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Inside the Middle East
July 13, 2009
Posted: 925 GMT
MOHAMMED SAWAF/AFP/Getty Images. Iraqi children perform hand-stands at a gymnasium on the outskirts of the southern city of Karbala, some 110 kms from Baghdad, on July 12, 2009. The club, which is popular during the summer school holidays, is frequented by boys and girls, providing gymnastic lessons to children and teenagers up to the ages of 19-years-old.
MOHAMMED SAWAF/AFP/Getty Images. Iraqi children perform hand-stands at a gymnasium on the outskirts of the southern city of Karbala, some 110 kms from Baghdad, on July 12, 2009. The club, which is popular during the summer school holidays, is frequented by boys and girls, providing gymnastic lessons to children and teenagers up to the ages of 19-years-old.
MOHAMMED SAWAF/AFP/Getty Images. An Iraqi child rubs chalk on his hands as a coach helps another child performing on parallel bars at a gymnasium on the outskirts of the southern city of Karbala, some 110 kms from Baghdad, on July 12, 2009.
MOHAMMED SAWAF/AFP/Getty Images. An Iraqi child rubs chalk on his hands as a coach helps another child performing on parallel bars at a gymnasium on the outskirts of the southern city of Karbala, some 110 kms from Baghdad, on July 12, 2009.
MOHAMMED SAWAF/AFP/Getty Images. An Iraqi youth trains at a gymnasium on the outskirts of the southern city of Karbala, some 110 kms from Baghdad, on July 12, 2009.
MOHAMMED SAWAF/AFP/Getty Images. An Iraqi youth trains at a gymnasium on the outskirts of the southern city of Karbala, some 110 kms from Baghdad, on July 12, 2009.

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Filipe   July 13th, 2009 1:43 pm ET

More Iraqi celebrations making the news !!!

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/07/13/iraq.church.bombings/index.html

A church in Iraq was bombed Monday, the seventh Christian house of worship in the country to be bombed in three days.

At least three children were wounded in Monday's attack in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, an Interior Ministry official told CNN.

The car bomb exploded in the morning, damaging the church in the al-Faisaliya district of eastern Mosul.

Six churches in and around Baghdad were bombed over the weekend, leaving four dead, officials told CNN. A total of 35 people have been wounded in the wave of attacks, including the three children Monday.

Many of Iraq's estimated 1 million Christians have fled the country after targeted attacks by extremists. In October, more than a thousand Iraqi families fled Mosul after they were reportedly frightened by a series of killings and threats by Muslim extremists, who apparently ordered them to convert to Islam or face possible death.

*****************************************************************

How long will the festivities last??

Until there are no longer any Christians in Iraq??

CS   July 15th, 2009 6:45 pm ET

It's goo to see CNN and others report on some of the good things happening in Iraq, because many hate mongerers out there want to focus on the negative. This particular blog is about Iraqi children having fun in a good enviornment; yet, IDIOTS have to try and divert attention to other topics that have nothing to do with this one. Just goes to show you the SHORT..........attention span of some people.

Trying to stay on topic, it's nice to see Iraqi children participate in some normal, everyday fun activities, without being worried about being invaded, or attacked by some foreign entity.

Filipe   July 16th, 2009 9:59 pm ET

The blog is about Iraq-– the posted dialog is about Iraq.

But they are nice photos!!!

But you the US to thank for their-- "being worried about being invaded, or attacked by some foreign entity".

They have their own Arab brothers to thank for the daily atrocities carried out in the name of Islam!

Sorry CS--if you can't handle the truth !

G.   July 17th, 2009 3:57 pm ET

I only have one question – where are the girls? My daughter loved gym. My oldest son is very athletic, very strong, but my daughter won the overall, one place award. She's pretty strong and much more flexible. They always compete, even now in their twenties. So where are the girls?

G.   July 18th, 2009 2:23 am ET

CS – we seldom agree. It is good to see the boys participate in fun activities. I am still trying to learn why there are no girls in this gym.

G.   July 20th, 2009 10:13 pm ET

The silence is deafening. I guess girls allowed to do stuff, mostly. That's a waste and probably cruel on some level.

G.   July 22nd, 2009 1:38 pm ET

I keep waiting. What is the explanation? Girls are great at gym. Limber and strong. Guys are stronger, but not limber at all. Girls are more graceful. Guys are stronger. I guess strong is strong, But I wish we'd learn to move beyond brute strength. There is also mental strength. Females are also good in that area.


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