| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| Details Revealed on Karbala Attack |
| 2007-01-22 |
| BAGHDAD, Jan. 21 -- The armored sport-utility vehicles whisked into a government compound in the city of Karbala with speed and urgency, speed AND urgency! the way most Americans and foreign dignitaries travel along Iraq's treacherous roads these days. Iraqi guards at checkpoints waved them through Saturday afternoon because the men wore what appeared to be legitimate U.S. military uniforms and badges, and drove cars commonly used by foreigners, the provincial governor said. Not that they might've had fake ID's or nothin'. Once inside, however, the men unleashed one of the deadliest and most brazen attacks on U.S. forces in a secure area. Five American service members were killed in a hail of grenades and gunfire in a breach of security that Iraqi officials called unprecedented. The attack, which lasted roughly 20 minutes, came on a day when the United States lost at least 20 other troops, including a dozen in a helicopter crash, making it the third most lethal day for American forces in Iraq. U.S. military officials said Sunday that they could not discuss the attack in Karbala in detail because it remained under investigation. But they said the version of events provided by the governor's office was consistent with their preliminary findings. After arriving at the Provincial Joint Coordination Center in Karbala, 60 miles southwest of Baghdad, the attackers detonated sound bombs, Iraqi officials said. "They wanted to create a panic situation," said an aide to Karbala Gov. Akeel al-Khazaali, who described the events with the governor's permission but on condition of anonymity because he fears reprisals. Sound bombs? Whazzat? The men then stormed into a room where Americans and Iraqis were making plans to ensure the safety of thousands of people expected to visit the holy city for an upcoming holiday. "They didn't target anyone but the American soldiers," the governor's aide said. After the attack, the assailants returned to their vehicles and drove away The men drove off toward the city of Babil, north of Karbala, where they shot at guards at a checkpoint, said Capt. Muthana Ahmad, a police spokesman. Vehicles later recovered contained three bodies and one injured individual. The U.S. military took possession of the vehicles, the spokesman said. In December 2004, a U.S. base in Mosul was penetrated by a suicide bomber who killed 22 people, including 14 U.S. service members. But Saturday's attack appeared to present a new danger to authorities in Iraq: assailants who disguise themselves as officials and travel in convoys. "The way it happened and the new style, the province has not seen before," said Abdul al-Yasri, head of the provincial council in Karbala. "And this will make us insist on carrying on the security procedures even on official delegates and diplomats when they are coming to Karbala province." Duh. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #3 Is it possible that some of the attackers might actually be Americans or Canadians? There has been plenty of time for the terrs to recruit moonbats and send them to Iran or Pakistan for training, depending on whether the perps are AQ or Shia. Adam Gadahn is probably not the only traitor. Visit any campus and you will find dozens of potential recruits. Most of them are useless for anything other than delivering pizza but, given the numbers available and the zeal of the hate-America cult, a few might be found for this kind of operation. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2007-01-22 18:36 |
| #2 Yes, this operation has Mugniyeh written all over it. |
| Posted by: doc 2007-01-22 09:57 |
| #1 Sound bombs? Whazzat? Flash bang grenades. So Iranians or one of the Shiite dominated Iraqi Army or Police Special Forces units? Time for a head count. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-01-22 08:31 |