BREAKING: Insurgents attack Abu Ghraib

[Kelvin Mace]

MSNBC - 18 U.S. casualties.

no link yet.

edit: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7366857/

A group of 40 to 60 insurgents attacked the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq late Saturday in a well-coordinated assault that inflicted 18 American casualties, U.S. military officials told NBC News.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, could not immediately provide a breakdown on the number of dead or wounded.

The officials said the insurgents attacked with two car or truck bombs, 40 mortars and an intense ground assault.

U.S. forces in Iraq house many suspected insurgents at the prison outside Baghdad, which is at the center of a prison abuse scandal.

[RandomKoolzip]

1. Jesus god....what the hell?!

Is this Attica East? What the hell?

[bluestateguy]

2. I'm shocked. Just shocked.

:eyes:

[Tux]

6. I'm not

Only a matter of time before they'd hit one of our prisons. They may accidentally kill some of their own but it's a move to deny us the chance to hold disruptive punks who may help bring down Iraq.

[manic expression]

27. Disruptive punks?

are you aware of 1.) how most detainees in our prisons are not criminals or insurgents? 2.) the crime rate in Iraq? 3.) the torture happening right now in those prisons? To label those put in our prisons as "disruptive punks" is so wrong it is unbelievable. This attack is retribution for the torture of those inside, as well as an overt show of defiance and strength against the US occupation.

Do you remember that mortar attack of Abu Graib awhile ago? Now, do you remember how the abuse scandal broke right after that? Put 1 and 2 together.

Lastly, they want to bring down the US occupation, not Iraq. For exactly what, I don't know (the ideals of the different insurgent groups differ widely), but they want the US out and they want their country back.

[VegasWolf]

46. "Disruptive Punks?" You must mean the Iraqi citizens fighting for

their own home country against the imperialistic oil campaigns
of the bush administration.

[Selatius]

49. There's probably a lot of innocent people in those prisons

Many of these guys are only suspected of helping the resistance, which is not ground to hold them indefinitely.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

52. There's probably a lot of innocent people in those prisons

It was said possibly by the Red Cross and others that perhaps 80 to 90 percent of the people in Abu Ghraib when it was pretty jammed up with people had no business being there... but then, I'm sure shrub sleeps well at night knowing how badly he has fucked up.

[0007]

56. Since when did an Iraq prison become ours? A man defending his country

is a disruptive punk? George W. Bush is the disruptive punk.

The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons: Fyodor Dostoyevsky

[Name removed]

89. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[laylah]

130. You're kidding, right?

Disruptive punks? All of the ATROCITIES being committed there IN OUR NAME, as well as in other "prisons", and THEY are the disruptive punks?

I am not surprised either but only because it took them this long to retalliate!

Jenn

[shadowknows69]

145. I thought we just vacated Abu

did anyone else read this?

[Catherine Vincent]

3. Nothing on CNN or MSNBC

They're still talking about the Pope's condition.

[TomClash]

17. Of course

they don't want you to remember that there's a war on.

[pres2032]

38. CNN had it on for a little bit

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kelvin Mace]

5. Go to the MSNBC site

It is there in breaking news.

[rawstory]

10. Where in breaking news?

[rawstory]

7. Did you really see this on MSNBC? I don't see it...

[beyurslf]

8. It is on the top breaking news banner. No link.

[MaineDem]

11. I heard them report it

They are unsure of the extent of the 18 casualties.

[mike_c]

9. here's a link....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7366857/

[rawstory]

15. thank you.

[drummer55]

29. Holy craposaurus why the hell isnt this on the front page!!!!!!!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7366857/

[Teaser]

12. Can't be true.

The war's over. I saw it on TV.

[rainbow4321]

16. And they're supposed to LIKE us being there....

spreading our freedom and shit...chimpass said so....


Guess they need to send a rush order of the cure-all-evil comic books

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4396351.stm


An advertisement on the US government's Federal Business Opportunities website is inviting applications for someone to develop an "original comic book series".

"In order to achieve long-term peace and stability in the Middle East, the youth need to be reached," the ad says.

"A series of comic books provides the opportunity for youth to learn lessons, develop role models and improve their education."

The comic is to be a collaborative effort with the US Army, which says it has already done initial character and plot development. It will be based on "the security forces, military and police, in the near future in the Middle East" and is being produced by US Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

[PassingFair]

34. Snarf...what's the name of the hero?

The Christian Crusader?

[rainbow4321]

64. Whatever it is...

You know he's going to have a large fuckin' W on his outfit...

[PassingFair]

68. Or a tastefully large

cross!

[wryter2000]

75. LMAO

I hear the Chimperor made that up himself.

[nickgutierrez]

82. I doubt he made it up.

It was probably the way his handlers explained the situation to him, though. :D

[ooglymoogly]

143. what a great idea...we can call it propaganda man

he flies through the airwaves with the greatest of ease....he's propaganda man. listen and you too can believe black is white, war is peace, good is bad, add infinitum

[hollowdweller]

13. Perfect Target Huh?

From the moment that the news of the torture there I wondered why the insurgents never tried to attack that prison and liberate the prisoners. I figured it was heavily fortified.

Think about it, most of the people there probably knows what goes on there. Think of the sympathy that would be going the insurgents way if they made a prison break there. Think of the recruitment both from the freed prisoners and the people who think AG is bad.

[MADem]

51. Probably a softer target than some, when you think about it

Fencing, electrified wire and concertina keep the prisoners in, the best weapon in a confined area is something local like a small calibre or a taser, and all of the weapons would be pointed IN, not out.

And every day, you have people up the yingyang standing around outside the prison, ostensibly checking on the status of relatives who are being held, who can do some vigorous recon without standing out or appearing suspicious.

I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner than this. But this creates another issue--they'll need a whole 'nother group of folks on top of the guards to fortify the place. I feel a draft coming.

[Teaser]

14. one reason attacks have slowed

is because they were planning a large scale operation.

Also, this is excellent propaganda for them. The insurgents have been on the receiving end of a lot of bad press lately. This is a good image builder for them.

[leesa]

60. Do you mean the Iraqi people? Insurgents??? How can they even BE

insurgents when they are under occupation and have no gevernment of their own?

[tanyev]

18. 60 "dead-enders" were able to inflict 18

American casualties? Rummy's really going to have to spin this one.

[Massacure]

57. Yes. All of a sudden it went from 20:1 kill rate to 3:1.

[Frederik]

19. The storm of the Bastille

[Voltaire99]

154. Exactly.

[joefree1]

20. Just some dead-enders

Who haven't heard yet that they've lost. :sarcasm:

[democrank]

21. Sorry, but I have to let `er rip.

You`d think that the pathetic corporate media could stop with the death watch long enough to report on this important story.

I`m absolutely certain that there is other news to cover around this world, but NOOOOOOOOOOO. Corporate media wants to make sure they`re the first to report the Pope`s death. If they had sent one-tenth the manpower to Iraq that they`ve sent to the Vatican, things might be a little different. These people are hopeless.

No offense intended, but the Pope is an elderly man. He has lived a wonderful, full life. Right now I`d like the media to take a five minute break from this week`s religion obsession and tell us what the hell is happening in Iraq.

[LostinVA]

28. Or even the Michael Jackson trial

Seriously. ANYTHING is better than the last two weeks of Religion 24/7. At least the Vatican crowd is respectful and quiet. Not a juggler among 'em that I can see...

[Hardrada]

37. No bagpipers either!

[JohnyCanuck]

30. You've also got to consider, from corporate media's perspective

there's not much risk of taking an RPG up the ass while hanging around the Vatican.

I`m absolutely certain that there is other news to cover around this world, but NOOOOOOOOOOO. Corporate media wants to make sure they`re the first to report the Pope`s death. If they had sent one-tenth the manpower to Iraq that they`ve sent to the Vatican, things might be a little different. These people are hopeless.

[NNN0LHI]

22. But the US never has any POW's taken by the Iraqis. NEVER! n/r

[MaineDem]

53. We still don't know what happened to Spec Maupin

I believe he's still listed as MIA.

On edit - he's listed as Captured. http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040423-0645.html

[truth2power]

133. I think he's dead, and the US military knows it....

but he's a Cash Cow. An opportunity to ramp up the patriotism. Keep the proles waving their flags in support of the war.

No offense to his parents, who are suffering I am sure. But they're being lied to as well.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. Sounds like a well organized plan.

I wonder what they have planned for the US next.

[Sterling]

83. I doubt they have anything planned for the US.

PNAC handles that region's terror services.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

88. I actually meant our soldiers over there.

I should have been more clear.

My thoughts are that they were organized enough to sustain an attack against a well fortified position for an hour. I wonder what other US strongholds in Iraq they may are considering.

[General Zod]

24. But remember, freedom is on the march!

......Not!!!! I figured something like this would happen.

I've heard Fox news crow about how the number of insurgent attacks were down since the elections and how Chimpy was thus vindicated......Not!

Anyone who's been paying attention( kinda hard to do with the 24/7 coverage of Schaivo/The Pope) would have noticed that the insurgents were directing their attacks on other Iraqi's.

It was only a matter of time before they launched a major attack against our forces.

[cal04]

25. At Least 20 U.S. Troops Wounded in Iraq Jail Attack

- Dozens of insurgents attacked Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad on Saturday, detonating two suicide car bombs and firing rocket-propelled grenades at U.S. forces before the assault was repelled, the U.S. military said.

At least 20 U.S. soldiers were wounded in the fighting, which lasted around an hour, a U.S. officer said. At least 12 detainees were also wounded, some severely. It was not known how many insurgents were wounded or killed.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8068094
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12740841%255E1702,00.html

[strizi64]

26. Wow, it's getting out of control! n/t

[heyphillip]

31. Abu attack

I bet this story won't get any news coverage because of the continuing coverage on the pope.

[Mr_Spock]

32. Oh, I initially didn't think the 18 were American - that sucks bad

Iraq sucks - what the fuck are we doing there anyway? What a waste of resources.

[heyphillip]

36. Abu attacks

Just saw on FOX NEWS how THEY are reporting it as twenty americans WOUNDED in an attack and they are saying the attack was foilded. sounds like they are trying to down play the incident. that's FOX for you

[Mr_Spock]

42. What's Faux "news" anyway? Oh, that station I deprogrammed?

I haven't seen that fake news channel in years - I wish everyone would put their money where there mouth is and deprogram that Nazi propaganda.

[leesa]

61. We are there murdering innocent brown people so we can steal their

resources. Nothing mysterious about it. So it's OK with you if they are non-Americans, huh?

[omulcol]

98. So it's

perfectly justified in your view for these 18 victims to be Iraqi - but a horror of horrors now you realise they were American ?

Shame on you !

[Maine-ah]

33. cnn reporting right now

[goodboy]

35. Freedom's on the march....It's a sign of desperation for the insurgents...

[PassingFair]

39. How long until its decided that we have to

"Pull a Fallujah" in Baghdad?
And how long after that will the American public know what we have done?

[Earth_First]

40. I don't own cable...is Popewatch 2005 overshadowing this?

Folks with cable news?

[NNN0LHI]

41. Do I really need to answer that? n/t

[democrank]

43. It just occurred to me....

Of course corporate media can`t cover the attack at Abu Ghraib. They`d be forced to do some "background" tidbits. I can see it now:

"I read on Democratic Underground...video tapes..."
"The bloggers have been reporting...not just a few loose cannons"
"Truthout wants to know why Rumsfeld still has a job"
"Buzzflash says orders came from the top"


Now back to our team coverage of the lights in the Papal Apartment.

Tomorrow, we`ll have a four-hour special on the Moral People`s Jugglers for Jesus.

[anarchy1999]

71. Sweet, you made me laugh, welcome to DU. How did you find it?

Just curious.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

141. LOL! only in our dreams friend...

Illusions are sacred and the Truth is profane....

[passy]

44. well the Pope has just died so it will be burried in history

[Theres-a]

45. The timing of the announcement was impeccable

[blitzburgh55]

47. just like when Terri Schiavo died

the news of WMD report was buried. Amazing. The Chimps failures are always bottom of the barrel news.

[Massachusetts]

48. Oh ya things are under control...

These guys can and will attack anytime anywhere. What the F is OUR government doing?

[daleo]

50. Sunni clergy were reported to have advised Sunnis to "join the army"

The corporate media was reporting earlier today that some big shot Sunni clergy had advised Sunnis to join the "Iraqi National Guard" - i.e. give up the resistance. I guess these guys weren't listening, or they mis-heard him, and joined the wrong army.

It is hard to believe 18 wounded, 0 dead. The numbers always start out that way, and shift as the day goes on.

[markus]

81. They have been joining the IRQ, which is how they do things like this

In terms of propabanda, between the torture and the Red Cross estimating 80-90 percent of the prisoners are innocents round up en masse, I'm surprised it took them this long.

[wildflower]

54. Recommended, since I didn't know of this until I read it here...

I don't want it to be overshadowed by other news. My heart goes out to the families of those killed.

-wildflower

[Massacure]

55. Pope must be getting his revenge on George Bush?

Did the U.S. hold the prison though?

[obxhead]

58. hey now,

all this is uncalled for. The Iraqi oil is payin for the war, their havin parades, the insurgency is limited
damn it... it's saturday now april fools is over.
can't you feel the breeze that will turn into that strong draft.

[NightOwwl]

59. CNN home page has NO mention of the attack.

Zip. Zilch. Zero. :grr:

[NightOwwl]

85. self-delete

[DawgHouse]

62. Big news!

[lebkuchen]

63. Who was freed?

Half of Baghdad?

[Frederik]

65. Washington Post

"U.S. forces responded with heavy weapons, eventually bringing the situation under control. It was not known how many insurgents were wounded or killed in the battle.

Witnesses said the second car bomb was detonated against U.S. forces as they were trying to evacuate casualties from the first. U.S. troops sealed the prison grounds. It was not believed any insurgents penetrated the perimeter."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21200-2005Apr2.html

[Career Prole]

66. Rate the story up on Yahoo...link here.

At Least 20 U.S. Troops Wounded in Iraq Jail Attack

It'll be tough keeping this out of the memory hole, but let's give it our best shot, DU!

[Barrett808]

70. Done. 2.45 with 328 votes, looks like it's being freeped n/t

[Carolab]

96. Done.

A bit higher now.

[ClayZ]

100. Done

;(

[ebayfool]

120. kick - 2.97 with 511 votes n/t

[psychopomp]

119. rate it up

n/t

[LibertyorDeath]

124. Done

Its current average rating is 2.97 with 517 vote(s).

[Danocrat]

67. Hmmm

Not a word on Drudge. Imagine that.

[alexisfree]

69. You beat, humilate, kill humans and you expect to be welcome with flowers.

[Zhade]

72. Can one really blame them?

I mean, our people are raping their women in there - and little boys in front of their moms, according to Sy Hersh!

What would WE do if someone invaded our country, killed 100,000 of us, and tortured us in their prisons after arresting us without charges?

[anarchy1999]

74. Thank you for saying so. "WHAT WOULD WE DO?"

n/t

I know where myself and my husband would be. How about you?

[Minstrel Boy]

78. 100,000 Iraqi deaths is the same as one million American deaths

when adjusted for population.

[Zhade]

115. Indeed. I'm certainly not saying this wasn't justified.

IMHO, it most assuredly was.

I hate this evil war and all who support it.

[LynnTheDem]

79. Try "killed 1 million of us"; that's a per capita comparison.

But (most) Americans don't do empathy.

Edited to add:

You beat me to it, MB.

[Zhade]

114. True, true. Sanctions were murder.

I guess even I am guilty of failing memory now and then.

[LynnTheDem]

129. Not including the deaths from sanctions; Iraq's population is 25 million,

USA is 290 million.

100,000 Iraqis killed in the past 2 years; that would be an equivalent of 1 million Americans, in rounded numbers.

[Zhade]

150. Yeah, I read MB's post after I replied to you.

Felt that recognizing the sanctions was also valid, so I left the post up. I totally get what you both are saying, though.

Reprehensible, this madness.

[greatbubba]

73. Mission Accomplish -right Bush? Perfect timing on the pope to die to

supress the news. Be careful people George Bush and his puppets are Milking the Shaviro and Pope news to make abortion ILLEGAL. They will call it the right to life Bill.

[LynnTheDem]

76. At Least 20 U.S. Troops Wounded in Iraq Jail Attack

Dozens of insurgents attacked Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad on Saturday, detonating two suicide car bombs and firing rocket-propelled grenades at U.S. forces before the assault was repelled, the U.S. military said.

At least 20 U.S. soldiers were wounded in the fighting, which lasted around an hour, a U.S. officer said. At least 12 detainees were also wounded, some severely. It was not known how many insurgents were wounded or killed.

Abu Ghraib, notorious for the prisoner abuse scandal that emerged last year, is on the western outskirts of Baghdad. It is one of three U.S.-run detention facilities in the country.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8068112

[tabasco]

77. Two platoon operation.

Soon we will be attacked by company-sized, well-organized units.

Just like the Viet Cong. Kept getting bigger and more organized.

How many thousands dead will it be this time?

How long before we can regain control of our Nation from the war-profiteering corporations?

[Frederik]

95. Tet offensive starting about now?

They couldn't have picked a more symbolic target, that's for sure.

They've never done something like this until now, have they? Approx 2 platoons, one hour long assault.

[LynnTheDem]

80. Iraq insurgency has worsened: US intelligence

Though US President George W Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have been giving the impression that the insurgency situation in Iraq is improving, the American Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which monitors the situation daily, says it has worsened.

"The insurgency in Iraq has grown in size and complexity over the past year. Attacks numbered approximately 25 per day one year ago," DIA Director Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby told the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington.

"Attacks on Iraq's election day reached approximately 300, almost double the previous one day high of about 160 during last year's Ramadan. Since the January 30 election, attacks have averaged around 60 per day and in the 1st two weeks dropped to approximately 50 per day," Jacoby said.

-snip

The vice admiral also pointed out that multiple polls show favourable ratings for the US in the Muslim world "at all-time lows."

More at link:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1286031,00050001.htm

So the attack on Abu Ghraib is no surprise to anyone in the world outside of the USSA, and no surprise to DUers and other sentient Americans (ie everyone other than rightwingnuts).

[hadrons]

84. the resistence has gotten stronger .....

the so-called dip in attacks on troops since those elections is more due to the troopers being less visible since they were "securing" the vote

Secondly, the resistence prefers wounded to dead soldiers; dead soldiers are transported in coffins and buried, wounded soldiers need to be taken care of; they tie up more resources.

[tabasco]

91. They told the troops to hunker down before the election ...

to reduce casualties prior to the US presidential election.

Also. troops have been pulled out of dangerous outposts in cities to deploy to areas near the constantly threatened pipelines (the real reason we are there).

So, yes, to someone not paying attention, it seems like the insurgency has reduced during the last two months. To anyone paying attention, it is merely the calm before the storm.

[hadrons]

93. I was referring to the Iraqi elections

[CAcyclist]

121. But they told us the elections were free of attacks

"Attacks on Iraq's election day reached approximately 300, almost double the previous one day high of about
160 during last year's Ramadan.


Wait a second - what about all the US reports of a trouble-free election? I knew it was ^^*hit, but I had no idea the magnitude of the denial.

[LynnTheDem]

131. They lied.

As usual.

[ebayfool]

125. 'Attacks on Iraq's election day' - They numbered almost double the ...

previous one day high of about 160 in spite of everything that was done to prevent them, according to Seymour Hersh. I hadn't heard of all the lengths that were gone to during the elections, till I saw this. The 'insurgency' isn't going away, they ARE getting better at what they are doing. Puts me in mind of that Viet Nam photo of the chopper w/the arrow sticking out of it, except this time - they are adapting & revising strategy at a much faster pace. All of the technology & firepower that was used, & still double the previous one day high. Still the schmucks won't admit they've got it wrong, just keep throwing more lives away ... American & Muslim!

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/03/con05117.html

snip/
First, Hersh brought the audience of nearly 2,000 up to date on conditions in Iraq. He torpedoed Bush’s rosy assessment of the recent elections. “Everything came to a stop for this election. Satellites were moved over the country. All assets were dragged over. In Afghanistan, where we really have a war going on…those guys stood down for three weeks because the drones which pick up signals were all dragged to Iraq. Nobody knew who they were voting for. If this had happened in Russia during the Cold War, it would have been laughed at.”

[NightOwwl]

86. Still NO mention of the attack ANYWHERE on CNN website.

I haven't relied on MSM for a long time, but I'm curious just how long they will go before they REPORT THE NEWS for God's Sake!

[Junkdrawer]

90. Why, it's like they know this would reflect bad on this administration...

and they thus refuse to report it.

But, as a legitimate news agency, they wouldn't do that, would they?

:sarcasm:

[greatbubba]

102. ITS CALLED MEDIA SUPPRESION

[nonconformist]

87. Quagmire.

In his whole life, everything Bush has touched has turned to shit. Why anyone thought this would be any different is beyond me.

[Boo Boo]

92. Sheeeeoooot!

How we gonna git that Oil, boys, if them damn Eye-Rackies keep attackin' our goo-lag!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

94. NYT Link

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/international/middleeast/03ghraib.html

[UpInArms]

97. CentCom: INSURGENTS LAUNCH ATTACKS ON CAMP ABU GHRAIB

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20050403.txt

BAGHDAD - Iraq – Multi National Force-Iraq repelled an attack by 40-60 insurgents on Forward Operating Base Abu Ghraib April 2 at approximately 7 p.m.

Two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices were followed by rocket-propelled grenades, small arms fire and 20 rounds of indirect fire.

The assault by the Anti-Iraqi Forces failed, and the FOB is secured and locked down.

Approximately eighteen U.S. service members have been reported wounded.

Twelve detainees were wounded. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

....news release...

Guess they don't want anyone to know how many died. :shrug:

[Frederik]

105. If 12 detainees were wounded...

they must either have done quite some damage to the facilities, with the mortars presumably, or actually entered the prison?

[Zhade]

116. "Anti-Iraqi Forces" MY FAT ASS!

They're Iraqi patriots trying to drive us out, YOU FUCKING LIARS!!!

[jamesinca]

127. One line in your post sums it up

"The assault by the anti-Iraqi forces" This is the view that the administration holds of the patriotic, nationalistic fighters, the people who want THEIR country back.

I think it should have been phrased differently, such as "the assault by the anti-GWB vision of Iraq forces"

[jbnow]

99. Abu Ghraib should have been closed

and demolished. Even after the torture was exposed to the world we just keep going. It is such a signal of our disregard for others...

OK, too much is flashing through my mind. Our own prison system is shameful but imagine if that had been exposed here...and against our people who were just being held for questioning.
I am remembering some of the shrugging it off responses of many people here when that was exposed.
There were no real consequences except for a few soldiers caught in the pictures. Even if it had been just them responsible for every wrong there we should have gone SO much further to show our regret. At least as some token gesture the place should have been closed, the few real criminals there could have been taken somewhere else.

It is a perfect symbol of why they really should hate us (one of many). Who would want to cooperate with a country that delighted in shaming us?

Would we be "over" it yet if some other country had done this to us?

The soldiers hurt or killed were somebodies child or daddy or beloved. They may have been "innocent", kids who joined for better reasons and were just assigned there. They as individuals likely didn't deserve it. But if I were an Iraqi citizen my rage would be tremendous and it is so easy to understand why they would feel more then justified.

Hey world, I really am sorry.

[susu369]

107. Agree with you, jbnow

Abu Ghraib and Fallujah...

hang my head in shame.

[grumpy old fart]

101. But in MSM, it's all pope, all the time...

[Berserker]

103. Stay tuned for the hour long special

on the pope. No news elsewhere all is quiet and the country is safe.

[chlamor]

104. A Minor Blip in the Democratic Revolution

sweeping throughout the Middle East.

[LibertyorDeath]

122. That is a searing image do you mind if I use it

It says it all imo

[wicket]

106. Oh god.

:(

[osaMABUSh]

108. Nice timing - we won't hear anything about this one

The Pope deserves all the news for a while. At least Schiavo was bumped off too.

Just wonder what the 18 American casualties entail?

[RetroLounge]

109. I thought we won this war?

We're they throwing flowers?

RL

[Mr_Spock]

110. Wars over - nothing to see here - just clean-up operations

move along...

[RetroLounge]

111. Bunch of Dead-Enders...

RL

[Name removed]

112. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

118. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Frederik]

140. Yup

They'd be in Iran if it weren't for the insurgents. That was the master plan.

[Mr_Spock]

113. Yup - dead-enders - yeah, that's the ticket - just a bunch of dead-enders

emphasis on the dead :wtf:

[demgurl]

117. I feel so out of the loop....

Perhaps it is because I have been sick for almost a month, but did any of you realize that Abu had been attacked so many times that the military said they were thinking of relocating?!?! This was totally news to me. Don't get me wrong, I do not blame them for a single attack but considering how well accomplished this mission was, and how the attacks have been covered up, I was blown away!

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050309/news_1n9prison.html

"The reason we would like to move our operations from Abu Ghraib is that it has been regularly targeted with attacks from insurgents. The new facility would be within the larger Baghdad International Airport complex, making it less susceptible to attacks," Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a spokesman for Iraq Detention Operations, told The Associated Press.

[NYC]

123. Current rating 2.97.

You have given the news article At Least 20 U.S. Troops Wounded in Iraq Jail Attack a rating of 5.

Its current average rating is 2.97 with 515 votes.

[kineneb]

126. Just heard the report on BBC

40 injured in attack

[underpants]

132. They were HORRIBLY under manned as it was

which was part of the reason that what happened there happened there.

[NightOwwl]

128. Remember the "outrage" of pResident Bush...

when he made this statement to the American people on May 24, 2004?

A new Iraq will also need a humane, well-supervised prison system. Under the dictator, prisons like Abu Ghraib were symbols of death and torture. That same prison became a symbol of disgraceful conduct by a few American troops who dishonored our country and disregarded our values. America will fund the construction of a modern, maximum security prison. When that prison is completed, detainees at Abu Ghraib will be relocated. Then, with the approval of the Iraqi government, we will demolish the Abu Ghraib prison, as a fitting symbol of Iraq's new beginning.(Applause.)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/20040524-10.html

Troops were injured (and possibly killed) because this man failed to fulfill his promised obligation. He knew when he spoke these words it was an empty promise, just as he knew no one would confront him with his lies. He is directly responsible for the injuries (and possible deaths) to our troops at Abu Ghraib. He is the most despicable leader in the history of our country. He is a disgrace to this nation.

[jmatthan]

134. KGO and Karel reported 18 US Soldiers dead

http://jmpolitics.blogspot.com

(I posted this link in another thread also. Sorry for repeating it here.)

Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland

[southernboy]

137. kick

[lonestarnot]

135. Yep let freedom ring...n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

136. At least Abu Ghraib is a better target than a Shia shrine

The insurgents have made a bad habit of attacking Shia targets as of late. It brings into question just what their real goals are. They appear to be fighting foreign occupation and their fellow countrymen at the same time. Do they want to expel the colonialists or fight a sectarian civil war? It's not a good idea to try to do both at once. This gives the insurgency a look of blind rage rather than an organized attempt to rescue a nation from foreign domination.

Even Sunni leaders are rejecting the nihilists. A BBC report tells of Sunni clerics in Baghdad urging Sunni to join Iraq's security forces.

Meanwhile, the new Iraqi government itself has elected a Sunni as Speaker. This is a sign that the Shia-dominated Parliament knows that it must include Iraq's Sunnis if it is going to make things work.

Iraqis can take control of their country from the neoconservative imperialists if they work together. Zarqawi and his people seem to be off in another world.

[ECH1969]

138. Zarqawi group claims Abu Ghraib attack: report

The Al Qaeda-linked group of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for a massive assault on Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

"Your brothers in the organisation of Al Qaeda in the land of two rivers attacked Abu Ghraib prison where Muslim men and women are detained," a statement on an Islamist website said.

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1337204.htm

[Mari333]

139. Thank God Michael is home

I would have been losing my mind with worry, since that was where he was stationed. I am not even remotely surprised that prison was attacked..there are 8, 9, 10, 11 yr olds being held there for months without their parents...people brought in for NOTHING and held without charges,,,,

[Jack Rabbit]

142. Amen to that

.

[Lorien]

149. Thank goodness! My first thought was of Michael

when I read this headline. I'm very relieved to know that he's home!

[LeahD]

144. Latest on Yahoo

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050403/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestprisonclaim&cid=1514&ncid=1480

[ooglymoogly]

146. up to 4.67 keep on truckin...

[dArKeR]

147. Anyone know how these "Internet" statements by terrorist are made?

I've honestly been out of the loop for about 1/2 year. I missed this. Which PCs do they use? What's their IP address? Who's their ISP? What's their URL? What's their forums User Name? What country is the origin of their packets? Do they use a Windoz or a Mac? Which browser do they use?

Thanks!

[Frederik]

151. They have

an office at the Pentagon, in the basement.

Seriously, I don't buy it for a second. Of course they'll blame it on Al-Zarqawi, he's the bad guy at the moment, isn't he. You can't have more than one bad guy at any given time, it would confuse the public.

[TrueAmerican]

148. Does anyone know if these were Air Force?

My understanding is the Air Force Security Police took over Abu Ghraib for the US Army MPs. Anyone?

[dArKeR]

152. It's hard to believe and lucky no soldiers were killed!

I have several Limbutt brainwashed listening friends. All they do is cry for it's for "Freedom". Never get any facts, data, history, or news reports from them to back up their ideas. "Liberals are destorying our country"... Nothing more when asking them to explain themselves. I don't understand why they don't go to Iraq and be border vigilantes, cowards!

[daleo]

153. BBC now says mostly minor injuries, no deaths.

They seem to be preparing an inflated enemy body count as well.

"At least one militant was killed and it was expected that more would be confirmed dead later, US spokesman Lt Col Guy Rudisill said.

Of the US injured, only a few had serious wounds, he added."

This seems unlikely, but there no longer seems to be any prohibition against lying by the Pentagon, just the same as Viet Nam. They make it sound like a few dozen people forgot to take sunscreen to the beach, and got a slight sunburn.