Explosion Heard at UN Headquarters in Baghdad CNN Reporting

[undergroundrailroad]

AP Bulletin


The Associated Press
Tuesday, August 19, 2003; 9:01 AM


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Huge explosion rocks area around United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, blowing out windows a mile away.
© 2003 The Associated Press


http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A13321-2003Aug19?language=printer

MORE:

Huge Blast Hits Area Around U.N. in Iraq


The Associated Press
Tuesday, August 19, 2003; 9:09 AM


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A huge explosion Tuesday rocked the area around the Canal Hotel in northeast Baghdad. The building houses United Nations headquarters in the capital.

Residents about a mile away said their windows were blown out.

U.S. Black Hawk helicopters could be seen flying toward the scene of the explosion. Black smoke rose hundreds of feet into the air.

Witnesses said they saw dark smoke rising from the hotel itself. U.S. military officials could not confirm what had happened. United Nations weapons inspectors worked out of the hotel during the period before the war in Iraq as the international community sought, but failed to find, Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction.

MORE:

CNN REPORTING, BUT CANNOT CONFIRM THREE DEAD

____________________________________________________
Posted on Tue, Aug. 19, 2003
Huge Blast Hits Area Around U.N. in Iraq
Associated Press


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A huge explosion on Tuesday rocked the area around a hotel housing the U.N. headquarters in northeast Baghdad. Iraqis said the blast blew out windows as far away as a mile from the site of the blast outside the Canal Hotel.

Witnesses said they saw dark smoke rising from the hotel itself. U.S. military officials could not confirm what had happened. United Nations weapons inspectors worked out of the hotel during the period before the war in Iraq as the international community sought, but failed to find, Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction.

The U.N. spokesman in Baghdad, Salim Lone, informed U.N. headquarters in New York that a number of people were hurt in the explosion, but no one was killed as far as he knew.

He said the explosion destroyed a significant part of the building, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said in New York.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/6567635.htm
__________________________________________________

MORE:

Blast hits UN building in Baghdad
An explosion has ripped through the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

The US military says the blast caused "scores of casualties".

The United Nations says its special representative, Sergio Vieira de Mello, was injured in the explosion.

The BBC's Valerie Jones in Baghdad says the blast tore away part of the building and was heard over a wide area of the Iraqi capital.

A US military spokeswoman said the blast was caused by a car bomb.

A search for survivors is going on, our correspondent says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3163877.stm
_________________________________________________
MORE:

CNN CAN NOW REPORT THAT Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Brazilian who heads the U.N. mission in Iraq, was "badly hurt".

__________________________________________________

The U.N. confirmed reports that Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Brazilian who heads the U.N. mission in Iraq


The U.N. confirmed reports that Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Brazilian who heads the U.N. mission in Iraq, was inside the building and was being treated for injuries.

Witness reports said about 40 to 50 people were injured in the blast and a number of people were trapped in the rubble of the partly collapsed building.

Reporting from Baghdad today, ABCNEWS' John Berman said a quarter of the building appeared to have crumbled in the explosion, which ripped through the three-story structure.

Pentagon sources have told ABCNEWS that the majority of the people in the building worked for the U.N.'s World Food Program. Officials from UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) were also working in the building. The United Nations has been coordinating the international humanitarian aid effort in Iraq.

The explosion occurred shortly after U.S. officials confirmed that Taha Yassin Ramadan, a former Iraqi vice president and number 12 of the U.S. list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis was captured and handed over to U.S. forces in Mosul.

The blast occurred in eastern Baghdad along the Army Canal near the Martyr's Monument and witnesses said smoke could be seen billowing from the area.

[rooboy]

1. Faux says scores of casualties...

Canal (sp?) Hotel - 2 storey building, corner of the building destroyed, at least 4 dead.

Some eyewitnesses claim rocket hit building - seems to be more powerful than blast that hit the Jordanian embassy.

[Kellanved]

38. Spiegel: at least three dead and scores of wounded.

Sergio Vieira de Mello badly hurt - Black Hawks are rushing in to evacuate the wounded.

[alcuno]

2. It doesn't matter because everything is FINE over there.

n/t

[Kellanved]

3. Yahoo

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20030819/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_explosion

No details yet.

[Regice]

4. This is sad

I am sure many innocent people were harmed.
:(

[Mari333]

5. I wake up, get coffee every morning

and every day more HELL breaks loose over there ..
How many dead..will they show them??? Probably not..will Rummy come on TV and say No Big Deal, just a few insurgents? yes , hes an asshole..
For gods sake, will someone please stop this madness.

[Spoon]

8. Before everyone starts blaming all but the bomber(s),

keep in mind mind this is the UN BUILDING - who pushed for peace! The bombers are scum. No more, no less.

[bowens43]

11. If the US

had not launched an illegal attack against the people of Iraq this would not have happened. EVERY death and injury that occurs as a result of the illegal invasion and occupation is the fault of the bush administration. The blame belongs with bush, rummy , chaney and the other evil bastards who have hijacked our government.

[Mari333]

18. a frigging men to that.

.

[Spoon]

19. I don't disagree with you,

but bombing the UN is a step backwards for the Iraqi people. Bombing the people that wish peace is EVIL as well, and counterproductive. This particular blood is on the hands of the bombers alone. Am I wrong? Two wrongs don't make a right.

[DuctapeFatwa]

26. Do you think the UN is perceived as more than a rubber stamp for US?

There may be a segment of the US population that thinks that the UN has some independence but how prevalent is that view in the Majority World?

[Spoon]

45. They didn't rubber stamp the invasion, that's for sure.

You would think that would be common knowledge, even in Baghdad. That bomb could have taken out a bridge, or something more productive at pissing off the US. This just makes the hawks happy, right?

[DuctapeFatwa]

55. They did not act to stop it. Are there blue helmets on your street?

There was a lot of controversy about France threatening to use its veto for a second resolution, but there was no resolution condemn it, no authorization of a force to stop the US, the UN has done nothing to liberate the US from a regime whose policies are not in the best interests either of the people of the US, peace in general, or anything except increased revenues for the defense and energy industries.

[TAH6988]

73. "Authorization of force to stop the US?"

"No blue helmets on your street" Who are you kidding? If the UN took up arms against the US. The overwhelming majority of Americans would do EVERYTHING they could to to defeat the "UN forces." BTW, the UN doesn't even have the capability, without the US, to airlift any military force of any consequence anywhere, and they could not fight their way out of a paper bag.

[DuctapeFatwa]

79. Oh, I think China might be able to help, if there were a will

But the point is, there is not a will.

There is no country that given the choice of dollars or opposing the US, is willing to join in any coalition to oppose the US.

[TAH6988]

85. In twenty years, maybe

but, right now, even China is no conventional threat. Bottom line: no one can GET enough forces here to do anything to us. They don't have the capability to move the large number of troops it would take to defeat the US on our own soil. Not today anyway.

[DuctapeFatwa]

95. Actually, today might not be a bad choice

So many of the troops are deployed elsewhere.

I don't claim any inside info on what China has or doesn't have, but I have a feeling that if China and a few selected other nations wanted to form their own coalition of the willing, it would probably not be necessary for them to actually land on Long Island.

The point is, the guys who could order it are all making their money by not doing it, so the only people with the will are not the ones with the large organized troops and conventional war machinery.

The only ones with the will are the bilions of individuals who have suffered as a result of US policies, and the growing millions of individuals who have nothing to lose....

The good news is that the politicians and CEOs of oil and defense companies have bunkers, so they will be in no danger, whatever happens.

[TAH6988]

125. My only point on this topic

is, don't be looking for a UN "invasion" of the US. It won't happen.

[stickdog]

111. Yep. They can't do anything to us.

In groups larger than 20, that is.

[Aidoneus]

57. no, but they did rubberstamp the occupation after

UNSC late May, to be specific; if I remember correctly, the vote was 14-0-1.

There is also the matter of the figleaf of legitimacy that the UN gave to US/UK economic sanctions--several hundred thousand dead as a result.

What is worth more, toothless "opposition" or eventual capitulation?, words or deeds?

[DuctapeFatwa]

60. I don't think the UN sanctions enjoyed a lot of popularity in Iraq

There are a lot of Iraqis who did not agree with Madeline Albright that the deaths of their children was worth it in order to help the US achieve its objectives in the region.

[Aidoneus]

83. no no, they realized there was a greater worth and don't mind that

Like now for instance, they don't care that they don't have water or power in 120 degree heat, they know that economic re-organization and denationalization by the occupation authority is more important than having a real government. :eyes:

[Flubadubya]

82. Tinfoil hat anyone...?

Who's to say it was really the Iraquis? :tinfoilhat: Surely not anyone else!

[DuctapeFatwa]

87. Dunno, were there any Palestinian photographers in the hotel?

Maybe the UN people were just unintended collateral damage of another targetted operation.

[Flubadubya]

122. Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of this....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=72469#72490 (Post #6)

[stickdog]

107. Right.

Now you're getting it.

It makes the hawks happy.

[sendero]

89. yeah but..

... how about one collosal wrong and then a relatively infinitesimal one? Does that make a right?

[stickdog]

106. Who the hell in Baghdad has a bomb that size?

Again, put away your mirrors.

[librechik]

114. very interesting question, after all the "inspection" for WMD materials

where did they find that much fertilizer (or whatever)?

And who wants to draw the UN into the conflict? (I agree to a point that it probably wasn't US doing this attack, the point being that these Bushies are incredibly stupid and crazy--they'd car bomb their own mothers if they thought for half a second it might gain them a political advantage)

BTW, I did say "draw the UN into the conflict" not drive the UN away!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. did you take a wrong turn back in the road spoon?

[Spoon]

30. No, I don't think so.

I just happen to think that killing innocents is wrong, no matter what. I guess that makes me a bad person. Alright.......... THIS WAS JUSTIFIED! SCREW THE UN! THEY DIDN"T STOP THE INVASION! DIE! Make you feel better?

[stickdog]

109. "killing innocents is wrong, no matter what."

So true.

[whatelseisnew]

14. I blame Bush*co Inc. for making it all possible

[Dhalgren]

53. Yes the bomber may be "scum",

but just who the "bomber" is remains to be seen.

[stickdog]

103. Right. And who are the bombers who would bomb the peaceful?

Stay away from mirrors.

[nolabels]

166. Yea , I bet they said that in Iraq when them cruise missiles started

Floating in. The UN is a machination of the US Imperialists. On what grounds does the UN have any justification on anything to do with Iraq with its sorted failure for the last 12 years? I see it as nothing but a stooge for the US as far as Iraq goes

Blame can only take place when someone takes responsibility; at no point has that ever taken place anywhere by any party involved.

[QuietStorm]

176. the UN it seems to me has rubberstamped this invasion

only now perhaps they have been pushing for peace but could hold no reign on the PNACers. Come on. We can't get too literal. The angst has been brewing for quite sometime. It is a symbolic hit. This is not a liberation but an invasion. This was never a peace mission but an Oil mission. The UN strikes me overall as symbolic. Like FUCK YOU UN you haven't been all that neutral or very helpful all in all.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Somebody doesn't want the UN there...

I wonder who that could be.....

[Sushi_lover]

7. someone who likes the oil deal as it is

someone who doesn't want the U.N. to force a new oil deal

someone who gets a $1Million/year "pension" from Halliburton?

[OldEuropean]

17. I smell

a Black Ops aswell, there is no logic why Iraqis would attack UN personel - the effect will be counterproductive for their aims.

[bearfartinthewoods]

78. who was it that asked for proof of a blame America first sentiment at DU

get yer red hot proof right here folks.

step right up and see people who's first instinct is to blame Anerica first. never mind that there are numerous terrorist operatives that want to cause havoc in any way possible. nope...it's a black ops American operation of course......

[karlschneider]

99. Well, genius what's YOUR theory? Who has motivation to bomb a UN bldg?

:grr:

[stickdog]

113. Who is your prime suspect, Columbo?

How do his means, motive and opportunity compare to that of US black ops?

[Flubadubya]

139. Does "blame Bush first"...

necessarily translate into "blame America first"? I hardly find "Bush" to be synomymous with "America"... in fact just the opposite IMHO.

[Junkdrawer]

149. Let's put it this way...

Just about every liberal/moderate American wants an increased UN presence and an eventual US disengagement.

This administration has been hostile to UN "interference" in Iraq since day one.

A bomb goes off and the chief UN envoy is seriously wounded so....
of course this administration had nothing to do with it since the US doesn't do those sort of things.

And that, my friends, is the biggest obstacle to the serious investigation of just about every scandal since Dec. 20, 2000 ---> "That's a ridiculous theory - we're the good guys and we don't do those sort of things."

[stickdog]

159. Exactly.

Isn't it about time we took off the red, white & blue blinders and considered ALL possible motives and machinations rationally and in an unbiased manner?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. junkdrawer yup ...now the last embassy to keep an eye on truth ...

has been eliminated....ya know what is scarier? that our gov't thinks we are this stupid....last week it was the Jordanian embassy...it's a mad mad mad world...everyday a new horror with BushCo*

[Junkdrawer]

21. Let's see: Intimidation of the UN, killing unfriendly journalists...

Reminds me of the tactics of a certain ally of ours in the region. I'd say a brutal crackdown is coming soon...

[ichiro99]

142. Crackdowns on the homefront, too. Maybe another ...

'event' -- just so's to keep the lookie-loos properly focused? Pulling sleepy Joe Citizen's soon-to-be-shrapnel'd-off leg. Anyway, UN has enemies in Iraqi factions, among occupiers' ranks as well. 'Main thing's to get a stateside draft in place, distance people's attention from deals with Lay and conversations with Saudis.

Admit it, thrillseekers: It's all sweet in the overall stretch, from the POV of an apparently bloodcult-inspired cabal. Their happy affection for prisons and gallows etc. This newest 'asymmetrical' bloodletting a virtual river of untalented people's pain. Talented ones' too, though it's a shame to see our boys' lives go to waste blah blah blah.

Downsizing underpaid populations throughout the world, Iran-Contra all day every day, keeping the cash-weapons-drugs flowing unimpeded: manifest destiny for stay-at-home postmoderns.

[TeeYiYi]

28. OK . . . finally (hello) . . . my thoughts EXACTLY! . . .

I'll be curious to hear who the casualties were. (Not that it matters since 'they' are not above killing their own to make a point.)

TYY

[Fridays Child]

163. Chalabi's thugs? You know Chalabi takes orders directly from...

...Rumsfeld's "Office of Special Plans." And right after the fall of Baghdad, some of Chalabi's "lieutenants" were caught looting houses in an upscale neighborhood. If I recall correctly, at the time, their actions were dismissed as the result of an innocent mistake or some such thing.

[mike6640]

34. Tinfoil hat alert

Got mine :tinfoilhat:

I was thinking the same thing. Different outcome envisioned, though. This could be set up as a kick in the pants for the UN to put people (peacekeeping force)in, but on US terms....We all know the *admin wants to retain all authority.

[hang a left]

76. My thoughts exactly

who does not want the UN there? I can't help it, in these times everything and everyone involved is suspect. I believe nothing that I hear, absolutely nothing!

[UpInArms]

9. ABC News reporting

that the "bombing" was actually at the Canal Hotel which housed the UN team.

Also saying that the cause of the explosion is unknown - whether a "bomb" or a "mortar" -

But I guess that we are continuing to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.

So sad...

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. ahh i guess they didn't like what the UN weapons inspectors had...

to report on nuclear weapons program...guess it didn't jive with Kaye's fictious one

[ewagner]

13. That's the second

attack that defies logic.

Why would Iraqis fire mortar shells into their own prison?

Why would Iraqis kill UN personnel who would like to reduce or eliminate US presence in Baghdad?

I am totally confused.

[prolesunited]

37. Perhaps because

it isn't the Iraqis who are doing it. They have nothing to gain from such actions. I wonder who would? :tinfoilhat:

[northzax]

70. er, they are terrorists

they blow shit up, it's kinda their thing.

look, targeting US troops is one thing, it is always fair game to take on an occupying foriegn army, if I had foreign troops occupying my capital, I'd be trying to kill them as well, but when the target becomes civilians or non-occupying parties, then it is terrorism, designed to sew chaos and strife. There is not neccesarily rhyme or reason to the whole thing.

[hang a left]

84. that is why it is

probably the US dark forces at work here

[stickdog]

117. Yeah. Terrorists don't need a reason to blow things up.

We, on the other hand, bomb smartly.

[izzie]

15. I wish people would recall Eur and Asia after Japan and Germany

took over. These countries fought back in the same way. In fact that is where Tito came from and the Ch. Reds.It went on in Denmark and all countries that were taken over. In Ireland it went on for 300 years.It is more normal than not. It is just the USA has this feeling if they do not go along it is different. We think we should be loved and we are not.Look at India. The Brits were their for 400 years and yet they were never liked and this type stuff went on the whole time.

[markses]

20. UN Representative to Iraq, Sergio deMello, badly injured - CNN n/t

http://www.un.org/News/dh/iraq/demello-bio.htm

Sergio Vieira de Mello of Brazil has served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights beginning on 12 September 2002 after the UN General Assembly approved his appointment by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Until May 2002, Mr. Vieira de Mello was the United Nations Transitional Administrator in East Timor. Prior to that, he briefly held the position of Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo, following a year and a half serving at Headquarters as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

He has been with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since 1969, culminating in his appointment as United Nations Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees in January 1996. He has extensive Headquarters and field experience in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, including in Bangladesh, Sudan, Cyprus, Mozambique, Peru and Lebanon. Mr. Vieira de Mello has also served as Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for Cambodia, Director of Repatriation for the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), Head of Civil Affairs of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), as well as United Nations Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Great Lakes region of Africa.

Mr. Vieira de Mello studied in Brazil and France, receiving a doctorate from the University of Paris (Panthéon-Sorbonne). Born on 15 March 1948, he is married and has two sons.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

27. sigh ...i doubt that they will let him survive

:(

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

172. PHOOK. You are right.

He's dead, says CNN. D-A-M-N B-A-S-T-A-R-D-S. :grr:

[dArKeR]

22. 1 pic at this link.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1404444,00.html

[THUNDER HANDS]

23. NBC just said

that Republicans went over to visit Baghdad today. House and Senate members including Tom Delay and John McCain...

[jackstraw45]

24. Isn't it sad...

that we live in a country where we cannot be certain that our OWN government didn't order this attack?

[Hex_0x]

25. Limited Resources

They are attacking a broad range of targets to spread out the military. Now troops have to guard:
1) Hundreds of miles of pipelines
2) Electrical and water infrastructure
3) Embassies
4) Hotels
5) Prisons
6) Hospitals
They will examine our defenses and choose the weakest targets. While our troops are moving from hot spot to hotspot they are exposing themselves to remote bombs and RPG fire.

We need to get our troops out of Iraq. Bring them home!

Hex

[THUNDER HANDS]

29. yup

If Saddam is still running things there, he came up with a damn fine strategic plan.

This is such a shame....

:(

[Mari333]

31. The BFEE needs bodies and cannon fodder

they even want to send my son over there...thinned out troops who are going insane..
AMERICAN PEOPLE PLEASE WAKE UP FOR GODS SAKE

[Hex_0x]

36. You will fight and die...

to protect this oil pipeline from harm soldier.

What surprises me is that the military fall in lock step with these chicken hawks. Where is the honor sending our kids off to die for the BFEE? I don't get it...

Hex

[Mari333]

39. My son, who used to be proud of his Guard duty

is waking up to the fact that the top brass seem to get "perks" and stripes for all this...
He is nothing but a peon to them, EZ cannon fodder, nothing more.
Many in the military are afraid of saying anything...the BFEE will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

158. Brazil is a nice place to live

If your son needs a guide to Rio, e-mail [e-mail] ;)

Me and my wife will be happy to accomodate anyone who is avoiding dying for *.

Cheers, and guaraná to all.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

161. Ooops, wrong e-mail

It's j(CUBAN-DICTATOR'S-SURNAME)@vialink.com.br

Not a relative. Honest. :eyes:

[Palacsinta]

32. Can't WE, the people, ask the UN for help?

Since our government WON'T???? How can we circumvent these lunatics and get SOME FRICKIN' HELP!!!!!

[Mari333]

33. God , if that were only possible

Dear UN,
HELP...save us from the Thugs who have taken over our country, and are murdering our kids, and other people all over the world.

[OldEuropean]

44. UN peace mission in USA

Wasn't there a chapter in "Stupid White Men", Michael Moore about that? :-)

[Mari333]

47. yes, and I would beg them to come save us

if I could.

[w13rd0]

167. As my 7yr old puts it...

...Bush is a bad man, help us, save us...

[markses]

35. Interesting Spin on Fox and CNN: Turning Point!

I've turned on CNN and Fox for the first time in months (I'm usually not home this time of day). They both have the same spin:

"Will this be a turning point, where the Iraqi people finally turn against the resistance?"

Coordinated spin like that makes me very uncomfortable with the source of this bombing. Along with the water main attack and the prison attack, this attack seems counterproductive to any factions opposing the CPA. Smelly...smelly...

[Minstrel Boy]

41. good catch

God, this is a dirty, bloody, awful world.

[Minstrel Boy]

43. also, it's peculiar

that the spin is "finally turn against the resistance." Wasn't the recent spin "the resistance is not representative of the Iraqi people"?

[markses]

51. Making such distinctions would require coherence

A requirement the US press corps is not famous for...

[KCDem]

42. I was thinking the same thing.

Get those Iraqis in line already! :eyes:

[ewagner]

48. Spin already?

The freakin bombing JUST happened! The press is just starting to gather facts.....and ALREADY the strategic and political spin is starting? Who the f@@k is feeding the talking heads this info?

[Minstrel Boy]

56. is it the same voice on the line

who told Wesley Clark to blame Iraq on September 11?

[alaine]

50. Finally turn against?

What are these people supposed to do anyway? The ones who are not resisting the U.S. occupation are just trying to feed their kids and keep them alive in the heat without any electricity. That statement just kills me. And this "resistance", it's nice that they are calling it that and not referring to Sadam in the same breath, but nobody knows whether the Iraqi people ARE the resistance, or if it is remnants of the fedayeen, or both, or whatever other combinations there might be.

[Hex_0x]

52. Have no fear

The Iraqi people will blame us for all suffering they incur. That spin is pure propaganda aimed at Joe six pack at home.

Everything is fine, look how evil Saddam is. His people hate him, they love us. Things are starting to turn around, we caught Saddam's cousins, former roommate. But first lets hear about the 3 new Viagra pills that are coming out and then we will have a report on how Arnold waxes his chest before every debate....Please

Hex

[SOS]

69. The CNN "analyst"

giving his idiotic spin on this bombing is Kenneth Pollack, author of "The Threatening Storm: The Case for Invading Iraq".
Another fair and balanced pile of lies from CNNFOXMSRNC.

[0007]

141. Fuck CNN - FOX - MSNBC

They're only good for the Carlyle boys and junior and dickie's Halliburton.

Boycott the crock shuckers.

[stickdog]

123. As if

the Iraqis aren't idiots who watch the US idiot box 24/7.

They know EXACTLY who the prime suspect is here.

[Wednesdays]

175. Turning point? ROFLMAO!

"Will this be a turning point, where the Iraqi people finally turn against the resistance?"

Yeah, they're all going to say this is a turning point. Just like how they say the economy is turning around.

[THUNDER HANDS]

40. woah

ON MSNBC they had a journalist interview a woman whose husband was inside the building at the time and she said "I blame America, this would not have happened if Saddam was still here."

I don't think this is going to be a turning point for us at all. Unless it turns VERY VERY worse.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

46. msnbc...a european looking women looking for her husband just ...

crying said, "America this is all your fault!"...and she is 100% correct :(

[Devils Advocate NZ]

49. It seems that people have VERY short memories...

A lot of people on this thread (in fact it seems everyone) seems to have forgotten that UN sanctions are responsible for the deaths of HALF A MILLION CHILDREN!

Maybe a family member or two had a damned good reason to bomb the UN HQ?

The UN can't pretend that it isn't partially responisble for the misery of the Iraqi people, and it amazes me that so many people here don't seem to understand "why they hate us"...

[JCMach1]

54. Good point

:(

[alaine]

61. So why now, at this particular moment in time?

Of course it is more than a family member or two, but the timing of the last two bombings seems to point to it having more to do with the occupation than the sanctions.

Do the Iraqi people want the UN to come back into play, or would they rather Bush just keep bumbling along alone?

[northzax]

75. why now?

it's handy. Under Saddam's regime, this type of thing wasn't possible, the only violence was that dished out by the government and it's thugs. There is one thing to be said about a totalitarian state, there is often very little crime, outside of the government and corporations that is. I was in Moscow in 1990, and you could walk anywhere, women could walk alone, I went to neighborhoods I'd never walk alone in at night in Washington and there was no fear. of course, you see a soldier or a governemnt functionary, and you have fear. It is possible to trade liberty for security, and once that security is removed, society is often not ready for the new reality.

[stickdog]

127. Yes, it's mighty handy.

War is a great cover for murder and mayhem of every variety.

It's weird that the "terrorists" have figured this out, but no Americans have, isn't it?

[Aidoneus]

62. indeed

I guess amnesia feels better than reality. :shrug:

WRT the bombing itself, it still is strange that a UN building is considered a priority; it may just be crazy logic, but I would assume priority targets would be a bit closer to the CPA itself and military forces and not its more or less irrelevant figleaf like the UN or NGOs. Several of the targets from the last couple days are very strange, possibly suggesting some other force at work.

[markses]

63. I was involved in the protests against the sanctions

since about 1997. And no, I haven't forgotten.

While I also think you make a good point, the feeling at the time (conveyed to me by people with Medicins sans Frontieres who had been in Iraq) was that the US and UK were the chief perpetrators of the sanctions regime, with the UN merely acquiescing.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

100. True, and I didn't mean to say that people have forgotten...

in the way it may have sounded, more that people seem to focus on the now rather than the before now... if you know what I mean.

As for the feelings of Iraqis, could it not be then said that many felt that the UN was a tool of the US and UK? If so, is it not inconceivable that they would see a strike on the UN as a strike on the US and UK, while at the same time having the added benefit of the UN HQ being a soft target?

Basically, what I'm getting at is that there is far more reason for the Iraqis to attack a UN HQ than many on this thread seem to realise, and that the UN itself is not totally innocent, after all, as you said the UN was seen to be acquiescing to US and UK demands, rather than actually helping, much as has been the case in Palestine.

Don't take this to mean I am anti-UN or the work they do. In fact I am pro-UN in so far as its ideals and mandate are concerned. What I don't like is the way that the US especially but the UK as well have been able to use the UN to justify their actions while vilifying everyone else's. It HAS to stop, or the UN truly is irrelevant as anything other than a propaganda arm of the US and UK.

[lordwhorfin]

160. Excellent point

We also have no idea if this is an act perpetrated by a resistance loyal to the Ba'ath party, or if it is an act by another independent faction. It could just as easily be an Al Qi'da cell, even an Iranian group, OR a US black-bag deal.

THIS kind of attack is one of the main problems with the Occupation. As Indiana Green pointed out in another thread on Mazan, there is in fact very little command and control in Baghdad, and it is going to get quite Beruit style there.

For all we know, it could be disaffected Kurds. It could literally be any one of hundreds of different groups with competing agendas, many of whom will see the UN as a target that will put them on the map. Many folks see all the Bretton Woods institutions as hopelessly corrupt: to them the UN is just another target.

[papau]

68. Sanctions as interpreted and enforced by US - Bush41 stopped sanitation

by stoping the import of dis-infectants like clorine -

dual use you know - and Clinton could not get the GOP to stay silent if he allowed clorine into Iraq.

One more thing our Media tries to hide - just does not remember.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

58. when will Fearless Leader speak?

can't wait for * to recite his cliches.

he's clearing brush while the world is clearing debris.

[TeeYiYi]

59. Why would he speak? . . .

"This doesn't have anything to do with 'us' ". *sarcasm*

TYY

[Minstrel Boy]

101. "Didja see that smoke?

It's like I bin tellin' ya: we're smokin' 'em out."

[stickdog]

130. "Now watch this drive." (NT)

[argonne]

64. "We're makin' progress!"

n/t

[jackstraw45]

65. Maybe between his round of golf and hour long nap?

after graham crackers and apple juice.

A nightmare...a national nightmare....

[KC]

118. *

will speak when he finishes his golf game

KC

[Zech Marquis]

66. Damn...

that must have ben one hell of a car bomb...whoever did this blew the shit out of that building :( So mission accomplished, right *?

[4dsc]

67. Wait until a car bomb hits the American forces

and then we will see the shit hit the fan..

I pray it never happens..

[DuctapeFatwa]

71. Don't worry, if it happens, it'll be reported as an accident

if it's reported at all.

[hang a left]

97. yeah and while youre at it

Bring em on!

[jackstraw45]

72. Car Bomb or ROCKET? Witness says:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&ncid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20030819/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_explosion

Nazar Hababa, the U.N. driver, was covered in blood as he recounted seeing victims in the rubble.

"At 4:30 p.m. we heard a big explosion. It was caused by a rocket, said Adnan Al-Jabouri, a second U.N. driver at the hotel.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

74. anthrax coulter must be thrilled

isn't this sort of thing exactly what she hopes for?

[undergroundrailroad]

77. CNN Reporting that * is playing golf, but is on "top" of this.

CNN JUST ANNOUNCED that * is "on vacation and playing golf". But he is on "top" of this.

OUTRAGE !

For the man who started all the death and destruction, he's playing golf.

Well, CHIMP, why not put down the golf club and go back to the ranch and monitor the situation. Don't you CARE about your TROOPS?

OH NO! I forgot, NO TV AT THE RANCH!

[underpants]

80. Seems concerned

[argonne]

88. The camera man in the middle looks like he's carrying

a GRENADE launcher! Shoot him!

[dave29]

120. Nero Fiddles

N/t

[Cush]

81. Jamie Rubin on CNN

(Clinton Admin, State Dept SPokesmen)

We've opened a Pandora's Box, terrorism is now getting worse in the Middle East. People are now freely crossing the boarder to conduct operations.

The 'Post War Plan' is a disaster, the US & British forces now have to do everything, they are getting little to no help from the Iraqi's

Jamie doesn't think Saddam is behind this, its all chaos.

And oh, Bush is cutting his golf game short, so hopefully we will hear from his soon

[DemonFighterLives]

126. Cnn saying 10 are dead

Spokesman for the UN just spoke and said that this terrorist act will not stop the UN from helping the Iraqi people.
Whoever did this was indeed trying to deter the UN. Too early to say who could have been involved. Dubya is going to leave his golf game for a few words. Sure seems to always be hell braking loose when he goes on vacation. Maybe he should cancel the darn vacation.

[stickdog]

131. Yep. That or

KAOS.

[Lauren2882]

86. They just reported on CNN that Bush is cutting his golf game short...

In spite of the tragedy, I had to chuckle at that.
Wow. What a guy. It's great to know that we have a President who's not above making sacrifices.

[jackstraw45]

90. Tomorrow's another vacation day for boy George...

Another day of vacation, another round of golf.

Helps when you have 35 days plus 52 3-day weekends a year.

What a workaholic. :eyes:

[Lauren2882]

91. oh my god!

One of the anchors just said "It seems that Bush is taking this seriously enough to cut short his game." He DID NOT seem to possess a sense of irony when making that statement!

[undergroundrailroad]

108. I know. This is the man running the country.

:(

[underpants]

92. Good

Okay that was the right thing to do. You knew that he had to do something right eventually, I means the odds are..........

[jvaska]

96. -

it's very interesting...

when the UN does something "good"...they are an agent of the world...

and when they do something "not good"...they are an agent of the US...?!

whatever...

what's going on right now in baghdad...it's not good...this much can be agreed upon...

[underpants]

115. No no no I meant that he is leaving his golf game

Welcome to DU :hi:

[markses]

93. James Brown: Bush takes it SERIOUSLY ENOUGH to cut short game

Wow! Jeez, Bushie. What sacrifice.

[Aidoneus]

94. Jeebus H. Flynt, they're in for it now!

They interrupted Dear Leader's golf game! He'll be cranky now!

That he's even playing golf while thousands lose their jobs every month is enough of an insult.

[Mika]

104. They'll have to..

They'll have to let George play Tetris for an extra hour today.

[Minstrel Boy]

102. CNN breaking news banner:

"President Bush cuts short golf game. No word why."

:shrug:

[sendero]

98. as far as I'm concerned....

... this is just more of the same thing most of us here knew would happen if we invaded Iraq - chaos.

When you try to fight violent madness with violent madness squared you get violent madness cubed :(

[jackstraw45]

105. Bu$h invited this type of attack in July

Smirk on 7/2/03:

"There are some that feel like if they attack us that we may decide to leave prematurely. They don't understand what they are talking about if that is the case. Let me finish. There are some who feel like the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring 'em on."

[Cush]

110. Joshua Hammer now on

Newsweek Mideast Bureau Chief:

Saying that he thought things had improved since his last visit in May, but it was clearly 'US Hype'. This is a disaster, who will want to come in and help now? Anarchy is brewing beneath the surface.

Power isn't restored, because there is no security for the workers, etc...

[tedzbear]

112. This explosion is rather odd...

My first response to this terrible news is confusion regarding the motive. After all the UN is supposed to be the good guys compared to the US/British occupation. Why would the Iraqi resistance target the UN???

Unless there are some factions that consider ANY influence from outside the borders of Iraq to be unacceptable. Only Iraqis should run Iraq they must think. I imagine it is Saddam supporters who did this because they would be the most extreme in their views.

Still, it's a mystery...

[jackstraw45]

116. Odd like...

The Afghan opposition chief Ahmed Shah Massood getting assassinated on September 9, 2001 - Bush getting Afghanistan war plans on his desk on September 10, 2001 and then 9/11?

Glad I'm going on vacation later this week....

[sendero]

119. assuming it was actually done by Iraqis...

... couldn't it have just been a "target of opportunity"?

An earlier poster made a very good point. Bomb here, shoot there, and pretty soon the occupiers don't know what the priorities are, or don't have enough troops to deal with them.

When Bagdad folded like a paper napkin it seemed surreal. It was, it was part of a long term military strategy all along IMHO.

[librechik]

121. I think the act is meant to draw the UN into the conflict more

not to drive them away. Now they must send lots of people and engage the US rule in Baghdad and investigate. The US can't "legitimately" stop them after this.

[stickdog]

132. Yeah, it's a huge mystery

if you ignore that 1,000 lb gorilla in your living room.

[dArKeR]

124. CBS has unbelievable i-video on their site!

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml

Anyone know where imac os 10 store temporary files or where in cache so that I can try to save this cbs i-video

[jackstraw45]

134. Wow...

Looks like video from INSIDE hotel during UN press briefing.

Definitely raw footage.

[JasonBerry]

147. HERE IS LINK TO DOWNLOAD RAW VIDEO TO YOUR HARD DRIVE

This gives you an idea of the power of the bomb.

This is from CBS - and is a direct link to the .rm file - not the .ram file.

If you want to save this 30mb raw video to your hard drive, just right click the link and go to "Save target as..." pick a place to save the file and download.

I have a 3mbs cable connection and it took 5 minutes.

http://www.cbsnews.com/media/2003/08/19/video569057.rm

[dArKeR]

148. How/where did you find this file link? What if I can't find the direct

file link like you posted, is there a temp file where it is stored which I could 'save as' before it gets deleted?

Thanks, I'm downloading it now!

[JasonBerry]

150. Dissected the URL

which if you cut 'n paste the whole thing into notepad is there. I just made a good guess that "video" was a root folder and - it was.

This blast bothers me. I'm not a tinfoil, but I have to ask myself:

If the Iraqi resistance had this kind of bomb - why use it at the U.N.???

Troubled,
JB

[nostamj]

128. CNN (radio) now reporting 10 dead in baghdad blast n/t

[StandWatie]

129. Welcome back to Beirut

Airport will be the next to go.

[Minstrel Boy]

133. CBC Newsworld just had a report

from Baghdad that mentioned the recently increased UN presence, its efforts to help Iraqis repair their own infrastructure, and palpable US hostility towards the UN muscling in on its "turf."

[StandWatie]

136. it's worth considering..

that Ahmed Chalabi and his little CIA crew of guerrillas are still over there, it could be almost anyone over there but it's not like the CIA has never used a carbomb on people it found inconvient.

[QuietStorm]

177. whoops another bend in the road

the possibilities are endless. I am definitely going to have to take the time and do some homework on this one. It is a significant hit that is for sure.

[Fleshdancer]

135. WTF??????????????

MSNBC is reporting that bush will be commenting on this at noon? That better be noon Eastern and not noon Crawford time. Do we start taking bets now on whether the statement will be taped or live?

[jackstraw45]

138. KKKarl and Karen need time...

to write a response.

Then they need to write the Phonetic version for smirk on notecards.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

137. Faux has live footage of the explosion WTF?...a meeting about

how the remove landmines and cluster bombs from around Iraq was in process when it happened...and the UN Humanitarian Program Sergio deMello is still trapped and injured in the rubble...:(

[jackstraw45]

143. Linked above and here

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml

[Fleshdancer]

140. 13 confirmed dead

Is there a petition I can sign that tells bush that play time is over and it's time to get his ass back to work?

[Judi Lynn]

144. A Congressional Delegation was visiting the same compound today

according to CNN. They don't know any more than that.

I'd like to know who was IN that delegation.

[dave29]

145. We know McCain is over there right now

n/t

[Beetwasher]

146. There's your motive

They were going after the congressional delegation. If this is true, these attacks are incredibly coordinated, sophisticated and backed by intel, and that's fucking scary...

[Rose Siding]

154. Tom DeLay is in that delegation n/t

[stickdog]

162. Except they hit the UN instead.

I highly doubt the Repukes were scheduled for any UN photo ops.

How about you?

[Beetwasher]

164. The delegation was supposed to be at the building today

They very well might have been there when the bomb went off...They were the target...

[Fleshdancer]

151. Here's my bet on Bush's response...

He'll mumble something about evil dooers and then try to change the subject to a more "positive" note about how we captured Saddaam's vice president. (who knew that a dictatorship even needed a VP?)

Later Rumsfield will still deny that things have gone to crap.

[The Magistrate]

152. Recently In This Forum

There has been a good deal of comment to the effect that turning the occupation of Iraq over to the United Nations would somehow improve the situation. This event ought to put an end to that. Any foreign authority in Iraq will be perceived as a hostile imposition of "Crusaders and Zionists", and resisted accordingly. There is no way to make this situation better: it can only grow worse.

[stickdog]

165. Hmmm. And that interpretation serves whose purposes ...

Talk about jumping to conclusions.

How about ruling out the most likely suspects (means, motive & opportunity, Sherlock) before you finger the Iraqi populace as a whole for this action?

Just a thought.

[QuietStorm]

174. I do not believe it is the Iraqi Populace

That doesn't work for me way to general. Who are the financiers? SA?

[QuietStorm]

170. You said it.

It will escalate much further. By the looks of the infrastructure in the last week or so to oil pipeline water pipeline and now this little message to the UN, this is going to be a long ride right to hell. Diplomacy doesn't even enter in to picture. These guys are fools. US is playing both sides against the middle it seems to me. Saudi Arabia has OPEC concerns and Iran and it seems Russia is in line with that.

Did you happen to notice the CFR is of late very concerned with keeping Russia in line with destroying its Soviet-era weaponry. Richard Lugar just came up in the paper yesterday regarding this. Russia is now being pressured.

Who is financing the resistance here in Iraq? My guess it is Saudi Arabia. See the problem here?

[Nevernose]

153. The SOB-in-Chief

Can't even go on TV to give his nonsensical comments, he has to read them for the radio. Yet more proof of this man's statesman-like leadership.

[Judi Lynn]

155. And what a waste of time it was

Claimed the terrorists want to return to the time of torture chambers and something else............Jeez, the mind just collapses trying to stay focused on what he's droning.

"My country" won't be intimidated, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I think he hoped for peace for the souls of the departed, or something. It's good to work in "souls" for the rightwingnuts.

Is it possible he went on radio in stead of tv because he was also eating something? You never know!

[dArKeR]

156. The handlers can't put him on TV because he doesn't think for himself.

They are now force feeding lines for him to read on TV. He won't go on TV until the handlers say he can.

Bush is such a terrible disgrace to America!

[PaDUer]

157. I can just see it now

those thugs at the other site are probably saying the resident's away on vacation, can't even enjoy himself, all these things happening while he's away, how he "handles" the situation,etc...Just like the power outage--they were bitching that Hillary went to Martha's Vineyard instead of being in NY because she's their senator! WHERE was the idiot when this happened! Clinton always appeared on tv whenever something happened..Not this idiot!

It makes me utterly sick to see what this ****** has done, how blind that side is, how they cover his ass and we're paying for this!

[QuietStorm]

168. Pounding at Infrastructure: THE HOLYWAR IS UPON US

I find it so irksome the reporting on this with news commentators throwing around words like peace missions and so forth.

Major blast af oil pipeline. Another blast of water pipeline. Now a significant blow to the UN. Have we gotten the message? It looks like the Islamic resistance means business. With Saudi Arabias recent alliance with Iran for the sake of strengthening OPEC. Who is financing these guys? could it be the saudi's. The overall game re PNACer's was to weaken OPEC afterall. Why no real reigns placed on Saudi Arabia.

Do our guys really know what they are doing. They certainly can not drop the bomb here. That would defeat one of their main purposes. It becomes clear if all refuse to sit down at the negoating table on this, including Israel; this is going to be a very long and drawn out mess. Or is that the plan?

[Tripleg]

169. Remove the tinfoil hats...

I find the congressional target interesting. I had not heard that bit of information yet.

However, I had placed my suspicion in regards to motivation more firmly on the the August 14 recognition by the UN of the Iraqi governing council.

The BBC actually just posted a story to this effect. Their correspondents belief is that this is a signal that all foriegn occupiers will be considered illegitimate.

[stickdog]

171. Remove your blinders.

Who had the means, motive and opportunity here?

[QuietStorm]

173. this is a long thread

I haven't read through it. from your post I am gathering no one has taken responsibility for it. I guess I will have to take the time and read through this thread. I feel it is an important one. what are people trying to figure out here? Why the UN building? What group is responsible? All of a sudden I find I want to know who is financing the the Iraqi resistance and are those in resistance on the same page. From the looks of the occurances in the last week, there does appear to be some strong strategy at play here. My of the top guess is is that Saudi Arabia is one of the financiers here. But I guess I will have to take the time and read through all the contributions to get a better feel.

You do know that the PNACer's overview on strategy was to break OPEC. Right? besides this US and zionist crusade I mean.