Iraq fighting leaves 21 dead (Mosul, Baquba, Kirkuk)

[Rose Siding]

AT least 21 people have been killed, including a US soldier, in attacks mainly targeting Iraq's security forces as Washington defended its decision to lead the Iraq invasion two years ago.
...
In the northern city of Mosul, a suicide bomber with a fake badge slipped into a building housing the provincial anti-corruption department and blew himself up inside the office of its chief, General Walid Kachmoula, killing him and two of his guards.

Attackers struck again hours later opening fire on the procession bearing Kachmoula's coffin as it made its way to the cemetery, killing two people and wounding 14, hospital sources said.

Separately, two unidentified bodies shot in the chest and head were found in the city, which has become a new front for the insurgency since November.
...
In another flashpoint town, gunmen attacked a police station in Baquba killing at least four policemen and wounding two as a truck bomb rammed into the entrance of an Iraqi army barrack nearby wounding 17 people, 14 of them soldiers, said a police source.

Four insurgents were killed in an ensuing firefight, added the source.

In Kirkuk, a US soldier was killed and three others wounded when a roadside bomb hit their patrol, said the US military.

http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,12609979-23109,00.html

[Rose Siding]

1. NYT reports 30 dead

At Least 30 Killed on a Violent Day in Iraq

snip>
Other attacks rippled through Iraq. In the volatile city of Samarra, north of Baghdad, insurgents gunned down a police officer walking to work, The Associated Press reported, citing police officials. Police who came to collect the body got into a firefight with the attackers, and three police officers and three insurgents were wounded. Earlier this month, American and Iraqi soldiers conducted an offensive sweep through Samarra, only to find that many insurgents they were looking for had fled or gone into hiding.

In the southern city of Basra, a roadside bomb explosion aimed at a police patrol killed a civilian and injured a police officer. In the town of Mahmudiya, insurgents lobbed mortars at an Iraqi Army base, killing one civilian and wounding two others outside the walls of the base.

http://nytimes.com/2005/03/20/international/middleeast/20cnd-iraq.html?hp&ex=1111381200&en=7ba8c956ca7c98a0&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Teaser]

2. That's a whole lotta freedom

in one day. In kirkuk, we have one freedomed U.S. soldier.
Baquba: 4 freedomed policemen.
Mosul: 3 freedomed officials.

Is someone keeping track of all this freedom?

[CANDO]

3. But, we painted a fence around a schoolyard today!

Why does the librul media only report the bad news? That fence really needed painting and it will lead to more democracy! I wish they'd stop giving us only the news that looks bad for dubya.

[daleo]

4. About a week ago there was a story re: Iraqi general shot by U.S. troops

The U.S. military then denied the story. I thought it was around Mosul too. One can't help wondering if the general in the story is in any way connected i.e. a cover-up of an embarrassing friendly fire incident. Just a low percentage speculation, though.

[leftchick]

5. yes that was Mosul just a few days ago..

could not help but think how his soldiers would respond now to the US. FUBAR!

[Al-CIAda]

6. Mission accomplished! Freedom is on the march! Bush was right!

...and all that other happy shit.


Oh, and Michael Jackson!

[llmart]

7. Don't forget my personal favorite......

"it was worth it" from the yellow-bellied coward-in-chief who never served his country.

[fedsron2us]

8. Every day the pitter-patter of the statistics of death.

eom