Twin bombs go off in Iraq – Huge casualty count

The current casualty count is 136, making it the biggest attack in 2009. It has this familiar feel because it was ‘probably’ the work of Sunni insurgents attacking the Shiite majority government.

But there’s a big difference.

Quoting the Associated Press:

“Three American security contractors, working for the U.S. embassy in Baghdad were injured in the blasts, but no American embassy personnel were killed.”

Even just last year, at least half a dozen of our own people would have been victims. The big difference is that they’re back to just killing each other, not us.

We have to remember that an unstable, lawless country – even halfway around the world – is our concern too and doing what we can to make the world a safer place is a good thing. But this incident, as bad as it is, still puts in focus the progress that has been made in reversing this disasterous mistakes of the idiot Bush. US troops left Iraqi cities and towns at the end of June. 70,000 American soldiers will have to leave Iraq by the end of next August, and all remaining US forces must withdraw by the end of 2011.

Feels good!

President Obama is making it clear that America will not fall victim to “go it alone” policies again. A lawless Iraq is more of a danger to it’s nearest neighbors than to us. They’re the ones who should take the lead in deciding what to do about it. We’re negotiating with the whole world in seeking solutions to seemingly insolvable problems like Israel and Palestine, North Korea, and Iran. The right-wing idea to “bomb ‘em back to the stone age” gives wing-nuts a satisfying short-term rush, but if Iraq has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t afford that kind of thrill.