Iraq’s National Security Forces May Have Aided Bombers

In a startling revelation, Iraq leaders have noted that the country’s own security forces may have helped the bombers who attacked the country’s capital city of Baghdad last week. The news comes amidst concerns that security forces in the country have fallen short of their goals in the wake of the U.S. military’s departure from urban areas in the city. Despite the news, the country’s foreign minister continues to insist that his country’s forces can protect Iraq.

Said Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, "We have to face the truth. There has been an obvious deterioration in the security situation in the past two months." While Zebari seeks to calm the frayed nerves of Iraqi citizens, Iraqis are larger concerned and angered over security lapses in their country. The trucks that carried the bombs last week were allowed to pass into areas where no trucks were allowed, leading to the speculation that Iraq’s official security force was complicit in the fatal attacks. Zebari, while trying to calm his fellow countrymen, also issued a warning. Said the foreign minister, "What is coming might be bigger attacks, and the government needs to shoulder its responsibility and deal with the security inefficiencies."

Despite Zebari’s comments, Iraq’s prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, urged Iraqis not to jump to conclusions. Said al-Maliki, "I would like to assure the Iraqi people that the security forces are still capable of continuing the battle and achieving more victories despite all the loopholes that took place here and there." Al-Maliki has ordered a tightening of security after the bombings, reversing an earlier order to remove temporary constraining walls – a move that was to signal a lessening of threats in the capital city.