Army Says Car Bomb Is Cause; Number of Injured is Unknown (Iraq)

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/19/international/worldspecial/19CND-IRAQ.html?hp

August 19, 2003
Army Says Car Bomb Is Cause; Number of Injured is Unknown
By TERENCE NEILAN

A car bomb today ripped through a hotel used by the United Nations as its headquarters in Baghdad, wounding a number of people, damaging the building and rocking the surrounding neighborhood.
A military spokeswoman in Baghdad said American forces had sent medical units and a quick reaction force to the Canal Hotel.
A witness to the blast said he had seen five bodies being pulled from the rubble, and American soldiers pulling sheets over the faces of others lying on the ground. The five-story building, on the Eastern outskirts of Baghdad, houses hundreds of people from the United Nations. An entire corner of the building collapsed in the blast, and windows in the rest of the building were blown out.
Another witness, Abdul Rahman al-Apshan, 35, a therapist at the hospital next to the hotel compound, said: "All of a sudden I saw myself in the air, and falling down to the ground. We didn't expect anything. This is against the Iraqi people."One more witness, Loi Badrya, said, "All of a sudden it was bang, bang — very close together." <snip>

In more violence today, a First Armored Division soldier was killed by an explosive device, United States Central Command said. The incident took place in the Karadah District at 2 p.m., a statement said.

[papau]

1. Is it a consiracy?

The story of the Canal Hotel - 5-story building –being destroyed today, in a blast more powerful than the blast that hit the Jordanian embassy - has folks at DU wondering about conspiracy. An anti-UN mindset in the Bush admin - or Bush -who wants no UN control in Iraq -political or over the oil dealorce a new oil deal – could order a Black Ops – and perhaps there is really no logical reason why Iraqis would attack UN personnel or fire mortar shells into their own prison or do a water main attack – and perhaps US Media is so controlled that the Jordanian and UN outposts were the last bases of those reporting truth – and perhaps intimidation of the UN, killing unfriendly journalists, and blaming Iraqis for killing the UN personnel who want to reduce or eliminate US presence in Baghdad is a plan by the neo-cons – A warning to the UN to put a peacekeeping force in, but on US terms where Bush retains all authority – and for the UN to say nice things when Kay’s partial truths weapons report is presented as the WMD proof.

But there is another possible explanation – namely that Saddam is still running things and has come up with a fine strategic plan - 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; and 6) Hospitals. And our troops are ever more exposed to the occasional RPG and rifle fire. All worthwhile as we protect the oil pipelines from harm. Anyone that says the neo-cons are using our kids for cannon fodder is not a patriot.

In any case I am glad to see that both CNN and Fox received the same Rove fax today, so the spin is coordinated as "Will this be a turning point, where the Iraqi people finally turn against the resistance?" – but this could be just great minds thinking alike, rather than Bush control of the media. Besides the GOP House and Senate members including Tom Delay and John McCain went over to visit Baghdad today and they will tell us the truth!

So do we leave it at something bad happened in Iraq today – or do we dig for a “conspiracy”?

.

[molok555]

5. Good analysis

When I first heard this, I thought black op all the way-this would be the UN's 9.11. It would give the member states who opposed the war and refused to supply troops incentive to reverse course. It would galvanize the Sec. Council. I've already seen a couple UN ambassadors on CNN Inter. talking about how much they condemn this attack and how the UN won't be intimidated. Also, watch the body count-if it's relatively low, think black op: You wanna pull 'em to your side, not slaughter 'em.

But...

The anti-US forces could very well be trying to spread the US as thin as can be. My other first (simultaneous?) reaction when asked by a co-worker as to why the UN would be hit was, well, it's soft. It's an easy target.

But...

We'll never know, will we? Who's gonna find out/report the truth?

[jobendorfer]

6. I don't think it's a conspiracy

The risks far outweigh the gain (assuming the "gain" is
keeping the U.N. role in Iraq minimal).

However much Bushco and Pentagon think the war is over,
I think the Iraqis are just getting started with it.

And they're taking a page right out of T.E. Lawrence's
book -- just trade the Hejaz railway for the pipeline
or utility structure of your choice. Classic asymmetric
warfare.

J.

[ewagner]

7. I'm beginning to agree

At first the three bombings (Jordanian Embassy, Prison and UN HQ) didn't seem to make sense but there was one small thread of info that sort of brings it into focus.

Remember the Iraqi woman interviewed right after the bombing? She said something like "it's all America's fault, this didn't happen when Saddam was here..."

That's the lesson that the Iraqi people are getting. They will be collateral damage in the war against the US until the people rise up and force the Americans out.

That's Saddams strategy. No oil, no water, no economy and constant fear of being a victim of a suicide bombing as long as the Americans are here.

[lindashaw]

8. Just reported on the matter of UN security...

We, the American military, are responsible for the UN security, an official just said. The UN wanted to be responsible for their own security, but the US wouldn't allow them to have that much control. I think this bombing is to show us, the Americans, that we can't secure anything for diddly. Why can't Bush admit he's put us into something impossible, eat the crow, and ask for a UN resolution so that the world can come in and bail us out?

[molok555]

11. Watching Boucher (Dept of State) spokesperson

and hearing *'s first statement, I'm starting to question the conspiracy-they all seem genuinely dumbfounded ('course with *, that ain't a long trip). He said something abou this showing the desperation of the Saddam loyalists blah blah blah. Sounds just like he does after another US soldier is killed.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

18. papau........

"Never again will I trust anyone in power. I start from the immediate assumption that they are lying, and the burden is then on them to convince me that they are telling the truth."

[Junkdrawer]

19. Two questions:

1.) The Canal Hotel housed the Iraq UN mission. It was headed by the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights. A Congressional delegation (including Senators and Congressmen) was "minutes" away from meeting there. How, in a quasi-war zone occupied by US Forces, did a car bomb drive to the lobby of the building?

2.) Will there be an international, independent investigation?

[Rose Siding]

2. Sloppy of the NYT

The Karada death was yesterday. It was announced at 2pm in FL yesterday but here the paper says it's "more violence today".

link to yesterday's story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=71646&mesg_id=71646

[papau]

3. I didn't catch that - thanks

:-)

[salmonhorse]

4. How dare the world disrupt a golf game...

Attended by any member of the Bush Family Oligarchy!

[lindashaw]

9. Annan at least cut his vacation short!

He's returning to NYC tomorrow. Maybe Bush can take time out from golf to touch base with him. God, this is humiliating!

[dfong63]

10. those dastardly resistance fighters

they sneakily planned their strike to occur when the leader of the free world was on vacation!!!

[lumpy]

12. Truck bomb ?

What the hell were the US security forces who were supposedly guarding this most important building doing when this attack occured ?

[lebkuchen]

13. Don't know, but I hope the Germans guarding US bases do better

under the same scenario.

I'm surprised Bush even had prepared comments following the bombing. He was no where to be found when the lights went out in the US.

This is what the US military in Iraq must be prepared for...they are potential sitting ducks for another Beruit.

[papau]

14. Lights out=Terrorists so no Bush Speech,- Iraq Bomb has Bush speech ready?

So that means the bomb going off 10 minutes before the GOP Congress folks got to the Canal Hotel for their meeting was a planned "mistake" - and not an error.

Well I got my tinfoil hat on and it sounds correct to me!

:-)

:-)

:-)

[lebkuchen]

16. Bush is using it as a propaganda tool: peace = war=peace

Bush called the bombers "haters of peace," yet there hasn't been a single peaceful moment under the Bush administration; he's the greatest warmonger of them all. I guess he forgot all about "shock and awe." One day I'd like Chimpy to explain how that event could in any way be defined as "peaceful."

[ElsewheresDaughter]

15. target Sergio deMello...mission accomplished!

the bomb went off directly under his office windows....where in the building is his office...in the back....but i heard reports that the truch drove up to the front....can anybody shed some light on my confusion?

[lebkuchen]

17. I think Bremmer is jumping to conclusions

It sounds to me as if the bomber headed for the center of the building.

[pfitz59]

20. Cement truck, not car!

Buzzflash link says CEMENT TRUCK drove in and blew up! Cement truck is as big as a tank! This was no car bomb!