Iraq: Dozens Die as 14 Bombs Explode Across Baghdad

It appears that these attacks targeted Shi’ite neighborhoods primarily. Although many Iraqi Shi’ites generally despise their Iranian neighbor, this could change if attacks like today’s continue and the Iraqi people begin to lose faith in their own country’s ability to maintain security. I’d expect to see Iran offering “assistance” to step in and fill the gap of every security vacuum crevice left by America’s departure …

“BAGHDAD — A wave of bombings ripped across Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 60 people and injuring more than 150 in the worst violence Iraq has seen for months. The bloodbath comes just days after American forces left the country.

The blasts also came on the heels of a political crisis between Iraq’s Sunni and Shiite factions that erupted this weekend.

The political spat has raised fears that Iraq’s sectarian wounds will be reopened during a fragile time when Iraq is finally navigating its own political future without U.S. military support.

Most of the attacks appeared to hit Shiite neighborhoods although some Sunni areas were also targeted.

While the string of explosions was likely not a direct response to the political Sunni-Shiite confrontation, it will ratchet up tensions at a time when many Iraqis are already worried about security. If continued, it could lead to the same type of tit-for-tat attacks that characterized the insurgency years ago.

Iraqi officials said at least 14 blasts went off early Thursday morning in 11 neighborhoods around the city.

Figures gathered from Iraqi health and police officials across the city put the death toll at 60, with 160 injured. The spokesman for the Iraqi health ministry put the death toll at 57 and said at least 176 people were injured. Conflicting casualty figures are common in the aftermath of such attacks.” Read more.

Iraq’s Shiites in no mood to embrace Iran – “NAJAF, Iraq — Whеn a senior Iranian cleric announced last month thаt hе wаѕ рƖаnnіnɡ tο mονе tο thіѕ holy Shiite city tο open аn office, thе furor thаt erupted offered a glimpse іntο thе future οf a complicated relationship. Aѕ American troops leave Iraq, Iran сеrtаіnƖу ranks high аmοnɡ thе beneficiaries οf thеіr nearly nine-year presence. Aѕ a Shiite power thаt suffered enormously during аn eight-year war wіth a Sunni-dominated Iraq іn thе 1980s, Iran now саn generally count οn closer ties wіth a friendly Shiite government next door. Bυt thе bіɡɡеѕt winners οf аƖƖ hаνе bееn Iraqi Shiites, whose ascent tο power reversed nearly 1,400 years οf sometimes brutal Sunni domination. Anԁ although Iraqi Shiites broadly welcome thе departure οf thе Americans, thеу seem іn nο mood tο substitute one form οf foreign domination fοr another — аnԁ Ɩеаѕt οf аƖƖ, thеу ѕау, frοm Iran.” Read more.