Baghdad, January 28: The latest wave of deadly attacks in Baghdad exposed security lapses that cannot be simply beaten with cordons and concrete barriers that shield government buildings but fail to protect helpless civilians, experts believe.
“The problem is bigger than that,” Muhammad al-Zayyad, security expert and consultant for a private foreign company in Baghdad, told.
Three suicide bombs rocked three hotels in Baghdad Monday, two of which are favoured by Western journalists and security contractors.
At least 41 people were killed in the bombings, claimed by an Al-Qaeda-linked group which said its bombers were able to breach extensive security measures in the capital.
Iraq in Focus
A suicide bomb exploded Tuesday outside Baghdad’s main crime lab, killing at least 22 people.
Two more were killed Wednesday in a drive-by shooting targeting buses carrying Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad.
In swiftly reaction, the government beefed up security around all government buildings and hotels.
More concrete barriers and checkpoints will spring across Baghdad, especially at volatile districts and close to government offices.
“We started to increase barriers of different types and send more security members to the streets,” Col. Ali al-Bu Hassaan, a senior Interior Ministry official, told.
“It might generate some traffic during this period, but after few days people will find a huge difference that will help in their protection too.”
But experts says security measures, which proved ineffective in preventing previous attacks, do not guarantee safety on the streets, especially as Iraq prepares for general elections next month.
“Government buildings have been the main target and rumours say that more places will be attacked before elections,” says Zayyad.
Unprotected
Many say the tightened security only makes life harder for ordinary Iraqis.
Jamal al-Ghrair, a professor at Baghdad University, agrees that barriers will not stop bombs.
He believes the attacks are a clear message from militants that the government isn’t able to bring security to the streets.
“The government is losing supporters day after day as it shows its inability to keep the country safe.”
Ghrair, who is also an aid volunteer for a local NGO, says civilians remain the most afflicted by attacks and increased security measures.
“Iraqis are tired from violence and security measures that don’t bring any direct protection to their lives.”
He contends that the huge traffic jam caused by checkpoints and barriers on the capital’s main roads could put people’s lives at risk.
“They don’t feel comfortable in being searched and feel scared when a traffic jam takes place because they know that at any time, someone might blow himself beside their cars.”
Mounir al-Tarabla, a salesman who works less than 50 meters from a ministry building, is very pessimistic about the security situation in Baghdad.
He believes that the measures taken by the government are only meant to protect government offices and politicians, not people like him.
“They want us to think that all of this is to help us, but it is not true,” he says bitterly.
“They are only worried about their safety and not ours.”
-Agencies