A Syrian military official says the death toll from twin suicide car bombings in Damascus is now more than 40.
The military official says more than a hundred people were wounded in the explosions targeting security and intelligence headquarters in the Syrian capital.
This is just one more story about the recent escalation of casualties and the intensity of violence.
It is a bit odd, though.
Suicide bombings take time to prepare. The biggest problem is recruiting and training a proper suicide bomber. That takes time. How did the opposition find that time? How did the opposition find the time with the very active Syrian intelligence personnel all over Syria?
Did the Sunni Arab terrorists who Syria hosted to infiltrate into Iraq to cause mayhem do this? They'd have the experience for this sort of thing.
Then the question is did the Sunni Arab jihadi terrorists switch sides to fight against Assad after supporting him these last months? That would be a big deal.
Or did the Syrian government order their allied jihadis to carry out the suicide bombings to taint the opposition? Assad would know that it would be tougher for the international community to support a side that uses suicide bombers.
Note that the story says mostly civilians died, and the military and security personnel cited as being part of the casualties were probably the outer guards. It doesn't sound like the buildings themselves were really damaged other than broken glass. So the targets weren't actually harmed.
And with Arab League observers soon to be on the ground, Assad would love to give the impression that he is fighting the common jihadi enemy of all the Arab League members.
But I'm a suspicious type. I'll wait and see how this story develops.
UPDATE: I stand corrected on the building damage--television news says they were wrecked. Who was in them, I wonder? Regime opponents in custody for a good body count and a few patsies to die for the cause? Destroyed buildings add to the image of al Qaeda. I still wonder. The organized armed opposition denies responsibility. Maybe the jihadis did switch sides. I assume nothing at this point, although I lean to the Syrian government angle. But I'm a suspicious type, I guess.
UPDATE: NPR of all places wonders if Assad is behind the bombings. Also, the targets did have jails in them for dissidents. Again, who died in the bombings?
