Blast at U.S. Base in Mosul, Many Casualties - U.S.

[maddezmom]

MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - An explosion at a U.S. military base in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Tuesday caused many casualties, the U.S. military said in a statement.



"At 12 p.m. today an explosion occurred at a U.S. military installation in Mosul causing multiple casualties," it said, giving no details. "The cause of the explosion is under investigation

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041221/ts_nm/iraq_mosul_explosion_dc&cid=564&ncid=1480

Another hellish day in Iraq, for the troops and the Iraqi's. :(

[Earth_First]

1. Just saw this breaking on CNNIN

when will this end?

[MyDogSpot]

4. When the US gets out of Iraq

that's pretty obvious

[Paleocon]

7. Thats right....

It will end when we get out of there.

We don't belong there...

[MyDogSpot]

8. so fucking tragic, the stupidity of the American mind

All I've got left is sarcasm.

[Paleocon]

48. You and me both my friend, you and me both...

:(

[Ilsa]

9. It appears my cable dropped CNNIN,

which I considered the only reliable source of international news. CNN and the networks are running stories ad nauseum about the dead white pregnant woman, her baby, Robert Blake, and Michael Jackson. Really, this is not a DU exaggeration of the facts.

[MyDogSpot]

12. just another tragic event whose cause is "under investigation"

it was caused by pissed-off Muslims who want America's ass out of their country.

end of investigation

I haven't watched US news since the election. Feels good.

[StaggerLee]

16. Thank you

I sometimes wonder what stories are being fed to the masses here at home on a daily basis.

I pulled the plug on my cable nearly three years ago and have never looked back.

[Ms_Mary]

135. If my only news source was TV, I'd have no clue about anything.

[theHandpuppet]

27. Another reason I rely on DU as my only real news source

... And also why I appreciate those DUers who bring us news from non-US sources.

[0007]

75. US air strike on Iraqi town kills civilians

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B3D9E267-ECB2-4A16-B4BC-F5C84B57918C.htm6

US warplanes have launched air strikes on the Iraqi town of Hiyt, west of the capital, killing six Iraqi civilians and wounding nine others.

Hospital officials said a woman and child were among those wounded in the strikes which began on Monday night on the Jamaiya and al-Sinai districts on the eastern edges of the town, which lies about 170km west of Baghdad.

Aljazeera has learned that houses, shops and vehicles belonging to civilians have been destroyed in the bombing that continued until Tuesday morning.

Bring the troops home and leave these people alone

[jmcgowanjm]

98. Thanx 0007, confirmation US has no control in Hiyt

IRR 122004

Resistance scores direct hit on US weapons storehouse
inside al-Habbaniyah airbase west of al-Fallujah, touching off
an orgy of explosions lasting two
hours.

In a dispatch posted at 11:00pm Mecca time Monday
night, Mafkarat al-Islam reported that massive explosions
shook the US airbase in al-Habbaniyah west of al-Fallujah
on Monday afternoon. Eyewitnesses told Mafkarat al-Islam
that the blasts followed a Resistance rocket attack on the
base in which 13 powerful Tariq rockets crashed into
the American facility at about 3pm Monday. The missiles hit
the al-Hadbah airport which lies within the airbase, setting
off numerous powerful secondary explosions. Then
numerous explosions started going off in a series of blasts
that lasted for two straight hours, after the Resistance
rockets apparently succeeded in detonating a
munitions storehouse on the airbase
premises.

And w/ al-Habbaniyah gone, the US has nothing
to support Ar Ramadi with.

I keep thinking of Aliens, you know where
the marines go into the reactor while
Sigourney, the Lt., and the Co man hang in the
APC. The troops are surrounded, no instructions are
coming in, chaos ensues, when one of the
marines takes charge:

"Marines, we are leaving!"

[Ilsa]

117. I consider DU LBN to be the best source of headlines

available. DUers from all time zones are posting news as it becomes available in theri newspapers or non-network tv.

[deutsey]

2. Are we still in Iraq?

I thought major combat operations were over, the back of the insurgency was broken, and Iraqis were dancing in the streets in their wonderful new democracy.

:eyes:

[peacebird]

79. no no no - see the dancing in the streets ....

over their wonderful shiny new democracy begins the day after their (s)elections. THAT's when * can declare freedom and we can move our nifty keen-o shock&awe machine-o over to iran! "freedom's on the march" - time to spread the joy to yet another country....
(sarcasm off)

[Solly Mack]

3. here in Germany they are saying it was a chow hall

that was bombed.

[MyDogSpot]

5. more heroes made

just in time for the holidays~

Rejoice RWers

[mhr]

14. No, More Demand For Workers - This Is How Bush Plans To Create Jobs

One dead American at a time!

[Earth_First]

6. Keep us posted

I don't beleive that us here in the RepubliK will get straight reporting on this event.

[Solly Mack]

11. They said they were working to

"confirm" this...but that "initial" reports were a chow hall.

[MyDogSpot]

13. was Blair serving up turkey?

plastic or otherwise?

Just curious~

[DeepGreen]

17. MSNBC reported a dinning hall nt

[Warren Stupidity]

144. its a military base

it doesn't matter if the blast hit a 'chow hall' or a weapons dump. The whole base is a legitimate target, unlike our bombing and shelling of towns and cities, acts that are illegal under the GC rules for occupation forces.

It is however a goddamn shame that our sons and daughters are being slaughtered over this nonsense. Perhaps we should apologize to the Iraqis and get the f*ck out of their country?

[AngryOldDem]

10. Happy Holidays, Bush

:mad: :cry:

BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!

[MyDogSpot]

15. ten killed 50 injured

That didn't take long. I wonder how accurate those stats are.

what a fucking mess Bush has gotten the US into

[ogradda]

20. was that on the news?

they don't have any details on the cnn website yet.

[MyDogSpot]

24. Here's a link

though I've seen MSNBC change its story plenty of times in the past. How can they know how many dead/injured with no idea the nationality?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6727646/

[Solly Mack]

26. Have to find the body parts first

a charred body part can be hard to indentify.

[truthisfreedom]

21. horrible horrible horrible.

this will be the season for those who voted this monster back into office to reflect on their thoughtless decisions.

[MyDogSpot]

25. Rummy is going a "magnificent" job all right

or so the Chimp tells us.

What bullshit.

[leesa]

37. They never reflect. Too scarey.

[rkc3]

61. Reflect? I bet half of them don't show up in mirrors.

[Candide]

143. haha!

Best laugh I had all day Thanks!

[Earth_First]

22. (IO) Information Operations

Can't allow the international media know exactly what the story is, for, you know, for safety reasons.

[Solly Mack]

23. That's what I'm hearing (10 /50 +)

No "breakdown" on nationality" yet.

Base held Iraqi,American (soldiers) & civilian contractors.

[lebkuchen]

28. I just saw on CNNI a scroll, something about a car bomb

more details to come as soon as they know anything

[Solly Mack]

30. I saw that.

At Post HQ (Mannheim) they are saying chow hall...many dead...many badly injured.

[lebkuchen]

35. It's going to be another busy week at Landstuhl

what a shame

1ID has already lost over 60 and they won't be home until March.

[Solly Mack]

36. I was just thinking that. They should be arriving shortly

[lebkuchen]

43. 22 dead, 51 injured

you probably got that

CNNI just gave a brief blurb

[Solly Mack]

50. Missed it, actually. Thanks

:(

The more they dig, the more they'll find.

[lebkuchen]

53. multiple artillery rounds, more than 50 injured now

That 51 count is probably obsolete by now.

Announcer is saying that there had to have been good information or technical ability to get those rounds to hit the target accurately.

on edit: deaths and injuries include US military, Iraqi military and Iraqi civilians

[Solly Mack]

56. Yes. You know the dead/wounded count has to be higher.

It takes hours to determine who's missing.

[leftchick]

57. this is so awful!

I wish we had real news in this country! There is no information on my TV! :argh:

[leftchick]

55. omg...

fox news said it was a rocket! Probably from the unguarded weapons depots. This is beyond tragic!
:cry:

[lebkuchen]

59. a general is saying the rocket attack is speculation

because the hit was so accurate. He also said that Mosul is one of the calmer areas of Iraq. He was asked by CNNI if the insurgents from Fallujah hadn't moved up to Mosul. He said he could only speculate.

the General was Don Sheppard, AF (ret).

[Solly Mack]

63. a car bomb makes sense but so do rockets...for accuracy

with either you can get your intended target...both suggest a security breach

[leftchick]

64. well he is a LIAR...

Mosul is not a calmer area of Iraq. What the hell has he been drinking? There have been 150 dead/decapitated bodies recovered there in the last month for starters! They never stop with their propaganda even when they retire, eh?

[Ilsa]

87. In fairness to the General, I believe he also said that the insurgency

was growing, not diminishing. He seemed quite disturbed to have to admit that this goal isn't being reached, as far as suppressing the insurgency. I couldn't believe it was a general. I figured it was a wonk from some policy institute.

[leftchick]

103. I have seen him on TV a lot...

he started out as a huge war supporter and cheerleader. Now that Iraq is obviously FUBAR he is changing his tune? If he really cared about the grunts he should have been on the side of the generals who were condemning the idea of an Iraq invasion. Too little too late.

[Ilsa]

116. ITA. And yes, it sounds like he is beginning

to wake up to the reality of the mess they are in. I didn't hear him say they should pull out, but at least he is recognizing the FUBAR mess they are in versus lying on tv about it. He and the other generals supporting Rummy are complicit in the deaths of thousands of people.

[hatrack]

81. No, Mosul WAS one of the calmer areas of Iraq

Sorry, so pissed off can't see straight at the moment. :mad:

[DeepGreen]

19. Damn,,,,, how many more families have now lost a son or

daugther or father/mother. What a nice Fucking Bushmas present from our beloved administration !!!!
:mad:

[susu369]

77. bu$h* calls them "youngsters"

Did anyone else just cringe when that's what bu$h* said at the "press conference" (sic) yesterday. Damn, these are MEN and WOMEN -

THE PRESIDENT: Listen, I know how -- I know Secretary Rumsfeld's heart. I know how much he cares for the troops. He and his wife go out to Walter Reed in Bethesda all the time to provide comfort and solace. I have seen the anguish in his -- or heard the anguish in his voice and seen his eyes when we talk about the danger in Iraq, and the fact that youngsters are over there in harm's way.

Insulting.

[hatrack]

84. All those youngsters in their 40s, 50s and 60s, recalled to service

Youngsters just coming out our ears, you simian son-of-a-bitch.

[AngryOldDem]

108. Your post makes a big assumption

That Bush, Rumsfeld, et. al., actually CARE.

I was just thinking today about the physical toll that past wars have taken on those presidents who had to make the decisions to fight them and to send people to die in them. You can tell by looking at pictures of Lincoln, FDR, and even LBJ that wars took an enormous physical and emotional hit on these men. But if you look at Bush -- he is seeming to THRIVE on this carnage.

This is about the sickest era in history that I think will ever be recorded.

The thought that people will be hearing about the deaths of their loved ones over Christmas makes me so angry. I am heartbroken for these families.

[AngryOldDem]

109. Sorry...

...but bedside visits JUST. DON'T. CUT. IT.

Who does Bush think he's kidding? Rummy gives even less of a rat's ass about these soldiers than Bush does. He knows it, we all know it. Time has passed to stop this tragic charade.

[noshenanigans]

18. oh my God

That's horrible. These poor, poor people.

I wonder if any of the nightly news outlets will touch this if it is confirmed?

I am so, so angry. How many people have to die before people wake up?!

[malaise]

31. BBC says

the rocket hit a dining room during lunch at military base in Mosul. Loads of casualties. What a waste of life - how can this ever be in the name of democracy? Meanwhile let's go shopping to celebrate the birth of a peace-maker.

edit bomb to rocket.

[spinbaby]

29. Happened four or five hours ago

Noon in Mosul was...what...four in the morning eastern time? Took hours for the news to get out, probably take days for them to admit to the details.

[Catchawave]

32. nothing on the news yet???!!!???

Just the baby story, robert blake and the Md arsonists...geeesh.

[leftchick]

33. welcome to ameriKa...

the country with no news just infotainment 24/7!

[noshenanigans]

44. they know whats important

In between all that tripe I did hear a commercial on Fox News-

"The next terrorist attack- it's coming! What cities are targets?" Find out only on Fox News, you morons.

[leftchick]

34. NO details!!

<snip>
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Hastings, a spokesman for Task Force Olympia in Mosul, said he would release no more details for the time being.

can't ruin the murkans Christmas.

[Catchawave]

42. a quick blip on CNN

22 dead :(

[Solly Mack]

49. Means it's pretty bad and that contacting relatives will take longer

I'm not trying to be gross but we are talking body parts that will need indentifying.

[Massachusetts]

38. What Is Scary

Is the news blackout for so many hours. The coporate/government monster DOES CONTROL quite well.:nuke:

[malaise]

41. 22 dead so far

Good grief - this is disaster.

[Rose Siding]

51. Who's reporting 22?

It's crazy that the news is coming through Germany rather than "press" in Iraq.

[leftchick]

52. where are you getting 22 from?

the tv? I see nothing on the internet with that figure.

[Solly Mack]

54. Even regular CNN is reporting 22

CNNI as well

[leftchick]

62. thanks just saw it!

I wish I got CNNI. 22 dead and many injured!
:(

[ogradda]

58. it's on cnn breaking news

the runner on the bottom of the screen. it also says "rounds fired" but their website said it was a car bomb.

[nostamj]

65. CNN link/story

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Multiple rounds hit a dining hall at a U.S. military base near Mosul on Tuesday, killing 22 people, including U.S. troops, members of the Iraqi national guard, and Iraqi civilians, Pentagon officials said.

Fifty-one people were wounded in the incident -- which occurred at noon (4 a.m. ET), the officials said.

No other details on the attack were immediately available.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/12/21/iraq.main/index.html

[leftchick]

46. well it did happen at a base so...

it is easier for them to control the message. As opposed to a street in Baghdad with witnesses to refute Military lies.

[leftchick]

39. faux news says it was a rocket! 10 Dead, 50 Wounded...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,142157,00.html

MOSUL, Iraq — A rocket struck a dining facility at a U.S. military base near the northern city of Mosul (search), FOX News confirmed Tuesday.

Senior Pentagon officials told FOX News' Bret Baier that at least 10 people are dead and at least 50 people have been wounded. Sources said a combination of U.S. forces, Iraqi forces and U.S. contractors were at the military facility. The cause of the explosion, which happened at 12 noon local time, was under investigation.

The U.S. Army's Task Force Olympia is based in this predominantly Sunni Muslim city.

[Ms_Mary]

138. BBC currently reporting 22 dead by multiple rocket/mortar rounds

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4115145.stm

Twenty-two people have been killed and at least 50 injured in an attack at a US military base in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the US military says.

Unknown assailants fired multiple rocket and mortar rounds at a dining tent in the Camp Merez base, at around 1200 (0900 GMT).

[ogradda]

40. still no details on cnn's website

they must be running it thru the white house filter.

[Massachusetts]

45. I'm wearing mine

:tinfoilhat:

[Blue Gardener]

47. And still over a month until the "elections"

It's only going to get worse.

[goclark]

111. How many candidates did Bush tell

us will be running for leader of Iraq in the "election?"

I thought I heard a number larger than 20.

If that is so, why are we having an election at all? Let Bush pick his crook now and get the hell out of there!

This is no War this is a terrorists attack on the people of Iraq by a thug - GWB.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

60. sad, worse and worse.............."bring them on" someone said.

[Florida_Geek]

66. 22 dead per BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

[Walt Starr]

68. MSRNC says 10 dead

dining hall hit with rocket attack during lunch:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6727646/

[Florida_Geek]

69. BBC is quoting the Pentagon

who do you trust more BBC or CNN... :)

[Walt Starr]

72. Sadly, Faux says 22 killed 50 wounded

Faux is more reliable than CNN and MSRNC on this one!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,142157,00.html

[malaise]

71. CNN said

'according to the Pentagon'.

[janx]

85. Thanks for posting. At least the beeb lets people know what

is actually going on...

Edit: I turned on CNN for the first time in months; they, of course, are getting their info. from the Pentagon.

[Walt Starr]

67. Catastrophic success!

Freedom is on the march and we're rooting the terraists out!

[Walt Starr]

70. WOW, this base is in the 75% zone!

i.e. the "75% of Iraq where there should be no problems with the election".

This is horrible news and if there are any more similar strikes in other regions in the so-called "75% of Iraq where there should be no problems with the election" there will be no elections.

Looks like Iraq will be getting our form of "democracy" sooner than it thought.

:scared:

[latteromden]

73. How many more have to die before Bush realizes it's NOT WORTH IT?

Nevermind, don't answer that...

[Charles19]

74. Bush Quote

During a Monday news conference in Washington, President Bush said "terrorists will attempt to delay the elections, to intimidate people in their country, to disrupt the democratic process in any way they can."

Does anyone think the people carrying out these attacks care about what happens to the "democratic process"? They want the foreign invaders out, and could care less if there are elections or not. This violence will not change at all after elections. The violence will only go down once other countries stop trying to meddle in their affairs.

[King Coal]

78. That Smirking SOB is so out of it.

God, what is wrong with Americans?

[janx]

90. CNN is pushing this angle too.

It's the official line. The upcoming election is what is causing the violence.

[noshenanigans]

102. They're running out of smokescreens.

6 months ago it was "the handoff is causing all the violence", and then the "handoff" (ahem) went by and nothing changed. Then it was "they want to affect *our* elections".. that went by, and the violence still hasn't stopped.

After the "free and just Iraqi elections", and the violence still doesn't stop, what will they say? They will never, ever admit the truth.

[JohnyCanuck]

114. And Saddam's capture was also supposed to end the violence n/t

[Solly Mack]

76. CentCom's brief...very brief.....info

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/news_release.asp?NewsRelease=20041240.txt

[maddezmom]

80. link updated: Pentagon Says 22 Killed, 50 Hurt in Mosul Attack

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least 22 people were killed and 50 others wounded in a rocket and mortar attack against a U.S. military base in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a defense official at the Pentagon (news - web sites) said on Tuesday.


The official, who asked not to be identified, said it was not immediately known how many U.S. troops were among the fatalities in the midday attack on Forward Operating Base Marez.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041221/ts_nm/iraq_mosul_explosion_dc&cid=564&ncid=1480

[maddezmom]

86. found this searching Mosul on yahoo: Students Protest U.S. Military in Mos

sorry about the source, but just found it strange...no one has mentioned this yet in any of the reports(unless I missed it).

MOSUL, Iraq — About 400 Iraqi students rallied in this northern city on Tuesday to protest against detentions of civilians and against U.S. soldiers entering their homes and mosques.

"We gathered here today to let the world be aware of the U.S. army insults against our dignitaries, students and our mosques," said Yahiya Abid Mahjoub, the head of the Students and Youth Association in Mosul (search).

Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, was relatively peaceful in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Saddam Hussein's (search) regime last year. But insurgent attacks have increased dramatically in the past several months and particularly since the U.S.-led military operation in November to retake the restive city of Fallujah (search) from guerrillas.

Efforts by the multinational forces and the interim government's security troops to pacify Sunni-dominated Mosul have had limited success.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,142161,00.html

wondering if the 2 are connected? :shrug:

[maddezmom]

97. CBS mentions the student protests in Mosul

In other developments:


About 400 Iraqi students rallied in Mosul on Tuesday to protest detentions of civilians and against U.S. soldiers entering their homes and mosques. "We gathered here today to let the world be aware of the U.S. army insults against our dignitaries, students and our mosques," said Yahiya Abid Mahjoub, the head of the Students and Youth Association in Mosul,

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml

[deminflorida]

82. Rocket Attack - 22 Dead, Toll to possibly rise....

50 wounded...

72+ American Military Families just received the worst news possible for Christmas.

My heart goes out to them all.....

I hope my friend wasn't in that mess hall, he's supposed to be on the way home for Christmas. Was on the phone with his ex-wife two nights ago, they have a four year old little girl who is really wanting to see her daddy.

My ass just really tightened up sitting in my chair here in my office reading this....

:scared:

[peacebird]

115. deminflorida - i hope your friend is safely home for the holidays

prayers for all those suffering as a result of bushco's illegal and immoral war. those killed, and those left alive to mourn them. those brutally injured, and those who have lived through hell.

tell me that there is a god, and that god is just and these madmen in power will pay for their crimes against humanity.

:cry:

[HeeBGBz]

83. Just got this breaking news email from cnn

"Attack on dining hall at U.S. military base near Mosul, Iraq, kills 22, including U.S. troops, Pentagon officials say."

[Solly Mack]

88. Elements of Task Force Olympia

Task Force Olympia is a sub-element of I Corps headquarters based at Fort Lewis, Wash. The unit includes representatives from all three components of the United States Army (Active, Reserve and National Guard) as well as United States Marine Corps and Australian officers. Task Force Olympia’s subordinate units include the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), from Fort Lewis, four Iraqi Civil Defense Corps battalions, three Iraq Border Police battalions and several thousand members of the Iraq Facility Protection Security Forces and will soon include an Iraq Armed Forces battalion.

As of Feb. 2004 when they took over from the 101st airborne.

Reports are saying it was Camp Marez that was attacked.

[spinbaby]

89. Not a car bombing...

The defense official, who asked not to be identified, said it was not yet known how many U.S. troops were among the fatalities in the midday attack on Forward Operating Base Marez.

The official said the casualties were not caused by a single large explosion. "There were an unknown number of rounds in a rocket and mortar attack. It wasn't a car bombing," the official said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=1&u=/nm/20041221/ts_nm/iraq_mosul_explosion_dc

[Minstrel Boy]

91. How to stop this? The answer of course will be

to lockdown Mosul, shoot everything that moves, bomb the fuck out of it and repeat. Call it "Operation Swift Justice."

Then take retina scans of the survivors, require them to wear badges and remain behind razor wire.

Yup, that'll put an end to the violence.

[Walt Starr]

92. Watch for widespread coordinated attacks soon

I'm thinking this was a test run for something bigger. If widespread rocket attacks like this were to occur across Iraq with similar casualty levels in most of the attacks, it could be worse politically for Bush than Tet was for Johnson. If there is any amount of coordination amongst the insurgent groups, the leaders have to know this.

[Florida_Geek]

94. They know it is the Christmas season

and know how to hurt the US..

You are so right.

[Walt Starr]

100. I hope I'm wrong!

Seriously, I would rather see our troops safe and no killings than for Bush to experience worse political trouble than Joihnson experienced!

[Minstrel Boy]

99. Don't think it could be as bad as Tet was for Johnson.

Tet helped keep Johnson from a second term. Bush has his.

Also, there was something not unlike a free press in Johnson's day.

[Walt Starr]

101. If more than 100 U.S troops were killed in a single day

Bush would suffer worse than Johnson did.

Remember, Johnson chose not to run. Had he run, in all liklihood he would have won.

[KoKo]

122. Exactly. Our Press is on "War Lockdown" so no matter how terrible

the death and destruction are we only hear parts of it. We bomb the hell out of country to "reconstruct" it in our own image. Playing God is what Bush and Blair are doing. History doesn't deal well with those who think they are "Infinite Creators." But Bush said "who cares about history....we'll all be dead." I guess Bush and Blair agree on this, control of the world is all they care about, even if we are all dead from it.

[Florida_Geek]

93. But But it is a GREAT day in Iraq

per MSNBC

[Solly Mack]

96. Did you hear him? Blair said "A precious thing is coming to Iraq"

I about hurled...

[blue agave]

137. "A precious thing" - the Ring ? (n/t)

[RawMaterials]

95. cant we just leave Iraq to go threw the natural progression of a country

A couple of years ago i attended a class on world government and politics, the teacher stressed that you cant go in to a county a speed up the progression to a civilized county. you cant force it in need to take 100's of years, and that even our country is still going threw its "growing pains"
they need to have a civil war with the US not involved then let what ever government or religion comes out be what the Iraqi people want not what we want them to have.
We know that there are now weapons of mass destruction there.
I ques there is just to much money and oil to be won.

[jmcgowanjm]

the progression to a civilized country-when Gandhi was asked

about Western Civilization,

"I think it would be
a very good idea."

Baghdad is the cradle of Western Civilization.
What if Iraq today is showing the World
what future life will be like?

The US is an Empire. The problem is that
the US has been an Empire since McKinley, 1898.
An Empire that is mortally wounded, thrashing
about in our death throws, w/ nationstates
desperately trying to stay out of the way.

IRR Monday 122004

US Marine General in press conference for Arabic press
only admits US difficulties in al-Fallujah after a month and a
half of fighting.

US General Andrew Mill Brown, the commander of the
First Brigade of the US Marines in Iraq, on Monday gave a
press conference exclusively for journalists in the media
of occupied Iraq and the Arabic satellite TV stations. The
press conference was held in Baghdad’s Palace of
Congresses (convention center).

The American general admitted that al-Fallujah might be
an exception to the type of wars that the Americans have
been waging and taking part in. He said that it would “remain
a lesson for us and a turning point for changing
military academic study in the United States.”

"A turning point", kinda like The Chosun Reservoir?

[shrike]

104. No words

[katinmn]

105. I wonder how many families, here and in Iraq, are panicking

at this very moment, upon hearing this news.
:-(

[grumpy old fart]

106. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but, before this war, didn't we control

the north and south of Iraq through "no fly zones", leaving Saddam only in control of the middle Baathist region? Weren't the North (Kurds) and south (shia) essentially living in peace under our protection? Has anything really changed, except for thousands of more dead and wounded and a "country" tipping toward civil war?

[Sparkle]

107. This is tragic.

Although I am at work, I would normally view something like this on CNN International but for some reason the last few days I don't get that channel anymore, it is some home shopping channel now. I am going to give a call to Time Warner.

[Roy]

120. CNNI was dropped by Dish Network.............

About a week ago.........

[jmcgowanjm]

110. “We must admit that. We cannot go on with the news blackout any longer.”

IRR 122004

The puppet Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Isma‘il said, “We
must admit that. We cannot go on with the news blackout any
longer.”
The statement was an official admission of the embargo
on news about the huge battles that have raged in al-Fallujah
in recent days, which have been covered consistently by
Mafkarat al-Islam but largely ignored by the Arab
and international media. The reason for their silence is that it
is official US occupation policy.

posted at 11:30pm Monday night Mecca time,
Mafkarat al-Islam reported that ferocious battles raged
Monday morning in al-Fallujah from about 1:30am until 9am.
The Mafkarat al-Islam correspondent reported that US
aircraft took part in the fighting with heavy air raids from 5am
until 9am on the neighborhoods of ash-Shuhada’, al-
‘Askari, al-Jubayl, and parts of al-
Jawlan.

Communiqué Issued by the Consultative Council of the Mujahideen of al-Fallujah.

1. The battles of last night resulted in the martyrdom of a
number of heroic fighters and the wounding of other fighters.
May God have mercy on them.

2. The battles of yesterday and this morning resulted in
the following:

First. One American Black Hawk helicopter was shot down in
the al-‘Askari neighborhood.

Second. Nine various US vehicles such as tanks,
armored vehicles, Humvees, were destroyed. One
troop transport vehicle was destroyed. More than 46
American soldiers were killed according to the
detachments coming from the al-‘Askari and al-Jawlan neighborhoods.

Today rockets and mortar shells were fired from our rear lines
at American troop concentrations in al-Fallujah.

In addition the Resistance outside al-Fallujah fired four
120mm mortar rounds at US troop concentrations around
the railroad station at about 8:45pm Monday. US forces lit up
the al-Jawlan neighborhood, firing seven incendiary shells
in succession over the course of 35 minutes with five
minutes between each shell.

At about 10:45pm Monday, the last US vehicle in a big
American column passed through as-Saqlawiyah, having
taken one hour to pass through as-Saqlawiyah on its way
to al-Fallujah. The vehicles in the American column
included tanks and armored vehicles and it proceeded
under American air escort.

[Guaranteed]

That's not good. nt

[scarlett1]

112. I Have a friend in the JAG corps in Mosul

So this is freaking me out.

I e-mailed him last week. He is a really great guy who is a National Guard, ( you know, 2 weekends a month and 2 weeks a year) and who was a Major and got promoted to Lt Colonel when he was called up so I hope he is okay. He is over there handling Courts Marshal etc.

[marew]

113. Everyone who voted for Bush...

has blood on their hands. Talk about f--king values! We are sending our soldiers to be killed, as well as causing the death of innocent Iraqis. Saw "Bowling for Columbine" for the first time on Showtime the other day. We made a lot of these messes in the first place. And the religious right is concerned about 'values?' Steal from the poor to give to the rich. Tell a woman what to do with her body. (Maybe if there was more support for pregnant women who felt they had no other alternatives...) And, of course, the world would collapse if gays married. They are so f--king stupid. The Repugs want everyone born. After that they just don't give a damn.
Thank God, or whoever, for DU. The level of insanity in this country has gone wild.

[Ganja Ninja]

118. Merry Christmas all you Bush loving morons!

Thanks all you Bush loving morons. And please don't complain about being call stupid and morons. The shoe fits. Your all responsible for this. Your slavish devotion to the Idiot n' Chief is the problem in this country. You are and have been in the wrong about Bush and this war and until you get your collective heads out of your asses our troops will keep dieing for nothing.

[jmcgowanjm]

119. Turkey warns U.S. it plans to invade northern Iraq shortly after elections

This is an extreme complication of matters in Iraq. The
action Turkey intends to take will bring Turkish forces into
direct military contact with US forces in the area, with their
target being the Peshmerga - our allies in Northern Iraq.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1277827/posts

Turkey warns of internal fighting in Iraq
( 2004-01-17 13:57) (Agencies)

Turkey's military warned Friday that "bloody" internal
fighting could erupt in Iraq if political power there is divided
up based on ethnicity.

Turkey is worried about demands by Iraqi Kurds for
greater autonomy in oil-rich northern Iraq. Turkey and
neighbors Syria and Iran fear Iraqi Kurds might eventually
push for independence and bring instability to their own
borders.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2004-01/17/content_299853.htm

[grumpy old fart]

123. Who didn't see that coming....?

quagmire with complications....isn't the * Brave New World wonderful?

[Corgigal]

121. CNN just showed pictures

from this location. I caught the bottom of the photos, Richmond something.

Anyway, I saw nothing but our military people in the tent. I also saw bodies in the background. Doesn't look good.

[phusion]

124. Merry fucking christmas.

:cry:

[lancdem]

132. This AP story says 13 soldiers are dead

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20041221/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

:mad:

[tiredofthisstuff]

125. And They Say Everything Is Going Great!

If people still think we are doing a great job in Iraq they should take one second out of their busy "Worship" day and read a f***ing newspaper.:mad:

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

126. Hey, we're turning the corner

hell straight ahead...

[Ryder911]

127. How many more lives will be lost before...

we learn? Sad. When will Bush take responsibility for his deceit?

[Ilsa]

128. CNN's military analyst Gen. Grange is saying this will

solidify the the bonding of the soldiers and Iraqi Nat. Guard and contract killers. Something like that. Yeah, well, I hope they solidify their will to get the hell out.

The general at Mosul is saying "over twenty killed" and over 60 wounded. I wonder how long before those numbers go up again.

[Corgigal]

129. Yeah I heard that

how that will stop a rocket is not something I can figure out.
I'm not a General so I have NO need to know.

[byronm]

133. Another related story...

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB7CW5903E.html

Says more than a dozen killed..

[RedEarth]

130. AP...sounds like at least 13 US troops killed, dozens injured...link below

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Rockets struck a mess tent at a military base in Mosul where hundreds of U.S. soldiers had just sat down to lunch Tuesday, and a Pentagon (news - web sites) official said at least 22 people were killed and 50 were wounded. A radical Muslim group, the Ansar al-Sunnah Army, claimed responsibility.


The attack came the same day that British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) made a surprise visit to Baghdad and described the ongoing violence in Iraq (news - web sites) as a "battle between democracy and terror."


Jeremy Redmon, a reporter for the Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch embedded with the troops in Mosul, said 13 soldiers were killed in the attack at Forward Operating Base Marez, including two from the Richmond-based 276th Engineer Battalion. More than 50 people were wounded, and civilians may have been among them, he said.


The base, also known as the al-Ghizlani military camp, is used by both U.S. troops and the interim Iraqi government's security forces The identities of the casualties were not known, the Pentagon official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

[RamboLiberal]

131. Another story here - good detail

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB7CW5903E.html

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq - It was a brilliant, sunny day with blue skies and warmer than usual weather in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers had just sat down for lunch in their giant chow hall tent.

It was about noon today when insurgents hit their tent with a suspected rocket attack, killing 13 soldiers, including two from the Richmond-based 276th Engineer Battalion. More than 50 were wounded; civilians may have been among them. Some reports listed the death toll at 22.

The force of the explosions knocked soldiers off their feet and out of their seats. A fireball enveloped the top of the tent, and shrapnel sprayed into the men.

Amid the screaming and thick smoke that followed, quick-thinking soldiers turned their lunch tables upside down, placed the wounded on them and gently carried them into the parking lot.

"Medic! Medic!" soldiers shouted.

Question for DU vets - what's the maximum distance attackers can be with mortars or rockets to attack? Seems to me if you can't even f'ing protect the perimeter of your base in f'ing daylight, you're losing the f'ing war! Sorry for the language, but it pisses me off so many families will have a very sorry holiday season learning of the death or maiming of a loved one. Merry F'ing Xmas! I'm so damn pissed at those idiot Bush supporters - 4 more f'ing years of this jerk!

[peekaloo]

136. the fact that CBS interrupted morning programming (9:30 a.m.) made

me shiver......and think a lot of these casualties are American.

Happy Holidays you motherfuckin' vote-riggin', fascist bastard Bu$h.

[lebkuchen]

140. not a vet, but I've heard a couple of miles for a mortar

Chuck Hagel is on Meet the Press right now. He said we haven't even gained control of the 10 mile stretch of road from Baghdad International to the downtown area after 21 months, and that things are worse now than ever before, that we've lost hearts and minds, putting our soldiers in a precarious position.

I thought he was unusually cogent.

Saxy Chamblis, meanwhile, sounded like a blithering fool, as usual.

[DoYouEverWonder]

134. Merry Christmas

Love,
George Bush

[wovenpaint]

139. All I can do is pray that this finishes sooner than later

JOB 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

I just am sooooooo tired of hearing that we're "at war"! This a contrived (and illegal) "war".
Terrorism has always been around and as long as people are made to feel inferior or "wrong", things won't change.
Look to children: if they can't get "good" attention, they'll go for the "bad" attention....
Needless to say, it's so heartbreaking to hear these of these incidents on a daily basis-especially when THE IRAQIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING!
:cry: :grr: :cry:

[lancdem]

141. I'm starting a new thread on this

This one's getting a bit long.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1089046#

[lovuian]

142. Horrible My prayers are with their families!!!

So Sad!!!

[jarab]

145. When the military spokeman personally came forward ....

I just knew this was not your everyday Iraq attack.
Many killed or some high rankers included - or both, I thought. Or another big screw up on security.
We probably don't have the true picture or story at this juncture (hours later).
...O...

[Bandit]

146. From now on : five zero to chop chop

:shrug:

[maddezmom]

147. locking, see thread #2 here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1089046