At least five car bombings have been reported across Baghdad today, including a pair of simultaneous attacks in crowded neighborhoods and a bomb planted underneath a bus. The bombings killed at least 32 people and wounded another 116, according to officials. Meanwhile, a car bombing in Anbar Province killed another 6 and wounded 14 others.

The attacks were the first major attack of the month, but after about three weeks of relative calm, the massive bombings that typified August and July seem to be back, and in force.

So far no group has claimed credit for the bombings, but locals were quick to point the finger at the government for failing to secure the region. Iraqi security forces have instituted ever more draconian measures aimed at stopping the bombings, particularly in Baghdad, where checkpoints and vehicle bans are virtually the norm.

These efforts appear to be accomplishing very little, however, as despite US claims that the insurgency in Iraq is on the ropes the group still seems very capable of launching high profile attacks like today’s, and that shows no signs of changing.

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