CNN Breaking: Huge Explosion in Baghdad - Hotel Destroyed

[Cooley Hurd]

CNN and Reuters reporting hotel destroyed - multiple casualties.

This sounds really bad!!!!

Reuters link: Blast Rips Through Baghdad Hotel, Several Dead

AP: Blast near hotel where foreign contractors are housed

CNN saying it's the Palestine Hotel Swan Lake Hotel Jabal Lebanon Hotel :crazy:

MSNBC Link: Blast rocks Baghdad hotel; some fatalities

CNN Link: Powerful blast rocks Baghdad

CNN's Jane Arraf reporting it was a "very large car bomb..."

Iraqi police telling CNN "many, many dead." Damn!!!!

[Coventina]

1. Another sign of "progress" no doubt.....

:eyes:

[papau]

55. At least the CNN version included the other violence of the day in Iraq

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_EXPLOSION?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Explosion Heard in Central Baghdad

AP:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A large explosion was heard in central Baghdad on Wednesday. Heavy smoke rose behind a central square.<snip>

The explosion occurred behind Firdaus Square, where a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein was felled April 9 with the help of U.S. Marines who had just entered the center of the Iraqi capital.

The Karrada district where the explosion was heard is a mix of residential and commercial buildings.

Reuters:

BAGHDAD — Black smoke is rising from a hotel in central Baghdad after a large explosion was heard in the area.

Witnesses told Reuters that the hotel was destroyed and several people were killed. <snip>

Gunfire was heard after the huge explosion. The hotel sits outside of the so-called Green Zone — that encompasses the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority


CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/17/iraq.main/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- -- A massive explosion shook the Karada district of Baghdad on Wednesday night.

Video from the scene showed several fires burning in the area of the explosion and several people could be seen searching through rubble.<snip>

Three U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi children were wounded Wednesday by an improvised explosive device in south-central Baghdad, a military source told CNN.<snip>

A mortar attack Tuesday night killed a child and wounded eight, believed to have been playing in Baghdad's Adhamiya neighborhood, an Iraqi official said Wednesday.<snip>

Also Tuesday, a rocket struck the grounds of a secondary school in Baghdad's Al-Karkh region, killing one person and wounding four, Iraqi police said.

Baghdad University students Wednesday attended the funeral of the assistant dean of the school of engineering. They told CNN's Jane Arraf that Marwan al-Hiti was shot and killed near his home Tuesday night.

A 3rd Armored Cavalry soldier died Wednesday when he was traveling in a convoy in Iraq en route to Kuwait for redeployment, U.S. Central Command said.

The soldier was injured badly when a passing vehicle struck his tank and was evacuated to a combat support hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.<snip>

[htuttle]

88. Car hits tank, tank passenger killed?

The soldier was injured badly when a passing vehicle struck his tank and was evacuated to a combat support hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.<snip>

Okay. What sort of 'car', travelling at what speed, could cause that kind of damage to a TANK?

:shrug:

[Endangered Specie]

105. I didnt realize that Iraq had SUVs

could have been a Pinto also.

[htuttle]

108. It would have to have been a Pinto

I've seen the results of a pickup truck vs tow truck collision, and the tow truck was hardly scratched (pickup looked like crunched up beer can). I'd hope that a tank would be somewhat more durable than a tow truck...

[dArKeR]

106. Where are the Journalist Police questioning these press releases?

[northzax]

111. well, he could have not been wearing a helmet

and hit his head in a collision with a truck or something?

[PaDUer]

120. Guests at hotel....

american and british...

[placton]

123. From what I read, this will NOT be counted

as a combat death - if the soldier did not die immediately. Some sources indicate nearly 1200 dead US soldiers.

[papau]

139. Seems it is time for a lawsuit - Nader could be useful - Unsafe Tanks.

:-)

[papau]

158. AP Update - 27 dead, 41 wounded - Bush offers prayers (plus $5000 I

assume since that is the standard rate we have neen paying when we kill someone - but maybe these folks just get prayers?

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A huge car bomb destroyed a five-story hotel in central Baghdad on Wednesday night, killing at least 27 people and wounding 41 others, Iraqi police and the U.S. military said.
American forces and Iraqi ambulances hurried to the scene to help. Rescuers could be seen pulling bodies from the rubble of the Hotel Jabal Lebanon, that was hit just three days before the first anniversary of the start of the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein.

Americans, Britons, Egyptians as well as other foreigners were staying at the hotel, resident Faleh Kalhan said.

The Bush administration offered prayers for the victims but said such attacks would not change U.S. policy. <snip>

[saigon68]

173. "BRING EM ON" screeched the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

We'll bomb them back to the stone age.

Then we'll kill all the terrists (Fake texas accent)

[Jack_Dawson]

2. Invading Iraq was a Good Call

Things are really working out over there.

[flamingyouth]

3. <sigh>

:cry:

[Earth_First]

4. Hotel was hit...

Reports of several casualties...

[lucky777]

5. Hotel destroyed, causalties

n/t

[monobrau]

6. It's Spain's fault!

Sorry, somebody had to say it :)

[guscano]

19. Yessir, like in Cuba in 1898

It was also our fault.


Remember the Maine!!!!

:)

Gustavo Cano
Madrid - Spain

[Jackpine Radical]

78. No, it was Kerry's fault.

He was told there was a war going on over there and he did nothing--NOTHING--to warn the people in the hotel. Like Pontius Pilate, he washed his hands of responsibility for the whole business.

[Cooley Hurd]

7. CNN NOT split-screening between Kerry speech & Baghdad...

Kerry speech preempted... :(

On edit - this is horrible & I now favor the coverage of the Baghdad disaster...

[Cooley Hurd]

146. However CNN CUTS TO CHENEY JUST AS HE...

...STARTS TO CRITICIZE KERRY!

Man, that showed such blatant bias! They don't even hide it anymore...

[hang a left]

8. Holy Moly!

Anyone get a name of the hotel.

[Cooley Hurd]

11. Not yet...

Cripes! Reuters: several bodies being pulled from hotel rubble (via CNN)

[hang a left]

17. Palestine Hotel just reported.

[Teaser]

20. Isn't that where a lot of soldiers and journos are?

OR is that a different hotel?

[JCMach1]

22. al Rashid and the Palestine are the two biggest in Baghdad

:(

This can't be good... It's the start of the weekend and probably FULL.

[hang a left]

23. I think it was Wolf who was saying that usually

military and contractors stay in much more fortified hotels. So who knows?

[Guaranteed]

9. "Baghdad Hotel destroyed"

is the headline on CNN.

[wryter2000]

16. The Baghdad Hotel?

Or a Baghdad Hotel?

[DubyaSux]

10. Too bad, but...

Well, Bush DID say bring it on...

[Just Me]

12. I feel a need to go numb,...

This seems like a day filled with turmoil.

[Cooley Hurd]

13. Video showing large area burning...

Wow! AP: Heavy smoke rising from Central Square area (via CNN)

[nickinSTL]

15. Where is it?

This isn't mentioned at all on CNN's website, or BBC's or Yahoo!News.

What gives?

EDIT: Ok, yeah it's listed at the top of the page...details soon.

[hang a left]

18. Green Zone

[expatriot]

138. the green zone?

The green zone is on fire? or just the hotel? i don't have cable here and slow internet connection... tell me whats going on damn it. the green zone?

[JCMach1]

14. Yikes, I am always struck with a sense of the surreal

When I think about Baghdad being a few hundred miles away...

We had a peaceful day in the Middle East at the beach...

I have Iraqi students and it's Spring Break... I pray they weren't staying in Baghdad.

[Cooley Hurd]

21. Map of Baghdad showing location of Palestine Hotel:

From http://www.nationalphilistine.com/baghdad/map/love_map.html


#2 is the Palestine Hotel.

[CaptainClark23]

24. Palestine Hotel - Confirmed?

[Cooley Hurd]

26. CNN reporting it's the Palestine Hotel

<on edit - Not Palesine hotel, the Jalal Lebanon Hotel>

[CaptainClark23]

34. oh goddamn

this isn't going to be good. Palestine Hotel was the base for ALOT of journalists during the invasion. Recall it was fired upon by a US tank, Spanish(?) journalist killed.

there isn't going to be any good news about this.

damn these bastards. more blood on OUR collective hands.

[Minstrel Boy]

27. No, it's The Baghdad Hotel

CNN said Palestine Hotel is 1/4 mile away, I believe I heard.

[hang a left]

28. Unofficial report that it was a car bomb

[hang a left]

Reported mixed area of residential and commercial

[deutsey]

31. Reuters just says "a Baghdad hotel"

.

[tridim]

41. It doesn't matter which hotel it was

They will all be bombed eventually. Mission accomplished my ass.

[Minstrel Boy]

32. Okay, now CNN is saying it's The Swan Lake Hotel.

Large car bomb outside it. Houses foreign contractors.

CNN banner: "Palestine Hotel Well Protected."

[BeHereNow]

58. American Civilian Halliburton Employees

I would think that would be who they are
calling "foreign contractors."
Remember last summer the article about
Halliburton holding interviews to hire people
willing to relocate to the ME? The people who attended
were forbidden to discuss the meetings but it was
suggested they would be paid a LOT of money.
So sad, some of them probably could not find a job
here and went because they felt they had no
options and had to find a way to support their families.
Now some of them are dead, no doubt.
BHN

[Bandit]

25. Sure glad Saddam has been captured ~ Everybody is much safer

Especially the Iraqis and the Spanish.

[sadiesworld]

29. Swan Lake hotel?

[hang a left]

30. yep that is a 10-4

[CaptainClark23]

43. thanks for clarifying

foreign contractors makes alot more sense as a target than journalists.

Why am I strangely relieved?

Thats not good, this shit is getting to me.

[hang a left]

37. now they are saying by the Swan Lake Hotel

I think there is a lot of confusion right now.

[cclark401]

39. near the hotel

see link


too bad... looks like it's getting safer and safer.

[Capt_Nemo]

33. Flasbacks of Beirut in the 80's

Bring'em on!

[TX-RAT]

35. Mount Lebanon Hotel

Per fox news

[sadiesworld]

36. Correction: Jabal(?) Lebanon hotel.

[hang a left]

"Exact hotel that was hit"

[madrchsod]

38. Wolfie

certainly didn`t like what the professor had to say..poor Wolfie

[Teaser]

42. What was that?

What did the wolfman say?

[madrchsod]

73. sorry had to run

wolfie was trying to get the guy to say it was foreign-alq`s doing all the bombing , but this guy had figures on who and what age group was responsible for the attcks..wolfie just dropped the questions and went to break...

[Teaser]

40. Is anyone reporting the same hotel?

I've looked at 5 different news sources and seen 5 different hotels.

[hang a left]

46. Confirmed the Jamal Lebanon

[hippiechick]

44. This, as the GOP Senate has a bill up which declares

... that the US and the world is a safer place since Saddam Hussein was removed from power. I guess the Iraqi's haven't read the bill yet ...

:eyes:

[Just Me]

56. Someone should rush this news to the floor!!!!

They can add that,...I am a member of this world and I do NOT feel safer with Bush in power!!!

[Cooley Hurd]

65. OMG! Is that true?

Talk about repuke timing! :eyes:

[hippiechick]

85. Yep, I saw them debating it on CSpan over the lunch hour

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HE00557:@@@L&summ2=m&

"RELATED BILL DETAILS: (additional related bills may be indentified in Status)
Bill: Relationship:
H.RES.561 Rule related to H.RES.557 in House

AMENDMENT(S):
***NONE***

COSPONSORS(5), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)
Rep Blunt, Roy - 3/11/2004 Rep DeLay, Tom - 3/11/2004
Rep Goss, Porter J. - 3/11/2004 Rep Hunter, Duncan - 3/11/2004
Rep Pryce, Deborah - 3/11/2004

SUMMARY AS OF:
3/11/2004--Introduced.
States that the House of Representatives: (1) affirms that the United States and the world have been made safer with the removal of Saddam Hussein and his regime from power in Iraq; (2) commends the Iraqi people for their courage in the face of unspeakable oppression and brutality inflicted on them by Saddam Hussein's regime; (3) commends the Iraqi people on the adoption of Iraq's interim constitution; and (4) commends the members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Coalition forces for liberating Iraq and expresses its gratitude for their valiant service.

(emphasis added)
:hippie:

[54anickel]

118. And it's point 4 that has Dems cornered. How do you vote against it?

[hippiechick]

135. One senator was arguing that it shouldn't have to be

... 'on paper' because nothing ever actually IS the way it looks on paper. He noted that the 'war' was not over simply because Bush said it was in some speech, etc ...

So the Dems are trying to get the whole thing struck as pointless and premature, from what I understand.

But I could be wrong ...


:hippie:

[54anickel]

150. I hope you are correct. The Dems need to show some backbone on

this one.

[aquart]

122. Well, at least it keeps them from doing any real legislation.

[SidDithers]

181. WTF kind of bill is that?...

Might as well have a bill affirming that water boils at 120 C. Saying so doesn't necessarily make is true.

Idiots.

Sid

[Just Me]

187. A bill opining both "superiority" and the future,...

,...a bill intended to re-write history.

On edit,...a bill that passed *sigh*.

[catmandu57]

45. Anniverary attacks starting

with the one year anniversary approaching I think we're going to be seeing much of this.

[jpak]

54. yup

n/t

[Gman]

47. This is what the BFEE may do to a hotel here in the US in the fall

look at your TV very carefully. Expect this type of thing this fall if bush is behind in the polls. The bush people will make this happen. It will be a black bag job all in the name of saving the country from the liberals and doing it in God's name. Think I'm kidding? Think about the what we're dealing with in the neocons. They've already floated the idea of postponing the elections to save Bush's ass.

Look at your TV very carefully. This will likely be repeated right here this fall, courtesy of the Bush (re)election committee.

[frylock]

81. yep

[Media_Lies_Daily]

191. Hotel? Try an entire city...

...the NeoCons figure that's the only thing that will "galvanize the American public like another Peral Harbor".

It may galvanize us alright...but in a way that the NeoCons would never suspect.

[UpInArms]

48. guess this shoots that "happy happy joy joy" reporting bullshit

that Jennings has been doing for the past 2 nights on the ABC Evening Lies.

[argonne]

72. What a crock! Jennings giving it the

Disney feel!

[otohara]

80. Weeeeeeeeee....This Must Have Felt Like When

the US was dropping bombs on Baghdad one year ago....of course no one was killed by OUR smart bombs, which go out of their way to avoid death of innocent people.

Jennings and the CNN woman act as if bombs killing many people in Baghdad is something new.

[hang a left]

49. Car bomb confirmed

[KoKo]

50. WSJ Reporter said yesterday on C-Span that most journalists are housed

in "safe houses" rather than Hotels because the hotels are targets.

I think they spread them over Baghdad was what he was saying.

One does wonder who it is, then who is left in the Hotels?

[CaptainClark23]

53. That would be "Coalition Journalists", I'd assume

[Just Me]

51. Another painful day in man-made hell on earth.

Humanity surely wants this insanity to end.

PEACE!!!

PEACE!!!

Create PEACE on earth. Stop the warring.

[hang a left]

52. Carnage everywhere.

[hang a left]

57. Now mentioning condominiums next to hotel

[berner59]

61. green zone...

Why are they so concerned it wasn't the "green zone"?? That area is the only safe area... These poor Iraqis are sitting ducks and the newscasters seemed "relieved" that it's not westerners... PEOPLE are dying, what's the difference...and they're dying because of US!!!!

[hang a left]

70. I heard earlier that is was the green zone......?

[democrank]

59. All the carnage

makes me want to cry. How can we go on like this? oh, yeah....we`re safer. Bush should be behind bars for what he has done.

[dArKeR]

60. Watching CNN I can't stop the tears. Bush should be Impeached! And

The Republican Whores in the House are debating a meaningless bill they made with no outside input. The debate should be impeaching Bush!

[qanda]

69. I'm crying too and I don't know why

Maybe it's because I marched every single chance I had to try to prevent this war and in a strange way I feel partially responsible because we were not powerful enough to stop this. My God, what can we do? When is this going to end?

[dArKeR]

99. The American Media is responsible. They are supposed to be the police

to watch the criminals, Republican Party. The American Media and the Repukelican Party are obviously in conspiratory collusion and conducting 'terrorists' acts against America and the American Constitution. Where are the police?

[xultar]

62. So, let me see Iraq is safer, so, we are safer, the WORLD is safer

NOT!

F-U BUSH!

[Jacobin]

66. But, Dean was "wrong" to say its not safer with

Saddam in custody.

/sarcasm

[progressivebydesign]

68. Yet another thing Dean had right.

As I watch the horror of this bombing unfold, I am reminded that Howard Dean said many, many right things... only to be muzzled by the timid and the fearful.

[xultar]

75. I don't think anyone here thought Dean was wrong. :shrug:

:shrug::crazy::shrug:

[progressivebydesign]

154. Actually..

Dean was attacked by the other Democratic candidates for saying that. It's a fine line that the candidates had to walk to appease the masses.. but Dean was right on target with this one.

[qanda]

63. One year ago today is when Bush* got on TV and made

His plan to invade Iraq official. I remember it as clear as day and I wonder if this has anything to do with all of the celebrating America is doing over the one year anniversary of our conquest.

[daleo]

64. Clearly, the resistance is targeting non-military westerners

I guess they have decided that targeting contractors and others is just as effective, if not more effective, as targeting occupation troops.

[Ganja Ninja]

82. It seems like they keep rotating targets.

One week it's the troops, the next week it's the Iraqi collaborators then it's the foreign workers and so on.

[0007]

67. Accordingly, per Donald Rumsfeld, "we're gonna have these little flare ups

from time to time, it is a sign of progress"

Now schmuck Rumsfeld is backtracking

http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&storyID=4582938

[xultar]

71. Yo! Now Boosh is gonna play the VOTE 4 BOOSH and vote against Terror

FU - BOOSH!!!

If it weren't for you we wouldn't be in this mess in the FIRST PLACE!!!

[monobrau]

74. Faux news explaining why this is a good thing

Just another "occasional" attack. Things are going just fine. They have polls!

[underpants]

91. "Despite evidence to the contrary and common sense......

that is the story we were told to read and we are sticking with it"

That what they ought to say.

[frank frankly]

100. Faux News should never be forgiven for what they have done and are doing

Faux News is poison.

[kskiska]

110. Can you imagine if Faux had been around

during the Vietnam War?

[markses]

76. Did somebody say FIASCO?

Oh, yeah. That would be Zapatero, the "appeaser." :eyes:

[ConcernedCanuk]

77. Watching on CBC NewsWorld - US Military keeping reporters away

.
.
.

Guess they have to make sure that the press gets the "filtered" version? :shrug:

And I guess tearing down the Statues and "getting" Saddam didn't help much eh?

AND

Heck, after all this time, the "most powerful nation in the world" can't control one city ?

Don't let New Yorkers figure that out!

Baghdad is TINY compared to NYC!!

yikes . .

[IkeWarnedUs]

151. US soldiers had to find something to do

Multiple reports say that angry Iraqi's pushed American soldiers away who were trying to help the wounded.

[louis-t]

177. reuters story doesn't mention this...

hmmmmmm...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=1&u=/nm/20040317/ts_nm/iraq_dc

[loftycity]

79. Robert Fisk, reporter was over there, we hope he's back home...

[Norquist Nemesis]

83. MSNBC saying Iraqi Businessmen and

Middle East businessmen stay in hotel. Analyst is saying that this is showing the terrorists have a plan. It is a strike against the money people trying to invest in Iraq opportunities. Says "it is a well-thought out process".

[xultar]

84. so much for the media saying that the attacks are unsophisticated

:grr:

[hang a left]

94. I wonder how American and coalition investers feel about

"opportunity" slices going to others?

[laruemtt]

86. where is that piece of

sh*t *smirkoff? sincerely hope this touch of bad news doesn't disturb his afternoon nap.... how many lives you have to pay for you good for nothing piece of hell on earth!

[qanda]

87. Faux analyst saying that this will show the Iraqis

That the terrorists are not their friends and then all the "reasonable" Arabs will rise up against the terrorists and join America's war on terror. I cannot make this stuff up!!!

[Ganja Ninja]

95. Desperate people do desperate things.

And the folks a FOX are desperate for Smirk's re-appointment.

[underpants]

96. Do they get Fox News in Iraq?

Would they smell this stinking load from 5 blocks away?

[tlcandie]

114. Fox News is piped into the military places for ALL to see so, I'm sure

and believe that I've read that Fox is definitely one of THE few channels piped into the Iraq society thanks to the US :/

[NashVegas]

89. Is This Another Attack on "Collaborators?"

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A powerful blast ripped through a Baghdad hotel and several neighboring buildings on Wednesday evening, killing several people and sending a plume of flames and smoke into the night sky in the center of the city.

Rescuers pulled several bodies out of the rubble of the Mount Lebanon Hotel, a small hotel used mainly by Iraqis and Arabs, and blazing buildings nearby. They said several more people were believed to still be trapped inside.

[minkyboodle]

90. jesus

CNN showing amatuer video of the scene. Its just heartbreaking... Faux's coverage (the 2 minutes I watched) made me want to throw a brick at my TV, quoting polls about how well it was going and how attacks are down. They have no shame.
Scott

[dArKeR]

134. A DA should file criminal charges of conspiracy!

[dArKeR]

140. Whore CNN even said that ALL Private Foreign security services agree the

sitution has completely deteriorated it the past 2 weeks. NO ONE is SAFE. These firms included US Security companies. So how can FOX air what they said without being held accountable?

[moondust]

92. CNN: Iraqis working at scene telling U.S. soldiers to "Get out of here!"

What a mess.

[Barrett808]

152. "U.S. soldiers driven back by angry Iraqis"

U.S. soldiers from the nearby "Green Zone" attempted to go into the area to rescue victims but were driven back by angry Iraqis.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/17/iraq.main/index.html

[DulceDecorum]

162. Makes a change from Nairobi

when US Marines gunned down rescuers and even survivors from the bombed building that collapsed adjacent to and on top of the US Embassy.
But then again, the Iraqis, unlike the Kenyans, are armed.

[Blue_Roses]

163. WOW!

UNBELIEVABLE! Obviously the Iraqis have had enough of our soldiers...what a caotic mess :crazy:

[Barrett808]

164. Apparently fear of a second bomb is the cause

From CNN transcript:
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0403/17/bn.01.html

RODGERS: Wolf, well, as Jane was telling you, U.S. military personnel from the Green Zone, which is a mile and a half, perhaps two miles away, came here. They came in their Humvee vehicles and their Bradleys. That gives them a modicum of protection. They went in, tried to rescue people from the collapsed buildings, from the burning flames. The Iraqis were so furious, they drove off the soldiers who were trying to rescue the injured people and told the American soldiers to get out of here. That's how fiery the Iraqi and Arab temper is on the streets of Baghdad these days.

One of the reasons you heard during Jane's report that the soldiers were shouting at the people to get back and get back is because one of the patterns that terrorists use in a situation like this is they will set off one large car bomb, then the rescue workers and the people will come in trying to help the injured, and they'll have a second bomb all set ready to go.

[lanlady]

93. our eternal shame

US greed, arrogance, and cowardice (cowards attack the weak; you don't see us dropping bombs on North Korea, do you?) continue to cost lives such as those lost today in Baghdad.

[Cooley Hurd]

97. Al Jazeera network across the street; offices damaged...

...hell of a way to get a scoop. :(

[CaptainClark23]

104. uh-oh...

In connection with my post below re: premature detonation...the proximity of Al Jazeera could be implicated...

Thinking aloud here folks...

[CaptainClark23]

98. Premature detonation?

From the little hard info I can gather, I'm not hearing anything about targets of real value in this explosion.

Could it be the "very large car bomb" was en route to its intended target when it went off?

[berner59]

102. MSNBC press briefing...

Scotty using the same lingo: "We will continue our resolve"...looks grim...

[hang a left]

101. Mc Clellan up now. OMG they have nos shame!

[minkyboodle]

109. ughhh

I gotta go take a shower after hearing him.
Scott

[Norquist Nemesis]

103. Oh Goody! Scottie's on now

Can't tell whether the admin wrote Faux's "news" or the other way around. :puke:

[jeanmarc]

113. McClellan/Bush are actually running on this tragedy

Never miss an opportunity for self-promotion. What a group of pigs.

[jeanmarc]

107. The next Faux spin: Hotel bombing was Spain's fault

You see, the Spanish election emboldened the terr'ists. Yep, you watch for this. What a horrible tragedy.

[ZR2]

112. I didn't know

Iraq was getting ready for elections so soon.

[Cooley Hurd]

115. AP reporting 27 killed, 47 injured

...via CNN.

[Cooley Hurd]

119. CNN reporting US & British guests were staying in hotel...

...just gets worse and worse. :(

[VolcanoJen]

116. At least 27 killed. I can only imagine what will transpire on March 20th.

The anniversary of the invasion is only three days away now.

CNN just updated the casualty count, through the AP. At least 27 killed, and 41 injured.

Watching Scott McClellan shake through his press briefing is stomach-turning.

:-(

[KoKo]

131. An Iraqi official just saying there was a hospital behind the hotel and

windows were knocked out with glass everywhere. He said there were also houses with damage next to the hotel and some have "people under them."

The live shots look like it's a huge area that's involved. :-( It reminds me of the bombing of the UN Embassy in Iraq last year from the photos.

[m-jean03]

117. CNN Breaking -- At least 27 dead

41 wounded. AP wire.

[m-jean03]

121. Thank you Walt Rogers

For telling it how it is

"Baghdad is LESS safe for Iraqis and westerners than in the period just following the invasion... Iraqis are WORSE off, they have NO jobs..."

Kudos, man. Sorry a tragedy had to bring it out.

[Cooley Hurd]

125. I'm glad he said it too...

...although to say otherwise, especially in the face of this latest attack, would be just plain stupid on his part.

[KoKo]

126. I heard him say that. He said "despite what Washington is telling us!"

It was an incredible report. I don't want to say more because when a reporter tells the truth on CNN they get canned.

[maddezmom]

127. he's not one to mince words

:(

[Barrett808]

160. I'd like to see the transcript

Can't find this statement at:

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0403/17/bn.01.html

[Gman]

124. CNN screen caps

[Cooley Hurd]

128. Another pic:

Jeez! It looks the the Murrah Bldg, doesn't it?

[SKKY]

129. I think the camel's back just broke...

I would like to have Sean Insanity, Pat Pukecannon, and the rest of the idiots look me straight in the eye and tell me Howard Dean was wrong when he said we're no safer today because of Saddam being captured. There's no way in hell we as Americans are safer today. In fact, I think the opposite was proved today.

[a_random_joel]

161. Actually

Buchanan has been a solid critic of the war.

Many of us find our heads spinning that we actually agree with Pat on something.

[kaitykaity]

130. I can just see it now. "Those damn liberals are happy

that a hotel exploded and people died."

Oh, yeah, it makes me feel real good to know I was right about this. "If Bush does this, he'll create more terrorists than he can ever kill."

What's it going to take, I wonder.

[Judi Lynn]

132. CNN said foreign journalists stay in that hotel, a few minutes ago.

Foreign journalists have had a bad longevity record in _Bush's bogus invasion of Iraq.

[nwstrn]

133. This picture of Baghdad burning

is heartbreaking. The view is chillingly similar to the first days of the war, with plumes of smoke rising over the city.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/17/iraq.main/index.html

[maddezmom]

143. "people trapped in the burning rubble..."

reporting on CNNI.

[suegeo]

136. Thank god the adults are in charge now.

What is it going to take for the American people to demand this Bush instigated nonsense stop?

[Catherine Vincent]

137. "Bring 'em on" said George W. Bush

[ironflange]

141. And, in a related story,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x427646

[ScreamingMeemie]

142. ...and when will the trial against Bush for war crimes begin? What

a mess he has created. :cry:

[democrank]

144. Blah, blah, blah....

we`re killing the killers,we`re smokin``em out of their holes,we have a coalition of freedom-loving nations,we`ll stay the course, we`re bringing freedom to the Iraqis........

Shut up, Bush. Just shut the heck up. I`m sick to death of you.

[dawn]

145. Ugh....now the news stations are showing Cheney alongside the damage

And he uses this time to slam John Kerry.

These people have NO SHAME.

They make me sick.

[democrank]

149. Unbelievable...

Split screen with Cheney and the carnage. Cheney saying that Kerry is ungrateful to those who withstand danger. I`m going to vomit.

[ElementaryPenguin]

165. Another Dem war hero being bitchslapped by a Repuke Chickenhawk!

Wake THE FUCK UP, AMERICA!!! Pay attention for a change, would ya?!
How can these scoundrel hypocrites possibly get away with the bullshit they're spouting??

:argh:

[yellowcanine]

147. Some witnesses saying it was a rocket?

News reports say had to be a car bomb but witnessess say they saw a rocket. What's with that? Maybe one of those U.S. WMDs they just unloaded got away from them?

[Barrett808]

155. Many Iraqis will believe the US (or Israel) were behind this attack

Further strengthening the insurgency's hand.

[VolcanoJen]

148. Reuters reporting US Civilian casualties

At least some US civilians were wounded in the attack, according to Reuters (heard on CNN).

[KoKo]

153. Said flames from bomb site jumped to other buildings causing more

structural damage....

[progressivebydesign]

157. First they said "up to 10 killed", I knew that was wrong..

.. this is proving to be much, much more deadly than they first reported. You cannot have a hotel "leveled", and have 10 casualties. This looks to be the biggest, most deadly attack yet. What have we done over there? Saddam was a bad guy.. but the Iraqis in the cities lived very stable, middle class lives. Symphonies, universities, schools.. what have we done to them?

[slackmaster]

156. Oh, crap

I'm going to go away from the computer for a while and not turn on the TV or radio.

[Norquist Nemesis]

159. Now the US officials are saying we should expect

more attacks. surprise surprise.

[DuctapeFatwa]

170. They should know. They're the ones with the big bombs

[goforit]

166. Isn't the WAR over???

Oh my!!!

God bless the innocents in Satan's (W) demise!!!

[ConcernedCanuk]

167. I think the terrorists, Insurgents, Iraquis whovever,

.
.
.

are doing THEIR version of "Shock and Awe"

expect more of this I'm afraid

(sigh)

[sistersofmercy]

175. Bingo!

This is so sad.

[shrike]

168. "Who do you believe, me or your lyin' eyes?"

That's how I feel when I watch these news reports.

Ol' Jane Arraf on CNN asks an Iraqi on-scene why this happened.

He tells her, albeit in a thick accent, that people want the Americans to leave. She ignores his comment and turns around to speculate "why" this happened. He just told her!

Then Col. Ralph Baker: this is a last "desperate" attempt by the terrorists. Sure it is.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

169. Here's what the freepers are saying - SCUMBAGS!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1099753/posts

I especially like this gem: "Islam, the scourge of all mankind."

[louis-t]

176. my favorites are...

"we will only survive if we iradicate Islam...ramp up the nukes" and "I worry about the Fox news reporters". Oh, I guess they're the only ones worth worrying about. Jeez, I hate they're format. Gotta go shower now.

[gristy]

182. reading that thread makes me quite ill

And I was ill already... I just cannot understand the pro-war, pro-death, anti-Iraq, anti-Islam agenda. I just can't. Can you imagine if we had put the kind of money and energy into an anti-terrorism effort that we have sunk in Iraq how much truly safer our country and the world would be? How many people have died in Iraq (and wounded, sickened, left homeless, left hungry) in the past year as a result of our invasion? How many? HOW MANY??

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

189. Bless you!!! Great post!

Imagine if everyone felt the way they do - mutual annihilation would have occurred decades ago!

[Just Me]

186. Do they have any idea what sick f*cks they are?

No,...sick f*cks never get that they are sick f*cks.

What can we do to help these misguided people? How can we enlighten them to their own inferiority complex before they continue to exploit others' complexes?

[jbm]

190. my favorite..

<snip>

To: Mo1
I worry about the Fox News staff when I see them reporting from Iraq. I can't recall the gentleman's name that gave an update from Baghdad this morning - I think he's just recently grown a beard. I hope all our journalists are ok.

17 posted on 03/17/2004 9:21:19 AM PST by Quilla
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies >
<snip>
:puke:

[AspenRose]

171. Waiting for the Fruit-Stripe-Zebra Homeland Security color

to change, and not looking forward to March 20th.

:cry:

[dArKeR]

172. "The Iraqi people were better off with the former regime," - CBS

"The Iraqi people were better off with the former regime," said one man in the area of the blast. "Now all the Iraqi people are just getting killed."

The Bush administration offered prayers for the victims but said such attacks would not change U.S. policy.

Barron said she's seen other car bombings, but "this is one of the worst, if not the worst, in terms of chaos and ensuing flames and debris."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml

I'll go on record now. Prayers don't do anything to effect events on Earth.

[Aidoneus]

174. the target seems to have been an intelligence office

the bomb made out of a thousand pounds of plastic explosives, with some leftover artillery shells and tank shells packed in also. Interesting bomb. One of the techniques they use for what the occupation authorities call "IEDs" (the roadside bombs used against occupation convoys) is to wire a small radio-detonated grenade onto leftover US artillery shells & rockets that the invaders dropped early in the war. A much, much bigger version of that seems to have been used here..

I really wonder why they're hitting places like the Mount Lebanon hotel, and not Bremer or Chalabi's house. The Palestine Hotel was shaken, al-Jazeera's bureau was badly damaged as well.

[Disturbed]

178. The Green Zones

I suspect the insurgency is planning on attacks of the Green Zones closer to the "return of power to the Iraqis". Of course this "turning over power to Iraqis is a sham. The US Troop force will remain in Iraq forever. There is no way the the US will allow real freedom of voting for the Iraqis. They know damn well that the Shi'ites will sieze power and demand that the US Occupation and the Occupying Troops leave. The US Multi-Corps and Military Industrial Complex will never leave Iraq. Even a nuclear blast from the Insurgency wouldn't drive the US Occupation out.

Anone who thinks that if Kerry is elected that the Iraq Occupation will end is wrong. Kerry will try to bring in the UN and NATO. The Occupation will stand.

[llmart]

179. I've just read this entire thread...

and I want to say something, but words just fail me right now. You have all said it already...I feel too much profanity bubbling up in my system right now and better have some self-control. I have never so despised an occupant of the White House as much as I do this one and his cohorts, and I didn't much care for Reagan. He offers his prayers??? If I were the Iraqis I would tell * he can stick his prayers where the sun don't shine!

[osaMABUSh]

180. Happy Anniversary Mr. War President!!!

to everyone else: Happy Saint Paddy's Day !

[wellst0nev0ter]

184. Yep, Those Rose PetalsThe Eye-Rackees Keep Throwing At Us

Are sure getting more explosive, aren't they? :eyes:

[Zech Marquis]

183. a video of the blast was just released

holy shit, the entire sky lit up :scared: the Iraqi lady being interviewed took of and ran for her life. I can't imagine how powerful and just furious that car bomb must have felt like.

I think the Gis in Iraq have better be prepared--this is becoming a live horror movie :scared:

[hang a left]

192. Isn't it a little strange that they have video of the explosion?

[osaMABUSh]

185. Seriousily, how can any sane person support this War?

If * gets re-selected it's game, set, and match - America is history.

[Minstrel Boy]

193. It was crazy a year ago, and what is it now?

When has the world witnessed such a spell of madness from America?

[spanone]

188. Jeez the world is such a safer place now.