Though the murderous and so-called Islamic State of Iraq has reportedly claimed the Sunday bombing attacks, all of the important questions are still unanswered.  Because “Who?” is really only a side-note as Iraqis ask “How?”, how could government security be so useless, and “Why?”, why, why does this keep happening in a Baghdad that is supposed to be turning the corner?

The government’s first reaction was to blame its neighbors, promising to release the name of the country behind the attacks as soon as its investigation was complete.  No such name has been released, but now the attention has shifted to infiltration in the security forces, with some 60 police and soldiers being arrested on Thursday.  If the government can present convincing evidence that it arrested the right people then it can begin to turn the page, but for now Iraqis are unconvinced.  To have a second bloody bombing in the same heavily guarded area only two months after the first one means something.  Religious sermons across Iraq on Friday voiced harsh criticisms.

The psychological effect of this attack is different from other attacks, and not because of the death toll.  Nearly a thousand dead and wounded is a horrific figure, but in Iraq it is not unprecedented.  This time, these bombs, have an air of inevitability.  They have not sowed fear, no one will stay indoors or avoid the markets because of this, but they have added to something else which is despair.  A new Iraq cannot succeed without some feeling of hope.  And with the elections and Kirkuk and oil contracts also in muddle, the bulb is flickering.  Bulbs throughout Iraq are literally flickering as citizens still rely on small private generators for their power, if they can afford it.  This is not the end, but it is not the beginning of anything good.