Blasts in Baghdad, Karbala Kill 143 Shiia Pilgrims

American Forces Press Service ^ | March 2, 2004 | By Jim Garamone

[Calpernia]

At least 143 Iraqis were killed in terrorist attacks today in Baghdad and Karbala, coalition officials said at a Baghdad news conference.

Suicide bombers attacked Shiia Muslims as they observed Ashoura, the holiest day in the Shiia calendar. Ashoura commemorates the death in battle of Hussain, the third Shiite Imam, in A.D. 680.

The Iraqi Governing Council wasted no time in attributing the blasts to Abu Musab Zarqawi, a terrorist with ties to al Qaeda. He wrote a letter to al Qaeda leaders, detailing how he would bring on a sectarian civil war in Iraq, which was intercepted by the coalition in Iraq.

"Certainly, one of the chief suspects in this would be Zarqawi, just by the methods that have been used in the past, just by the techniques that have been used in the past," said Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt during the news conference. The attacks point to a "transnational organization with local assistance," he said. Kimmitt is deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7.

The blasts were nearly simultaneous in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and in Karbala, about 50 miles to the south. In Baghdad, the blasts ripped through crowds gathered at the Kazimiya shrine, killing at least 58 and wounding more than 200. Iraqi police said three suicide bombers were responsible. A fourth suicide bomber whose vest did not explode was captured at the scene.

In Karbala, there was an explosion in the center of the city as well as explosions on a road used by Shiite pilgrims leading to a Shiia shrine. Officials said the blasts were intended to maximize civilian casualties. These attacks killed at least 85 Iraqis and wounded 230.

"The explosions were caused by three methods: a suicide bomber in the city center, explosives along the road outside the city set off by remote-detonation devices, and mortar rounds fired from near the city," Kimmitt said. He said Iraqi police arrested six people, and that no group has taken responsibility for the attacks.

In the aftermath, some Shiia – noting the absence of coalition forces near the mosques – said the coalition should do more to protect them. Kimmitt said the coalition worked with Iraqi officials to tailor the protective posture around these sites and many others. "The plan was specifically meant to respect the cultural requirements and the cultural desires of those planning these events," Kimmitt said. "The coalition forces set an outer cordon, the Iraqis Civil Defense Service as well as the Iraqi Police Service set the inner cordon. These were coordinated plans."

"This was a clear and well-organized act of terrorism," Dan Senor, senior coalition spokesman, said. "We've seen these acts of terrorism can be carried out all over the world."

Senor stressed the attacks follow agreement on the Transitional Administrative Law, or interim constitution, that guarantees democratic rights to the Iraqi people. He added that Zarqawi specifically identified "the path to Iraqi democracy" as the greatest threat to terrorist groups.

In an unrelated attack, a 1st Armored Division soldier was killed and another was wounded when someone threw a hand grenade into a humvee. Their names are being withheld until their families are notified.

[Calpernia]

"The explosions were caused by three methods: a suicide bomber in the city center, explosives along the road outside the city set off by remote-detonation devices, and mortar rounds fired from near the city," Kimmitt said. He said Iraqi police arrested six people, and that no group has taken responsibility for the attacks.

[cake_crumb]

An unreported attack on Shia pilgrims in Pakistan killed 12 and an unreported attack in India killed two. Are those people somehow less dead because they weren't killed in Iraq? Also unreported, we arrested 6 terrorists in Iraq.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Statement by L. Paul Bremer Administrator, Coalition Provisional Authority

BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 2, 2004 — Today terrorists have again struck the Iraqi people. We of the Coalition offer our deepest sympathy to the families of those who were murdered and to the wounded. We pray for your strength in this time of sorrow. Along with civilized people everywhere we share your horror at these evil acts and utterly condemn the acts and those who carried them out. We of the Coalition will not abandon the people of Iraq. The Coalition is even now providing all possible medical care for the wounded. And I pledge the full capacity of the Coalition to bring these murderers to justice as Iraq continues its march to democracy and sovereignty. Terrorists have murdered and maimed on one of the holiest days of the year, the day that commemorates the death of Imam Hussein. We know they did this as part of an effort to provoke sectarian violence among Muslims. We know they chose this day so that they could kill as many innocents as possible. Why would anyone want sectarian violence? The terrorists want sectarian violence because they believe that is the only way they can stop Iraq’s march toward the democracy that the terrorists fear. We know that the terrorists fear democracy because they said so. In a recent letter the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi wrote that democracy was coming to Iraq and that once Iraq was democratic there would be no pretext for attacks.

And so Zarqawi has admitted that the terrorists are in a race against time. It is a race they will lose. They will lose because the Iraqi people want and will have democracy, freedom and a sovereign Iraqi government. An Iraqi government is coming. This week, after an appropriate period of mourning, the Iraqi Governing Council will sign the Transitional Administrative Law. That law brings with it all that the terrorists fear: · They fear an Iraqi government controlled only by Iraqis. · They fear equality before the law for all of Iraq’s citizens. · They fear Democracy. After the law is signed, Iraq’s journey to a future of hope will continue. On June 30, the Coalition will turn sovereignty over to the Iraqi people. Next year there will be three elections and Iraq will end 2005 with an elected government. Iraq stands at the forefront of the war on terrorism. It is, at heart, a war between the forces of decency and the forces of evil. It is a war between those who value and defend the innocent and those who murder the innocent and hold them valueless. It is a war for Iraq’s future, a war between a future of hope and a future of fear. The Coalition stands firmly with the forces of decency, with those who protect the innocent, with those who will bring about Iraq’s future of hope. Aash al-Iraq!

http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/mar2004/a030204d.html

 

"Zarqawi has admitted that the terrorists are in a race against time. It is a race they will lose."

 

8 Blasts Kill 143 at Iraq Shiite Shrines ~ mainstream (pro-enemy) press thread w/ many news links (including Pakistan attack) and comments. 

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

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[T.Smith]

Ok, so it's not enough to be muslim (small "m" on purpose)? You have to be the right kind of muslim? What a twisted bunch of people. Is this enough to prove to lefties around the world that there is no negotiating, nor understanding, these people?

[Tunehead54]

A fourth suicide bomber whose vest did not explode was captured at the scene.

---

Now there's a guy about to have a bad week. I hope they hammer him til he gives up everything.

One thing I've not seen mentioned is how our election cycle figures into this violence. I am certain that all the dims calling for a pullout makes the terrorists think that if they can make it ugly enough that the voters in the USA will elect a Kerry - who wants to apologise for Bush's tenure - to everbody. "Sorry Osama, France, PDRK, Iran, etc. - go back to what you were doing. We're sorry."

I think it great strategery to name a date, 6/30/04, to hand the Iraqis their sovereignty. I suspect it was as quick as we could arrange and designed to ensure a resolved Iraq situation to minimize attacks leading up to the election here.

Hats off to a great presidential team and Dubya!

[PhilDragoo]

In the aftermath, some Shiia – noting the absence of coalition forces near the mosques – said the coalition should do more to protect them.

And if we move troops into protective positions around Shiia mosques, Shiias beeyatch about occupation.

Yoo hoo, kiddies, your Saddam gave 25K and up to the Pallie bombers, and now you reap that karma through Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.

You get to get blown up, or you get to get some spine and defend yourselves--but you don't get to triangulate blame on us.

[squidly]

It's the old hard target/soft target thing. You may recall back in Nov/Dec when our troops fought some big gun battles vs. would-be ambushers, and frankly kicked their butts. Since then, they've been going after Iraqis more and our guys less. Hard target - soft target. The Iraqis need to do more to make themselves hard targets.