Iraq, the unraveling (XXXIV): Bombing schoolchildren

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Monday, December 7, 2009 - 7:00 PM Share

I hope there is a special corner of Hell reserved for people who bomb schools, which happened today in Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, killing at least seven students and wounding another 41.

In other news, there was renewed fighting in Tarmiyah, site of one of the more interesting battles of the Surge era in Iraq. Nasty little town.

The U.S. Army

EXPLORE:IRAQ THE UNRAVELING, MIDDLE EAST, IRAQ

(6)

HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE

USERX

7:33 PM ET

December 7, 2009

"a special corner of Hell reserved for people who bomb schools"

Does this go for Israelis as well? Cf. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/gaza-israel-obama

I am new to your blog, after enjoying your contribution to Melissa Block's story "Have Lessons Of Iraq War Been Learned?" on NPR (http://is.gd/5fcFN), and so I don't yet have a sense, and am curious how you think about this sort of thing.

TOM RICKS

10:10 PM ET

December 7, 2009

One thing I've learned . . .

. . . is to read more than one article before commenting on anything involving Israel.
Best,
Tom

USERX

6:23 PM ET

December 9, 2009

things you've learned...

Hmmm, your condescension does not become you, Mr. Ricks.

You are right to suspect that I am not - even by my own reckoning, smile - particularly knowledgeable about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, your dodge suggests that you do distinguish between the bombers of schools on different sides of conflicts -- which was the motivation for the question.

That's all I was really curious about. I would be interested to know if I have misunderstood you.

6OGUREZ

6:20 AM ET

December 8, 2009

and meanwhile in Afghanistan

I vividly recall numerous substantiated reports in eastern Afghanistan of the same ilk. In this case we'd all hear the same "last night a school was burned down." We all quit asking what kind of school because it was always a girls' school. Or if it was a school with two floors the vandals would always destroy the girls part of the school which almost always on the ground floor... and leave the boys' section on the higher floors untouched.

The next twist was throwing acid. Never on boys or men but girls going to/returning from school.

SOCAL55

8:54 AM ET

December 8, 2009

A Blackwater Private Security Detail, Raven 23

Fired a rocket propelled grenade into a girls school at Baghdad's Nisour Square. What's the big deal?

TIMBERLAND

7:02 AM ET

December 11, 2009

Timberland Boots

Womens Roll-Top Timberland Boots
$143.00 $83.00
Save: 42% off
Timberland Roll-Top Boots womenPremium, full-grain, waterproof leather for comfort, durability and abrasion resistance ; Direct-attach, seam-sealed, waterproof construction keep feet dry in any weather ; Quarter panel crafted with rich shearling leather and is unconstructed so it can be worn up or rolled down ; Durable laces with Taslan? fibers and rustproof hardware for long-lasting wear ; Inside of shoe is lined with shearling - up to the toe box which is lined with breathable fabric ; Rubber lug outsole for traction and durability ; Embossed Timberland tree logo on the side ; Steel shank provides maximum support ; Waterproof

http://www.brawbuy.com/
http://www.myjerseysky.com/
http://www.ghdprincess.com/