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Suicide bombers in Iraq’s capital killed dozens this week in a wave of attacks in response to the hanging of General Ali Hassan al-Majeed, also known as “Chemical Ali.” The General was executed for ordering poison gas attacks on Iraqi Kurds in 1988. Insurgents on Monday conducted a triple bombing on three of Baghdad’s landmark hotels catering to foreigners and media. Tuesday’s bombings targeted a Ministry of Interior forensics office. While the bombings may be a symbolic response to Gen. Majeed’s hanging, the practical effect could include destabilizing the government ahead of elections this March. The 2007 U.S. troop “surge” initially succeeded at co-opting Sunni rage at the foreign fighters of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). However, Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top U.S. general in Iraq, said that AQI leaders “are increasingly well-educated and increasingly Iraqi.” The attacks are directly aimed at weakening support for government and Iraqi security forces just as U.S. Marines are preparing for a rapid withdrawal from Iraq. Odierno also announced that the Army has begun training for joint U.S.-Kurdish-Iraqi Security Force patrols for the past three weeks. Even though the US military is ostensibly winding down the occupation, these patrols could put the troops back into full scale operations in urban areas.

GUEST: Juan Cole, Professor of History at the University of Michigan, prolific writer and analyst, author of several books including “Engaging the Muslim World”

Read Juan Cole’s blog Informed Comment at www.juancole.com.