Free Republic

State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki issued a press release denouncing the "enemies of Islam " following car bombings in Baghdad that appear to have been timed to target Shi'ite "festivities marking the end of Ramadan." Reuters reported that the bombings consisted of "twelve separate blasts targeting markets, busy shopping streets, and parks." The explosions killed almost 80 people. The August 10 press release on the State Department website reads: The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the cowardly attacks... in Baghdad. These attacks were aimed at families celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the...

WASHINGTON - The suicide bombers who struck Baghdad this week used thousands of pounds of plastic explosives and diversionary tactics that are hallmarks of al-Qaida, a senior U.S. counterterrorism official said Thursday. The way the attacks were carried out has made American investigators believe they could be seeing a change in tactics by those attempting to drive U.S. forces out of Iraq, the official told The Associated Press in an interview. "We're looking at that as the start of something that may be forewarning of future events," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The New York Times...