February 17, 2006

US Major-General Rick Lynch said the attacks had shifted somewhat to target Iraqi security forces as more of these US-trained forces assume responsibility and US military personnel hole up in their bases.

"He attributed the spike to the increased role of Iraqi security forces, as well as the interim period between the December 15 elections and the formation of a new government, which is still pending," the Pakistan Tribune reported.

US Military Whines

Meanwhile, US military commanders blamed an international campaign to discredit "coalition troops" in Iraq.

"It’s a rehash of the same story," said Lt. Col. Michelle Martin-Hing, a coalition spokeswoman [in an interview with Stars and Stripes].

"There are certain things … that indicate this is not a coincidence," Martin-Hing said of the Abu Ghraib photo release coming just days after a videotape showing British soldiers beating young Iraqi men was aired, and after cartoons of the prophet Muhammad published in European newspapers caused rioting and deaths in several countries.

"It seems to be a very coordinated information campaign to discredit the coalition," she said.

... Lt. Col. Guy Rudisill, spokesman for U.S. detainee operations in Iraq, said abuses pictured in the photos are a thing of the past.

Dear Colonel Rudisill, the tragedies of 9-11 are a thing of the past too, but you spare no effort in shoving it down the world's throats.

So, too is the Holocaust. When you shut up about 9-11, we will learn to shut up about Abu Ghraib.

Oh and, wait, wasn't it shown Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11?

Iraqi Commando Uniforms

Iraqi police is reporting yet another attack by men dressed in Iraqi commando uniforms on a prominent banker and his son. Five of his bodyguards were killed.

They were neatly laid out in the banker's front yard, bullet holes in their heads...

More bodies found in Iraq read at Iraq's Death Squads.

More Iraq news coming up.