surge update - Suicide blast in Baghdad kills at least 43

[spanone]

BAGHDAD — A suicide bomber targeting army soldiers and members of a government-backed militia lining up to receive their paychecks killed at least 43 people and wounded 46 on Sunday, Iraqi officials said.

Violence has dropped dramatically in Iraq in the past two years, but members of the security forces remain the target of repeated attacks blamed on militants trying to destabilize the country as the United States moves ahead with plans to reduce its forces.

The Sunday morning bombing outside a military base happened as members of the anti-al-Qaida Sunni group, known as Sons of Iraq or Sahwa, lined up to receive paychecks in the mostly Sunni district of Radwaniya southwest of Baghdad.

At least six of the dead were Iraqi soldiers, 34 were Sahwa members and three were accountants, according to hospital and police officials. At least 13 of the wounded were Iraqi Army soldiers, four were accountants and the rest were believed to be Sahwa members, the officials said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38296084/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[WinkyDink]

1. Didn't Bush win Iraq? Heh.

[spanone]

2. yep, mission accomplished.

[malaise]

3. Mission is certainly accomplished

for the dead. :hi:

[SpiralHawk]

4. "It's all Bill Clinton's fault. Smirk." - xCommander AWOL (R)

[SpiralHawk]

5. "But war profits are UP for republicon cronies." xVP Dickie 'Five-Military-Deferments' Cheney (R)

"Always look on the bright side. Sneer."

- xVP Dickie 'Five-Military-Deferments' Cheney (R)