Iraq violence: New York is fun city, but Baghdad is a blast

Here's another report about the supposedly successful US pacification effort in Iraq. The headline and the text don't match, but clearly a lot of people were killed. The increasing frequency of such attacks at US troops withdraw should be lighting up red lights in Washington, but they are not.

 

June 24, 2009

Blast in Baghdad Kills at Least 56

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 1:46 p.m. ET

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraqi officials have raised the casualty toll in a bombing in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City to at least 21 killed and 45 wounded.

Police say the bomb was hidden under vegetables on a motorized pushcart near a crowded market.

A local police officer says the 7 p.m. blast was timed to maximize casualties by striking as many shoppers as possible. He says shrapnel struck victims more than 600 yards (meters) away.

Wednesday's bombing comes less than a week before a June 30 deadline for U.S. combat troops to leave Iraqi cities. That's the first stage of a full withdrawal of American forces by the end of 2011.

Police and hospital officials gave the death toll on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraqi officials say at least six people have been killed in a bombing in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City.

Police say the bomb was hidden under vegetables on a motorized pushcart near a market.

Wednesday's bombing comes less than a week before a June 30 deadline for U.S. combat troops to leave Iraqi cities. That pullback will be the first stage of a full withdrawal of American forces by the end of 2011.

Police and hospital officials gave the death toll on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information. They say 28 people also were wounded.

The blast is the latest in a string of attacks mostly targeting crowded Shiite areas.