Freedom Hating Terrorists Slaughter Civilians

A series of coordinated bombings in Baghdad targeted civilians, killing 160 and wounding 570.

Al Qaeda in Iraq and Zarqawi claimed responsibility, declaring retaliation for the Tal Afar offensive.

The Tal Afar operation netted more than 400 suspected militants. Officials said Monday the insurgent death toll in three days of fighting in Tal Afar totaled 200.

"Al-Qaida in Iraq lost basically a base area and transit point coming across the Syrian border. That will severely inhibit their operations..."

The bombings were also an attempt to scare Iraqis away from the Oct. 15 referendum on a new constitution.

The routing of Tal Afar has contributed to Zarqawi assuming tactical command of terrorist groups in Ramadi and Baghdad who "have had to merge under
him for the sake of survival."

Today's carnage is another instance of terrorists with "no more agenda than to kill, maim, and destroy".

-LynZee

Update: Al-Zarqawi has united insurgent groups in
Baghdad to target the Iraqi Shia Muslim community
with the aim of bringing civil war to Iraq.

Expect the terrorism to escalate in the run up to the October 15 referendum on Iraq’s new constitution and general elections due in December.

Successes in Tal Afar uncovered "horrible" abuses wrought by the Zarqawi terrorists.

"The details were prophetic reminder of what al-Qaeda’s supremacy may bode. "

Bush: Not on my watch.