Gunmen grab up to 150 from Baghdad research institute

[Elrathin]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Gunmen clad in Iraqi National Police uniforms kidnapped between 100 and 150 people at a government research institute in Baghdad Tuesday morning, forcing the minister of higher education to order universities closed until security improves.

The daytime raid, considered possibly the largest ever in Baghdad, involved up to 80 gunmen and targeted the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research-Scholarships and Cultural Relations Directorate building, Minister Abed Dhiyab al-Ajili told parliament.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/14/iraq.main/index.html

Another shining example of how the insurgency in Iraq is dying out. :rolleyes:

If we can't even hold the capitol anymore to protect the people, what reason are the people gonna have to stand up to the insurgency? This is why Iraq is going to be a failure unless things change in how we are operating there.

[Waffletush]

Just a 150? Geez, why is it always such a high number? Don't you find it ironic that each time something happens it is by the dozens? How many more of these stunts are we going to fall for anyhow?

[lily]

So you're argument, Waffeltush is the press is lying? You do realize when large scale things like this happen, it's hard to get the number exact. You have to know who was actually there and if they were there when it happened. As it is now, the number sways from 150-60. Either way, no small number, considering that Baghdad was one of the first cities that we took over and was considered "safe".

El, when reading this article, the first thing that came to mind was why acedemic? Easy target or trying to make a point?

[lily]

WOW..that was fast. Wonder if al_Maliki's threat to fire people yesterday had anything to do with this, or the threat that the elected officials might actually have to start doing the job they were elected to do is kicking in, since the change in power here. (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/14/iraq.main/index.html?eref=rss_topstories )

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's interior minister ordered the arrest and interrogation of several high-ranking police officers over their handling of security in the Baghdad area where scores of people were kidnapped from a government research institute Tuesday.

[Elrathin]

El, when reading this article, the first thing that came to mind was why acedemic? Easy target or trying to make a point?


IMO it was both. They are easy targets and it is to make a point that noone is safe in Baghdad.

What it seems to me is the insurgency has successfully rooted itself in the police and military to provide information for these attacks.

[lily]

What it seems to me is the insurgency has successfully rooted itself in the police and military to provide information for these attacks.

The article clearly states police. Whether it was real police or men wearing a uniform, I can't tell. I've read many articles that sate the police are corrupt and articles that say uniforms are sold openly at markets. As for the military.........I'm still holding up hope that there are few insurgents in the ranks......only because it would explain why it's taking so long to train then........they have to root them out?


Due to the Iraqi's fast action on this, I'm going to have to assume they think it is real police and maybe this will get more of the insurgents out of police uniforms.

Pollyanish of me, isn't it?

[Waffletush]

So you're argument, Waffeltush is the press is lying? You do realize when large scale things like this happen, it's hard to get the number exact. You have to know who was actually there and if they were there when it happened. As it is now, the number sways from 150-60. Either way, no small number, considering that Baghdad was one of the first cities that we took over and was considered "safe".

Hardly. I am just agreeing with the stance some people have that after hearing a number reported over and over, it tends to loose it's zing after a while.

[dgridley]

I can only agree with you there...

I think we had the same opinion that we were "winning" in Vietnam at one point too..



Another shining example of how the insurgency in Iraq is dying out. :rolleyes:

If we can't even hold the capitol anymore to protect the people, what reason are the people gonna have to stand up to the insurgency?Â*Â*This is why Iraq is going to be a failure unless things change in how we are operating there.