At A Dogfight Competition in Afganistan, 80 Killed In Suicide Bombing

A suicide bombing at an outdoor dogfighting competition killed 80 people and wounded scores more Sunday, an Afghan governor said, in what appeared to be the deadliest terror attack in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

Blast in Pakistan Kills 37

Two Women Suicide Bombers in Baghdad

International / Middle East
Dozens Killed in Worst Baghdad Attack in Months
By STEPHEN FARRELL and MUDHAFER AL-HUSAINI
Published: February 2, 2008
Twin suicide bombings struck two markets in mainly Shiite areas of central Baghdad on Friday.

Bhutto's Children Travel to Dubai

Today, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who at 19 is the oldest son of slain Bhutto, left for Dubai along with his sisters: Bakhtawar and Aseefa, 17 and 14 respectively.

Their mother was buried in Larkana district in the southern province of Sindh on Friday, having been assassinated in Rawalpindi on Thursday when shock waves from a suicide bomb caused her to fall and sustain a skull fracture.

Bilawal presently studies at Oxford University, his mother's alma mater. He was named chairman of her party after her assassination, but must be 25 years old before he is allowed to join the Parliament.

Her son says he plans to finish his education prior to taking control of his country.

Happy New Year 2008

No big surprise here: Happy New Year!

My retreat to Mepkin Abbey near Moncks Corner, South Carolina got extended into the full week of Christmas, not that I stayed there for more than three days, but I just fell into leaving my computer off - amazing feat - and therefore did not check emails or write blog posts or read blogs or watch tv news, etc.

This hiatus from the world at large was so refreshing. Then, the other day, I noticed a headline in the local Publix grocery store that announced in bold letters that a suicide bomber in Pakistan had killed Bhutto.

I cried.

And, here I am back at my computer for the first time since December 21st (as I recall) and for the first time in the new year: 2008.

So, happy new year.

Holiday Shoppers Murdered in Pakistan by Suicide Bomber

by Riaz Khan, AP

SHERPAO, Pakistan - A suicide attacker detonated a bomb packed with ball bearings and nails amid hundreds of holiday worshippers Friday at the residential compound of Pakistan's former interior minister, killing at least 50 people, authorities said.

It was the second suicide attack in eight months apparently targeting Aftab Khan Sherpao, who escaped injury. One of his sons was wounded.

Suspicion will likely focus on the pro-Taliban or al-Qaida militants active in the northwestern region of the country where the attack occurred.

Suicide Bombings in Diyala Province, Iraq

Robert H. Reid of the Associated Press writes:

BAGHDAD - A woman with explosives strapped to her body attacked the office of a Sunni group that had turned against al-Qaida in Iraq — one of two suicide bombings in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad that left at least 22 people dead Friday.

An Iraqi official claimed the woman was seeking revenge for her two sons who were killed fighting for al-Qaida.

The two brazen attacks were the latest in a series of al-Qaida assaults against members of the new "awakening groups" — mostly Sunnis including former insurgents who have begun cooperating with the Americans to rid their communities of extremists.

Suicide Bombing in Kabul

A suicide bomber struck a minibus full of soldiers in the Chihulsutoon area south of Kabul, said Aziz Ahmad, an Afghan army officer at the site of the blast.

Purported Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujaheed claimed responsibility for the blast in a text message sent to an Associated Press reporter in neighboring Pakistan.

The minibus was demolished and its mangled frame lay on the side of the road as the wounded were whisked to hospitals (four children were believed to have been killed.)

The blast was the third suicide attack in the city in the last eight days. It follows a similar attack against a NATO convoy on Tuesday that left 22 civilians wounded.