Oh God: Iraqi Security Forces Botch Church Raid; 52 Killed

I thought for certain our special forces would be involved.

I guess I was wrong.

An al Qaeda attack that killed 52 hostages and police in a Catholic church in Baghdad was aimed at driving the embattled Christian minority out of the country, Iraq's human rights minister said on Monday.

Church officials described the attack, which began when gunmen seized the Our Lady of Salvation Church during Sunday mass, as the bloodiest against Iraq's Christians in the seven years of sectarian war that followed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

A Christian lawmaker said the botched raid to free the hostages proved that the Iraqi security forces lack the capability to maintain peace.

"Botched" may not be the best word for it, as the gunmen were wearing explosive vests. Though I have to imagine that such threats can in fact be taken down by the right man with a rifle. (What, we can't drill small holes through the walls of the church?)

As far as I can tell the US military presence was limited to overflying helicopters.

posted by Ace at 02:50 PM

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