It's snowing in Baghdad!

[Contrary1]

This could have been a scene from Anytown, USA. And yet, so many believe lives like this lost are no big deal.

"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..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22608593/

[TomInTib]

1. Recommending. Not for the snow, not for the article...

but the photo almost killed me.

When will Man ever come to His senses?

[Fierce]

2. That photo is great.

But good God, is that writing ever shit.

[shain from kane]

3. Is it snow, or ashes? n/t

[stillcool]

4. One man's snow...

is another man's ashes? I think the snow is a bigger story.

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

[shain from kane]

11. A prevailing wind from the south could have dropped ashes, mistaken for snow. Check the DNA.

[stillcool]

12. I would think...

there would be an assumption that the two would be related. It's interesting that the snow is a phenomenon...but bombing the shit out of the place is a normal event.

[shain from kane]

16. I remember when Mt. St. Helens erupted. It sure looked like snow, but it was ashes.

There are also chemicals that can be used to seed the clouds. War zones have often been used in the past to test weapons.

[stillcool]

20. Could it be from DU?

I would think that would be just as likely as a weather 'phenomenon' the day after another 'shock and awe'.

[bdamomma]

9. could be all those bombs they are dropping on those civilians.

sickening, we are committing genocide.

[malaise]

5. What a beautiful photo

and a million like him will never smile again.

[bdamomma]

10. they are beautiful people.

[dembotoz]

6. perhaps hell is freezing over

[SeattleGirl]

7. I love that photo. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

8. Wacky weather going on everywhere, that is a nice photo. n/t

[SoCalDem]

13. Here's a few more pics.. could be Peoria..or Chicago

but it's

Iraqi girls play in the snow in Sulaimaniyah, 260 kilometers (160 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Further south, Baghdad residents saw snow for the first time in memory on Friday.
(AP Photo/Yahya Ahmed)



An Iraqi couple enjoys a snow battle in a garden in Sulaimaniyah, 2007. Light snow fell in Baghdad in what weather officials said was the first time in about a 100 years.
(AFP/File/Shwan Mohammed)

[alfredo]

14. The have Baghdad weather posted at weather underground.

great picture.

We had a big hail storm in a mountaintop city east Africa. The whole city came out to play in it. It was a hoot.

[Didereaux]

15. Gawyawd be praised! Hell hath frozen over! lol

[orleans]

17. "delight" how wonderful. i'm so happy for them. seriously.

i imagine people in baghdad need some delight in their lives.

that is how i always feel when i see it snowing. i love it.

(we were supposed to get snow last night here and i was disappointed we didn't get any)

[BlackVelvet04]

18. I'm glad they at least

momentarily had something to smile about.

[earth mom]

19. Beautiful...but can't help but have tears....

:cry: