Mar 17 2008
Suicide Bomber Upstages Cheney, McCain, Lieberman
Suicide Blast in Iraq Eclipses Cheney’s Visit
The Vice President made a secret trip to Iraq today to meet with Iraqi and American leaders. Cheney described security improvements in the country as “phenomenal.”
However, his presence was overshadowed by a suicide bombing in Karbala, wherein a female bomber got past a perimeter believed to be one of the best in the country, killing 42 people. This attack was one of the deadliest in this holy city in close to a year.
In addition to Vice President Cheney, Senator John McCain also visited Iraq with Senator Joe Lieberman the previous day. Last year, McCain visited in Iraqi marketplace, with the support of a bulletproof vest and about 100 soldiers protecting. The Senator trumpeted his ability to walk through the market as a sign that things were getting better. In this trip, he was not permitted to visit the same market as it was deemed unsafe … even with the same kind of security he had last time. McCain, the de facto Republican presidential nominee has made Iraq a focal point of his campaign, proclaiming that security in the country has improved and that it is imperative that the U.S. remain in the country.
