Bombing Strike Awakening in Iraq
Terrorist forces most likely linked to al Qaeda struck Awakening forces near al-Qaim while another struck near Baghdad. The attack occurred while the Sunni anti-terrorists were lining up to collect their paychecks in Radwaniya, killing 45. Another attack in al Qaim killed another three. Unfortunately, the bombings underlie some of Iraq’s remaining problems:
“The government has not provided job opportunities to the heroes who fought Al Qaeda,” Sheik Efan Saadoun, a member of the provincial council in Anbar said. “Therefore, these heroes are not willing to fight Al Qaeda because they have not received what they deserved.”
Others appeared to imply that the government was at least complicit in the attacks Sunday.
Khamis, the bombing victim, said while men are usually searched at the checkpoint where the bomber struck, on Sunday they were allowed to line up without any checks.
Iraq is close to a total victory, but al Qaeda will do its best to stoke some of the remaining tensions and fears in the country.
