At least 15 die in U.N. HQ Blast in Iraq

[stickdog]

We know it was a huge truck bomb because "Some reports said the truck carrying the explosives drove into the lobby of the Canal Hotel, where the U.N. was based, before exploding, a senior defense official at the Pentagon said on condition of anonymity."

This, despite all eyewitness reports so far suggesting it was a rocket, missile or mortar.

http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V2984.AP-Iraq.html

Vieira de Mello began a four-month assignment in Baghdad in June and had said his mission was ``to make sure that the interests of the Iraqi people come first'' in rebuilding their country.

Eckhard said the United Nations depended on the U.S.-led coalition for security of the building.

The blast came 12 days after a car bomb attack on the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad killed 11 people. It was thought to be the first such terrorist-style bombing in the Iraqi capital since Saddam Hussein's fall.

Like the Jordan bombing, the attack--a vehicle bomb, a high-profile target with many civilians inside--resembled attacks blamed on Islamic militant elsewhere in the world. It was far more sophisticated than the campaign of guerrilla attacks that has plagued U.S. forces, featuring hit-and-run shootings carried out by small bands or remote control roadside bombs. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday's blast.

[arcane1]

1. "It was far more sophisticated..."

"than the campaign of guerrilla attacks that has plagued U.S. forces, featuring hit-and-run shootings carried out by small bands or remote control roadside bombs."

:wtf:


remote controlled roadside bombs sound pretty damn sophisticated to me!

[skypilot]

2. Is this the same explosion...

...that is being discussed in the thread below?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=72469&mesg_id=72469

[stickdog]

5. What, you don't think at least 15 dead is an important enough update?

I think it is, considering the other thread has over 160 postings already.

[skypilot]

7. That's not why I was asking.

Don't be so quick to get pissy. I was confused as to whether there had been one bombing today or two.

[truth2power]

14. Stickdog?

I don't mean to complain, but it seems to me that skypilot asked a reasonable question as to whether this was the same explosion that's been on the news all morning.

It's difficult to keep up anymore and to sort out one attack from another. There's no reason to be testy about it. Just MHO. :-)

[skypilot]

21. Thank you Truth2Power

I am STILL trying to get an answer to the question.

[stickdog]

24. You are right. My apologies to skypilot.

I'm letting my emotions about this get the best of me.

[skypilot]

28. Thank you, Stickdog

You still my dawg.

[truth2power]

44. No problem, Stickdog...

I think I understand your anger and frustration. I feel that way myself most of the time. Just don't know where to put my anger anymore.

I have neighbors who have their TV tuned to Faux news all day long. When not watching TV they're listening to Rush. I give up. There's nothing I can say. Their brains are already rotted, I'm afraid.

I was out doing yard work this afternoon...had the radio on and heard that Mr. de Mello had died. I thought, Shit!! It never ends! And ALL this can be laid right at the feet of the BFEE.

Rotten Bastards! I hope they burn in hell! :argh:

edit> typo

[stickdog]

3. Get with the program.

The first thing to understand is that when "terrorist" attacks are sophisticated enough that they would seem to require some element of organized military/intelligence, there is only one organization in the entire world who could have possibly perpetrated them:

Al Qaeda, of course!

Well, thank God we "rid Iraq of Saddam," right?

[Barrett808]

32. If the Iraqis know anything...

...they know explosives. This is just the beginning. I'm expecting an entire refining plant to go up in the near future.

[ewagner]

4. About 1/2 hour ago

CNN interviewed an american Attorney who was in a meeting in the building when the bomb went off.

He said that they had trouble getting out of the front of the building because it had collapsed. He went on to say that he returned to the building and went to the back of the building where the injured UN Commissioner was. He said he wa told to leave the site because there was a hugh crater and it was a crime site.

Were there two bombs? Or maybe one bomb and one rocket? The video clips show damage to the front of the building but why is there a crater in the back?

[gandalf]

9. Can truck bombs create huge craters?

As all the energy set free by a truck bomb can spread "in the air", one would perhaps not expect a crater?

I remember that in the Bali bombing there were rumours of craters that never appeared in media photos because they would contradict the car bomb theory.

Has anybody seen pictures of car bombs in Ireland to judge the question if they create craters? (On the other hand, airplane bombs create craters, too)

[ewagner]

13. The inconsistancy

I am referring to is that there were craters in both the front and the back of the building. If you've seen video of the building, it's really a large complex. So how did it crater both front and back.

Or, is the "eyewitness" dazed and confused? i just don't know.

[wabeewoman]

37. Remember the huge crater

created at the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrow building? That was a car bomb.

[stickdog]

47. Yep.

And the very first major terrorist act in the US was perpetrated by a rightwing fanatic who killed a bunch of little kids, too.

What a strange turn of events, huh? If you were looking to completely discredit growing anti-government right wing movements, you couldn't have picked a more heinous target for terrorism than a bunch of little kids -- not even if you wrote the script yourself. And if you were looking to soften up liberals to the notion of rights curbing anti-terrorism legislation, you couldn't have picked a better terrorist than a right wing fanatic -- not even if you wrote the script yourself.

[stickdog]

10. How about one building piercing missile?

That would do the trick, now wouldn't it?

Any eyewitnesses mention the huge explosive-laden truck that rammed into the building and drove into the lobby and exploded?

Yeah, didn't think so.

But now that it's the official story, we should be hearing from a few soon.

Right?

[molok555]

12. Saw that as well

CNN reporting "eyewitnesses" saying a cement truck drove through the FRONT gate, crashed into the corner of the hotel and exploded. The American said the BACK of the hotel was destroyed...

BTW, anyone see the NHK (Japanese TV) video of the attack? (don't get too excited, they were in the interior)? Pretty amazing. I think they were filming the Iraqi Congress meeting (knowledge of which is pushing me away from black op).

[ewagner]

18. exactly n/t

[wabeewoman]

39. I saw that.

They were filming a meeting or panel and I think it was Vieira de Mello talking and then it went black and came back showing close ups of people covered in dust.

[Beetwasher]

6. Sophistication

Not only was this sophisticated, but they had intel. It seems members of the Congressional Delegation in Iraq were supposed to be at the building today. There's no doubt in my mind that they were the target.

[stickdog]

22. And Flight 77 also PROVES that the Pentagon had nothing to do with 9/11.

No way they would attack themselves.

Not even in the recently reinforced part that was being remodeled.

[Beetwasher]

25. Huh?

Didn't say it wasn't possible that the US is responsible, but in my opinion, this was an attack aimed at the congressional delegation. I don't know who's responsible, but I think it unlikely that it was mere coincidence that members of the delegation were scheduled to meet there today.

[stickdog]

48. Could be, I suppose.

Who do you think did it?

How did they get their intelligence?

How did it happen that their intelligence was good enough to target the UN building today, but not good enough to wait for the US Congressional delegation to arrive (assuming they were ever supposed to)?

Should the US Congressional delegation expect the same kind of professional, wary, around-the-clock US military security that the UN hotel got?

[RummyTheDummy]

8. Tin foil hat time.

Did we just blow up UN hq?

[Sterling]

17. Who gains?

Who benifits from an attck on the UN in Iraq. The UN is Bush's main obstical to building a unilateral Empire. Why would Iraqi's bomb the UN who is their greatest hope for autonomy?

[Sinistrous]

26. Jackpot !

Always the first question that needs to be asked when there is an incident like this: "Who stands to benefit from this?".

Whoever blew up the Baghdad UN mission was either totally lacking in foresight, or is very very stupid.

[Keithpotkin]

27. the iraqi guerilla's arent informed

they were told that the UN inspectors were US spys, and im sure that they view the UN as another tool of the US, in exploiting them.

[Sterling]

38. Yeah I am sure they have no idea who bombed them

I am sure you have a much more acurate and unbiased perspective living here in the US with our "liberal media" than the people who are leading the Iraqi resistance of what is going on there. This was not a kid throwing a rock, it was a well planned and specific.

[stickdog]

49. Yeah, that's why they used their biggest weapon on the UN rather than

the hated US.

Because they didn't know any better.

[Junkdrawer]

11. Limbaugh: "Now that the UN was attacked, even liberals will...

demand a crackdown in Iraq."

Well, Rush, not this liberal.

[skypilot]

15. I am still confused

Was this a SECOND explosion in Baghdad today?

[Sterling]

19. No

No.

[ewagner]

16. uuummmmmm

can anybody tell me how we can crack down on Iraq any more?

[Junkdrawer]

20. Never say it can't get worse....

The CIA operates training schools for the security forces of repressive dictators.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. Zyklon-B

[ewagner]

33. Sorry

What is Zylkon-B?

[slack]

34. Zyklon-B is a powerful insecticide

which serves as a carrier for the gas Hydrocyanic acid, or HCN.
It is used in execution gas chambers in the US; the first was built in Arizona in 1920.
Two German firms, Tesch/Stabenow and Degesch, produced Cyclone B gas after they acquired the patent from Farben. Tesch supplied two tons a month, and Degesch three quarters of a ton.
Used to kill about 6 million jews.

http://www.nizkor.org/faqs/auschwitz/auschwitz-faq-06.html

i don't understand that headline above, sorry.

[Barrett808]

30. "Crackdown"!? How much more can you crack down...

...when you've invaded and occupied a nation? Mass executions, Klingon-style?

[wildwww2]

43. Rush needs to put down the crack pipe! I agree not this liberal either.

Rush would have gasoline thrown on a fire. Why should liberals stand around and get burnt with his stupid right wing ass?
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Keithpotkin]

29. the death toll was just updated to 17 on CNN.

.

[mjb4]

31. and the Republican Palace where Bremer

stays has never been attacked, but they attack and kill at the UN-- the UN that is trying to end the occupation and give Iraq back to it's people....not a surprise for this bunch

[slack]

35. i don't believe this is the work of the iraqi resistance

cui bono?

who could have an interest to keep UN out of iraq? Or Soldiers into Iraq?
i'am sorry, but i think that was an attack indirectly controlled by the usa. let's see what the investigations bring to light.
smells strange.

[Sterling]

40. I am sure a US lead investigation will get right to the truth

not

[ElsewheresDaughter]

41. why, they have already began bulldozing the eviedence..ahem rubble away

just as quickly as they cleaned up the place that oday and qusay were in

[Barrett808]

42. This is the M.O. of the INA

Iirc, the INA (exiled Iraqi generals) arranged a few car bombings in Iraq in the 90s, to demonstrate they had more pull than the INC. Milan Rai discusses this in War Plan Iraq (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1859845010/qid=1061325083/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-3793218-3417409?v=glance&s=books).

[DeathvadeR]

36. I'll See your 15 and raise you 5.......

<http://cbsnews.cbs.com/stories/2003/08/12/world/main567751.shtml>

What????? Isn't this how you play Poindexters new video game soon to show up at your local computer store?

DARPA - It's in the name.

[Pert_UK]

45. Why would they target the UN rather than coalition forces?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hoping for further US casualties, but this seems weird to me.....

Why attack the organisation that refused to get involved in an attack and which is now working to rebuild, rather than police, Iraq?

Of course it could just be a strike against any Western symbol, and if this attack on the UN had happened anywhere outside Iraq then I wouldn't have thought twice about the UN being a target for Al Qaeda or other Islamic/Iraqi terrorist groups.....but in Iraq? When there are SO MANY US/UK forces around who've just invaded the country? Why go for the UN there?

Odd.

P.

[Pert_UK]

46. Worst attack on UN since Israel attacked UN compound in 96..........

WTF?

Al Qaeda consider the UN a target because it was an instrument in Israel's occupation of Palestine, yet the worst attack ever against UN buildings was by Israel......

"Dia'a Rashwan, an expert on radical Islam at Egypt's Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said the attack fits ``the ideology of al-Qaida. They consider the U.N. one of the international actors who helped the Americans to occupy Palestine and, later, Iraq.''

U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said that if Tuesday's attack was confirmed to be a suicide bombing ``it would, to my knowledge, be the first on a U.N. facility.'' It was the worst attack on a U.N. facility since Israeli forces, responding to a Hezbollah attack, bombarded a U.N. compound at Qana in southern Lebanon in April 1996, killing 91 refugees."

The UN has friends on all sides then, eh?

20 dead now....I cannot believe that this is happening, it makes me sick to my stomach.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3047320,00.html

[tedzbear]

50. Vieira de Mello is dead...

...he died before they could pull him out of the rubble.