It looks like the AP is at it again.  There was another bombing today in Iraq.  A women wearing an explosive belt mixed amongst the pilgrims making their way to Karbala.  The AP characterizes this as a homicide bomber.

Let’s see, if you are wearing an explosive device, hidden beneath your clothing then joining a religious pilgrimage prior to detonating the device….  I think suicide might be more appropriate.  However, if this woman did not know that she had the device on, and it was remote detonated I can see it being a homicide.

Another fact to ponder…  since the woman was part of the incident how does anyone know the facts presented:

• It was a woman — are you sure?
• Explosive Belt.  Not a vest?  Not distributed throughout her clothing?

I think what we do know is a device detonated among the crowd.

You be the judge.

Female Homicide Bomber Kills 41 in Baghdad

Monday, February 01, 2010

BAGHDAD —  A female homicide bomber walking among Shiite pilgrims in northern Baghdad detonated an explosives belt on Monday, killing at least 41 people and wounding more than 100, officials said.

The bombing was the first major strike this year against pilgrims making their way to the southern city of Karbala to mark a Shiite holy day. It raised fears of an escalation of attacks when the pilgrimage culminates on Friday.

The bomber hid the explosives underneath an abaya — a black cloak worn from head to toe by women — as she joined a group of pilgrims on the outskirts of the Shiite-dominated neighborhood of Shaab, said Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, Baghdad’s top military spokesman.

A police official said 41, including a number of women and children, were killed and 106 were wounded.

Hospital officials in Baghdad confirmed the casualties. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Al-Moussawi put the toll at 19 killed and 80 wounded. Conflicting casualty counts are common in Iraq in the aftermath of an attack.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the minutes following the blast.