70 people were killed in Iraq today.

The attacks - the latest in violence that has killed nearly 150 people in three days - were part of an increasingly brazen and coordinated militant campaign to bring the battle to Baghdad, sowing chaos in the center of authority for Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and his American allies. Insurgents appear to have only grown deadlier since Allawi's interim government took power in June, despite U.S. claims that Iraqi security forces are showing more resolve against guerrillas.

The mounting attacks aim to wreck the centerpiece of the U.S. plan for defeating the militants: building a strong Iraqi security force able to bring some calm before elections slated for January. Doing so is also a key prerequisite for any withdrawal of American troops.....

Crowds at the scene of the Baghdad explosion pumped their fists in the air and directed their anger against the United States and Allawi for failing to protect the station even though police recruiting points have repeatedly been attacked.

``Bush is a dog,'' they chanted.