still more catastrophes in Iraq

From AOLnews :

Baghdad's Deputy Police Chief, Son Assassinated
Roadside Bomb Kills Two U.S. Soldiers

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Jan. 10) - Gunmen on Monday assassinated Baghdad's deputy police chief and his son, police said, and al-Qaida in Iraq later claimed responsibility. Elsewhere in the capital, a huge roadside bomb destroyed a U.S. armored vehicle and killed two American soldiers, the military said.
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is one of the more heavily armored U.S. military vehicles, suggesting that the roadside bomb was more powerful than those typically used in recent months. The Defense Department said last week that insurgents were increasing the size and power of the bombs they plant as they escalate their attacks before the Jan. 30 election.
Four American soldiers also were wounded in the blast. It came four days after another powerful roadside bomb hit a Bradley, killing all seven U.S. soldiers inside and destroying the vehicle.
Also Monday, a roadside bomb attack in Samarra hit a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol, killing two Iraqi soldiers and wounding one Iraqi soldier and two Americans.On Sunday, a U.S. soldier assigned to Task Force Baghdad was killed by a roadside bomb, while a Marine was killed in action in the volatile Anbar province.
Monday's deaths brought the number of American troops killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003 to at least 1,355, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,058 have died as a result of hostile action.
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On Monday, a militant group posted threats in at least two towns warning it would deploy "highly trained" snipers to target voters around Iraq during the elections.
The statement, signed by the previously unknown Secret Republican Army, said 32 snipers will stalk voters outside polling in Wasit, a largely Shiite province south of Baghdad that includes Kut, Numaniya and Suwaiyra. It did not say how many would be sent elsewhere.
The threat is the latest in a campaign of intimidation by militants targeting Iraqi voters and electoral workers. A number of election officials have already fallen victim to brutal terror attacks, and many have received death threats.

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Every day there are more & more tragedies occurring. I can't believe that anyone can possibly believe that the election will mean anything to these people, since most people will either be too afraid to vote or will not have a home or a city to vote from!
And, I wonder where these "powerful" bombs capable of destroying armored vehicles have come from? Looted explosive caches, perhaps?!