4 blasts in Baghdad kill at least 183

Trust me. I don't relish publishing such things. But a couple thoughts come to mind. Why does it seem the insurgents are becoming better at attacking? Why does it seem the allied forces are not as nimble?

Suspected Sunni insurgents penetrated the Baghdad security net Wednesday, hitting Shiite targets with four bomb attacks that killed 183 people — the bloodiest day since the U.S. troop increase began nine weeks ago.

The most devastating blast struck the Sadriyah market as workers were leaving for the day, charring a lineup of minibuses that came to pick them up. At least 127 people were killed and 148 wounded, including men who were rebuilding the market after a Feb. 3 bombing left 137 dead.

Wednesday's car bombing appeared meticulously planned. It took place at a pedestrian entrance where tall concrete barriers had been erected after the earlier attack. It was the only way out of the compound, and the construction workers were widely known to leave at about 4 p.m. — the time of the bombing.

Why do I believe this imbroglio can never be "won"?

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Suicide truck bomber kills 102 in Iraq

Are you becoming indifferent to all this carnage? Every day it seems worse than the day before. Sometimes the horror is just too much to imagine even with images (which I won't show).

A suicide truck bomber struck a food market in a predominantly Shiite area of Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least 102 people and wounding more than 200, officials said, the biggest strike in the capital in more than two months.

The attacker was driving a truck carrying food when he detonated his explosives, destroying stores and stalls that had been set up in the busy outdoor Sadriyah market, police said. The blast occurred at 4:40 p.m. as the market was crowded with people buying food for their evening meal.

Officials said at least 102 people were killed and more than 200 wounded as nearby hospitals were flooded with victims from the blast. Many were driven to the hospitals in pickup trucks and lifted onto stretchers while several men helped overwhelmed medics by holding plastic drips.

"It was a strong blow. A car exploded. I fell on the ground. It was in Sadriyah," said one young man with a bandaged head, his face still streaked with blood.

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