Two massive car bombs near government buildings in Baghdad and 700 casualties later, have left local residents asking questions about the ability of the local police to provide adequate security to civilians. The attacks occurred during peak hour traffic in the early morning of Sunday morning (the equivalent of Monday in Western nations) and left a swathe of destruction in the immediate blast zone destroying vehicles, buildings and water pipes. When Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived later in the day with the media's video cameras central Baghdad was painted red with the blood of its victims and the rubble of the earlier attack remained strewn around the streets in a Stalingradish type fresco. The attacks were timed to coincide with the meeting of a number of senior leaders in the country who were set to meet to iron out disputes surrounding the January election. It is highly likely that Sunni extremists (read al-Qaeda) used this opportunity to send a clear message to the political parties that they will do everything in their power to ensure that the poll is delayed and or does not proceed. If this were to happen it is possible that sectarian violence may well again resume in a country that is battling to recover from nearly eight years of continuous conflict.
Video of the attack (Al-Jazeera)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laAcKdMp-cw
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