fault I put on Bush is that he gave in to the pressure. Most of the pressure came from the left.

So, while you may be correct in a way, you are also failing to point at the real reasons for what's happening now.

However, though Bush deserves part of the blame, Obama and the democrats deserve the most. And, when it comes to what's happening now, Obama is the commander-in-chief, and, the C-N-C cannot just simply point the finger at when the policy started and just blame Bush. As C-N-C, Obama can reverse the pull-out and re-establish our control until Iraq is "really ready" to go it alone.

So, though it is true that some people refuse to accept the facts, there are also many people who fail to examine the entire set of facts.

[G8 Diplomat]

Ever notice that since 0bama took office there’s been an increase in the number of bombings in Iraq? Not a coincidence.

[ari-freedom]

“It is not an “Obama withdrawal” Obama is carrying out the SOFA negotiated by Bush.”

he’s carrying it out poorly. sorry but Obama’s in office for over 6 months now and it’s only getting worse.

[ari-freedom]

because the once he won, the terrorists also said “yes, we can!”

[libstripper]

The Illegal Alien is simply implementing his stealth strategy for losing the entire WOT, even in the places where we’ve already won.

[Let's Roll]

Yeah, they know he’s taking military advice from Weasley Clark.

[rom]

Teachable Moment! Break out the hookah pipes (I almost said Beer then realized that Muslims aren’t supposed to drink alcohol) at the White House and invite the terrorists over.

[Diogenesis]

"And billions of dollars for my new presidential helicopter.
Among its other capabilities, it'll let me cook a meal while under nuclear attack."

[Buckhead]

Agreed that Bush cut the best deal he could, against a substantial push from the Iraqis to get us out sooner, and, as you note, tremendous domestic pressure to get out.

It will be interesting to see what happens as a result of the recent flurry of large, successful attacks by Al Qaeda.

I don’t trust Maliki or Obama do to the right or smart thing.