Iraqi Police and Soldiers Detained

60 soldiers and police officers, including 13 high-ranking officers, were detained today in regards to the twin bombings this past Sunday, Oct. 24. The government is clear that they are being detained, not arrested, as this point, and was not clear if they are suspected of involvement of the bombing or if they are detained because of negligence in their duties.

Read more at Al Jazeera.

Global Rise in IEDs

Although we hear a lot about IEDs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, global use of improvised explosive devises (IEDs) is on the rise. According to a study published in the New York Times, the number of IEDs exploded or discovered worldwide rose from 3,267 in 2006 to 4,027 in 2007 to 4,273 in 2008.

Although the number of devices exploded or discovered has decreased dramatically in Iraq, they are on the rise in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Colombia, Somalia, the Philippines, and parts of North Africa. Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, who is in charge of a Pentagon program to counter IEDs, said that the devices are becoming a favorite tool amongst terrorist and insurgent groups, and is a trend that is likely to continue for decades to come. There is even information that North Korea is training its soldiers in the use of such devices.

Revolutionary Guard Arrested in Pakistan

Eleven members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and two vehicles were detained in Pakistan by police near the Iran-Pakistan border today. BBC reports that the Guard members were found eight days after a bombing in Iran near the border killed 42 people, including six Revolutionary Guard commanders. Iran claimed that a Jundallah, a Sunni militant group based in Balochistan, Pakistan, had committed the bombing, and had called on Pakistan to investigate.

Opposition Leader Killed in Ingushetia

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that Maksharip Aushev, a local Ingushetia businessman and political opposition leader, was killed today with automatic weapons while driving his car on a main road in nearby Kabardino-Balkaria. Aushev was a critic of the last Ingushetia president, but was on good terms with the current Kremlin appointed president. This is but one of several attacks in the Moscow-controlled North Caucus region this year.

Another local opposition activist and Kremlin critic, Magomed Yevloyev, was detained and killed by local police in August of last year.

Two Bombs Rip Through Downtown Baghdad

Late Sunday morning, the beginning of the Iraqi workweek, two bombs detonated outside of government buildings, exploding through rush hour traffic, killing over 130 people and wounding more than 520. The first bomb was set off near the Justice Ministry and Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works a little after ten in the morning. The second bomb blew up less than a minute later near the newly renovated Baghdad provincial headquarters, which included a claims office for victims of past terrorist acts. Read more at The Washington Post.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the site of the bombings was only a few hundred yards from the Green Zone, and three US contractors were injured, but no US personnel were killed. 25 members of the Baghdad Provincial Counsel were killed in the second blast. The bombing occurred a few hours before Iraq's top political leadership was set to meet with political party leaders to discuss disputed election law prior the January parliamentary elections.

Victims of Tamil Tiger's Terror Attacks Suing Main Fundraiser

A group of victims of Tamil Tiger's terror attacks filed suit in New Jersey against Raj Rajaratnam. Mr. Rajaratnam is said to have donated more than $5 million through the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization. He is currently charged with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud. He denies all allegations.

Tighter Links Between Pakistani Militant Groups

Punjabi militant groups, including Laskar-e-Jhangvi and Jaish-e-Muhammad, once thought by many Pakistanis as allies against India, the United States, and Shiite Muslims, may have strengthened ties with Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Tehrik-e-Taliban, the main Taliban militant umbrella group in Pakistan, with aims to overthrow the Pakistani government, showed in recent coordinated attacks in Lahore and Rawalpindi that it is starting to coordinate closely with Al Qaeda and the Punjabi militant groups, in an effort to overthrow the Pakistani government. Such a combination poses grave danger to stability in the country.

Read more at NYTimes.com

Ahmadinejad Vows to Avenge Bombing

The Jerusalem Post reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed revenge on those responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 5 senior commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and 26 others. Ahmadinejad and Iranian state television have accused foreigners, notably Americans and Britons, of recruiting terrorists to carry out this attack in their ever-present effort to topple the regime. Read more at Al Jazeera, the Financial Times, and the New York Times.