BAGHDAD, Feb. 21, 2007
Iraqi Insurgents Use Second Chlorine Bomb
Black Hawk Downing Points To Hostile Fire; "Dirty" Chlorine Bomb Strikes Again
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A man injured in a suicide bomber attack lies in Baghdad's al-Kindi hospital on Feb. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
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Iraqis gather to inspect human remains inside a wreck of a car destroyed in a car bomb attack in Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, on Feb. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)
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Thunderous explosions reverberated through Baghdad after midnight as the security crackdown in the capital entered its second week.
The rash of spectacular insurgent attacks offer a sweeping narrative on evolving tactics by Sunni militants who have proved remarkably adaptable.
Military officials worry extremists may have recently gained more access to firepower such as shoulder-fired anti-aircraft rockets and heavy machine guns — and more expertise to use them. The Black Hawk would be at least the eighth U.S. helicopter to crash or be taken down by hostile fire in the past month.
The gas cloud in Baghdad, meanwhile, suggests possible new and coordinated strategies by bombers trying to unleash toxic — and potentially deadly — materials. "Terrorists are using dirty means," said Brig. Gen. Qassim Moussawi, an Iraqi military spokesman.
Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a U.S. military spokesman, said initial reports indicated the chopper was brought down by "small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades" north of Baghdad, but gave no further details. All nine aboard were taken away on a rescue helicopter, he said.
In Baghdad, a pickup truck carrying chlorine gas cylinders was blown apart, killing at least five people and sending more than 55 to hospitals gasping for breath and rubbing stinging eyes, police said.
On Tuesday, a bomb planted on a chlorine tanker left more than 150 villagers stricken north of the capital. More than 60 were still under medical care on Wednesday. Chlorine causes respiratory trouble and skin irritation in low levels and possible death with heavy exposure.
In Washington, two Pentagon officials said the tactic has been used at least three times since Jan. 28, when a truck carrying explosives and a chlorine tank blew up in Anbar province. More than a dozen people were reported killed.
A third Pentagon official said the United States has been concerned about Iraqi militants' ability to get weapons like chlorine bombs and use them effectively. But the official cautioned that chlorine bombs are just one threat on a long list of possible attacks that Iraqi fighters may try to carry out.
It was unclear whether the confluence of new insurgent tactics — attacking isolated combat posts, targeting helicopters more intensely and using chlorine bombs — was coincidental or in response to the U.S. troop increase.
In other developments:
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 123 Comments,, 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.
Posted by bm6005 at 09:56 PM : Feb 22, 2007
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0126/dailyUpdate.html
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,119219,00.html
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.
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See all 123 Comments