As U.S. stands aside, Baghdad mob ignores the local authorities
by Jeffrey Gettleman
The New York Times
BAGHDAD A suicide bomber rammed a truck packed with explosives into a convoy of foreign contractors on Monday, killing at least 13 people dur- ing morning rush hour. A few hours later, two more bombs went off, one south of the capital, one north, killing at least another eight people.
It was one of the deadliest recent days in Iraq and American officials said the attacks were part of the cam- paign to derail the June 30 transfer of authority to an interim Iraqi govern- ment.
American officials have repeatedly warned of major terrorist strikes in the days leading up to June 30, and in the past week, more than 40 people have been killed and many more wounded.
But at the precise moment that the violence is peaking, American forces are deferring, more and more each day, to Iraqi security services. Much of the political transfer has already happened and American officials say it is now im- portant to allow Iraqi security services to play a bigger role. As a result, a power vacuum seems to be forming.
On Monday, minutes after the first bombing, a crowd of young men flooded into the streets and rushed to- ward the wreckage.
As more than 50 Iraqi policemen stood by, the mob stomped on the hoods of the crushed vehicles, doused them with kerosene and set them alight, creating a huge fireball in the middle of a crowded neighborhood.
As angry men ran past, hurling bricks at the squad of American sol- diers who responded, few of the Iraqi policemen intervened.
‘‘What are we to do?’’ asked an Iraqi police lieutenant, Wisam Deab. ‘‘If we try to stop them, they will think we are helping the Americans. Then they were turn on us.’’
American and Iraqi officials have said they are trying to improve security cooperation in advance of June 30. But on Monday, there was very little com- munication between the two sides. As clouds of black smoke boiled up from the street and the mob grew more and more unruly, American soldiers waited in their Humvees 50 meters behind Iraqi policemen. Neither group talked much with the other.
‘‘The Americans say we are working together,’’ said a police colonel who asked not to be identified. But I am con- fused. Nobody is in control here.’’
Arab news crews filmed the mayhem, reinforcing the image in Iraq and be- yond that the country, on the eve of an important moment, is skidding toward chaos. In Baghdad, the rumble of explo- sions has become almost like a morning alarm clock.
Many of the bombs go off between 8 and 9 a.m., during rush hour, to inflict the maximum number of casualties.
Sirens follow immediately and usu- ally both American soldiers and Iraqi police respond to these attacks. But a certain pattern has been established. As soon as the American soldiers roll in, with their armored Humvees and swiv- eling guns, the crowds scatter. When the troops back off, no matter how many Iraqi police are there, the mobs return, in greater numbers.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, spokesman for the occupation military forces, said the Iraqi authorities were responsible for day-to-day public secu- rity in Baghdad. ‘‘We remain ready to support if asked,’’ he said.
He also said that personnel of the Iraqi Police Service felt that they had the situation at the Monday bombing under control.
So far, with American dollars, more than 215,000 Iraqi forces have been trained and fielded. But American com- manders, usually on the condition that their names not be published with their comments, say the forces are not up to scratch.
‘‘I think we’ve been focused more on quantity than quality,’’ said a high-rank- ing American officer. There’s a realiza- tion out there we still have a long way to go with these guys.’’
The Associated Press reported that one American, two British citizens, a French citizen and a Filipino had been killed in the morning bombing in Bagh- dad. The five were contractors working on electricity projects.
Iyad Allawi, Iraq’s new prime minis- ter, said, ‘‘These people were helping to rebuild our country.’’
A policeman who carried some of the casualties away from the scene in his pickup truck before the mob arrived showed a British passport that he had found on one of the victims. The bed of his truck was smeared with blood.
Iraqi hospital officials said eight Iraqi civilians had been killed by the attack and dozens wounded.
by Jeffrey Gettleman
The New York Times
BAGHDAD A suicide bomber rammed a truck packed with explosives into a convoy of foreign contractors on Monday, killing at least 13 people dur- ing morning rush hour. A few hours later, two more bombs went off, one south of the capital, one north, killing at least another eight people.
It was one of the deadliest recent days in Iraq and American officials said the attacks were part of the cam- paign to derail the June 30 transfer of authority to an interim Iraqi govern- ment.
American officials have repeatedly warned of major terrorist strikes in the days leading up to June 30, and in the past week, more than 40 people have been killed and many more wounded.
But at the precise moment that the violence is peaking, American forces are deferring, more and more each day, to Iraqi security services. Much of the political transfer has already happened and American officials say it is now im- portant to allow Iraqi security services to play a bigger role. As a result, a power vacuum seems to be forming.
On Monday, minutes after the first bombing, a crowd of young men flooded into the streets and rushed to- ward the wreckage.
As more than 50 Iraqi policemen stood by, the mob stomped on the hoods of the crushed vehicles, doused them with kerosene and set them alight, creating a huge fireball in the middle of a crowded neighborhood.
As angry men ran past, hurling bricks at the squad of American sol- diers who responded, few of the Iraqi policemen intervened.
‘‘What are we to do?’’ asked an Iraqi police lieutenant, Wisam Deab. ‘‘If we try to stop them, they will think we are helping the Americans. Then they were turn on us.’’
American and Iraqi officials have said they are trying to improve security cooperation in advance of June 30. But on Monday, there was very little com- munication between the two sides. As clouds of black smoke boiled up from the street and the mob grew more and more unruly, American soldiers waited in their Humvees 50 meters behind Iraqi policemen. Neither group talked much with the other.
‘‘The Americans say we are working together,’’ said a police colonel who asked not to be identified. But I am con- fused. Nobody is in control here.’’
Arab news crews filmed the mayhem, reinforcing the image in Iraq and be- yond that the country, on the eve of an important moment, is skidding toward chaos. In Baghdad, the rumble of explo- sions has become almost like a morning alarm clock.
Many of the bombs go off between 8 and 9 a.m., during rush hour, to inflict the maximum number of casualties.
Sirens follow immediately and usu- ally both American soldiers and Iraqi police respond to these attacks. But a certain pattern has been established. As soon as the American soldiers roll in, with their armored Humvees and swiv- eling guns, the crowds scatter. When the troops back off, no matter how many Iraqi police are there, the mobs return, in greater numbers.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, spokesman for the occupation military forces, said the Iraqi authorities were responsible for day-to-day public secu- rity in Baghdad. ‘‘We remain ready to support if asked,’’ he said.
He also said that personnel of the Iraqi Police Service felt that they had the situation at the Monday bombing under control.
So far, with American dollars, more than 215,000 Iraqi forces have been trained and fielded. But American com- manders, usually on the condition that their names not be published with their comments, say the forces are not up to scratch.
‘‘I think we’ve been focused more on quantity than quality,’’ said a high-rank- ing American officer. There’s a realiza- tion out there we still have a long way to go with these guys.’’
The Associated Press reported that one American, two British citizens, a French citizen and a Filipino had been killed in the morning bombing in Bagh- dad. The five were contractors working on electricity projects.
Iyad Allawi, Iraq’s new prime minis- ter, said, ‘‘These people were helping to rebuild our country.’’
A policeman who carried some of the casualties away from the scene in his pickup truck before the mob arrived showed a British passport that he had found on one of the victims. The bed of his truck was smeared with blood.
Iraqi hospital officials said eight Iraqi civilians had been killed by the attack and dozens wounded.
