Shells From Syria Fired at Troops in Iraq

[Minstrel Boy]

Shells From Syria Fired at Troops in Iraq
Thu Oct 14, 4:10 PM ET Middle East - AP

By FISNIK ABRASHI, Associated Press Writer

QAIM, Iraq - American troops stationed along Iraq's border with Syria are coming under increasing mortar attack from shells fired from Syrian territory, but it's unclear who's responsible, U.S. officers said Thursday.

The 82 mm mortar rounds have been fired at U.S. and Iraqi positions in and around Husaybah in the far west of Iraq's Anbar province, said Lt. Col. Chris Woodbridge, commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.

"Who exactly is firing these mortars, we do not know. But what we do know is that the point of origin of these rounds is on the Syrian side of the border," said Woodbridge, 39, of Brooklyn.

There has been no evidence linking the Syrian military to the attacks, he said. However, the Syrian military has the capability to determine who is launching the mortars and act against them, Woodbridge said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041014/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_syria

[LosinIt]

1. Is this the roundwork for our October Surprise??

Hey, Let's attack Syria.

[UpInArms]

6. well, that makes as much sense as anything

with this mal-administration.

It could be the big "Shush! We're working on our third war!" stratergy. :crazy:

[pdurod1]

23. make sure bin laden is behind it

and he has WMD
and he uses them on his own terrorists
and he is a bad terrorist
and he won't allow weapons inpectors in
...

[Mizmoon]

9. I know you're joking, but the Freeps are not

They are calling for war. Yes they are. Without a doubt this war will expand if * is elected.

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To: kezekiel
Hmmm...Mortar shelling from syria... whether it is Syrian troops or Terrorist. Shelling across international borders is an act of war. Panhead better get his country in check and quick. Or he could find the 82nd knocking on his door.

2 posted on 10/14/2004 4:46:43 PM PDT by Americanwolf (Paintball Gun: $44..Accessories: $55. Protecting campaign sign from Union thugs: Priceless!)
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To: kezekiel
Why have we not heard of this until now? Our boys are being fired on...across the border...from a country that supports, sympathizes with terrorists. I can't wait until we move on with the rest of the business that needs to be done. FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH

20 posted on 10/14/2004 4:58:42 PM PDT by rennatdm
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To: elhombrelibre
"highly punitive raid"(elhombrelibre)

Carpet bombing the area comes to mind.
21 posted on 10/14/2004 5:01:27 PM PDT by Imperialist
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To: McGavin999
Syria should be told that either they take care of this, or we will.
I wouldn't be surprised that sometime after Nov. 3, we'll do exactly that. I hope we unearth all those WMD's that miraculously disappeared.


22 posted on 10/14/2004 5:01:27 PM PDT by mountn man
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To: kezekiel
This will not last for long. Now that we are publicly announcing it, it's a nice diplomatic way of saying 'This is your last chance to make this stop, before we start shelling back.'
Much of our counterbattery fire in Iraq is complicated by the fact that we're worried about hitting civilians. On the Syrian border, ain't a lot of civilians wandering around out there.


23 posted on 10/14/2004 5:01:36 PM PDT by Steel Wolf (Got wood?)
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[da_chimperor]

13. I hope that they draft the freepers first

I doubt they'd be so hawkish if they were the ones getting fired on. Morons.

[The_Casual_Observer]

15. "82nd knocking on his door"

After the beating the "82nd" has taken in Iraq against an essentially defenseless population, I doubt that they are in any hurry to "knock on the door" of a country that actually has some defenses. Honest to god, do these idiots actually believe that the US military could invade a real country and "win" after seeing the shitty mess and drubbing we have taken in a place that had no military? Sure freepers, stand tall, salute the flag, and make empty threats it's about all you fucking have left.

[donheld]

17. This has long been my suspicion

But the Bushies would do it so they could say Syria started it.

[LosinIt]

31. damn G key, gets me every time. I meant groundwork

and I am such a stickler for that kind of thing, hangs head in cybershame.

[aquart]

2. Well, that's not good.

Looks like they've noticed our essential military weakness.

Thanks, George. You've left us naked to our enemies.

[Democracy Died 2004]

3. Note to defense department.

The unknown people shelling your asses are pissed of Muslims.

[seemslikeadream]

4. Rummy calls the Syrians "unhelpful"

Following those talks, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld called the Syrians ''unhelpful'' and accused them of ''facilitating terrorists moving back and forth, money moving back and forth'' to Iraq. Rumsfeld made the remarks during a speech at Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

While Syria has posted hundreds of extra troops along the frontier, its officials have said it is impossible to seal off such a large area.

Woodbridge maintains that the official Syrian presence at the border is scarce, consisting of a few patrols at the border crossing.

The U.S. Marines, who patrol a 250-mile stretch of mostly desert terrain between the two countries, say the Syrians have not been helpful in securing their side of the border.

more
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/288/world/U_S_military_Troops_in_Iraq_fa:.shtml

[movonne]

5. Maybe we can bomb them and Iran!!!

[0rganism]

7. Quick! Unleash the Armies of Compassion!

Maybe our Air Force of Love can bomb them with cotton candy and honeycakes!

[Eloriel]

16. Yeah, and let's spread a little Freedom around too!

That oughtta teach 'em.

[jpak]

8. US forces crossed the Syrian border on several occasions

during and after the "war" and there were several border incidents where US forces attacked and killed civilians (alleged sheep smugglers and a wedding party - if I remember correctly).

Would this have anything to do with the mortar attacks?????

Blood feud anyone????

[Aidoneus]

12. Quite likely, if anything of the sort is at work..

Certainly the Syrian state itself would not involve itself, but it's not like the people would need that to act on such a matter. The unprovoked massacres you mention (and there are more) that took place were a big deal, even if the aggressors themselves shrugged it off with bullshit. The colonialist-drawn borders are really arbitrary, there are very close economic/corporate ('tribal', which is basically a sort of corp. anyway) ties between the peoples of the upper Euphrates valley. The ties in the area, between the Sunni Arabs of Iraqi al-Anbar province, eastern Syria, and northern Jordan (the town of Zarqa in this area is where the current Big Bogeyman Of The Moment is originally from) are there and important to consider.

[Rochambeau]

10. Remember that the "polish soldiers" attacked a german outpost at the

border in 1939 !! The "logical" response from the Reich to that "untolerable attack" was the invasion of course and the start of WW2.
Is it necessary to say that the so-called "polish soldiers" were in fact concentration camps inmates force-dressed as polish soldiers in a build-up provocation coup from the nazis?.....

The syrians, just like the poles in 1939, are absolutly not crazy and they don't want to be invaded! Do the modern nazis believe we will buy that BS ??!!??

[bloom]

25. Maybe "you forgot Poland" was a code

... they wanted to attack Syria anyway.

[BeHereNow]

11. Bush backed mercs-

Hmmm, let's think back to the story about
Wolfowitz and his "global army" for a minute.
Remember that story?
Let's review the Porter Goss plan to employ private mercs
to be employed against who ever he deems pertinent-
with NO torte liability...THEN let's ask ourselves this:
Who benefits by these attacks?
Would the Syrians REALLY want to give the noecons
any reason to retaliate against them militarily?
Now WHO is lobbing off shells at our troops?
BHN

[MasonJar]

14. I guess Syria is next.

[arwalden]

18. Syria Attacks US Troops, Iran Attacks Israel, Isreal Nukes Iran,

Egypt attacks Israel, US attacks Syria, Packistan attacks India. India nukes Pakistan, North Korea attacks South Korea, China invades Taiwan.

-- Allen

Did I forget anyone?

[amandabeech]

19. Turkey attacks Armenia. U.S. attacks Venezuela?

India attacks China. China attacks Taiwan and nukes India. S. Korea joins with N. Korea to advance into the ancient Korean lands of Koryu now located in Manchuria. China attacks Khazakstan and moves to the Caspian. Israel attacks S. Arabia, Lebanon and Syria. Kosovo attacks Serbia and also Macedonia and Bulgaria. Bolivia attacks Chile.

I cannot speak to Africa.

[arwalden]

20. And So Goes The Bush Doctrine Of Pre-Emptive Invasions...

...based on "gut-feelings" and "hunches" that have no similarity to reality or intelligence. (And I mean BOTH kinds of intelligence.)

-- Allen

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

21. YES! YOU FORGOT POLAND!!!!!

MWA HA HA HAAAAAAAA :crazy:

[arwalden]

26. Of Course...Even Hitler Promised He'd Stop At Czechoslovakia...

how could I forget POLAND!

[FlemingsGhost]

22. Time to bomb Laos ... er, Cambodia. Syria! I mean Syria.

Let's ask Henry Kissinger what to do ...

[BrotherBuzz]

28. Meanwhile, on the other front...

the Ho Chi Minh trail trails have been established from Iran to Iraq to support their brothers fight for freedom.

The paralells between Vietnam and Iraq are frighteningly similar. Have we not learned anything?

[mmonk]

24. well we do have to move

to the next phase. This is "comprehensive", don't you know.

[w4rma]

27. If BushCo were serious about democracy in the ME they would NOT be looking

at invading Syria. Imho, Syria has the potental to grow into a democratic-republic on its own, without violence or any inside or outside force necessary. Iran, actually does also, however they are in a more tenuous position. The danger with Iran, is that they are trying to slowing move from religious totalitarianism towards more and more rule by their citizens, but if the Islamic Pat Robertson types there can consolidate their power, Iran might never come closer to democracy than they are today.

[lovuian]

29. Ya Syria is definitely on the Bush Hit List thats for sure

:crazy:

[rpannier]

30. Sounds a lot like the Gulf of Tonkin

The lie used to escalate the Viet Nam War

[daleo]

32. Has the one-legged man set up camp on the Syrian border now?

I am surprised they are not blaming The Evil One II, and attacking safe houses in Syria, yet.