Series of deadly attacks in Iraq related to U.S. pullout plan
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Recent series of attacks by insurgents have left hundreds of people dead and wounded in Iraq. Local analysts and some Iraqis believe the bloodshed was closely related to the ongoing U.S. troops pullout plan.
Insurgents hope to paralyze pullout plan
Last Sunday, at least 43 pro-government militia members were killed in one of the deadliest suicide bombings this year, while more than 50 others wounded.
The Iraqi government and U.S. forces held al-Qaida in the country responsible for the bombing.
In an interview with Xinhua, Sabah al-Shiekh, a professor of politics in Baghdad University, said the attacks were closely related to the U.S. pullout process.
"The variety of massive attacks such as those against government ministries, security forces, government-backed Sunni paramilitary groups (Awakening Council groups), Shiite pilgrims and even civilians, indicate that the insurgents want to show that the government has paralyzed and is incapable of protecting its people," said professor Shiekh.
"Besides the militias, Shiite, Sunni and extremist groups like al-Qaida all want to disturb the U.S. troops pullout in order to press the U.S. to choose from two options. One is to withdraw as planned amid attacks, and then insurgents could say the Americans were defeated and the U.S. is only a paper tiger," he said.
"The other option is to delay their pullout. This would show that the Americans have failed in their strategy as they realize that their presence is only causing more deaths and destruction for Iraqis and draining their country's resources," he added.
U.S. to continue pullout despite attacks
However, local analysts predicted the attacks would not stop the withdrawing process of U.S. troops.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden also said after the Sunday attacks the U.S. combat troops in Iraq are to withdraw by the end of August as planned, and would not be delayed by lengthy power-sharing negotiations in the Iraqi government.
"The increase in violence certainly has a relation to the U.S. troops withdrawal from Iraq, but I don't think the recent deadly attacks would make the U.S. leaders to think about changing their withdrawal plan," said Shiekh.
"They (the Americans) also realized that their presence has exacerbated the regional situation and the balance of power in the Middle East," he added.
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