Anbar bombings (Iraq) kill 14 wound many.

Since the US stopped paying the Anbar Sunni militias the situation has been tense and it would seem that Al Qaeda is creeping back into the area. This does not bode well for future peace in the region. There is now conflict between Sunnis in Anbar and the central government that is predominantly Shia as well. This is from antiwar.com.

Iraqi police: Anbar bombings kill 14, wound dozens
At least 14 die, dozens hurt as series of bombings rock Anbar province, Iraq officials say
SAMEER N. YACOUBAP News
Oct 11, 2009 07:14 EST
A series of bombings killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens more Sunday in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, said police and hospital officials, a worrying sign that violence may be on the rise in this former hotbed of the insurgency.


The first explosion occurred in a parking lot in Ramadi, when a parked car exploded near the police headquarters for Anbar province and the provincial council building, said a local police official.
As police and bystanders rushed to the scene, a second car parked in the vicinity blew up, said the police official. According to the official, a third vehicle exploded about an hour later near the gates to the Ramadi hospital.
Multiple explosions timed to kill rescuers and security forces responding to an earlier bomb were a hallmark of Al-Qaida in Iraq forces during the height of the insurgency.
One bystander, Musaab Ali Mohammed, said he was buying cigarettes from a shop near the police headquarters when he heard a big explosion and smoke billowing out from the parking lot.
"I saw police cars and firefighters, and they started to carry out the wounded and dead. ... Minutes later, a second explosion took place," he said, adding that many of the injured in the second blast appeared to be firefighters. "After that, policemen started to fire in the air and called upon civilians to leave, fearing a third blast."
The police official said a total of 18 people were killed in the three explosions, while an official at the Ramadi hospital said 14 bodies were brought to the hospital.
Conflicting death tolls are common in the aftermath of bombings in Iraq.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Anbar province was the scene of some of the most intense fighting by U.S. troops during the insurgency.
Violence tapered off significantly after local tribes decided to ally with U.S. forces, but bombings such as those Sunday are a worrying sign of the insurgency's resilience in the western province.

Deadly Iraq blast in Anbar days before security handoff.

This is from the LAtimes.
Al Qaeda in Iraq may be down but certainly it is not out as these actions show. The recent pronouncements of the Americans about the defeat of Al Qaeda in Iraq is a bit like Bush's pronouncement years ago about mission accomplished in Iraq. I suppose the mission is accomplished in the sense that Americans are probably not focused very much on the war anymore but on the upcoming election and the U.S. economy. I am quite surprised that there is not more reaction by the U.S. public about the billions if not trillions of dollars being spent by th U.S. on its foreign wars. Americans can no longer afford their houses in many cases but they can afford to support multi-billion dollar wars that are sinking them into even more debt.

Deadly Iraq blast in Anbar comes days before security handoff
A suicide bomber kills 21 at a meeting of sheiks and city leaders in the province that has been seen as a security success story. In Mosul, explosions kill at least 18.By Doug SmithLos Angeles Times Staff Writer9:45 AM PDT, June 26, 2008BAGHDAD — Nearly 40 Iraqis were killed and more than 100 injured today in a suicide attack at a town meeting in Anbar province and two blasts in the northern city of Mosul.The mayor and tribal chief of Garma were killed along with 19 others when a bomber blew himself up during a meeting of sheiks and city leaders of the town about 15 miles northeast of Fallouja. Another 20 were injured.The attack came only days before the U.S. military planned to hand over responsibility for security in the western province to the Iraqis.Once considered lost to insurgents, Anbar became a success story after tribal leaders banded together to combat Al Qaeda in Iraq.The U.S. military said the bombing was consistent with Al Qaeda in Iraq. A statement said U.S.-led forces were among the injured.The attack followed by days two others targeting government buildings where U.S. forces were meeting with Iraqi local officials in an effort to restore public services and establish democratic processes.Anbar officials said it was too soon to tell whether there would be a setback for the transfer, which was believed to be planned for next week."We will see whether the attack of Fallouja today might have an affect," said Abdul Salam Ani, chairman of the Anbar Provincial Council.In Mosul, Ninevah province Gov. Duraid Kashmola was inspecting the site of a rocket attack near the governor's building when a car bomb exploded. At least 18 people were killed and more than 70 injured in the two attacks.Kashmola was unharmed, police said.