
The assumption that it takes little skill to stage an attack like this is wrong. It may be popular to think that these are just random acts of violence, but that is inaccurate also. Its takes great skill and planning to wreak this level of savagery, something that terrorist have plenty of unfortunately.
I have expertise in explosives, I was a military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician for 15 years, I know what it takes to make an explosion. You don't just wake up one morning and set one off. It takes the right material and knowledge of explosive firing trains.
There literally thousands of explosive materials and each have their own unique properties and uses. The target and effect desired determines the material needed. Additionally it also determines the detonation train which can be as simple as a match or as complicated as computerized timers or specialized switches.
From the sketchy details that have come forward on this attack its apparent to me that several bombs were deployed seems feasible judging by the size of the area destroyed. This reveals some hidden sophistication, these devices would have most likely detonated nearly simultaneously. That would require a high degree of training or a very advanced detonation method.
When you couple this kind of skill and knowledge with a radical agenda you end up with many dead innocent people. The absolute worse thing that we can do as a nation is discount the ability of these people or miss what each one of these attacks represent. They are telling us about the determination and capability of these people. It should serve as a reminder of the danger they pose not just Iraqis, but to us.