Report: Eight U.S. soldiers killed in attack west of Baghdad

[DuctapeFatwa]

There was an attack Thursday on
American forces on the main road in the town of
Khaldiyah, west of Baghdad. Two U.S. tanks
surrounded a smoldering transport truck and
helicopters hovered above. Al-Arabiya television
reported eight Americans were killed and one
wounded.

An Associated Press reporter at
the scene could not get close
enough to verify the casualty
reports and was fired on by one
of the tanks with three rounds
from its 50-caliber machine
gun.

It appeared the Americans were
trying to protect themselves

until reinforcements arrived.

The Americans were taking fire from unknown
positions. ...


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=341881&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

[hang a left]

1. Oh my Gosh!!!! That is horrible!

[Evil_Dewers]

7. 'Bring 'em on'

has become 'bring 'em home in a body bag.'

[ze_dscherman]

2. Reuters link

http://news.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;?type=topNews&storyID=3467528

[northernsoul]

3. if this is true, will we ever get the straight dope from the U.S. media

my guess is that we'll hear about one "unforunate accident" a day for the next eight days until all the dead have been written off as non-combat casualties.

I believe we're not getting anywhere near the true numbers on our casuaulty rates.

[zanana]

4. I know what you mean, northernsoul.

I don't know about you, but I think it's pretty predictable that we'll hear about "one dead, several others wounded"...

[markses]

5. DUPE

Read the first page of LBN.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=120873

Also, 8 is the al-Arabiyah number, which is almost always reduced when the facts come in.

Terrible shit nonetheless.

[northernsoul]

8. grain of salt taken, but this is from Ha'aretz

Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Ha'aretz's reporting from Iraq generally shown out to by pretty much on the money?

[markses]

10. The ha'aretz story is the same AP story everybody has

The 8 KIA number comes from al-Arabiya television, as the AP story notes:

"Al-Arabiya television reported eight Americans were killed and one
wounded."

[ixion]

6. and you have to wonder...

when is this daily US killed and injured count going to get high enough for people to admit that there are major problems with the WH policy on Iraq?

What will the 'magic number' be? Over 1,000? Over 5,000? When are people finally going to catch on that things are NOT improving and that we ARE occupiers in a land where we're not wanted?

*sigh*

[underpants]

9. W live on Fox NOW!

Said the attacks ~"are further proof of the indescriminate kiiling of innocent people and spreading of fear"