Iraq attacks prompt fears of al-Qaeda's return

07/24/12: The Washington Post has this piece discussing whether the wave of attacks across Iraq Monday that killed over 100 may signal a resurgence of al-Qaeda in the months since the US departed.  The attacks, spread across thirteen cities and more than forty locations, targeted mostly Shi‘ite neighborhoods and appeared to be the work of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a militant Sunni group.  Although Iraq typically sees a spike in violence during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which began last week, Monday’s attacks were among the most coordinated the country has seen in the past several years.  “The size and frequency of these attacks tells me that al-Qaeda is returning and reestablishing networks in Iraq,” said retired Lieutenant General James Dubik, who oversaw the training of Iraqi forces in 2008.