insurgents in Iraq still trying to control us

Iraqi officials: Car bomb kills 20 in Baghdad

BAGHDAD – A car bomb exploded near a crowded market in a mainly Shiite area of Baghdad on Thursday, killing more than 20 civilians, Iraqi officials said, in the sixth major attack in Iraq this month.

The blast occurred a day after the U.S. military said overall attacks nationwide have fallen to levels of the early months of the war, which began with the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

While the numbers of attacks are down dramatically, the recent uptick in high-profile bombings indicates insurgents could be trying to regroup as the Americans hand over more responsibility to the Iraqis ahead of a complete withdrawal by the end of 2011.

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Of course the insurgents don't want us to leave Iraq - we're an easy target for them while we're there and it makes a good recruiting tool to say that we're occupying their country. Without us there, they will have to fight their own people, which is never good PR.