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| Iraq |
| Russian diplomats run for Syria |
| 2003-04-07 |
| Edited for length: Russian diplomats injured as they left Baghdad on Sunday have resumed their journey to Syria, leaving two people behind at a hospital in the city of Falluja. A medically equipped Russian aircraft is waiting in Syria to fly the diplomats back to Moscow on Monday night. But Russian news agencies say US military commanders are "hindering" the progress of the convoy, by altering its route and refusing to provide safety guarantees. Tough US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was expected to meet President Vladimir Putin on Monday to discuss the shooting incident. She emerged from an hour-long meeting with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, saying nothing except that they had had a good conversation. "So Igor, how'd your Final Four picks do?" The convoy of diplomatic cars with 23 passengers was caught in crossfire as it drove out of the city on Sunday, flying the Russian flag. Russian television journalist Alexander Minakov, who was with them, said they were passing Iraqi positions on the edge of the city when they came under heavy fire. He said the Iraqis were shelled by coalition forces and returned fire. Russian media are reporting that two bullets from the stomach of one victim came from an M-16 semi-automatic assault rifle, used by US marines. Hey, Ivan, AK-74 uses a round pretty close to the same caliber. US Central Command in Qatar said "initial reports" indicated there were no US or British troops nearby. But in Washington, General Peter Pace, deputy head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon was investigating. "There was no reporting by any ground unit of the coalition of any kind of contact" with the motorcade, he said. "We would have used a .50 on limo's, so wasn't us." Russia's Ambassador to Iraq, Vladimir Titorenko, is reported to have escaped with minor scratches after a bullet hit the windscreen of his vehicle. According to the Itar-Tass news agency 12 embassy staff are remaining in Baghdad. Right now they are thinking they are lucky that they stayed. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #9 Their buddies, the French and Germans, left before the war started. Unless they actually BELIEVED al-Jazeera and Arnett that the Iraqis were winning, it's kind of late to leave now. Hell, they should have waited a few more days. I'm sure the road would have been safer after we mopped up a bit. |
| Posted by: Former Russian Major 2003-04-07 18:25:47 |
| #8 Well, gee, I guess they ought to have left earlier. Oh...that's right, they were busy trying to shred evidence of their perfidy. Mustn't leave behind records of their illegal dealings with Saddam! What's a few bullet holes when one is sacrificing for the big lie? What would the truth do to the vaunted UN "legalities"? We must adhere to "international law" at all times! Too bad France and Germany didn't have the same access to the shredder. But then, they would have had to risk the same perils of staying in the path of the allies -- under the gun, as it where -- and we all know that actual, physical danger is something France, perpetually dressed in saintly white, will not do. |
| Posted by: Dee Bates 2003-04-07 10:47:21 |
| #7 They finally got to Syria. "I saw six cars with Iraqi diplomatic number plates including the (Russian) ambassador's car," a Reuters cameraman said. "He was driving his car which had two bullet holes in it, one in the glass and one on the driver's side. The other cars also had bullet holes."A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said five Russian diplomats were injured. Ambassador Vladimir Titorenko was slightly hurt. "The firing lasted for about 30 or 40 minutes," Titorenko told Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television. "It is clear we are foreigners and not Arabs. The economic advisor tried by hand signals to explain to them we were foreigners but instead of responding to him, they opened fire on him...and now his head has been injured." "Hey Amed, I think that guy just gave me the finger!" BANG! "That'll teach him." |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-04-07 10:14:37 |
| #6 They coulda just driven to the airport and climbed on a Herkey bird... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-04-07 10:06:02 |
| #5 The ak 47 is made so that it can fire Nato rounds but Ak rounds can't be used in a M-16. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-04-07 09:48:05 |
| #4 Regretfully, Sammy and his sons are probably packed in the trunk. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2003-04-07 09:42:26 |
| #3 "A medically equipped Russian aircraft," eh? That just means it's plastered with bandaids to keep the wings from falling off. |
| Posted by: (lowercase) matt 2003-04-07 09:00:48 |
| #2 Well, gee, I guess they ought to have left earlier. Oh...that's right, they were busy trying to shred evidence of their perfidy. Mustn't leave behind records of their illegal dealings with Saddam! What's a few bullet holes when one is sacrificing for the big lie? What would the truth do to the vaunted UN "legalities"? We must adhere to "international law" at all times! Too bad France and Germany didn't have the same access to the shredder. But then, they would have had to risk the same perils of staying in the path of the allies -- under the gun, as it where -- and we all know that actual, physical danger is something France, perpetually dressed in saintly white, will not do. |
| Posted by: Dee Bates 4/7/2003 10:47:21 AM |
| #1 The ak 47 is made so that it can fire Nato rounds but Ak rounds can't be used in a M-16. |
| Posted by: raptor 4/7/2003 9:48:05 AM |