In addition to the horrific things occurring in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast:
Al Jazeera reports:
Over 647 Shiites at shrine killed in Baghdad today
Hundreds of people have died after a stampede triggered by rumours of a bomber among a massive Iraqi Shia crowd attending a religious ceremony at a shrine in Baghdad. An Interior Ministry source said most of the casualties on Wednesday were women and children and most died by drowning or being trampled on.
He put the toll at 647, with 301 injured, as of 2.15 pm (1015 GMT). A railing on the bridge collapsed sending crowds tumbling into the Tigris River. Television pictures and reports said about one million pilgrims were heading to the Imam Musa al-Kadhim shrine in the city's heavily Shia al-Kadhimiya district on Wednesday to commemorate the death of imam Musa al-Kadhim, a revered religious figure among the Shia.
More bad news after the flip...
Can anyone say "CIVIL WAR"? A few hours BEFORE the stampede, at the same shrine,
Tensions were running high after a mortar and rocket attack more than two hours earlier killed at least seven people and injured at least 40 near the mosque.
A medical officer at Baghdad's al-Kadhimiya hospital said half of the wounded in the mortar attack were women.
US Apache helicopters fired on the attackers who launched the rockets, a US statement said.
Six other people were wounded in a separate attack when attackers opened fire on Shia pilgrims in Baghdad's al-Adhamiya neighbourhood, an Interior Ministry source said.
Meanwhile, while Halliburton's stock value has more than tripled in the past two years,
The US war in Iraq now costs more per month than the average monthly cost of military operations in Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s, says a report.
The report on Wednesday, entitled The Iraq Quagmire from the Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy in Focus, both liberal, anti-war organisations, put the cost of current operations in Iraq at $5.6 billion per month. This breaks down to almost $186 million a day.
"By comparison, the average cost of US operations in Vietnam over the eight-year war was $5.1 billion per month, adjusting for inflation," it said. Link
Meanwhile, the hits keep on coming. At least 81 U.S. soldiers have died and ver 500 have been seriously wounded in Iraq in August. Here's an overview of more of today's news in Iraq:
Kirkuk Fighting Kills Four
One Iraqi policeman was killed and four were wounded when a roadside bomb struck their patrol in Kirkuk. Another policeman was killed and two civilians were wounded in clashes between gunmen, police said.
Local Reservist Hurt
Last Friday, August 26th, Lance Corporal Mark Beyers stepped on an IED and was badly wounded. The marine has lost his right arm and part of his right leg. He is in critical, but stable condition and is in a drug-induced coma.
Field Health Clinic Bombed In Iraq
Doctors for Iraq has received reports from medical staff in Al Qaim hospital that a field clinic in Al Karablaa village situated on the borders of Al Qaim has been bombed. Two medical staff have been injured in the attack on the field clinic.
Corcoran grad dies in Iraq
A Corcoran High School graduate, 23-year-old 2nd Lt. Charles "Charlie" Rubado, was killed by a sniper Monday night in Iraq, his father said. Rubado was leading his platoon on patrol Monday night when he was hit by a sniper.
Reuters cameraman to be held in Abu Ghraib
A cameraman for Reuters in Iraq has been ordered by a secret tribunal to be held without charge in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison until his case is reviewed within six months, a US military spokesman said today.
56 civilians killed in US air strike west of Baghdad
The US air strike early on Tuesday near the Iraqi western town of Qaim killed 56 civilians, said an Interior Ministry source.
Population still affected by severe power cuts
Iraqis are still suffering from power shortages countrywide - receiving less than four hours of electricity daily - despite the government's recent announcement that more money would be spent on this sector.
Iraqi tribes in deadly clash
Hospital officials in a city 200 miles west of Baghdad say at least 35 people have been killed in the latest battle between pro and anti-government tribes. Dozens more have been wounded.
Well, at least we've done good in Afghanistan, you say. Think again.
While only 75 U.S. soldiers have been killed year-to-date in Afghanistan, 15 of those have been killed in August.
Here's an overview of recent news in Afghanistan that you probably haven't heard:
Marion native's husband awarded Purple Heart after injury
U.S. Army Maj. Matthew Conlan was injured while clearing munitions near Bagram Air Base. The explosion amputated Ramakka's left foot, injuries to his right leg and hands, both of Conlan's legs, and he received moderate blast injuries to his hands and face.
US airstrike kills eight Taliban
US aircraft bombed a Taliban position in central Afghanistan killing eight militants in the latest violence in the run-up to a September 18 election, a provincial official said today.
Former Princeton resident wounded in Afghanistan
Lt. Mark Reinhardt for the fateful was blasted by a road mine explosion -- and hurled some 20 feet in the air. He escaped with seven broken ribs and a one-way ticket to a hospital in Germany.Gunnery Sgt. Theodore Clark, was killed upon impact.
Suspected rebel killed in Afghan fighting
Militants attacked a joint patrol by Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces near Kabul, and an ensuing firefight left one suspected rebel dead and two others wounded, the U.S. military said Tuesday.
NATO-led ISAF base attacked in NE Afghanistan
Unknown assailants fired rocket on the only NATO-led International Security Assistance (ISAF) base in northeast Badakhshan province on weekend, spokesman of the multinational force said Monday.
It's little wonder that during the New Orleans tragedy other countries have not had the same outpouring of goodwill towards us that they had after 9/11. Thanks alot, Dumya.