The main objective of the 'Surge' has not been met. Today's suicide bombings point out clearly that the improved security situation that the surge afforded, which was to enable political gains to be achieved within a broad swath of socio-economic aims, has not been met. I would posit that Maliki and the various political entities within the GZG have digressed rather than progressed on the key political goals. With plenty of blame to go around...

Let's look at the bombings...

Dozens of people have been killed and more than 130 injured after a series of suicide bombings in Baghdad and Kirkuk created havoc in Iraq Monday.

In the first attack three female suicide bombers killed at least 28 people and wounded 85 others in central Baghdad, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said. Most were Shiite pilgrims.

The attacks in three locations happened within 30 minutes.

A suicide bomber also killed at least 10 people and wounded 45 others after detonating explosives during a rally in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, a police official told CNN.

Thousands of Kurds had gathered in central Kirkuk to protest an election law that was passed by the Iraqi parliament last week but rejected by the Iraqi presidency council.

The Kurdish opposition stems from intense political disputes among the Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmens in the Kirkuk region, which is regarded by the Kurds as a majority Kurdish region.

In Baghdad it was the second straight day that attackers targeted Shiite pilgrims taking part in an annual march to one of the holiest shrines of Shia Islam.

Roads to Iraq has a blockbuster post today...

How do I know about today’s bombing before it happened? Friday I received email from a friend who is a “mole” inside the Supreme Council, and the image above [click on the image to enlarge] is part from what he wrote:

I received information from one the members of the Supreme Council saying: We are planning a series of explosions targeting the pilgrims at the AL Kazim martyrdom memorial in AL-Adil and Al-Jami’a neighborhoods…so that regular Iraqis think that these acts are committed by the Sunnis and the Sadrists.

It seems that the Kurds adopted the same strategy in Kirkuk today. Turkomen parties (accuse)the Kurds of bringing their militias from other parts of Kurdistan, orchestrating demonstrations and claiming that “Kirkuk residents” are demonstrating against the law [confirmed by the American Consulate in Kirkuk] .

As stated by Kurdish official in Dihuk describes the provincial law as “military coup”, Turkomen officials accused the Kurds of militarly occupying the city.

That is seriously f*cked up! ISCI instigating Sunni/Shi'ite violence, and Kurds instigating Kurdish/Arab violence! However,it does track true!

Who does the US blame...? Why AQI, of course!

Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Baghdad, blamed al-Qaida in Iraq for the attacks in the capital and confirmed the bombers were all women, including a teenager.

"As we have previously stated, AQI is not defeated. They are evil and responsible for the most heinous attacks against unarmed, non-combatant civilians," he said.

Now, as I highlighted in this post...

The GAO report discusses progress in meeting key goals in The New Way Forward(the 'Surge')

Security gains have largely resulted from (1) the increase in U.S. combat forces, (2) the creation of nongovernmental security forces such as Sons of Iraq, and (3) the Mahdi Army's declaration of a cease fire.

Average daily attacks were at higher levels in March and April before declining in May 2008. The security environment remains volatile and dangerous.

Isn't it fascinating that McInsane makes no mention of the Sadr ceasefire as a major factor...

Well, it appears that the Sahwa/Awakening councils are getting restless and increasingly disillusioned with Maliki and the GZG stonewalling on the de-Ba'athification law, the failure to integrate the Sahwa into the IAF and/or National Police, and, this doesn't make matters any better...

U.S. military commanders are liaising with top Iraqi brass on a fresh large-scale offensive to subdue the restive Province of Diyala to be launched early in August.[...]

But the U.S. is selling the imminent attack as a purely Iraqi decision. But Iraqi commanders have made it clear to their U.S. counterparts that their troops are not prepared to wage the offensive on their own.

The U.S. is contemplating more offensive across the country to help Iraqi troops spread control.

Analysts say President George W. Bush’s administration is keen to wage as many offensives as possible to defeat al-Qaeda.

The attack will be the second major military operation in less than six months targeting Diyala. The province of which the city of Baaquba is the capital has hardly recovered from the devastation the troops incurred in the previous offensive.

The province is predominantly Arab Sunni but sizeable communities of Sunni Kurds and Arab and Kurdish Shiites live there.[...]

The multi-ethnic and sectarian nature of the province is mirrored in the composition of Iraqi troops and security forces.

Units with Shiite majority are feared more than U.S. troops in mainly Sunni areas and there have stories of oppression and massive human rights abuses.

In protest, the U.S.-sponsored Sunni militia in the province known as Sahwa or awakening has been disintegrating with tribal leaders resigning or simply refusing to press ahead with fighting al-Qaeda.

Observers say the attack is expected to bear little fruit apart from the trail of destruction it will leave behind.

Now, the Kurds are pissed with Maliki for his current offensives in Mosul and Kirkuk, along with his attempt to cram the Provincial Elections law down there throats in regards to divvying up Kirkuk amongst other factions and diluting their voting bloc...

Here's one article...

The controversial provincial election legislation is leaving the northern oil-rich city of Kirkuk polarized between Arabs who believe it would restore justice and Kurds who see it a threat to their influence.[...]

Iraqi officials say vetoing the provincial election legislation over the Kirkuk dispute has left the entire political process in tatters.

"We expected that any decision that would involve Kirkuk’s control would create uncontrolled disputes," a member from the electoral commission told IOL on condition of anonymity.

The commission had already said that provincial elections, scheduled for October 1, needed to be delayed until December 22.

The commission official believes that the delay would most likely be further extended now.

The presidential veto means the bill would be sent back to parliament to be redrafted.

"The situation is getting critical," said the official.

"We hope a soon solution can be achieved so we can have a fair and democratic election."

A delay of the elections would be a blow to the Bush administration, which considers them a key step toward national reconciliation.

Now it appears that ISCI/Badr is splintering on top of the schism between Dawa and ISCI...

Informed sources say a conflict developed within the Islamic Supreme Council bloc in parliament, led by Abdulaziz al-Hakim--and which includes the Party of the Supreme Islamic Council and the Badr Organization which is led by Hadi al-Amari--[the conflict] relating to passage of the elections law. The Supreme Council (15 seats) rejected voting on the law last Tuesday and withdrew from the session, the Badr Organization (15 parliamentary seats) voted in favor of the law.

Folks, buckle up! The sh*t is hitting the proverbial fan!!!