Insurgents Kill 66 Iraqis, 3 U.S. Troops

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040624/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=1480

BAQOUBA, Iraq - Insurgents launched coordinated attacks against police and government buildings across Sunni Muslim areas of Iraq (news - web sites) Thursday, killing 66 Iraqis and three U.S. soldiers less than a week before the handover of power.


The Iraqi Health Ministry said 268 people were wounded in the attack, but that tally did not include American injured.


The large number of attacks, mostly directed at Iraqi security services, was a clear sign of just how powerful the insurgency in Iraq remains — and could be the start of a new push to torpedo the June 30 transfer of sovereignty to an interim transitional government.


Some of the heaviest fighting was reported in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, where two American soldiers were killed and seven wounded, the U.S. 1st Infantry Division said. Attackers also targeted police stations in Ramadi, Mahaweel, and the northern city of Mosul, where car bombs rocked the Iraqi Police Academy, two police stations and the al-Jumhuri hospital.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040624/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_us_unrest_baquba&cid=1514&ncid=1473

Two US soldiers killed in Baquba ambush

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Two US soldiers were killed and seven wounded in an ambush by insurgents in the central Iraqi city of Baquba, the US military said.

"A 1st Infantry Division patrol was attacked by anti-Iraqi forces killing two soldiers and wounding seven others in Baquba," it said in a statement, following an earlier announcement that only one soldier had died.


Baquba lies some 60 kilometres (36 miles) northeast of the capital.


Insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on the headquarters of the US-backed local administration and a police station, with all three incidents taking place at around 5:30 am (0130 GMT), the statement said.

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[Cooley Hurd]

1. "anti-Iraqi forces?"

Is this the newest FauxNews-esque catchphrase? Like "homicide bomber?"

[bowens43]

3. This is unbelievable..

Seems to me the 1st Infantry Division is an anti-Iraqi force.

[markses]

4. It's the second use of that asinine phrase that I've seen

It will be interesting to see if anyone is actually stupid enough to start circulating this particular gem of "CPA" double-speak. May be a Negroponte innovation. :eyes:

[David__77]

6. I know, because of course real Iraqis kow-tow to foreign occupation.

Real Iraqis bow at the feet of foreigners stomping their nation underfoot.

[LosinIt]

2. Isn't the 1st ID the one on deck to come home?

Those poor soldiers. Those poor families. This poor country. I am so ashamed.

[leftchick]

5. The US Occupiers dropped FOUR 500 lb Bombs on Baquba...

but they are not "anti-Iraqi"... :eyes:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/iraq_baquba



BAQUBA, Iraq (AFP) - The US military dropped four 500-pound (220 kilogramme) bombs on houses in this northeastern Iraqi city as heavy fighting claimed the lives of 17 Iraqis and two US soldiers, military and hospital officials said.

The laser-guided strike followed dawn clashes with suspected supporters of Al-Qaeda fugitive Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi who also launched simultaneous attacks on the local government headquarters, a police station and the house of the provincial police chief, the US military said.


"A 1st Infantry Division patrol was attacked by anti-Iraqi forces killing two soldiers and wounding seven others in Baquba," a statement said.


"The anti-Iraqi forces attacked the patrol with small arms, multiple improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades in the vicinity of the Mufrek Traffic Circle."

[jmcgowanjm]

7. 2 helos shot down-Fallujah/Baquba

http://www.jihadunspun.net/intheatre_internal.php?article=7344&list=/home.php&

The insurgents now have their own capital in Fallujah just
30 miles from Baghdad. Even the road to the airport is
unsafe with almost daily ambushes. Americans can only
appear in the streets of Baghdad inside armoured
convoys.

The task for Mr Allawi's government will surely prove too
great. "The policy of the US government is one of retreat, and
a retreat under fire is notoriously difficult to conduct," said
one Iraqi minister. The White House wants to win
the presidential election by showing that it has Iraq
under control, but its many enemies here in Iraq intend to
prove the opposite. A bloody summer is likely to be followed
by an even bloodier autumn.

http://counterpunch.com/patrick06232004.html

And remember way back in February'04 when we
were ridiculed for saying at least 3 UStroops
were being killed everyday?