AL-QAIDA STEPS UP ATTACKS IN IRAQ. STRATEGY SHIFTS TO "SOFT TARGETS"

WE REPORT. YOU DECIDE

By Bill Corcoran, editor and host of CORKSPHERE.

One of the more well-known cable news outlets in the United States, which shall remain nameless, has a motto that goes like this: "We Report. You Decide."

There is, however, one glaring problem with the cable news station's motto. In the case of the Iraq war they no longer "report" on the war so viewers are left with nothing to "decide."

In the spirit of being "fair and balanced," another motto of the nameless cable news station, we are bringing readers of this blog the "fair and balanced" reports of what is really taking place in Iraq.

Al-Qaida has changed their tactics in Iraq and it appears as though they are pinpointing "soft targets" like schools and funerals in an effort to undermine the notion that the "surge" is working and things are getting better in Iraq.

In the past few days there have been a number of suicide bombings aimed at schools and funerals. Below is an article on just one of them.

Finally, our stat counter indicates my blog is receiving a lot of visitors from overseas. I want to thank all of you and invite you to comment on any of the topics I post on this blog.

Suicide bomber attacks Iraqi school

By CHRISTOPHER CHESTER, Associated Press WriterTue Jan 22, 4:52 PM ET

http://tinyurl.com/3yvnyo

A suicide bomber pushing an electric heater atop a cart packed with hidden explosives attacked a high school north of Baghdad on Tuesday, leaving students and teachers bloodied and bewildered as insurgents appeared to be expanding their list of targets.

The bombing — one of two attacks near Iraqi schools on the same day — follows a wave of recent blasts blamed on al-Qaida in Iraq against funerals and social gatherings.

The trend points to the possibility that al-Qaida has shifted tactics to focus increasingly on so-called soft targets and undermine public confidence that things are looking better in the country.

The backlash also coincides with a U.S.-led offensive trying to uproot insurgents from strongholds around Baghdad.

In the suicide attack, the bomber posed as a shopper or merchant transporting an electric heater on a chilly winter day — an apparent attempt to deflect attention from the explosive-rigged cart.
The blast struck the front of a two-story schoolhouse in Baqouba about 8:30 a.m., half an hour after classes began. Panicked parents rushed to find out if their children were alive or dead.
A 25-year-old male bystander was killed and 21 people were wounded — 12 students, eight teachers and one policeman, according to a doctor at Baqouba General Hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was afraid of being targeted by militants.

"I can't think of any reason to target students," said 15-year-old Mohammed Abbas, his wounded head in a bandage as his father stood near his hospital bed in Baqouba, about 35 miles northeast of Baghdad. "We did not expect that explosions would reach our school."

Go back to the link to read the full account.