News of the Day for Sunday, February 13, 2011

Reported Security Incidents

Samarra

Suicide bomber targeting Shiite pilgrims at a bus depot kills 48 on Saturday. The pilgrims had gathered to mark the death of Hasan al-Askari, the 11th Imam. (Note: The destruction of the golden dome of the mosque in Samarra commemorating the Askari Imams was a major trigger of sectarian violence in February, 2006.

Baghdad

One police officer killed, 2 injured in an attack using silenced weapons.

Other News of the Day

Hundreds demonstrate in Samawa, Muthanna Province on Saturday to demand improved government services and economic opportunity. Meanwhile, intensive security measures have been implemented in Ramadi in advance of a planned demonstration there. Note that these are highly disparate parts of the country.

In response to recent protests, the government says it will provide the first 1,000 KwH of electricity free to each consumer. Of course, it only helps if you actually have electricity . . .

Parliament approves 8 ministerial nominations. However, nominations for the sensitive security-related posts have yet to be made. The PM retains these responsibilities.

Afghanistan Update

Death toll in attack on police base in Kandahar yesterday now stands at 18, mostly police.

The U.S. has postponed a scheduled tri-lateral meeting among U.S., Pakistani and Afghan diplomats, apparently due to the continued detention of U.S. citizen Raymond Davis in Pakistan. This is a very strange case which has not gotten nearly the attention or critical analysis that it should here in the U.S. Davis, as you undoubtedly know, killed 2 Pakistanis in Lahore; a U.S. consular vehicle on the way to the scene struck and killed another. Davis is a civilian security contractor who the U.S. has claimed has diplomatic status, although they have not explained his job, why he was armed and why he had implements of spycraft. I just work here, but it seems pretty clear the Pakistanis think he was a hired assassin. The U.S. is awfully eager to pry him loose. -- C

Three killed in a clash between insurgents and foreign forces in Kunar. Although this article does not make it entirely clear, it implies the dead were civilian bystanders.