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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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16

7 Bombs Batter Baghdad; 95 Dead, 500 Wounded

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(Newser) – Scores of people are dead after seven coordinated bombings rocked Baghdad this morning, targeting both government ministries and poor Shia neighborhoods, the New York Times  reports. Two huge bombs and three smaller blasts, probably from mortars, went off at the entrance to the fortified Green Zone, while other explosions hit the slum area of Sadr City. At least 95 people were reported killed and more than 500 injured.

The blasts targeted some of the city's most heavily fortified areas, including the parliament,  four ministries, and a hotel popular with foreigners. Hardest hit were the Foreign Ministry, where at least 47 were killed, and Finance Ministry, 28. Authorities suspect Sunni militant groups are behind the attacks. “The whole thing is just so disgusting,” US ambassador Christopher R. Hill, told the Times. “They’re just psychopathic.” American troops who witnessed the attacks were helpless; they've been banned from street patrols since June.

Smoke rises over central Baghdad, where a series of large explosions has left 100 dead.
Smoke rises over central Baghdad, where a series of large explosions has left 100 dead.   (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Fire fighters respond after a massive bomb attack at the Iraqi Foreign Ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.
Fire fighters respond after a massive bomb attack at the Iraqi Foreign Ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Fire fighters respond as smoke billows over the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, center, after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.
Fire fighters respond as smoke billows over the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, center, after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Iraqi security forces inspect a creator caused by a massive bomb attack on the Foreign Ministry, in Baghdad, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.
Iraqi security forces inspect a creator caused by a massive bomb attack on the Foreign Ministry, in Baghdad, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Smoke billows near the Iraqi Foreign Ministry after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.
Smoke billows near the Iraqi Foreign Ministry after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
A man flees the Iraqi Foreign Ministry building after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.
A man flees the Iraqi Foreign Ministry building after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Iraqi policemen and civilians stand in wreckage after a car bomb explosion near the Finance Ministry in northern Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. A series of deadly explosions targeting government and commercial buildings struck Baghdad Wednesday, killing scores of people and wounding many more Iraqi police and medical officials...
Iraqi policemen and civilians stand in wreckage after a car bomb explosion near the Finance Ministry in northern Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. A series of deadly explosions targeting government...   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Men stand near destroyed vehicles after a car bomb explosion near the Finance Ministry in northern Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. A series of deadly explosions targeting government and commercial buildings struck Baghdad Wednesday, killing scores of people and wounding many more Iraqi police and medical officials said.
Men stand near destroyed vehicles after a car bomb explosion near the Finance Ministry in northern Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. A series of deadly explosions targeting government and commercial...   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
A man flees the Iraqi Foreign Ministry building after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. A series of deadly explosions targeting government and commercial buildings struck Baghdad Wednesday, killing scores and wounding more than 300, Iraqi police and medical officials said.
A man flees the Iraqi Foreign Ministry building after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. A series of deadly explosions targeting government and commercial buildings struck...   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
At least seven explosions have struck Baghdad, including several near the Green Zone.
At least seven explosions have struck Baghdad, including several near the Green Zone.   (AP Photo/APTN)
Iraqi officials investigate damage inside the parliament building following the explosion.
Iraqi officials investigate damage inside the parliament building following the explosion.   (AP Photo/APTN)
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16 comments
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Katsabanis
Aug 19, 09 6:45 AM CDT
People are just going to have to accept that there are certain places in the world that are simply DANGEROUS. And Baghdad is #1. This terror nonesense should stop. And the cowards who did this are exactly that COWARDS. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+5
IN RESPONSE:
DJM420
Aug 19, 09 11:33 AM CDT
you hit the nail right on the head...BUSH CHENEY RUMSFELD = COWARDS
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
Citrixguy
Aug 19, 09 4:18 PM CDT
@djm420- ya know, your the only coward here
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-1
serfinWI
Aug 19, 09 10:47 AM CDT
Good excuse to give up. Afganistan is simply dangerous as well. So is Detroit and Washington DC (wouldn't want to walk the streets alone). So was Japan and Germany a few years back. Now they are allies and economic powerhouses. WE are the cowards. We care too much about what everyone thinks. If you are waging war, then fight it like a war. Stop tip toeing around get it over with and bomb the hell out of 'em like we did in Japan and Germany, or get the heck out. Reply
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-5
IN RESPONSE:
freethemall
Aug 19, 09 12:29 PM CDT
Bomb the hell out of them? Who are "them"?
Vote up! Vote down!
+6

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