Labor Day

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Bombers Kill at Least 17 in Iraq

Iraqis look at destroyed vehicles after a car bomb attack Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 in Ramadi, about 60 miles west of Baghdad. (Photo credit: Ali Mashhadani / Reuters)

September 7, 2009

BAGHDAD — Suicide attackers struck near a Shiite mosque north of Baghdad and a checkpoint west of the capital on Monday as bombings killed at least 17 people nationwide. …

The deadliest attack was a suicide car bomber who struck a line of vehicles waiting to be inspected before crossing a bridge near the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi, police said. The blast set half a dozen other vehicles ablaze, killing three policemen and five civilians and wounding 16 other people …

Hours later, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of a Shiite mosque in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, killing at least five people – three policemen and two worshippers – and wounding 20, according to police and hospital officials. …

In Baghdad on Monday, a bomb destroyed a police car, killing one officer and two civilians and wounding eight, police said. Another bomb killed a driver as he approached a military checkpoint in the Sadr City district. …

In northern Iraq, two children playing with a hand grenade they found in a stream were killed when it exploded, said police in the city of Kirkuk….

Recent bombings, especially an Aug. 19 attack on government ministries in Baghdad that killed about 100 people, have shaken people’s confidence at a crucial time, just months before the election. …

Full story

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago Today — September 7, 2008

On the Campaign Trail: Day 55

Two constituents take a look at campaign literature distributed at the Old Creamery Arts & Crafts Show in Rice, Benton County.

One year ago today, on the 55th day of my campaign against U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann for the Republican nomination as House of Representatives candidate in Minnesotas 6th Congressional District, I featured information from the Star Tribune Voter’s Guide, commentary by Eric Zaetsch of the “Developers are Crabgrass” blog, and gave an update on get-out-the-vote campaign efforts.

Candidate Profile: Aubrey Immelman

Other candidates in this race: Michele Bachmann

Office: Minnesota District 6 U.S. Representative

Background: Psychology professor; PhD, Nelson Mandela University, 1991; military service: rifleman, 1st Parachute Battalion; lieutenant, Military Psychological Institute (SADF, 1978-1981); U.S. military consultant (nuclear counterproliferation); volunteer, Sartell Community Education and Summer Recreation; hobbies: fishing, attending kids’ football, basketball, and baseball games; married, four children.

Most important issue: My most important concern is the unintended consequences of the Iraq war. The invasion and occupation of Iraq has exacted a huge toll in American blood, treasure, and loss of international stature. Tragically, the Iraq war has created a vastly more complex national security challenge for the United States in the Middle East. I’m offering my expertise and training in counterinsurgency and anti-terrorist operations and my professional experience in the areas of nuclear counterproliferation, threat assessment, deterrence, and psychological operations to help mitigate emerging national security threats in the wake of the Iraq war.

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COMMENTARY BY ERIC ZAETSCH

Following are excerpts from Eric Zaetsch of the “Developers are Crabgrass” blog.

More on Congressional Candidate Aubrey Immelman: Not a secularist, but believing in separation of church and state

With the Palin addition to the McCain ticket, and my dislike of it and the Palin ties to Dobson, Bauer, Perkins, Schlafly, the LaHayes, and others that Michele Bachmann has embraced on that spectrum of “thought,” I view it as helpful to disambiguate anything I have said from any chance people might view it as any indication of where the Immelman candidacy stands regarding church and state. …

I have never met or seen Immelman personally, whereas both Tinklenberg and Bachmann are candidates I have seen speak [Bachmann in 2004, in St. Cloud, with Mark Kennedy, early in the election cycle that year, and Tinklenberg at the Olson-Tinklenberg debate in Anoka, this year]. Even at a distance I believe Immelman outclasses each of those two. Although that is faint praise, I would go further and say that if he were the GOP candidate in the general election, he would have my vote.

Anonymous comment

I agree with you, Eric. Immelman appears to represent more of what you would call “old fashioned” republican views. If, having to choose a Republican to represent me, I would pick Immelman 100 times over Bachmann and her radical ways. It is refreshing to hear a Republican state that separation of church and state must be maintained, he appears to respect the Constitution, unlike many of both parties, especially Blue Dogs, voting lock step each time with Bush to initiate the Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act and other war mongering, Constitution diminishing “laws.” In fact, if the truth were told, we should have 3 Republicans running in the primary, Immelman, Bachmann and Tinklenberg given the intersection of their platforms. At least Immelman is against the war (translation — reducing the federal deficit) and is realistic about immigration and would uphold the Constitution. He doesn’t take money from the bad boys either, special interest groups unlike the other 2 candidates.

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CONSTITUENT CONCERN

A campaign volunteer at the Old Creamery Arts & Crafts Show in Rice, Benton County, took this photograph a Vietnam veteran who worries about health care costs for returning vets and expressed concern that we will not take good care of our wounded Iraq war veterans.