A first Snow falls in Baghdad

[rodeodance]

Source: ap

A first! Snow falls in Baghdad

By CHRISTOPHER CHESTER, Associated Press Writer 20 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - After weathering nearly five years of war, Baghdad residents thought they'd pretty much seen it all. But Friday morning, as muezzins were calling the faithful to prayer, the people here awoke to something certifiably new.


For the first time in memory, snow fell across Baghdad.

Although the white flakes quickly dissolved into gray puddles, they brought an emotion rarely expressed in this desert capital snarled by army checkpoints, divided by concrete walls and ravaged by sectarian killings — delight.

"For the first time in my life I saw a snow-rain like this falling in Baghdad," said Mohammed Abdul-Hussein, a 63-year-old retiree from the New Baghdad area.

...........

For a couple of hours anyway, a city where mortar shells routinely zoom across to the Green Zone became united as one big White Zone. As of late afternoon, there were no reports of violence. The snow showed no favoritism as it fell faintly on neighborhoods Shiite and Sunni alike, and (with apologies to James Joyce) upon all the living and the dead

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080111/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_first_snow_in_memory_2;_ylt=AhEmybzdhNIAF_0WXVA.gRgUewgF

[CoffeeCat]

1. At first glance, I thought this story...

...was about Chimpy arriving in downtown Baghdad with a bag of blow.

With him touring around the Middle East and all...I just thought...

[onehandle]

2. Crazy worldwide weather.

I wonder what's causing it?

:eyes:

[bdamomma]

8. or you wonder who is causing it???

someone like * who is doing a pilgrimage in the Holy Land???? Should I say it he's the anti christ.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

3. my first thoughts

"when hell freezes over" Time to stop making this poor country a living hell.

[underpants]

6. Exactly what I thought too

Not that it is really hell but that is the first thing I thought of

[AnneD]

4. I guess...

hell finally froze over.

Edited to add-I guess we were reaching for the same shiny penny and bumped heads...ouch

[stillcool]

5. I don't think that's snow...

http://www.dailymail.com/News/200801100677
Massive U.S. air strikes pound insurgent havens south of Baghdad
By Hamza Hendawi, The Associated Press

ZAMBARANIYAH, Iraq - U.S. warplanes unleashed one of the most intense air strikes of the Iraq war Thursday, dropping more than 18,000 kilograms of explosives in a thunderous 10-minute onslaught on suspected "al-Qaida in Iraq" safe havens in Sunni farmlands south of Baghdad.

The mighty barrage, recalling the Pentagon's "shock and awe" raids during the 2003 invasion, appeared to mark a significant escalation in a countrywide offensive launched this week to try to cripple remaining insurgent strongholds.
--------------------------------------------

Maj. Alayne Conway, a spokeswoman for troops in central Iraq, said the amount of ordnance dropped in 10 minutes nearly exceeded what had been used in that region in any month since last June.

Conway said the air attack "was one of the largest air strikes since the onset of the war" in March 2003.
---------------------------------------------------------
"Thirty-eight bombs were dropped within the first 10 minutes, with a total tonnage of 40,000 pounds" the statement said. That tonnage would equal just over 18,000 kilograms.

[bdamomma]

9. depleted uranium perhaps.

[stillcool]

11. wouldn't that be a hoot...

sounds just like our government's penchant with word-play.

[insanad]

7. Hell is freezing over and Pigs Fly, well, Bushies are in the air in the Mid-East.

[Ian David]

10. Is there anything in Daniel or Revelation about snow in Babylon while The Antichrist is in Israel?

[DavidDvorkin]

12. This proves that global warming doesn't exist

If nutwingers haven't said that yet, they soon will.

[truthisfreedom]

13. I just returned from Istanbul where it snowed for two days in a row. (Pic)

Amazing sight... palm trees with snow.

[redqueen]

14. Awww

Talib Haider, a 19-year-old college student, said "a friend of mine called me at 8 a.m. to wake me up and tell me that the sky is raining snow."

"I rushed quickly to the balcony to see a very beautiful scene," he said. "I tried to film it with my cell phone camera. This scene has really brought me joy. I called my other friends and the morning turned to be a very happy one in my life."

:)

[bunkerbuster1]

15. Well, bless 'em.

May this small diversion bring some joy to a people we've terrorized since 1991.

[southernleftylady]

16. So hell does freeze over uh?

I bet alot of those people do think they are living in hell.. what war zone isnt hell?

[donsu]

17. and Hassan Zahar said this about the snow

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng


Snow fell on Baghdad on Friday for the first time in memory, and delighted residents declared it an omen of peace. "It is the first time we've seen snow in Baghdad," said 60-year-old Hassan Zahar. "We've seen sleet before, but never snow. I looked at the faces of all the people, they were astonished," he said. "A few minutes ago, I was covered with snowflakes. In my hair, on my shoulders. I invite all the people to enjoy peace, because the snow means peace," he said. Traffic policeman Murtadha Fadhil, huddling under a balcony to keep dry, declared the snow "a new sign of the new Iraq." "It's a sign of hope. We hope Iraqis will purify their hearts and politicians will work for the prosperity of all Iraqis." The streets of the capital were largely empty as big, thick, wet flakes fell on Friday morning, a weekend day in Iraq. The temperature hovered around freezing and the snow mostly melted into grey puddles when it hit the ground. But it was still lovely, said Mohanned Rahim, a baker: "This snow will bring pleasure to the people of Iraq. It's beautiful!")

---------------------


peace

[stillcool]

18. "The streets were largely empty"...

..can't imagine why...

Massive U.S. air strikes pound insurgent havens south of Baghdad
By Hamza Hendawi, The Associated Press

ZAMBARANIYAH, Iraq - U.S. warplanes unleashed one of the most intense air strikes of the Iraq war Thursday, dropping more than 18,000 kilograms of explosives in a thunderous 10-minute onslaught on suspected "al-Qaida in Iraq" safe havens in Sunni farmlands south of Baghdad.

The mighty barrage, recalling the Pentagon's "shock and awe" raids during the 2003 invasion, appeared to mark a significant escalation in a countrywide offensive launched this week to try to cripple remaining insurgent strongholds.
--------------------------------------------

Maj. Alayne Conway, a spokeswoman for troops in central Iraq, said the amount of ordnance dropped in 10 minutes nearly exceeded what had been used in that region in any month since last June.

Conway said the air attack "was one of the largest air strikes since the onset of the war" in March 2003.
---------------------------------------------------------
"Thirty-eight bombs were dropped within the first 10 minutes, with a total tonnage of 40,000 pounds" the statement said. That tonnage would equal just over 18,000 kilograms.
http://www.dailymail.com/News/200801100677

[Bonobo]

19. You see? It's not all bad, guys! We brought snow!

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. Heh Baghdad, latitude 33N, snow this winter: me, lat. 51N, no snow this winter or last

Crazy.

[kineneb]

21. ME having wierd weather- big snow storms in Iran, too

portions of the Iranian desert received snow which had also never seen it before.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7178192.stm


Dozens killed in Iran blizzards

6/1/08
At least 28 people are reported to have died in Iran's heaviest snowfall in recent years.

Eight people froze to death as severe blizzards left 40,000 people stranded in their cars, authorities said.

Although most have now been rescued, another 20 people are reported to have died in car crashes caused by the weather, officials said.

Tehran has declared two days of national holiday, urging people to stay at home to avoid the bitter cold.

The temperature has been down as low as -24 degrees Celsius, and for the first time in living memory there has been snow in the country's southern deserts.

[WittyUsername]

22. I thought I saw snow pictures in Baghdad a few years ago?

I know it was somewhere in Iraq, perhaps somewhere more north, aye?

[MetaTrope]

23. It certainly is nice that the media have finally got something worth reporting on in Iraq

I thought they'd forgotten the place existed.