Bloody Response to Iraq Power Handover

[cal04]

Graphic images of a US soldier’s last moments before being executed illustrated the bloody response to the handover of power in Iraq as its new administration begins its work today.

The shocking pictures apparently of 20-year-old Private First Class Keith Maupin were aired by Arab television station Al-Jazeera early today. And four more hostages – three Turks and a Pakistani – all face threats of beheading in the next two days. The coalition handed over authority yesterday – two days earlier than planned – in a bid to wrongfoot insurgents determined to mark the June 30 transfer.

But just hours after the handover there were explosions in the heart of Baghdad. And one British solider was killed and two others injured in a separate attack on a military convoy in Basra.The decision to bring forward the handover was a closely guarded secret even though coalition officials had been discussing it with the new Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi for the past 10 days.

Mr Allawi has acknowledged the biggest problem facing his administration was security. He immediately promised to crush the insurgents responsible for the wave of violence which has left hundreds dead.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3138309

[Rowdyboy]

1. Thats just their way of thanking us

The Iraqi's are a demonstrative people.

[yzf_flyer]

2. Maybe it is just me...

but I really feel that these are last gasp acts of desperation. Our bloodiest year in WW2 was 1945, when the Nazis and Japan were on the ropes and throwing everything at us.

This is just a feeling I have. I may be wrong in my deductions. I wish the violence would just end.

[HawkerHurricane]

3. nope, sorry...

bloodiest year of the war was 1944... that WAS the last gasp... 1945 was the mopping up.

[yzf_flyer]

4. Okay...

But you did get my point.

[HawkerHurricane]

7. Yes, I did...

but I fear that you are wrong... and that this series of attacks was made to show that the U.S. can't stop the attacks with a fake hand off of 'soveriegnty'.

[Kimber Scott]

5. I hope you're right.

Sometimes it seems like some people around here want things to continue going badly in Iraq because it makes Bush look bad. I know deep down they don't mean it, but that's what it seems like on the surface, sometimes. Anyway, Bush already looks bad enough. He's got too much blood on his hands. It's time to stop and move on. November is coming and Bush has already lost. I hope noone else has to die because of his folly.

[yzf_flyer]

8. I would never wish...

any harm or loss of life on any of our troops. Thier loves and safety
mean more to me than who wins in November. I am a veteran. I was shot in the face in 1993. As a sargeant I lost one of my soldiers and I could never put into words the sense of loss I felt. My politics are one thing. My loyalty and support of America's soldiers are another. I don't think I could really put it into words. Like is often said, "I guess you have to be there."

[Kimber Scott]

10. I'm a veteran, too! Luckily, never in combat.

I spent 9 years in the Army. My husband's retired Army. My son just got back from Afghanistan earlier this year and his wife is now serving in Iraq. I'm sorry to hear about your injury and the loss of your soldier. I can only imagine the pain.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

P.S. I hope no more Iraqis have to die over this mess, either. I know it's all wishful thinking.

[Ripley]

13. That's a pretty untrue thing to say.

I have never once seen a DUer say they wished more people would die in Iraq.

Most people here are very well informed; an awful lot of information is provided through this site if you read links. No one wants more people to die...that's why we want our soldiers to come home NOW.

But to be naieve and say..."oh, everything will be better now that soverignty has been passeed" reeks. Do you not have a clue as to why these people are fighting?

[Porcupine]

6. No last gasps...remember the Soviet experience in Afghanistan...

the Soviet Army was convinced that just one more bombing campaign would make the damn Afghans quit. Just one more suicidal tank thrust into the hills. It never, ever quieted things down for much longer than it took the Afghans to trek back to Pakistan for more ammo.

Afghan veterans are working closely with the Iraqi resistance. Think about it.

[Tansy_Gold]

12. . . . remember the U.S. experience in Vietnam. . .

n/t

[TruthIsAll]

9. They want to run their own country. That's a TRUTH you can't deduce.

Because, as you said in another thread: what the hell is TRUTH?

TRUTH is the pain of occupation. TRUTH is the horror of families killed. TRUTH is not controlling your own destiny.

You expect them to just roll over for a BOGUS puppet regime? They want us OUT of there. That's the TRUTH.

Get it?

[newyawker99]

11. Hi yzf_flyer!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: