The Cycle Of Violence

The cycle of violence continues in Iraq. Here's a follow-up story to the Baghdad Blogger, Riverbend 's last post on the rape of Sabrine, a young Iraqi woman, and the response by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the aftermath.

The Associated Press reports in the Houston Chronicle :

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The bodies of 14 policemen were found Friday northeast of Baghdad after an al-Qaida-affilated Sunni group said it abducted members of a government security force in retaliation for the rape of a Sunni woman by members of the Shiite-dominated police.

....

Earlier Friday, the Islamic State of Iraq said in a Web statement that it seized 18 Interior Ministry employees in Diyala in retaliation for "the crimes carried out ... against the Sunnis," including the alleged rape last month of a Sunni woman by policemen in Baghdad.

In a second statement, the group announced that its "court" had ordered the "execution" of the men and that a video depicting their deaths would be posted later, according to the SITE Institute, which monitors extremist Web sites.

The cycle of violence goes round and round. When will it end?

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.