Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Thu 04 Apr 2007Nightmare of violenceYesterday's nightmare of violence in Baghdad returned the city to the worst days of 2006, before the extra surge of United States troops designed to provide the city with extra security. The death of up to 200 people in a string of suicide car bombings mocked the announcement earlier yesterday by the Iraqi prime minister that the gradual handover of security in the country's provinces by US and British forces is going according to plan.This was more than a bad day in their struggle for greater security in the city. Their mission is failing and there is precious little evidence that they and the weak Iraqi government can find the military and political will to reverse the trend.