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.

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,,, By the way, we used chemical weapons on our own troops, they perferred using Mormans for thier experiments.

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,, I'm not knocking Dance, if that was your major... However Religion is another thing, obviously both your's & thier's cause more trouble than the world can stand.

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,,, Why does your "Decider" think it's great to have the UAE (Sunni's) running our Air Space & Sea Ports ????

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,,, What was your major, Dance or religion ???

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,,,, You're a prime example of why our Educational System ranks 17 out of 22 of all industrialized nations.

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,,,, In your pea brain, only 4% of the casualties on our troops are by Sheiits,, 96% by Sunni's,, 9/11 terrorists where Sunni,, UAE is Sunni,, Iraq is lost & Afaganistan not looking so great ---- Do you really think Bush is combating terrorism successfully ?? Of course you'd have to excersize your pea brain for once.

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,,, What good would come out of bombing Mecca ???? Except increasing terrorism & uniting more countries against us, no I would never be in favor of that ????

[j-whitman]

The most Evil ???? Japan in thier treatment of Chinese & Koreans & POW's,, but much more needs to be learned about other countries & our own.
,, No I'm not in favor of any nation using poison gas, nor aiding others in the use of it.
,, All holy places should be protected at all costs,, which Rumsfield failed to do.

[j-whitman]

Who was worse ?? The Germans obviously, but they would have had alot more diffuclty if people like Henry & Edsel Ford, Prescot Bush, DuPont, Bayer & many small Texas oil companies, Union Bank, Chase Bank & CitiBankk didn't help them.

[bm6005]

Anyone's overqualified when compared to Shrub! What a frickin' MORON, both him And Darth Cheney. Two of the most embarassing s.h.i.t.pots to ever represent our country!! Plus I'm being kind!
Posted by bm6005 at 09:56 PM : Feb 22, 2007

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, I've done my 20 in uniform, 13 out of that away from my family, including 3 years in counter terrorism... How about you ??

[j-whitman]

Hamiltongrad,,, Nazi's got thier poison gas from US Companies.

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, Here's another, this one's from last month....
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0126/dailyUpdate.html

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, Here's another from December,, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/14/AR2006121400803.html

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, No, not over a year ago,, Last November 3 months ago, Just last November, & much more on the subject has been published since -- You definatly won't find it in GOP news releases

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, Would you believe Military Times ???
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,119219,00.html

[j-whitman]

We are now 17 out of 22 of industrial nations in education -- Doing a fine job George

[dallison7]

THERE WILL BE A HUGE PEACE RALLY IN WASHINGTON ON MARCH 17. 41 STATES HAVE ORGANIZATIONS CHARTERING BUSES ETC. IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE GO TO www.impeachbush.org
Posted by dallison7 at 04:03 PM : Feb 22, 2007

Just in case you want to act on your principles.
Posted by AaaBee

YOU DA MAN (or woman?) AaaBee Duh... sorry for the date screw-up.

[j-whitman]

Badax,,,, Look it up & Support The Troops, instead of turning your head ignoring it.

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, Of course you think the damage to our troops is just some kind of political statement -- You Embolden the Enemy & Hurt our Troops