Might as well start it now...is ammo explosion an "accident" or attack?

[Atman]

A reporter on CNN (Jamie McIntyre) just now was the first person I've heard to broach the possibility that the massive explosion/fire at the ammo dump was NOT an accident, rather an enemy attack.

No casualities or injuries? Hmm. As McIntyre pointed out, these facilities are the most tightly controlled of any, and the thought of this happening "by accident" seem a bit far-fetched.

I have to say, I'm with Jamie. We got nailed, and BushCo hasn't yet figured out how to square it with his "we're making progress in Iraq" lies.

.

[Kagemusha]

1. Just how would the US set fire to its own ammo dump, anyway?

I don't know of any long history of US bases going up in smoke from improperly stored ammo. It's something the military tends to take with seriousness. Besides, such a fire would have to get pretty damned hot to start major cookoff...

[chelsea0011]

2. Yeah, I'd like anyone who has been there explain if this could be an

accident.

[Atman]

14. Private Schlumley was puffin' a doob near the boomers.

Fuckin' A dude! Awesome fireworks! Is it Independence Day?!

.

[SpiralHawk]

3. It's a SNAFU, Atman

"And it is all Bill Clinton's fault" - United Republicon Perverts & Cronies, Inc.

[Virginia Dare]

4. Iraq is lost...

if you pay attention to the clues that even some of the GOP'ers are dropping around, particularly John Warner's words last week, we're done there. They're just trying to get past the election, and then you will hear them get more vocal about an "exit strategy". Of course if the election turns out to be a debacle for the GOP, all bets are off.

[wakeme2008]

5. Amno dumps blow up by themselves

This will not be the first or last one to do so.

:shrug:

[Atman]

12. I'll wake you in 2008

Try to pay attention, dude. This isn't your basic ammo dump explosion. Something "happened."

.

[wakeme2008]

15. Maybe you should spend some time in the Army

Instead of talking with your head up your ASS.

[Atman]

19. Ooooooooooh!

Yeah. That's the answer...I just need to sign up. Thanks for your advice. I've already got a circular file ready for it!

.

[sofa king]

27. I think you're right.

I'm pretty sure there were several ammo dump explosions in Vietnam which are still unexplained. A lightning strike was supposedly responsible for one explosion in Russia. They really do just happen sometimes. It's not even the first dump to go off in this latest series of wars:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CV7sIrMWh4&mode=related&search=

The father of a friend of mine was present at an ammo dump explosion in Vietnam, and I remember him telling me it was the most vivid memory he had of the entire war. He said that while the secondary explosions were still ongoing, he observed two officers complaining. "Look at that," said one,"they told me they didn't have any green flares left. Look at all those damned green flares."

Ammo dump explosions are also a pain in the ass because the cleanup is almost always deadly, too. When a truck fire set off an ammunition dump just after the first Gulf War, there were a number of casualties but no deaths. However, several people died clearing the area in the following weeks.

[BeHereNow]

28. ESPECIALLY when war ships are headed for Iran...

Nah, no connection there.
BHN

[solara]

6. We got nailed

What is the extent of the damage? How many died? Or rather...what is the truth? We may never know

:banghead:

[dailykoff]

7. It was Mrs. O'Leary's camel.

I heard it on CNN.

[Atman]

13. LOL!

Thanks for the much-needed levity!

.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. for 300 yrs, you ALWAYS keep your powder dry and keep it the most

protected. experience has taught every military group three simple lessons. 1) if the blows up, you die. 2) if it blows up, you lose that use of those weapons. 3) if it blows up, your enemy suddenly just got a boost of energy you can never erase.

Let's say that under rummie, they ignored #2 and #3. Even under the worst of circumstances, our military would never ignore #1.

That leaves several alternatives. Bad storage. (highly unlikely) A fire (extremely unlikely) Sabotage (given sectarian, insurgent, and really fucked up environs in Iraqnam, not unlikely) Missiles (possible) Mortars (depends. A mortar would have to find an open door, or some way of getting to well-protected ammo stacks)

[brettdale]

9. According to witnesses

IT WAS AN ATTACK, ACCORDING TO THE BBC THEY WERE TOLD IT WAS AN ATTACK, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK IT WAS AN ATTACK WAS A US MILITARY SPOKESPERSON.

[yourout]

10. Accidental attack maybe?

Oops.....sorry about that mortar.

[Skidmore]

11. Or, it was a staged accident or attack maybe?

People have forgotten that * and the Rs are anything but the party that's tough on anything except the coverup of scandals. Maybe a reminder that this could be an American city if them there terraist come over here. You know they will if them wussy Dems get elected. Betcha Rummy himself went over there and supervised that one.

Lord, I detest these people.

[BuyingThyme]

16. Bases get peppered all the time.

:crazy:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. and unless you search out foreign news, you won't hear of it.

newsspeak. extraordinaire.

[ck4829]

18. It was an attack

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2555632&mesg_id=2555632

[smartvoter]

20. A retired colonel advising CNN said it was likely an attack. nt

[brettdale]

21. Of cause it was an attack

and since buildings shook miles away, and the explosions were massive, does anyone really believe the Pentagon that there wasn't one casualties, that is nuts. How would they know??????????????

[Nimrod2005]

22. Someone claimed responsibility already.....nt

[cynatnite]

23. Attack

It would take a complete act of negligent stupidity for this to be an accident. My bet is an attack and I bet we'll start finding out the real story about casualties in a few days.

[wholetruth00]

24. I am worried about this "no casualties" report. I don't see how our

sleeping soldiers and civilians in the vicinity escaped this.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. It's a prank.

Those insurgents took advantage of a dump that'was molested by a preacher.

[spanone]

26. Will we ever know? I doubt it.