In one among hundreds of daily tragedies that occur in Iraq, there were at least 70 people killed and hundreds more were wounded on two separate incidents involving suicide bombers. Reports said that two women were behind the bombings.

During the first attack, a woman detonated explosives hidden under her traditional black Islamic robe in a busy market in central al-Ghazi. There were at least 46 people killed and more than 100 wounded. The second woman then struck a bird market in a predominantly Shiite area in south-eastern Baghdad killing 27 people and wounding 70.

Though women suicide bombers are not that new in war-torn Baghdad, as there have been past incidents involving them, what was more surprising to find out are that these women who were trained to do such dangerous acts were mentally handicapped. Reports say that these brave souls were Down Syndrome victims exploited by al-Qaida group.

Down's Syndrome or DS is a genetic disorder that causes mental retardation and other problems. DS is the most common genetic cause of severe learning disabilities in children which can occur in one in every 700 infants. There are as many as 6,000 babies that are born with DS in the United States. The condition is named after the doctor who first identified the syndrome, John Langdon Down.

Normally, at the time of conception a baby inherits genetic information from its parents in the form of 46 chromosomes: 23 from the mother and 23 from the father. In most cases of DS, however, a child gets an extra chromosome - for a total of 47 chromosomes instead of 46. It's this extra genetic material that causes the physical and cognitive delays associated with DS. Although no one knows for sure why DS occurs and there's no way to prevent the chromosomal error that causes it, scientists do know that women age 35 and older have a significantly higher risk of having a child with the condition. At age 30, for example, a woman has less than a 1 in 1,000 chance of conceiving a child with DS. Those odds increase to 1 in 400 by age 35. By 42, it jumps to about 1 in 60.

Screening for DS is offered as a routine part of prenatal care. A mother's age has traditionally been a factor in the decision to screen for DS. But now, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends offering various screening tests for DS to all pregnant women, regardless of age. A health care provider can help weigh the pros and cons of these tests for every mother's individual situation.

Children with DS have a distinct facial appearance, though not all have the same features. The women suicide bombers as reported were found to have round face and high forehead which is commonly associated with DS.

Though DS can't be prevented, it can be detected before a child is born. The health problems that can go along with DS can be treated, and there are many resources within communities to help kids and their families who are living with the condition.

There's no medical cure for this condition. But hopefully, increased understanding of DS and early interventions make a big difference in the lives of both children and adults around the world especially in under developed countries.

The attraction of mentally handicapped women to al-Qaeda was obvious. Being women, they could get close to targets with less chance of being stopped or searched. Being mentally impaired with DS, they were less likely to make a rational judgment about what they are being asked to do. It is disheartening to find out that people with DS could not stay at home with their familes or study in special schools the way it is most of the time in the US. Being mentally handicapped is not a reason for anybody to exploit and ruin their lives. Those suicide bombers most likely didn't know what they were carrying or doing and were just innocent beings. Lives wasted.