12 Iraqi Soldiers Killed in Ambush

[merwin]

12 Iraqi Soldiers Killed in Ambush

1 hour, 25 minutes ago Middle East - AP
By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq (news - web sites)'s interim prime minister declared on Wednesday that the success of the national elections had dealt a major blow to the insurgents. But in a clear sign militants plan to continue their attacks, 12 Iraqi soldiers were killed in an ambush in northern Iraq.

The Iraqi troops were returning to the northern city of Kirkuk, where they guard oil facilities, when armed men ambushed them Wednesday near the village of Zab, Maj. Gen. Anwar Mohammed Amin said Thursday.

The ambush was the deadliest attack since Sunday's general elections. A U.S. Marine and two Iraqis who work on a U.S. military base were also killed in separate attacks.

In another sign of potential trouble, a major Sunni clerical group declared that Sunday's elections "lack legitimacy" because many Sunni Arabs did not participate, saying the new government would have no mandate to guide the nation's future.

That suggested problems remain in reconciling with the Sunni Arabs, who comprise about 20 percent of Iraq's 26 million people but form the core of the insurgency.

...

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Well there goes Allawi's theory that the elections took the wind out of the insurgency.

[bluestateguy]

1. um, oops!

Guess nobody told them that the elections were supposed to end that kind of thing.

Another for the "I told you so" crowd.

[Skittles]

9. I would not have minded being wrong

I really would like the killings and carnage to end. I knew it wouldn't but I would have accepted being wrong.

[alittlelark]

2. Just saw this on AlJazeera

I though it was old... but it is...yesterdays news, last weeks news, last months news, last years news...................................................................................

[Journeyman]

4. This news is so old it could be used next year as well. . .

I guess that insurgency isn't as quiet as everyone said the past few days. . .

[alittlelark]

5. We should just post to our own news site !!!

We'd be right 2/3 of the time... cheap...!!!

[fujiyama]

3. According to Matt Lauer

"It's hard to argue with the president now isn't it Tim?"

[ckramer]

10. Matt Lauer used to be a liberal before 2000

Probably not true anymore

[Benhurst]

18. Let's not be hard on Matt. It's hard to be a balding media whore

when you were hired primarily for your looks.

[redrumrussian]

6. Its not going to stop

especially if our troops stay there for another two years.

[War Pigs]

7. Those freedom hating bastards!

:wtf:

[leftchick]

8. Wait I thought Fallujah 'broke the back' of the insurgents....

did they mention 5 IP were killed yesterday as well? Those folks are sitting ducks. They are not riding around in armored vehicles. What a mess.



Passers-by look at a shot-out car which had been carrying Iraqis who work on a U.S. military base in Baqouba north of Baghdad Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005. Insurgents ambushed the vehicle, which was carrying seven people, in the center of the city of Baqouba, 57 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, killing two and wounding four, with one escaping unhurt. (AP Photo/Mohammed Adnan)

[Cocoa]

11. Iraqi soldiers dragged off bus; 12 shot dead

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7522220&type=worldNews

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents dragged Iraqi soldiers off a bus and shot 12 of them dead in the bloodiest attack on security forces since last weekend's historic election, the Iraqi army said on Thursday.

Two soldiers survived and fled to a nearby village after their bus was ambushed near the northern oil city of Kirkuk late on Wednesday. The soldiers had been returning from vacation.

Two U.S. Marines were also killed on Wednesday in Anbar province west of Baghdad, a hotbed of anti-American militancy.

The deaths took the number of U.S. military and Pentagon personnel killed in action in Iraq since the invasion of March 2003 to 1,102. Including non-combat deaths the toll is 1,438.

More…

[jayfish]

12. Why Are All Of These Iraqi Soldiers...

and police officers traveling around the countryside, en-mass, without the means to protect themselves? This seems to happen quite frequently.

Jay

[chicagojoe]

13. My question exactly.

Aren't these guys armed?

[Igel]

15. "Returning from vacation".

I always wanna carry my AK-47 and some grenades when I visit my parents during vacation.

Then again, this wouldn't be surprising if you knew my mother.

[jayfish]

16. They Are In A War-Zone...

and have been slaughtered left and right for quite a while now. I would carry a weapon EVERYWHERE I went. If your post was entirely in-jest, my apologies.

Jay

[ernstbass]

14. As I recall

the bus of Iraqi Nat'l guardsmen that were killed a few months ago had their weapons confiscated to insure that thye returned from vacation. I woonder if these poor souls had any protection

[Blue_Tires]

17. but i thought everything was all gravy

now that they've had the elections!!!! (who actually WON in those elections, anyways?!?!?)

[DeaconBlues]

19. How are these people supposed to take up the security slack from the U.S.

when they are slaughtered at will like this almost every day? Vietnamization is not going well in Iraq.