The Islamic State's Plan Is To Tear Iraq Apart

Nancy Youssef, Daily Beast: Baghdad Bombings Reveal ISIS’s New Plan: Tearing Iraq Apart

Forget about conquering new turf. All ISIS wants to do now is force fearful Iraqis to tear each other limb from limb.

In a week, ISIS went from growing its self-proclaimed Islamic State to trying to break another fragile state—Iraq—by sowing fear and sectarian hatred.

In the last week, ISIS has slaughtered brides, shoppers, and good Samaritans in their campaign to split the Iraqi state. On Tuesday, at least 63 people were killed and another 100 plus injured in Baghdad in three bombings, all of which struck open markets.

In all, more than 200 people have been killed in the last week in what has become the deadliest spate of bombings to strike the capital in years. ISIS has stormed soccer fans watching a match in the northern city of Balad, targeted women at the hair salon in northeastern Baghdad getting ready for their wedding day and on Tuesday, a fruit and vegetable market in the neighborhood of Dora.

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Update: US commander: Islamic State may be reverting to its 'roots' (AP).

WNU Editor: And the carnage continues .... Under heavy pressure, jihadists strike back in Baghdad (AFP).