On April the 2nd, John McCain did his staged photo op in a flak jacket, 100 troops, 2 Apaches and 3 Blackhawks to say "This market is Safe"
In a story today in the London Times, they report on this Obscenity:
...21 Shia market workers were ambushed, bound and shot dead north of the capital. The victims came from the Baghdad market visited the previous day by John McCain, the US presidential candidate, who said that an American security plan in the capital was starting to show signs of progress.
It's almost certain that this market was targeted because of McCain's visit. Which would mean his photo opportunity meant that 21 innocent workers were kidnapped, tied hand and foot and shot in the head.
Well, I've woken up and found this on the Recommended list. There's some of complaints that the story hasn't been fleshed out , so thanks to pgm 01 for these two stories.
New York Times
The delegation arrived at the market, which is called Shorja, on Sunday with more than 100 soldiers in armored Humvees — the equivalent of an entire company — and attack helicopters circled overhead, a senior American military official in Baghdad said. The soldiers redirected traffic from the area and restricted access to the Americans, witnesses said, and sharpshooters were posted on the roofs. The congressmen wore bulletproof vests throughout their hourlong visit.
International The News
In another brutal attack, suspected militants massacred a group of 21 Shia workers overnight after laying an ambush north of Baghdad.Travelling in three minibuses, the workers were abducted on the main road out of Baghdad to neighbouring Diyala. The 21 Shias, together with six Kurdish colleagues still missing, worked in Shorja market of Baghdad.