The al-Sarafiya bridge connected two northern Baghdad neighborhoods - Waziriyah, a mostly Sunni enclave, and Utafiyah, a Shiite area. After more than a year of massacres of Sunni and Shia civilians by US-sponsored death squads working out of the Iraqi interior ministry, both Sunni and Shia civilians have fled neighborhoods where they were originally in the majority or where there was a mix of the two groups.

Before the al-Sarafiya bridge was destroyed, nine spans across the Tigris linked western and eastern Baghdad. Now there are eight. How long will they last?

The Tigris river now serves as a de facto dividing line between the mostly Shiite east and the largely Sunni west of the city, with the bridges the only connection between them. It's called "counter insurgency strategy" - divide and conquer.

The reports that a "truck suicide bomb" had been detonated on the bridge came from the US military. No independent Iraqi or other source was able to verify this claim. In fact, AP Television News video showed the bridge broken in two places suggesting two blasts.

Other Iraqi eyewitnesses claim that a US attack helicopter fired two missiles at the bridge, but with the mainstream media parroting only the official US military line that it was "suicide truck bomb" these eyewitness reports are never heard.

The fact is, the al-Sarafiya bridge was built by the British in the early part of the 20th century, so since it belonged to the occupation army, it was theirs to blow up.

Suffice to say that, from now on, it would be wise when reading reports about daily bombings in Iraq to replace the words "suicide bomber" with "US military".

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[Quote]Iraqirabita quoting an eyewitness lives in Al-Atafiya – western side of the river says she woke up 07:10 this morning because of the unusual sounds of Americans helicopters above the river Tigris.[End Quote/]

Is there not a day that a military helicopter does not fly in and around Baghdad?

[Quote] I saw with my own eyes a helicopter firing two missiles, I heard an explosion, and then I saw the bridge collapsed. [End Quote]

Let look more closely at the comments, it clearly says that she saw two missiles but the witness did not say that these missile heading towards the bridges’ nor did the witness say the missiles hit the bridges. So to make a simple assumption that these missiles were a result of U.S. missile attacks is wrong. You cannot prove from these few word of a single witness that this is the result of U.S. actions. You do not have conclusive evidences, it would not stand up in the courts of law in this country, it like me saying that you were out shopping buying knifes at the same time someone was stab in the same neighbourhood. How do you know that these missiles were heading toward the bridges?’ Were you there? If so, where were you and where were these helicopters flying and which direction were the missiles heading?

[Quote]Another report says…..It is interesting to note this morning Iraqi police blocked the traffic on the bridge for more than two hours, shortly before the explosion they allowed civilians cars to cross the river, which confirms that there is an orchestrated destruction of Al-Sarafiya bridge and resumption of movement by the time of the bombing was to cover up the actions of the “bombers” [End Quote/]

From a wide range of sources it is safe to assume that there’s routine road blocks in and around Iraqi on a regular basis. Did anyone thought to ask the Iraqi police why they shut the bridge? I am assuming people can still talk to the Iraqi police if they are a bit twitchy from suicide bombers. The comments say “they allowed civilians cars to cross the river”. So I don’t see how you can say it was a staged “orchestrated destruction of Al-Sarafiya Bridge”. What is to be gain from closing the bridge, it could just be easily be an RTA on the bridge. There is hardy any justification from your own statement to back either yours or my claim.

[Quote] if you think that this is a joke then here is the Chairman of Iraqi parliament “Al-Mashadani” also questions this act revealing that this planed a month ago to separate Baghdad’s both sides, making it easy to control[Quote/]

How do you know that Chairman of Iraqi parliament was referring to these events a month ahead in time? If I can remember correctly with the aid of a simple web search there were regular U.S./Iraqi action against rebels in the city back in February not in March as you claim. Source:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6446959.stm When (Time/Date) was this quote taken from the Chairman of Iraqi Parliament? I would like to see this source myself, can you send me a link or have you forgotten your timing of events?

You also forget one small but insignificant event earlier on the same day just before the bombing of the bridge that the Iraqi Parliament was Bombed but you chose not to mention that “insignificant” event that played apart of the U.S helicopter firing two missiles. Maybe the evidence is a bit too strong to dispute.

Yes, it would appear that the Spin-Masters are at it again.

They also like to blame their indiscriminate fire into civilian areas on 'sectarian violence', which leaked documents (www.afterdowningstreet.org) prove they were plotting to foment, an entire year before their illegal war began.

[Quote]Typical

14.04.2007 16:31
Yes, it would appear that the Spin-Masters are at it again.

They also like to blame their indiscriminate fire into civilian areas on 'sectarian violence', which leaked documents (www.afterdowningstreet.org) prove they were plotting to foment, an entire year before their illegal war began.

Real Terrorists Sit In Mansions[End Quote/]

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So great name-calling "Typical, Yes, it would appear that the Spin-Masters are at it again".

So that's the best you can come up with against my opinion? The link that you have gave is an American feel, sponsered website. Whiles I don't dispute against what you call it "plotting to foment, an entire year before their illegal war began". It isn't really relevant to the point that I was making.

Armchair Journalism sits at home and making judgements of local events outside their own country.

Ed: Correction. "assumption that these missiles were a result" should've said "assumption that these attacks were a result"

Lets look at that official theory:

'The reports that a "truck suicide bomb" had been detonated on the bridge came from the US military. No independent Iraqi or other source was able to verify this claim. In fact, AP Television News video showed the bridge broken in two places suggesting two blasts.'

So, we have that bastion of truthfulness and integrity,the US military as the source for this story!

Tough luck Joe! Better tell your minders to diversify their sources next time.

"And remember the bomb which went off under a bridge in Iran's neighbouring province to Basra? 'This bomb has a British accent', said an Iranian government spokesman. Maybe or may be not, but 'stuff happens', throughout the region - to quote Rumsfeld after the invasion's looting and decimation - that was not happening before 9th April 2003.

British Forces (some of whom were caught in Arab dress with a carload of explosives last year, who were arrested and for whom the British demolished a police station to rescue) are due to hand over Kerbala to Iraqis later this month.They had to hand it back after invading it in 1915 too."


That's a quote from a brilliant article posted above by Felicity Arbuthnot. I just love the refinement of 'stuff happens'.
Dictionary definition of Felicity : An appropriate and pleasing manner or style: felicity of expression.

"So great name-calling ..."

I was referring to the tightly-controlled Western media, not you. I agree that this was more likely a US strike than a "terrorist" (Resistance) truck bomb, which would not have caused the type of damage which occured.

"The link that you have gave ..."

Contains proof that the "civil war" that isn't really happening was a plot by the US and Britain, that old colonial trick of 'divide & rule'.

"Armchair Journalism ..."

Now who's being insulting?

Yes, it would appear that the Spin-Masters are at it again.

They also like to blame their indiscriminate fire into civilian areas on 'sectarian violence', which leaked documents (www.afterdowningstreet.org) prove they were plotting to foment, an entire year before their illegal war began.