Friday, November 23, 2007

The Iraq Quotient

Out for my post T-Day run this AM. Sunny, but brisk. Thought hit me directly between the eyes. Perhaps there is a direct correlation between those that support the war and those making money from it.

Of course there is no calculus behind this equation, but perhaps there is an Iraq Quotient as follows. That is, your enthusiasm for the war is exponentially connected to the amount of profit you make off it. The more you more the more enthusiastic you are about it.

On the opposite side, perhaps those who don't support the war are vehemently against it because they are not profiting by it...and are being exploited by the former population.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, is the surge working?
Two bombs exploded hours apart Friday in a central Baghdad pet market and a police checkpoint in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing 26 people and wounding dozens, officials said.

The attacks were among the deadliest in recent weeks, underscoring warnings by senior U.S. commanders that extremists still pose a threat to Iraq's fragile security despite a downturn in violence since a U.S.-Iraqi security plan began in mid-February.

The blast in the capital's popular weekly al-Ghazl animal bazaar occurred just before 9 a.m., shattering the festive atmosphere as people strolled past the stalls.

At least 13 people were killed and nearly 60 wounded, including four policemen, according to police and hospital officials. Several shops also were damaged.

About 1:30 p.m. in Mosul, a suicide car bomber struck a police checkpoint, killing three policemen and 10 civilians, said police Brig. Gen. Mohammed al-Wakaa.

The al-Ghazl market, where sellers peddle birds, dogs, cats, sheep, goats and exotic animals such as snakes and monkeys, has been targeted in the past. On Jan. 26, 15 people were killed when a bomb hidden in a box of pigeons exploded as shoppers gathered around it.

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