Car bomb hits US military convoy in eastern Baghdad

[bemildred]

BAGHDAD, Sept. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- A car bomb blew up near a US military convoy in eastern Baghdad, destroying a Humvee, on Thursday, police said.

"An explosive-laden car, parking on the side of the al-Qanat highway, was remotely detonated near a US military convoy, destroying a Humvee and killing and wounding all occupants," police officer Ahmed Abdullah told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, a roadside bomb went off on the highway near Baghdad's al-Jadida (New Baghdad) district next to a minibus carrying employees of the Trade Ministry, killing two and wounding five others, Abdullah added.

Xinhua

[cwydro]

1. civil war

anyone?

[Mari333]

2. Civil war, indeed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4247646.stm

[acmavm]

3. You know I've been wondering about all this lately. There haven't been

reports of American casualties even though the situation has gotten a LOT WORSE. Did the Iraqis quit targeting Americans and decide just to kill their own lately?

Somehow this doesn't strike me as being quite kosher.

[bemildred]

4. KIA rates do seem to be down of late.

But I think it's just that the guerillas have adjusted their
strategy to the classic one of killing anyone that supports of
collaborates with the occupation. It's more effective than
attacking the US military and make more efficient use of resources.

It may also be that the US military is mainly in "Force Protection"
posture, although there are various little "offensives" (interesting
double meaning there, eh?) going on.

[acmavm]

6. I still find it highly unlikely that with Tel Afar and all the car bombing

that we've suddenly taken no casualties.

It's a war. And we're the enemy.

[bemildred]

7. I agree, Tel Afar especially.

But then note that this little attack is nowhere but
in the PRC media, so far.

[leftchick]

10. two convoys were struck in Baghdad yesterday

no word on casualties there either.

[acmavm]

11. See, perfect example of what I mean. Something is not right here.

Well, that's a given. But I mean more than usual.

[daleo]

13. U.S casualties in Iraq and New Orleans flood would be too much

There is either some delicate news management going on, or U.S. forces are staying far from trouble. Probably lots of both.

[enigma000]

14. Zarqawi's Group Plans to Kill More Shiites, Americans

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/5/19/85829.shtml

It seems Zarqawi and his merry bunch of Jihadists (sorry, freedom fighters) plan to start a civil war by targeting Shiites. Its far easier to kill unprotected Iraqi citizens (sorry, collaborators and quislings) than American or Iraqi military or police.

He's just following the best strategy.

[Imagevision]

5. Why don't they just blow up cars parked-deserted as they approach them

This has been going on for too long, If I was approaching an empty car by the side of the road I'd blow the freegin thing up before driving along side of it...this is flat out stupid!

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Catch-22, then

Sure, you secure the road for your passage, but if the car is not at all involved in any sort of attack, you've just made an enemy of the owner and all his friends, thereby increasing recruitment.

There's also the small problem of volume: how many parked cars do you think these convoys pass as they make their seemingly pointless trips to and fro? Would you have them blow up all of them? :shrug:

[wtmusic]

9. Not to mention

all the suicide carbombers...

Easy solution: get out of a country we never had a right to occupy in the first place.

[yellowcanine]

12. It's a good thing the insurgents are in their "last throes." Otherwise I

might be worried. Know what I mean?

[cantstandbush]

15. Were there any US soldiers in the Humvee?

No media outlest has mentioned this.