Aug. 30 -- The death

Aug. 30 -- The death toll has risen to 126 from yesterday's bombing of one of Shiite Muslims' holiest shrines. At least 12 people have been detained in connection with the investigation including 2 Pakistanis which has given rise to speculation of a Possible al Qaeda link in the attack.

The UN is doing that which is does best: cut and run.

The United Nations "remains engaged" in Iraq, a U.N. humanitarian official said Saturday, despite the announcement that it will greatly reduce its international staff in the country as a security precaution after last week's truck bombing at the Baghdad U.N. office that killed 23 people.

Currently there are about 400 international U.N. staffers in Iraq -- about 110 of them in Baghdad. A U.N. spokesman in New York announced Friday that after the cuts, only about 40 to 50 essential staff members will remain in Baghdad. He called the reductions a "temporary measure."

As has been previously noted, whoever thought of hiring Saddamites to guard the UN offices displayed the kind of thinking that renders the UN a standing by-word for intransigent, bureaucratic incompetence.

In more serious news, a grenade launcher was used against Bulgarian troops in Karbala but there were no injuries.

The attack was the first against Bulgaria's nearly 500-strong stabilization force since they began patrolling the city earlier this month to help the U.S. restore order in Iraq following a war there.

On Tuesday, military control of Karbala was handed over to a Bulgarian military governor, Lt. Col. Petko Marinov. It was previously run by U.S. Marines.

As well as the 250 Bulgarian soldiers stationed in Karbala, which is 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, Marinov is in charge of Polish troops and U.S. Marines serving in Karbala.

The small Balkan country, which was supported by the U.S. in its bid to join NATO, backed the American-led war in Iraq and is now providing a total of 500 troops for Washington's post-war stabilization force.

Bulgaria's contingent will be under Polish command after the U.S. makes another transfer of control on September 3. This will put the entire south central region, including Karbala, under Polish control.

My Polish grandfather (who emigrated to the US as a teenager between the two world wars, fought in the South Pacific during WWII, and who could never decide if he hated the Russians or Germans more) would be so. damned. proud. This one's for you, Grandpa!

Posted by: Debbye at 12:08 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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