War by Means of Terror

In the single most deadly attack on Iraqis since the end of major combat operations in May 2003, hundreds were killed in a stampede apparently caused by rumors of two suicide bombers in the crowd. (The exact numbers are uncertain, I've heard reports varying from 600 to 1000, although the report I linked to says 816).

Although the article mentions mortar attacks on the Kadhimiya shrine shortly prior to the the stampede, I am not certain that the mortar attacks were a large contributing factor to the incident.

What this means is that the single biggest terror attack in Iraq was carried out not using bombs, or bullets, or weapons of any kind, except for terror itself. Even if hte mortar attacks played a major role in the panic, it is the terror itself, not the attacks, that killed so many.

I don't know if this symbolizes anyhting, but it is not good.

As the attack occurred near a Shiite shrine that was filled with pilgrims, I imagine that the vast majority of the victims were Shiites. Which would be consistent with Sunni insurgents being responsible for this terrorist attack (by which I mean that they deliberately spread the rumors in order to start a panic; or perhaps there really were suicide bombers but they decided not to do a bombing after discovering how many were killed by the mere rumor); although I suppose foreign jihadists could be responsible as well. The mortar fire was almost certainly done by Iraqi Sunnis; fooreign jihadists are usually suicide bombers.

Of course, it is possible that the rumor wasn't started deliberately in order to kill Shiites; the rumor could have just formed, as rumors do; and this entire incident could be nothing more than an unfortunate accident (or from the perspective of the Sunni insurgents, a fortunate accident). Nonetheless, it should still be blamed on those who commit terrorist suicide bombings; it is doubtful that such a rumor would have spread or been believed had the number of suicide attacks not made it a plausible story.

In any case, this is likely going to be another step towards civil war. Although some might argue that the civil war has already started.

That is all.