Iraq Suicide Bombing Kills 10, Hurts 45

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716

<snip>
KIRKUK, Iraq - A suicide bomber detonated an explosive-packed vehicle Monday outside an Iraqi police station in a Kurdish neighborhood of this ethnically divided northern city, killing at least 10 people and wounding 45 others, police and hospital officials said.


The attack was the latest in a string of vehicle and suicide bombings against Iraqi security forces and others seen as cooperating with the U.S.-led occupation, killing more than 300 people this year. It was the third blast since late January to target Kurds in the north.


Kirkuk has also seen rising ethnic tensions as Kurds, Arabs and Turkomen vie for control of the city, located in one of the world's richest oil-producing regions, 180 miles north of Baghdad.


About 20 policemen had gathered in front of the Rahimawa police station to get their day's orders when the car exploded at 8:45 a.m., said the station's chief, Col. Adel Ibrahim. The explosion heavily damaged nearby buildings and destroyed cars. Ibrahim said it was a suicide bombing.

[UpInArms]

1. this is beyond "out of control"

and the mo-rans in charge are too stupid to be dogcatchers

from the NYTs http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/23/international/middleeast/23CND-IRAQ.html?ex=1078203600&?en=a72860644018364e&?ei=5062&?partner=GOOGLE

The attack in the northern city of Kirkuk underlined the problems the Iraqi police and security forces will face when they take over more responsibilities from American soldiers after a transfer of power to Iraqis on June 30. And it came as Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld arrived in Baghdad to examine the security problems involved in making the transfer.

Mr. Rumsfeld met today with members of Iraq's new security forces and said that he was impressed with their progress. "We're looking forward to seeing Iraqis take over the responsibility for the security of your country," he told them, according to The Associated Press.

The current maladministration has botched everything it touches and needs to be thrown to the streets immediately.