Mentally Disabled

Female Suicide Bombers Blow Up Pet Markets in

Baghdad, Killing Dozens

Friday, February 01, 2008

BAGHDAD —  Militants strapped a pair of mentally retarded women with explosives and blew them up by remote control in two pet bazaars Friday, killing at least 73 people in the deadliest day since Washington began pouring extra troops into the capital last spring.

Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, Iraq’s chief military spokesman in Baghdad, said the women had Down syndrome and may not have known they were on a suicide mission. The tactic would support U.S. claims that Al Qaeda in Iraq may be increasingly desperate and running short of able-bodied men willing or available for such missions.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said the bombings showed that a resilient Al Qaeda has “found a different, deadly way” to try to destabilize Iraq.

“There is nothing they won’t do if they think it will work in creating carnage and the political fallout that comes from that,” he told The Associated Press in an interview at the State Department.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said bombing in Iraq proves Al Qaeda is “the most brutal and bankrupt of movements” and will strengthen Iraqi resolve to reject terrorism.

The first bomber was detonated about 10:20 a.m. in the central al-Ghazl market. Four police and hospital officials said at least 46 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. Local police said the woman wearing the bomb sold cream in the mornings at the market and was known to locals as “the crazy lady.”

Lee ASKS: Is this what AMERICA is supposed to surrender to if Obama is elected?