Does it really surprise anyone that Iran would support the Iraqi insurgency after we armed and funded Hussein in a war against them? Not to mention the CIA triggering a bloody coup against their democratically elected prime minister in the 50s, and replacing him with a US friendly monarch. We Americans have a short memory, but that doesn't mean the nations we screw over will.

The truth is we've given them good reasons to hate us, and with all of the administrations threats and posturing, it seems we only want to make things worse. What we desperately need is diplomacy and reconciliation, and instead we reelected a war monger. Like most of the world I'm disappointed in America's actions over the last few years, but we have the opportunity to redeem ourselves by working as hard for peace as we have in the past for war.

Doing more searching I have found the DOD press release about this incident, the short version is One Iraqi soldier was killed and two others wounded along with 2 civilians. No US forces where involved in this attack.

Here is the press release from the DOD:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070903-12
September 3, 2007

Iraqi Army stops car bomber from attacking bridge north
of Baghdad
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – One Iraqi Army soldier was killed and two other Iraqi Army
troops and two civilians were wounded by an exploding vehicle-borne improvised
explosive device near a checkpoint in Taji, Iraq Sept. 2.

The suicide bomber detonated the VBIED at the checkpoint, after two
unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the bridge guarded by the troops.

The checkpoint was manned both by Iraqi Army troops from the 2nd
Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized) in conjunction with members of
the new Critical Infrastructure Security (CIS) unit. The CIS is made up of local
volunteers that were contracted by Coalition Forces and have been vetted by the
local Sheiks in the area.

The vehicle was carrying chicken waste to hide the munitions in the truck.
On the first approach to the checkpoint, the driver was stopped by the Iraqi
soldiers who did not allow his entry because he was not following proper
procedures.

In his effort to breach security of the checkpoint that allows access to a key
bridge, the driver claimed to be the cousin of a local area sheik—a reconciliation
leader that the Iraqi Army coordinates with for vetting legitimate associates – but
the Iraqi Army troops made the man take a U-turn and leave the area.

On a subsequent attempt, the Iraqi troops once again forced the man to turn
his vehicle around and leave the area.

On the third and final attempt, the truck attempted to pull over and
intermingle with an Iraqi Army convoy. Iraqi Army troops suspected a car bomb
and engaged the vehicle with small arms fire by the checkpoint after noticing the
driver was acting very erratically. The truck detonated.

Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field
Artillery Regiment and the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment both of the 1st
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, rushed to the scene and assisted
with securing the site and treating the wounded.

According to Lt. Col. Peter Andrysiak, deputy commanding officer, 1st BCT,
1st Cav. Div., the attack is the work of Al Qaeda operatives.

“This attack is just another example of Al Qaeda’s total disregard for innocent
lives whether it’s women and children or Iraqi Security Forces who have chosen
to selflessly defend their nation.” said Andrysiak.
“Due to the local populace’s recent successes in regard to reconciliation efforts that are uniting the people
here against insurgents and extremists, the attack proves that Al Qaeda is
becoming desperate. They have lost support and are seeking any avenue they
can to disrupt the efforts here that are fostering peace and will eventually mean
the end for organizations like Al Qaeda.”

Andrysiak added that the incident shows the increasing effectiveness of
the Iraqi Army and the benefits of working with local volunteers.

“Together they devised a system of checks and balances to prevent AQI
access to key areas and it worked,” he said. “These brave Iraqis saved critical
infrastructure and lives.”

Jwray,

This is the standard excuse and it's not good enough. The anti-war faction (both dems and repugs) need to make this happen. If the majority of Americans want the war over then Congress needs to make it so. Perhaps it's going to require more than showing up for votes and bad-mouthing the other side. Perhaps there needs to be some diplomacy, reconciliation or whatever it takes. The finger-pointing and ill words are getting us nowhere. Our "leaders" need to show some skills if we are to make progress and if they want to be re-elected.

No doubt the war will not end tomorrow, but the process must begin ASAP. And that doesn't include giving another $150 BILLION check.

In case you didn't realize what else Bush has done for rich folks, oil companies, and auto mfg,

Prior to enactment of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (Jobs and Growth Act), the 2003 tax code schedule for business depreciation allowed for a deduction of up to $25,000 in the year of purchase of a truck or van weighing over 6,000 pounds, and set a five-year depreciation schedule. In March 2002, Congress passed an economic stimulus package that allowed an additional 30% "bonus deduction."6

With passage of the Jobs and Growth Act, Congress dramatically expanded the already generous SUV loophole by raising the deduction ceiling for certain purchases-including SUVs-from $25,000 to $100,000.7 Under this new rule, the entire cost of all but one large SUV-the Hummer H1-can be deducted. This act also increased the "bonus deduction" from 30% to 50%8, which businesses can utilize in the first year of purchase on the amount above the initial deduction. This bonus deduction was established in addition to the five-year depreciation schedule9, which remained the same.

Under the new plan, a business owner who purchases a $110,000 Hummer H1 in 2003 can now deduct a total of $106,000 in the first year (see table).

Aside from our messed up tax credits for rich, estate tax repeal, fucked up energy policies, Enron collaboration from this Whitehouse.. How totally fucked up is giving away all of these tax dollars (in un-realized tax money) for vehicles OVER 6000lbs. Not vehicles over 30mpg, or vehicles with less emissions. Total corrupt assholes.