Schools, Kids Becoming Targets in Iraq

[maddezmom]

~snip~
Schools and children have increasingly become targets in a bloody conflict pitting Shiite and Sunni Muslims against each other as Iraq teeters on the verge of civil war. The violence has reached immense proportions in recent weeks, with dozens dying every day and overwhelmed Iraqi authorities seemingly incapable of stopping attacks.

With kidnappings of children and attacks at schools on the rise, some parents are just keeping their kids at home.

Bombs, rockets, mortar and machine-gun fire killed 64 school children from the end of October to the end of February, according to a report by the Education Ministry. At least 169 teachers and 84 other employees died during the same period.

"We are in a society of insecurity," said Education Minister Abdul Fallah al-Sudani. "Schools are not excluded from the suffering of our society."

Attacks and threats shut 417 schools in the four-month period — most only for a few weeks, but some longer — disrupting the education of thousands of children. The violence was concentrated in Baghdad and the volatile provinces of Anbar, Diyala and Babil, according to the Education Ministry.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060328/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_schoolboy_killed_1

[Jacobin]

1. Good grief

This is going to be a bloody, ghastly civil war the chimporer started

[Missy M]

2. I thought the GOOD NEWS from Iraq were school openings...

according to Bush and company. Guess they are wrong again.

[rodeodance]

3. Horrible--kids getting caught in the middle of pure politics!

[Roaming]

9. I wouldn't call this politics--I'd call it savage terrorism.

Disgusting cowards.

[AnneD]

4. It was only a matter of time,

every despot, dictator,regime, and society (good or bad) from time immemorial have used education as a means of exercising control. What is odious is when education is not used to enlighten or teach children how to learn and foster curiosity, but to force agendas such as religon, hate mongering, and personality worship. Sadly, Iraq isn't the only place where schools have become the new battlefield.

[LynnTheDem]

5. Well so much for THAT "good news" on schools...

Kinda looks like there just ain't any "good news" in Iraq. :shrug:

Iraq; WORSE NOW than under Hussein

Iraqis; WORSE OFF NOW than under Hussein.

bush; WORSE than Hussein.

If people weren't dead & dying, you'd have to LYFAO.

[Ilsa]

6. Lack of security four years into an occupation shows Failure of Leadership

The political leadership of the occupying nation has failed, if people can't even send their children to these wonderful, Halliburton-rebuilt (or Army Corp of Engineers- rebuilt) schools.

Bush and his henchmen are failed leaders.

[salin]

7. Just remember - according to Cheney - Alawi was wrong... it is *not* a

civil war.

:cry:

[Roland99]

8. Iraqi Education Minister? Why does he hate his freedom?

[rocktivity]

10. GOOD NEWS!

Iraq becomes newest market for the home schooling industry!

:party: (This post is part of Bush's GULF WAR GOOD NEWS initiative.)
rocknation