Iraqi Insurgents Use Second Chlorine Bomb

Black Hawk Downing Points To Hostile Fire; "Dirty" Chlorine Bomb Strikes Again

(CBS/AP)  W. Patrick Lang, a former official at the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the insurgents are always "seeking to achieve higher levels of effectiveness" and these new tactics are part of the normal "evolution of sophistication."

Lang said trucks filled with chlorine gas are "really quite deadly" because the gas is potent and spreads easily.

Some authorities believe militants could be trying to maximize the panic from their attacks by adding chlorine or other noxious substances.

"It is an indication of maliciousness, a desire to injure and kill innocent people in the vicinity," said Garver, who also predicted militants may begin to launch similar attacks because of the widespread mayhem caused by this week's chlorine clouds.

"If there is a particular success, we'll see copycats. ... They certainly pay attention to what they think is successful," he said.

In Najaf, meanwhile, a suicide car bomber killed at least 13 at a police checkpoint. The attack fit a pattern that's believed to drive much of Iraq's recent violence: Sunni militants seeking to provoke majority Shiites into a full-blown sectarian conflict that would leave Washington's plans in ruins.

It was the first major bombing in more than six months in Najaf, an important Shiite pilgrimage site 100 miles south of Baghdad and also the headquarters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, head of the Mahdi Army militia.

The Najaf blast hit while streets were filled with morning shoppers. At least seven of the victims were police and the rest civilians near a checkpoint — part of the city's security cordon that includes Mahdi Army militiamen, who battled U.S. forces in the area in 2004.

More than 40 people were wounded in the blast, which sent body parts and blood over a wide boulevard. Crews stuffed limbs and bits of flesh into cardboard boxes.

In Baghdad, another Mahdi Army center was hit. A car bombing in the teeming Sadr City district killed at least three.

A series of strong blasts rumbled through the capital in the early hours of Thursday, signaling some kind of military activity. But the reason for the explosions, which appeared to be coming from the west of the city, was unclear.

Earlier, more than 10 people died in blasts across Baghdad — adding to the more than 100 victims of bombings in attacks in and around the capital since Sunday. The toll cast a long shadow over authorities marking the first week of the U.S.-Iraqi security sweeps.

Moussawi, the Iraqi military spokesman, said the campaign to reclaim control of the city "has achieved very important goals despite the expected criminal reactions."

"God willing, the plan will continue to uproot terrorists and outlaws across Baghdad and other areas," he told a news conference. He added that 42 "terrorists" have been killed in the sweeps and more than 250 suspected militants arrested, but gave further details.

An American military spokesman, Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, told a news conference that U.S. and Iraqi forces were focusing on "belts" of extremist activity in Baghdad and suggested talks are ongoing over when and how to move into Sadr City.

It is believed that al-Sadr has ordered his forces not to challenge the security operation up to this point.

"Anytime you can find a political solution instead of a military one it is better," Caldwell said.

A U.S. Marine was killed in fighting in the volatile Anbar province and a soldier was killed by gunfire in a neighborhood of Baghdad, the military said Wednesday.

The Marine was killed Tuesday during combat operations in the insurgent stronghold. The soldier was hit by small arms fire in a northern district of Baghdad on Tuesday, a statement said without giving further details.

At least 3,149 members of the U.S. military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

[firststate]

Lars
Is your house is the one little kids avoid and dare each other to go into your yard when their ball goes into it? They are probably are afraid of the creepy person inside who is the subject of local legend.

[lars008-2009]

don%u2019t you just love these stupid silly little fascist nazi Islamic muslims pretending to be liberal Americans%u2026%u2026 and begging for the usa to leave iraq%u2026..lol%u2026.. they must be really getting their arses kicked%u2026. Hahahahahahaha

[edwinkenn--2008]

The Brits are finally showing Bush how to minimize loss of life on both sides by moving into a supportive - rebuilding posture and sending combat troops home. The Iragi use of chlorine gas in bombs is nothing like the U.S. use of white phosphorous in Faluja. Moreover, anyone close enough to a part-chlorine explosion will be killed by the blast before the chlorine causes harm. This is simply administration hype to keep Don Quixote well supplied with dragons.

[notblue]

What do any of these comments have to do with the radicals using chemical bombs on innocent civilians and U.S. troops??????????? Wow! I guess that sort of news doesn't really matter to the left wing losers, ignore any and all attrocities committed by the radicals and just focus on the hatred of the Amarican president and American policies.

[tantrim]

panhandlpete
I for one don't believe the illegal's are very high in either parties radar. The democrats believe if they get tough on the issue it would hurt their Mexican vote. The Republicans want cheap labor. So it leaves us with a porous border with a never ending track of illegals coming across. The drug cartel is setting these people up in areas to protect marijuana fields and have killed hunters that come across them.

[grumpas]

It's really amazing that lars008 considers it lying when the Clinton's do it! But, it isn't when George W Bush does it!!!! The right wing nut cases are so full of hypocracy it is a wonder any normal person can take anything they say seriously. When information gets going through their meat grinder's for a brain it comes out something completely different! They obviously change their moral's and ethic's as often as they do their underwear!

[formrusmcsgt]

king and queen of lies......

"Everybody in politics lies, but they [the Clintons] do it with such ease, it%u2019s troubling,%u201D Geffen said.

Posted by lars008 at 09:06 AM : Feb 22, 2007

As if Bush has any difficulty in lying whatsoever.......

[formrusmcsgt]

for helping Timothy Mc Veigh acquire AMMONIUM NITRATE FERTILIZER AND RACING FUEL
Posted by crater7 at 09:04 AM : Feb 22, 2007

I stand corrected. It WAS ammonium nitrate as opposed to ammonium chloride. My bad.

[lars008-2009]

king and queen of lies......

"Everybody in politics lies, but they [the Clintons] do it with such ease, it%u2019s troubling,%u201D Geffen said.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003548043

[crater7]

formrusmcsgt: Thank you for bringing this bit of info to my attention. According to an article on this very web site, "Terry Nichols Talking to FBI",7-3-05, Terry Nichols, serving life in prison, for helping Timothy Mc Veigh acquire AMMONIUM NITRATE FERTILIZER AND RACING FUEL that were combined to make the explosives that were used in the OKC, bombings.

[formrusmcsgt]

All efforts come back to the "party", not what is good for the country.
Posted by panhandlpete at 08:44 AM : Feb 22, 2007

Agreed, and why I am neither Repub or Dem. I am an Independent. When a sufficient number of people leave the Repubs and Dems we will see a change in the way our business is conducted.

As long as the two parties claim a majority of voters following their agenda, it will stay the same.

[panhandlpete]

The "decider" IS not ready to declare "victory" just yet, but believe it or not, it will happen by the end of this year so the "puppets" who supported him will have something to campaign with. All efforts come back to the "party", not what is good for the country.

Speaking of our country, he is in the process of giving it away. Our top officials are makidng numerous trips to Mexico and Canada working on the New America, where the borders will be open, a port in Mexico City will have Mexican drivers on semis that travel through the US straight to Canada. This has been done under the FTA which does not require any consent from the people. This could explain the delay in building a fence and the strong desire for a "temporary worker program". The people in the US are the losers as neither Canada or Mexico have median incomes or education levels comparable to the US citizens.
With Iraq taking up the headlines, no one is paying attention to this boondoogle. Is this what our soldiers are fighting for.....A New America?

[formrusmcsgt]

Can ANYONE tell me what the HELL this is about?
Posted by skyk at 08:26 AM : Feb 22, 2007

What this is about, skyk, is that the neocons wanted 4 permanent bases in Iraq from which to project American power in the middle east.

They thought we'd take out Hussein and the grateful Iraqi's would buy into our philosphy and allow the bases.

They knew that they couldn't sell the invasion to the American people on building bases, so the WMD lie was cooked up.

Since it became eveident that the Iraqis aren't going to permit occupiers, it's all been about "terrorists" so the neocons don't have to admit that they blew it.

[skyk-2009]

Well Sarge I gotta run. The C.O. of this house has a LOT of honey do's online today sooooo... have a good one.

[skyk-2009]

When we have a president who looks for opportunities to make enemies at every turn, our military just can't keep up.....

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:22 AM : Feb 22, 2007
+ report this comment

Ahhh but that's what happens when you elect a Bar Room Bully for Prez. I knew we were in for a rough ride when the MORON shouted out "Bring em' On". Now as anyone who's actually been in these conflicts will tell you, making such statements will certainly increase the desire of the OTHER extremist to KILL you. I have lived in the South my entire life and heard these clowns in bars do things like that over and over.... NEVER understood it or them.

[skyk-2009]

Can ANYONE tell me what the HELL this is about? I keep hearing fascist spout about "Terrorist" but all I see and hear reports of is SUNNI attacks. The Administration of Sir Lies-A-Lot seems to want to attack Iran but that makes about as much sense as attacking Iraq. The Sunni ARE NOT funded by Iran and I seriously doubt if IRAN would help them taken their history. I thought our mission in Vietnam was screwed up and made no sense but compared to this god awlful mess it made perfect sense.

[formrusmcsgt]

That's putting the security of this nation in harms way... that is making the mission in Afganistan, a war we CAN NOT afford to lose, much harder....
Posted by skyk at 08:16 AM : Feb 22, 2007

When we have a president who looks for opportunities to make enemies at every turn, our military just can't keep up.....

[skyk-2009]

Military success is measured in casualties. If you continue to lose more and more troops as time goes on, you're not achieving sucess.

Success would bring about a decrease in casualties, not an increase.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:24 AM : Feb 22, 2007
+ report this comment

The thing that worries me Sarge is the FACT that so many of our troops are seeing their 2nd and 3rd tours without any down time to speak of. That's putting the security of this nation in harms way... that is making the mission in Afganistan, a war we CAN NOT afford to lose, much harder and I still do not understand what we're trying to accomplish. Are we siding with the Sunni's or the Shiite's and why?

[formrusmcsgt]

In the interview, Cheney also said Britain's plans to withdraw about 1,600 troops from Iraq %u2014 while the United States adds more troops %u2014 was a positive step. "I look at it and see it is actually an affirmation that there are parts of Iraq where things are going pretty well," the vice president said.

In response to that statement, Pelosi said: "If it's going so well, we'd like to withdraw our troops as well."

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

If this really is a sign of success instead of a withdrawal from Iraq, why didn't Brittain re-deploy their troops to Baghdad?

Because they want out, of course. Cheney thinks we're all as dense as his boss.......

[formrusmcsgt]

We all know you hate Muslims, lars. What I don't understand, with all that hate, is why don't you join your a$$ up so you can go to Iraq or Afghanistan and kill all the Muslims you want?