Bombings, Shootings Make for Bloody Weekend in Iraq

Maliki Tries to Spin 'Big Victory' as Over 120 Killed

by Jason Ditz, June 21, 2009

Iraq is reeling this weekend after a series of bombings and shootings left over 120 dead and hundreds wounded. The deadliest single incident by far was Saturday’s truck bombing in Kirkuk, whose toll has continued to rise and was at last count over 80 killed and hundreds injured. The attack is the deadliest in months.

But a pair of bombings today in the capital of Baghdad have killed at least 16 and wounded dozens of others, and insurgents have shot and killed at least nine police in multiple incidents across the nation. The surge in violence comes less than two weeks before a deadline requiring US troops to leave Iraqi cities.

Violence in the nation has been on the rise for several months, raising concerns that the massive poll seen in previous years is poised to return. The US military has repeatedly insisted the upswing in killings is an aberration.

But for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the nation is experiencing a “big victory” which the insurgents are trying to spoil with the increased attacks. It seems that for the forseeable future, Iraq will remain a very dangerous place.

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