December 31, 2004

Beslan Donates To Tsunami Relief

The Courier-Mail reports that the North Ossetian town of Beslan in Russia, still mourning 344 murders - half of them children - by terrorists, has contributed $37,500 to the tsunami relief effort.

"Our council decided to transfer a million rubles to help those suffering from the disaster in Asia," said Maerbek Tuayev, who is in charge of municipal council efforts to raise funds for families of the victims of the September hostage taking.

"The residents of Beslan have not forgotten how the whole world mobilised for them. We will always mobilise for people suffering from disasters or terrorism around the world."

Memories of the massacre in Beslan are ugly. The residents' resilience and generosity warm the heart.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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Are Terrorists Revolutionaries?

There's a fascinating conversation going on over at Outside the Beltway written by Leopold Stotch. It concerns the Northwestern professor comparing Al Qaeda's fight with the U.S. Revolutionary War.

I'm not going to re-hash my views on this subject as I've already done so and explained the professor's comparison, however some interesting debate seems to be taking place. Shoot on over and take a gander.

Steven Taylor also joins into the fray of this debate with some excellent points.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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December 30, 2004

Professor Compares 9/11 Terro

There are very few articles written or words said that truly upset me. I may not like some of the references made by some prominent politicians and/or journalists, however I usually take them with a grain of salt. The below is not one of those.

History is made by people who seize the moments that circumstances offer and bend them to their purposes. When the conditions are adverse, they nurse their purposes, their dreams of freedom, dignity and power, so that when their moment arrives, they are ready to seize it, even at the cost of their lives.

On April 19, 1775, 700 British troops reached Concord, Massachusetts, to disarm the American colonists who were preparing to start an insurrection. When the British ordered them to disperse, the colonists fired back at the British soldiers. This “shot heard ‘round the world” heralded the start of an insurrection against Britain, the greatest Western power of its time. And when it ended, victorious, in 1783, the colonists had gained their objective. They had established a sovereign but slave-holding republic, the United States of America.

The colonists broke away because this was economically advantageous to their commercial and landed classes. As colonists, they were ruled by a parliament in which they were not represented, and which did not represent their interests. The colonies were not free to protect and develop their own commerce and industries. Their bid for independence was made all the more attractive because it was pressed under the banner of liberty. The colonial elites had imbibed well the lessons of the Enlightenment, and here in the new world, they had an opportunity to harness liberty in the service of their economic interests. Backed by the self interest of their landed and commercial elites, and inspired by revolutionary ideas, the colonists had a dream worth pursuing. They were prepared to die for this dream – and to kill. They did: and they won.

On September 11, 2001, nineteen Arab hijackers too demonstrated their willingness to die – and to kill – for their dream. They died so that their people might live, free and in dignity. The manner of their death – and the destruction it wreaked – is not merely a testament to the vulnerabilities that modern technology has created to clandestine attacks. After all, skyscrapers and airplanes have co-existed peacefully for many decades. The attacks of 9-11 were in many ways a work of daring and imagination too; if one can think objectively of such horrors. They were a cataclysmic summation of the history of Western depredations in the Middle East: the history of a unity dismembered, of societies manipulated by surrogates, of development derailed and disrupted, of a people dispossessed. The explosion of 9-11 was indeed a “shot heard ‘round the world.”

- Dissident Voice (via Jihad Watch)


How dare writer M. Shahid Alam compare those who killed over 3,000 innocent civilians on another country's soil to those who fought back at soldiers. Even an imbecile could tell whether or not a target is legitimate or not. Civilians are not legitimate targets in a war while soldiers and officers are.

Not only is Alam's article historically inaccurate, I know big shock, it also tries to explain away the radical islamic ideology in ways that it should not be explained. Simply put, it's not true. The dream of the terrorists in Al Qaeda is to re-create Persia under an Islamic rule. They hate the fact the United States, a country which operates under a Democracy, is even in the same area. They see Democracy as evil because it puts the people at the same level as God in their view. Of course they don't recognize how an Islamic cleric running the country would be the same, but then again the terrorist mindset is far from reality. more...

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Saudis Kill 10 al Qaeda Suspects

Reuters:

Saudi security forces killed 10 suspected al Qaeda militants during raids and shootouts in the past two days, including a gunman who is on the kingdom's most wanted list, the Interior Ministry said Thursday. A ministry statement read out on state television said three militants were killed on Tuesday while police shot dead seven on Wednesday after two suicide car bombs exploded in Riyadh. [continue]
Good news in an otherwise dreary holiday season. The events of the past week have only made my vacation more depressing. What would really make me happy would be the Saudis ending their support of radical expansionist Islam around the world.

And as long as I'm spending a few minutes at the keyboard let me add this question just to mix things up a bit. Where is Osama bin Laden?

I've been saying off and on that Africa is the best bet. Bin Laden is a mystic who may be holed up in the place where his 'prophetic powers' first were revealed to the faithful: Somolia. Pure speculation, but there it is.

Another thought, though, has occured to me recently: Iraq. As much as bin Laden likes to think that Allah revealed the weakness of America in Somalia, his experiences in Afghanistan fighting the Soviets shaped his view of warfare. In his recent messages to the faithful he has used the protracted war in Afghanistan as the military model for defeating the US in Iraq. So, maybe bin Laden has decided to return to the center of action.

Just a thought.

PS: As i posted this I noticed the Interested Participant's news that a top al Qaeda figure in Iraq was captured. Maybe this New Year will be better than last?

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Senior Zarqawi Aide Captured

The Iraqi government announced that Fadil Hussain Ahmed al-Kurdi, 26, a senior member of the Al Qaeda-linked network of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was captured in a raid in Baghdad along with two other terrorists. Kurdi, AKA Ridha, is the brother of Umar Baziyani, a Zarqawi lieutenant captured last May.

"Ridha was responsible for facilitating communications between Al Qaeda and the Zarqawi terror networks as well as coordinating the movement of terrorists in and out of Iraq," a Government statement said.

"Both Ridha and Umar Baziyani remain in detention and are being question [sic] by Iraqi and coalition forces."

It's also being reported that a Yemeni close to Osama bin Laden was one of seven militants killed in Wednesday's shootout with Saudi security forces in Riyadh. According to a security source,

"Ibrahim Ahmad Abdel Majeed al-Reemy, a Yemeni national, was among the seven militants killed on Wednesday evening," the source said.

Reemy, who does not figure on the Saudi kingdom's most-wanted list, is a "big shot in Al-Qaeda and is believed to be the link between the organisation in Saudi Arabia and bin Laden himself," the source said.

Splendid!

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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Terrorists Attack U.S. Base in Mosul

- Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents tried to ram a truck with half a ton of explosives into a U.S. military post in the northern city of Mosul on Thursday then ambushed reinforcements in a huge gunbattle in which 25 rebels and one American soldier were killed. Warplanes fired missiles and strafed gunmen during the fight.

The assault on the outpost, which U.S. soldiers finally repulsed, appeared to be better coordinated than past attacks, with guerrillas apparently pulling out their strongest assaults in an effort to derail Jan. 30 elections, U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Paul Hastings said.

"The terrorists are growing more desperate in their attempts to derail the elections and they're trying to put it all on the line and give it all they can," Hastings said.


This base was the scene of the suicide bombings inside a mess hall tent. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet, all the signs point to the work of Ansar al-Sunnah based upon where the attack occured and how it was carried out.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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The Politics of Disaster

Greetings, Jawa Report Readers. I am Mike, otherwise known as The Maximum Leader from Nakedvillainy.com. The good Dr. Rusty invited me to guest blog during his vacation, and I am now going to take him up on his offer. First I would like to tip my hat to the other guest bloggers here who have really done a tremendous job in RustyÂ’s absence. (HummÂ… Perhaps doing a better job than Rusty himself? Do I smell a coup?)

I wanted to comment on the ongoing tsunami disaster. I, aside from the feelings of compassion for the victims and survivors of the Asian Tsunami that we all feel, have some other comments to make on this disaster.

And by the way, check out the Command Post for a comprehensive listing of charities to which you could donate.

Some of the science concerning what has happened is quite fascinating. The Earth's rotation itself may have been affected. And islands around the earthquake area may have actually moved. Some islands, rather than moving, appear to have been swallowed by the sea.

Scientists also are reporting that while there will be aftershocks, they do not anticipate more killer waves. One hopes this is a minor blessing.

And, outside the science of the tsunami there is, as always, the politics of disasters. Much hay has been made concerning the "stingy" comment from Jan Egeland of the United Nations. At the time the comment was made the US had contributed $15 million to disaster relief. At the time the comment was made, that $15 million represented the largest donation from a western nation to date. The US has now donated $35 million to relief. President Bush pledges more money and other aid.

I was stung by the "stingy" comment. As were many others. That comment showed a number of things. First off it showed the insularity of the world in which so many UN officals live. They don't understand anything outside their organization, and they only see the UN as an altruistic world-government-in-waiting that only needs more money from rich countries to solve the world's problems.

The second thing it showed was a stupendous ignorance of how the US appropriates money. In case you didn't know (and I donÂ’t suspect the informed readers of The Jawa Report wouldnÂ’t know this), the President or Secretary of State don't just take money out of the Treasury and spend it. It is appropriated by Congress. It can only be appropriated by Congress. Every year the Congress appropriates money for the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) for disaster relief. Money is also appropriated for other departments to be spend for disaster relief. It is this previously appropriated money that is being spent now. Additional funds will need to be voted on and approved by Congress. And in case commentators didn't know it, Congress is not in session right now. Our nations law-makers (and money appropriators) are on holiday and will not be back until around January 10. This limits the amount of money the United States has to allocate to relief at this point. Why isn't that little tidbit being reported?

Do not fear, we will donate more. We will be the leader in this effort. Just as we always are. In 2004 nearly a quarter of all money given in relief for natural disasters around the world came from the US. We are the largest donor in these situations. We may have been a little slow to act (and even that claim is debatable), but we are in it for the long haul.

And all this talk of relief by governments doesn't even begin to count the millions that will come from normal Americans donating their own money from their own pockets to help those people around the world they've never met, seen, or in some cases heard of before. We are the most generous people in the world, and we rarely get credit for it.

Now I mentioned that we may have been a little slow on the uptake. I believe that President Bush was too slow in making some sort of visible public statement of compassion. I do not feel that the President doesn't feel compassion for the suffering (as was implied by Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning – Lauer and his guests speculated that the President didn’t care because he didn’t know anything about the region). The President and his staff probably wanted to wait and get more information before speaking publicly about what the US response would be. While that may be a smart move tactically, it was not a smart move from the perspective of image-building. The President should have made some brief remarks sooner and said that details of the US response would be forthcoming.

I do not doubt that the role of the US will be great in this relief effort. I only hope that the full role of the US will be appreciated when all is said and done. That is very unlikely, but I can still hope.

Carry on.

This was cross posted on Nakedvillainy.com

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New Iraq Signs First Oil Contract

According to this Sydney Morning Herald report, the Iraqi Oil Ministry has awarded a contract, the first since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, to develop the Kormale Dome oil field in the northern province of Irbil. Oil Ministry spokesman Assim Jihad said the contract was a $136 million joint venture agreement among three companies, the Kar Company of Iraq, Turkey's Avrasya, and Britain-based Dynamic Processing Solutions. Kormale Dome is expected to produce 100,000 barrels of oil and 100 million cubic meters of gas per day.

To address the frequent terrorist attacks on pipelines and other facilities, spokesman Jihad said the Ministry would soon open bidding for contracts to provide security services. Naturally, these developments are good news and it's interesting that security is going to be contracted out. Rather than have the government provide security, the Ministry appears to prefer a rental guard force. The relative effectiveness of a private security force will surely be scrutinized.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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December 29, 2004

Tsunami Help

The below is an entire re-post from Hyscience. It concerns helping the tsunami victims. You may also go to tsunamihelp.blogspot.com for more information on how to help. Please spread the word.

1. The S.M.Joshi memorial foundation's Arogya Sena is planning to send a team of medical experts and volunteers to Tamil Nadu and other affected places to assist in the relief operations. Those wishing to join the effort may contact Dr Abhijit Vaidya on Pune mobile no.98505 88008 (prefix 0 while dialling from outside Pune).

2. Rotary club of Pune Riverside is sending a team of Rorarians with relief material for Tamil Nadu, Andamans, Andhra and Kerala. The team is leaving Pune on 1st Jan.2005. Relief material like packaged food, vessels, biscuits and blankets can be handed over to them. For details contact, Rohit Jerajani on Pune Ph.26134686.

3. On behalf of Women's Collective based in Chennai, NGO Maitri is accepting the following: Rice (in sealed bags of 1 kg.), bed sheets and funds. A collection centre is being opened at Padale Palace, off Karve Road, Pune (Ph.25446511).

For any details regarding material to be sent to local Red Cross office at M.G.Road,Pune OR contributions to be made, please call me at Pune cell no.98220 04752 or write in at vmoorthy@rediffmail.com. Vijaya

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Bush Promises More Aid to Tsunami Victims

I have stayed quiet on the tsunami front for a variety of reasons, primarily because I'm too shocked it happened to be able to effectively write on this topic. I still won't cover it as far as the tragedy, but I will cover it from the area of terrorism and what it could mean for the GWOT.

Today, President Bush announced the U.S. is committed for long-term aid to the region. He also announced a coallition of nations dedicated to providing aid.

Bush said he phoned the leaders of stricken countries to solicit specific needs and assure them the initial aid package "is only the beginning of our help." He also laid the foundation for a long-term international recovery plan by forming the coalition with Japan, Australia and India and inviting other nations to join.

Boston.com


To me this is where things can get interesting and should effect the GWOT. I'll try my best to explain why, however like always my readers must draw the final conclusions.

Australia and Japan remain two of our strongest allies in almost every single undertaking we take. Both countries' governments and people should be applauded by every American based upon their continued support. Our relationship with India has soured slightly, however the two countries remain friends and Indians are one of this nation's fastest growing minorities.

The area effected by the tsunami is directly in the path of where many terrorists start bases and train jihadists. Indonesia is reported as being a nation with several Al Qaeda linked terrorist groups. While I wouldn't be sad if those were the people that died, that isn't the case. India has it's own jihadists as well. The massive support again will help our country's image that was damaged by the UN oil-for-food scandal as well as internal strife.

With the United States supplying as much aid as they are and forming a coallition with other nations to provide aid, we should get more support in the region that will help fester anti-Americanism. Al Qaeda terrorists recruit on the basis of fighting the evil Americans and Westerners. If the rest of the West can step up to the plate in terms of aid to the tsunami effected region, this will either completely take away or severely damage this recruiting tactic.

Of course I do not believe this is the reason why President Bush announced what he did, but it's a great side effect. This is not just a public relations mission, though it can be turned into a great pr opportunity if the United States government starts to realize the power of pr.

What often goes unreported when amount of aid is discussed is raw materials (food, water, wood, etc.). Individual donations also usually go unreported. This is part of the reason why the U.S. has a bad rap with giving aid, which is unfair once the above in included. We as a nation must continue to step up and show our generosity to those who were effected by a tragedy, no matter what country of origin they are.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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Macktastic Comix - Part I

jawacomic1.jpg
Concluded this weekend provided I'm still allowed to post.

-Cranky Neocon

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Laser Directed at Airliner Cockpit

(Cleveland, Ohio) Using a sophisticated laser system, someone targeted the cockpit of an airplane on approach to Cleveland-Hopkins Airport. The flight originated Monday in Washington, D.C., and was traveling at 300MPH at 8,500 to 10,000 feet when the beam of green light invaded the cockpit. The laser is believed to have come from suburban Warrensville Heights. The FBI and the FAA are investigating. At present, it's unknown whether the incident was a prank or something more sinister.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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Tip Leads to Explosion

- Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A powerful explosion in a house in west Baghdad killed at least 29 people and wounded 18, police said Wednesday. They described the blast as an ambush staged by insurgents.

Police were en route to a raid in Baghdad's Ghazaliya neighborhood late Tuesday after an anonymous call tipped them about a suspected militant hideout in the neighborhood, an official in Ghazaliya police station said.

As they were about to enter the house, an explosion erupted from inside, he added.

At least 29 people were killed, including 7 policemen, and 18 others were injured. Six houses collapsed in the blast and several people are believed to be still trapped underneath the rubble.


This is a good news, bad news incident. First the bad news. It's a shame this terrorist felt like killing 29 people and injuring 18 others while blowing up some homes. Now the good news. The Iraqi police found this man, who in turn detonated the explosive, through an anonymous tip.

Update:
Times Online is reporting Iraqi police are investigating whether or not they were led into a trap. According to the U.S. military, the house has around two tons of explosives in it, making it at the very least a bomb factory. At this time it is unknown if the blast was triggered in martyrdom or if it was a planned event.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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Explosions in Riyadh

- Associated Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - A suicide attacker tried to drive his bomb-laden car into the Interior Ministry complex, and militants set off another bomb and exchanged fire with police late Wednesday in Riyadh, capital of a kingdom at war with Muslim extremists.

The first explosion at about 8:35 p.m. shattered windows and sent smoke and flames rising into the nighttime sky near the ministry in central Riyadh. Police officials said a suicide car bomber had tried to storm the ministry, but failed and instead exploded his car just outside.

A number of policemen were injured, a ministry official said, without elaborating. The ministry, which is in charge of Saudi security forces, is key to leading the crackdown that Saudi Arabia has led against Islamic militants this year.


Saudi Arabia killed three suspected terrorists just this past week. Couple the killings with the Bin Laden message targeting Saudi Arabia and there is reason to believe the attack today was some sort of paypack and/or carrying out Bin Laden's message.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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Ramsey Clark to Defend Saddam

No big shock here since Ramsey Clark is an opportunist and as anti-American as they come. Political Musings has the best round-up of the event.

For a reference on how out of touch Clark is, left-leaning Salon calls he "A war criminals best friend." He's written many letters to the United Nations where he naturally bashes President Bush and the United States.

Here's a transcript of a speech he gave in Los Angeles in 1998 complaining of the sanctions against Iraq. Keep in mind, this is while the top five intelligence agencies in the world thought Iraq had WMDs.

Ramsey Clark's legacy as an anti-American wouldn't be complete without a call to impeach President Bush or his book concerning U.S. war crimes in the Persian Gulf. Of course this is the same Ramsey Clark who tried to defend Milosevic when even the UN considered Molosevic a war criminal.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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Break Out the Rain Gear and the Tin Foil Hats

Paul at Wizbang has done an extraordinary job of compiling some of the latest moonbat conspiracy theories out there. Did you know that the earthquake that caused the tsunami that killed over 60,000 people was Bush's fault? It's also the fault of right-wing Republicans who are driving our three to four kids around in our SUV trying to buy gifts around Christmas time.

Oh and by the way, while people died from tsunamis, Bush has done nothing which is why someone wants to impeach Bush. My only question is what is Bush supposed to do? He has a cabinet and the cabinet members are the ones handling aid.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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San Francisco Voting to Ban Handguns

- SFGate

San Francisco supervisors want voters to approve a sweeping handgun ban that would prohibit almost everyone except law enforcement officers, security guards and military members from possessing firearms in the city.

The measure, which will appear on the municipal ballot next year, would bar residents from keeping guns in their homes or businesses, Bill Barnes, an aide to Supervisor Chris Daly, said Wednesday. It would also prohibit the sale, manufacturing and distribution of handguns and ammunition in San Francisco, as well as the transfer of gun licenses.

Barnes said the initiative is a response to San Francisco's skyrocketing homicide rate, as well as other social ills. There have been 86 murders in the city so far this year compared to 70 in all of 2003.


Now I ask you something. Of the 86 murders this year, how many were done by handguns? Of the handguns that attributed to the 86 murders, how many were legally purchased handguns? How many handguns murdered someone without a person pulling the trigger?

This law is not only against the Bill of Rights, but it doesn't make any sense. Guns used in homicides are overwhelmingly purchased on the black market. Very few guns used in homicides are legal guns, therefore what good is a law to band handguns going to do considering there are many more illegal guns used in acts of violence than the legal guns they will now ban?

After I read this story, I thanked God I live in a state where you can apply to carry a concealed handgun, not a city where only the crooks can carry them.

Update:
The only other city in the United States with a handgun ban is Washington DC, which banned them in 1976. Homicide did go up in Washington DC and DC still remains the city with the highest homicide rate in the U.S. despite a ban on handguns. Guess what is the weapon of choice for murderers in DC? Guns, not just handguns though.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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What a Ride

Some jackass decided it would be the fun thing to do and broke my back window out of my Jeep Grand Cherokee. Out of all of the windows someone could break, they break the one I look out of the most with tint (front windshield doesn't have tint). Naturally the cost of repair will be around $500, but thankfully I have full insurance and won't pay a dime other than the cost of gas to drive my happy ass up to the dealership.

This is the strange thing about it though. They didn't take anything! Not as if I had anything valuable in my car, but they could have taken something. I had an ice scrapper, Maglite, jumper cables, two truck tie-downs and three of my favorite hats in arms reach. Does the person who broke the window not like anything of mine? If they don't, then that's the ultimate put-down.

They risk getting caught and getting thrown in jail for vandalism (five other cars in my neighborhood last night alone), make me clean up tiny pieces of glass in which I cut my hands a few times, lose whatever object they threw at the car and they don't even bother to take anything to reward them of their quest? What kind of sick, young f&*@ does stuff like this?

Life is about risks and rewards. The person took the risk of getting caught and thrown into the city pound-me-in-the -___ prison, he should have at least taken a reward. My Chicago Cubs hat might look good on him. It's practically brand new.

So, anywho, blogging will be light today while I try to replace my back window and make sure they are connecting the defroster correctly, and the rear windshield wiper, and handle to open it, and the shocks to lift the window and the neon lighted sign that reads "Too Legit." It's a shame. Now I have to buy a new Texas Tech University sticker too. Maybe I'll get one of those silver car ornaments instead?

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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December 28, 2004

Anyone Game for Some Noodling?

Noodling anyone? I'll stick with a fly rod.

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Zarqawi Takes Credit for Assassination Attempt

- Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The group of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility Tuesday for the assassination attempt against the leader of Iraq's largest Shiite Muslim party that killed and wounded dozens of people.

In a statement posted on an internet web site, al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida in Iraq said one of its members carried out the suicide attack near Abdel Aziz al-Hakim's office Monday that killed 15 people and wounded more than 50. Al-Hakim, who was not in the office but in his adjacent house, was not hurt.


The assassination attempt was thankfully a failure, which makes it a bit odd that Al Qaeda in Iraq is willing to take credit for a failed attempt. Zarqawi and his group has issued statements with failures before, however there have been numerous failed attempts of suicide bombings directed by Zarqawi they have not taken credit for.

In most communications from Tawhid wal Jihad (Al Qaeda in Iraq), credit is either taken for successful operations or denied from successful operations. The group is quick to take credit for the killing of several innocent Iraqis, which somehow makes them feel proud. While people did die in the assassination attempt, it did not kill the intended target.

While Al Qaeda in Iraq wants nothing more than Democracy to fail in Iraq, which is why they target Iraqi officials, they missed their ultimate goal. Was the suicide bomber too quick to pull the trigger like other terrorists?

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

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