Tensions between Syria and Iraq rose a bit on Sunday when Syrian border officials found a cache of weapons in the back of an Iraqi vehicle. The weapons ranged from small arms to bombs and also included night vision equipment. The intent of the man driving the vehicle is not known yet.
The weekend brought on a huge amount of violence, culminating on Monday. Protests on Sunday in Sulaimaniya took a nasty turn when things got violent. Angry protesters threw rocks at riot police, who in turn fought back. Later on Sunday, protesters blocked streets and lit tires on fire. Riot police ended up using tear gas and live ammunition to clear the crowds so they could clear up streets again. Some of the protesters were hit in the legs by bullets, but none were killed. There were around 50 total injured on Sunday. |
| Suicide car bomb wreckage outside the Green Zone. |
Besides the violent protests, the new week started off with suicide bombings outside Baghdad's Green Zone. Two suicide car bombs were detonated in succession near a military convoy that was headed to the entrance checkpoint at around 8:00 a.m. local time. There are reportedly at least 5 killed and 20 wounded from the explosions.
It seems as if protests haven't been that successful in Iraq. I always find it difficult to understand extremists, who commit suicide bombings and other violent acts in the name of religion. I hope the UN acts quickly to help these oppressed people.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't imagine living in a place where violence is constant. I wonder how it must be to just be an ordinary person living in Iraq right now.
ReplyDeleteI think it's also interesting that the news article said the protest was peaceful in the beginning, yet ended in a such a violent way. I don't understand why the protests that have been happening, not just in Iraq but around the world, have to turn to violence and aren't allowed to be peaceful.
Afghanistan and Iraq are actually very similiar in many ways. They have long traditions of war and political unrest. The societal problems each country shares are similiar in the sense of poverty, low education etc. I think that altough Sadaam and the Taliban are different,both regimes left a long standing mark on these war tattered nations.
ReplyDeleteI did a research study two years ago about the Iraq war and the many misconceptions people had about why we were there. However, the most interesting part to me was that after interviewing a handful of Iraqi citizens they told me that they believe Iraq was better off with Suddam in control than they are now. While I do not agree, it is hard to justify our presence when we are not wanted?
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