The centre of Baghdad was rocked by seven near-simultaneous explosions this morning, killing an estimated 100 people and wounding 250 more.In the deadliest attack in Iraq this year, and the most audacious one in the capital for a long time, mortar fire and car bombs were directed towards the main centres of power. Among the targets were the ministries of finance, foreign affairs, health and housing, as well as the Parliament building and the Cabinet building.
Also hit was a checkpoint on the approach roads to the fortified Green Zone. The largest explosion was across the street from the Foreign Ministry and is said to have killed 59 people. The combined total of dead and wounded is said to be 350.
I know there’s such a thing as the fog of war.
But the radio said “75 were killed,” Fox says “50 were killed,” and then the London Times reports that “100 were killed.”
This is Iraq. Muslims are reporting the figures. I assume that maybe 20 were killed, and that Muslims are simply lying, inflating the numbers to gain sympathy and to rile up “their side” of the conflict. It’s what Muslims do.
/cynicism