U.S. Quits Fortified Hotel in Baghdad

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19417-2003Oct26.html

BAGHDAD, Oct. 26 -- The U.S. occupation authority abandoned the al-Rashid Hotel after it was hit early Sunday by a fatal rocket barrage fired from a launcher disguised as a portable generator. A senior U.S. Army officer was killed and 17 people were wounded in the brazen strike at the core of the U.S. presence in Iraq. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, who was in the hotel but unhurt in the attack, vowed that "we're not giving up on this job."

Eight to 10 rockets were fired by a timer from the launching platform, which was described by one U.S. commander as resembling a "science project." The air-to- ground missiles struck the hotel at about 6:10 a.m., smashing holes in the beige cement exterior and sending debris flying through the 14-story luxury hotel. Occupants were roused from bed and fled in their pajamas.

<snip>

The assault on the 462-room al-Rashid Hotel was aimed at a prominent symbol of the U.S. occupation. The hotel was the living quarters for hundreds of U.S. military and civilian personnel. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, on NBC's "Meet the Press," said, "We'll have to get the security situation under control." He added that officials knew security would be a challenge but "we didn't expect it would be quite this intense this long."

...more...

Wolfie in his nightdress says "we will stay and fight", but I guess they will have to find another place to stay and fight from :crazy:

[IndianaGreen]

1. No details about the other explosions

it is as if they don't want the world to know how deep the shit has gotten.

Two more explosions were reported by the military late Sunday night inside the "green zone," a heavily guarded complex of former presidential palaces and buildings that encompasses the al-Rashid and the headquarters of the U.S.-led occupation authority. There were no immediate reports of casualties, military spokesmen said.

[lebkuchen]

2. How does Bremer explain this?

L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, said Sunday that the attack did not mean that security in the country was getting worse. "I don't think that is true," he told ABC's "This Week" when asked whether he thought the rocket attacks were a sign that security was worsening.


http://estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=16537&archive=true

By the time the division is scheduled to leave Iraq, Dempsey said, two of its main goals are to defeat the remaining loyalist members of the regime and “neutralize” terrorist forces.

By “neutralizing,” Dempsey said he meant “stopping ability to conduct mass attacks” against U.S. military forward operating bases; the Baghdad Palace complex, where U.S. civil administrator L. Paul Bremer and other coalition officials live and work; and the Al Rashid Hotel, where troops and other U.S. officials live.


Comment: Dempsey had reopened the road in the park across from the Al Rashid, despite it being occupied by Westerners, as well as DoD VIPs. The General even predicted an attack on the Al Rashid last August. So how can Bremer say security is not getting worse? The UN is gone, and so is the DoD from the Al Rashid. Where do they go to now?

[T Bone]

3. Where do they go after the rasshid?

Maybe the airport? Next move out would be on c-130's back to the States I suppose. :shrug:


Why are there ABSOLUTELY NO DETAILS of the explosions from 10 hours ago which were 15-16 hours after the RPG attacks. Something tells me these latest explosions are BAD news. They got a lot of troops or bagged Wolfowitz or Bremer. Something just tells me the news will be bad once we hear more about them.

[DivinBreuvage]

8. According to Al-Jazeera (I know, I know)

The two explosions were caused by Katyusha rockets hitting the "US-led forces' main compound".

These explosions occured hours ago, I don't know when precisely. But as of 12:56 AM, CNN.com shows only this:

"Breaking News: Powerful explosion rocks central Baghdad, near the Red Cross building. Coalition forces cordoning off scene. Details soon."

So, yes, it would appear that they need some time to figure out how to "manage" this story. Note also that they don't say what was hit, only that it was "near the Red Cross building."

Does the Red Cross building have hospital facilities? Perhaps by the time the story comes out we'll be told that the Red Cross building itself was hit, and that most the casualties were previously wounded soldiers who were lying defenseless in their beds. Either way it's horrid, but the clumsy, stupid, insulting way in which this adminstration and its media lackeys try to manipulate the nation's emotional responses to the hell everyone over there must be going through is absolutely obscene.

Françoise

[DivinBreuvage]

10. Reuter's article on the explosions was timestamped 2:27 pm.

So nearly twelve hours and no news at all.

Françoise

[Mika]

16. Where do they go to now?

Where do they go to now? Maybe Dick Cheney's bunker? :shrug:

[NNN0LHI]

4. What was that about smoken' em out and gitten' em on the run?

Never mind.

Don

[The Magistrate]

22. Well, My Friend

It does seem there is in fact a certain amount of "smokin' them out and gettin' them on the run" going on....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[Rex]

5. These guys just don't get it - we are the INVADING army!!!

For some of these Iraqis, we will ALWAYS (til the day we leave or they die trying to make us leave) be the ENEMY.

Christ, is there ONE sane person in the BFEE? This all has to be a BFEE sham operation...no one can be as stupid as these people act!

[frank frankly]

6. wolfie, you are a coward

what an immediate withdrawl!

vietnam on crack continues...

[AntiSmirk]

7. Iraq II has now jumped the shark

I hate this whole thing. It was wrong from the beginning. Now we have a defining moment that will eventually lead to "defeat". We can handily whip armies but lose the occupation. It seems to me history is full of similar stories. F%$& you George Bush!

[Old and In the Way]

9. I agree with your assessment

Nobody can touch us on the battlefield in a "traditional" war. But there is nothing we can do to stop the attrition in a guerilla based war. Sure we could destroy Bagdhad, but then we'd still lose......

The hubris, arrogance, and collective insular groupthink of this administration will be their downfall.

[priller]

11. I think they knew Wolfie was coming

An unmanned rocket platform all set up, timed to go off when Wolfie was asleep at the hotel. I don't think it was a coincidence at all. The Iraqis knew he was coming and wanted to send a message.

[SoCalDem]

12. ...."described by one U.S. commander as resembling a "science project."

How tacky... It's another "Bring 'em On" moment..:eyes:

It may have resembled a science project, but it did a job on that hotel and they were only off by ONE FLOOR.. The guy who died was directly under ole Wolfie..:(..

If it was indeed a science project, it only comfirms that other countries at least are teaching applied science.. Our schools seem to be more interested in shuffling students from school to school to boost test scores...never quite having enough time or teachers to actually teach them things..

[Barrett808]

21. If the Iraqis know anything, it's explosives and rockets

The occupation is doomed.

[dArKeR]

13. I have an Administrative question: Who does the US Military pay for using

Iraq hotels and buildings? And does each guest have a charge number which they bill to for staying in the hotel rooms?

[Maine-i-acs]

14. Welcome to Shock and Awe, Wolfie.

That was a crude wake-up call. One floor away. Wanna bet they switched Wolfie's room at the last minute?

[Beetwasher]

15. This is called A RETREAT

US forces are retreating...

[Wickerman]

17. The most powerful nation in the world is waving a white flag

unable to take the constant and unrelenting attacks from the remmnants of nation that is about the size of Pennsylvania. This country was starved to near to death for 12 years after a horrific 40 day bombing campaign that wiped out 10s of thousands of it citizenry, debilitated its infrastructure and apparently bred a very solid contempt for the good ol' USA. And, all this is happening without a leader. Guess no leader beats the crap out of a piss-poor leader like Bush*

[underpants]

18. Run away! Run away!

Yes exactly.

[Say_What]

19. Uh, oh. this doesn't match the propaganda that everything is *fine*

n/t

[GregW]

20. Would it help to confuse them if we ran away some more?

(Shameless use of appropriate Monty Python and the Holy Grail quote)