Updated at 7:32 p.m. EDT, June 13, 2009
At least three Iraqis were killed and 11 were injured on a quiet day in Iraq; however two U.S. soldiers were reported killed in separate incidents. Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces said that they are prepared to take over from U.S. troops, but those in Mosul are far from ready. So far 100 bases have been returned to Iraqi authority. Also, two more U.S. contractors were freed pending an investigation into an unknown matter; conflicting reports had the men accused of murder, arms possession or drug offences at various times.
Gordon Prather says Judy Miller won’t be missed
At least 11 Iraqis were killed and 23 others were wounded in the latest violence. One brazen attack left a senior Sunni parliamentarian dead. No Coalition deaths were reported.
In Baghdad, a senior Sunni lawmaker was killed after delivering a sermon at a mosque in Yarmouk. Guards chased the teenage assailant who threw a grenade at his pursuers as they killed him. At least five others killed; one was a bodyguard. Another 12 people were wounded. Harith al-Obeidi had recently assumed leadership of the Iraqi Accord Front, when the former head became speaker of parliament.
Updated at 5:31 p.m. EDT, June 11, 2009
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned that attacks could increase as a US pullout date approaches. In today’s violence at least 11 Iraqis were killed and 29 more were wounded. An American soldier was wounded alongside a number of the Iraqis.
Kelley Vlahos on the withdrawal rabbit hole
Updated at 10:55 p.m. EDT, June 10, 2009
A rare car bombing at a marketplace in southern Iraq killed and wounded dozens of Iraq civilians. Although reports of large bombings can often mean an increase in reports from throughout Iraq, the rest of the country remained fairly quiet. Overall, at least 39 Iraqis were killed and 80 were wounded in these attacks. In an odd turn, five U.S. contractors accused of murdering a colleague will apparently be set free soon. Also, Turkey and Iraq have signed a military cooperation accord.
Only seven Iraqis were reported wounded in light violence. No Coalition deaths were reported. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has released a Shi’ite militia leader believed responsible for the deaths of U.S. troops, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Iraqis to work together to promote reconciliation.
Norman Solomon on abstractions that kill
Updated at 7:58 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2009
Although there were few attack reports today, one bombing in Baghdad created a significant number of casualties. Overall, at least 13 Iraqis were killed and 30 more were wounded across central and north Iraq. Meanwhile, the Wartime Contracting Commission released a 111-page report on the mishandling of contractor funding in Iraq. Also, Shi’ite political parties are looking to reform a coalition that might antagonize the Sunnis.
Updated at 4:30 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2009
Eight Iraqis were killed and three were wounded in the latest attacks. Four people, at least one a Christian, were kidnapped near Mosul.
