Taliban Claims Cheney Was Target Of Attack

VP Unharmed By Suicide Bomber During Visit To Afghan Base; As Many As 23 Killed

(CBS/AP)  A suicide bomber attacked the entrance to the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan on Tuesday during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney, killing up to 23 people and wounding 20.

Cheney was unhurt in the attack, which was claimed by the Taliban and was the closest that militants have come to a top U.S. official visiting Afghanistan. At least one U.S. soldier, an American contractor and a South Korean soldier were among the dead, NATO said.

Cheney said the attackers were trying "to find ways to question the authority of the central government." The Taliban said Cheney was the target.

About two hours after the blast, Cheney left on a military flight for Kabul to meet with President Hamid Karzai and other officials, then left Afghanistan.

The vice president had spent the night at the sprawling Bagram Air Base, ate breakfast with the troops and met with Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, the commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

He was preparing to leave for a meeting with Karzai when the suicide bomber struck about 10 a.m., sending up a plume of smoke visible by reporters accompanying him. U.S. military officials declared a "red alert" at the base.

"I heard a loud boom," Cheney told reporters. "The Secret Service came in and told me there had been an attack on the main gate."

He said he was moved "for a brief period of time" to a bomb shelter on the base near his quarters. "As the situation settled down and they had a better sense of what was going on, I went back to my room," Cheney added.

Asked if the Taliban were trying to send a message with the attack, Cheney said: "I think they clearly try to find ways to question the authority of the central government."

"Striking at Bagram with a suicide bomber, I suppose, is one way to do that," he said. "But it shouldn't affect our behavior at all."

Maj. William Mitchell said it did not appear the explosion was intended as a threat to Cheney. "He wasn't near the site of the explosion," Mitchell said. "He was safely within the base at the time of the explosion."

CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar reports large numbers of Afghan civilians frequently gather at the gates to Bagram in the morning, hoping to get work for the day.

There were conflicting reports on the death toll. Karzai's office said 23 people were killed, including 20 Afghan workers at the base. Another 20 people were injured, it said.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force said initial reports were that three people were killed, including a U.S. soldier, an American contractor and a South Korean soldier. U.S. officials indicated they planned to update that death toll.

Associated Press reporters at the scene saw 12 bodies being carried in black body bags and wooden coffins from the base entrance into a market area where hundreds of Afghans had gathered to mourn.

Friends and relatives cried and moaned as they took the bodies away from the base. Two men came to the base entrance crying and wringing their hands, one of them screaming, "My brother!"

A message posted on a Web site used by militants said "a mujahid ... carried out a suicide attack in front of the second gate of the Bagram Air Base. ... The target was Bush's vice president, Dick Cheney."

A purported Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said Cheney was the target of the attack, which Ahmadi said was carried out by an Afghan called Mullah Abdul Rahim, of Logar province.

"We knew that Dick Cheney would be staying inside the base," Ahmadi told AP by telephone from an undisclosed location. "The attacker was trying to reach Cheney."

Mitchell noted that Cheney's overnight stay occurred only after a meeting with Karzai on Monday was canceled because of bad weather.

"I think it's a far-fetched allegation," he said, referring to the Taliban claim. "The vice president wasn't even supposed to be here overnight, so this would have been a surprise to everybody."

[searingtruth]

"And so death begat death, and suffering begat suffering, until all had been consumed, and all cause lost."
SearingTruth

"Death. I saw only death. And a promise from evil that death would soon subside."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

Cheney sends men and women off to what could be their deaths everyday - and is making money of them.

As far as I'm concerned, Cheney can rot in hell with GW Bush for all I care.

I'll bet that coward heads right back to the safety of his home - while the brave men and women who wear the uniform remain behind.

[tuckerndfw]

Cheney "was safely within the base at the time of the explosion."

Well, of course he was. Neither he nor Bush would risk their own lives. They proved that during the Vietnam quagmire when they both used every means at their disposals to dodge the draft.

Too bad the Constitution does not require the "commander in chief" and his vice consul to actively serve on the front lines during "war."

We wouldn't have any more "wars" so long as Repubs were in office. that's for sure.

[searingtruth]

"But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever."
John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775

"Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it."
John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

"If men through fear, fraud or mistake, should in terms renounce and give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the great end of society, would absolutely vacate such renunciation; the right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a slave."
John Adams, Rights of the Colonists, 1772

"Let justice be done though the heavens should fall."
John Adams, letter to Elbridge Gerry, December 5, 1777

"I do not reveal the unknown, only the forgotten."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[lars008-2009]

Appeal for Redress
Sign this Appeal.
This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.

The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:

As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
http://www.appealforcourage.org/

[lars008-2009]

The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. Theodore Roosevelt

[bluestardad]

Bush is playing all of us against each other! In one hand he is touting the Red White and Blue war on Terror against everyone who attacked us on 911 and on the other hand he is funding Al Qaeda to destabilize an counter other governments in the Middle East! The recently resigned terrorist Czar ask for a demotion to deputy Secretary of State Because he did not want to be tangled up with another Iran Contra style Funding Fiasco that is going on in Lebanon. Here is the stream read it yourself!

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh

Just copy up to the Hersh on the news stream this web site is adding a n on the end of the paste!

Iran Contra, al Qaeda Lebanon same oh same oh! The Bush Administration is covertly supporting a minimum of three Sunni al Qaeda organizations in Lebanon to act as a buffer against the Shiite Hezbollah. Yes and the money is coming from the billions of dollars unaccounted for from Iraq! This support is not regulated by Congress, is in direct contravention to the WAR on TERROR the NEOCONS expound, and is under the same pretext as the Iran Contra Scandal of the late 1980s! This was reported by Wolf Blitzer yesterday on CNN and again tonight!

Email your senators and representatives and tell them your views! LET THEM KNOW YOU KNOW OF THIS DIRTY LITTLE SECRET!

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_in
formation/senators_cfm.cfm OR http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

[searingtruth]

"Now is the seedtime of continental union, faith and honor. The least fracture now, will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak; the wound would enlarge with the tree, and posterity read in it full grown characters."
Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

"Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing."
Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776

"We have it in our power to begin the world over again."
Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

"Republicans are in a unique historical position. They are the first group of people raised on this land, who call themselves Americans, that openly proclaim the virtues of torture, secret prisons, extrajudicial abduction, universal surveillance, and dictatorial government."
SearingTruth

"Tyranny and tyrants do not change, nor does the character of those who defeat them."
SearingTruth

"I will proclaim the law."
George W. Bush, First Dictator of America

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[alphaa10-2009]

bluestardad-- We should expect Bush and Cheney to be increasingly indifferent to the debacle they leave in their wake.

From prospective war with Iran (encountering a belligerent Russia) to continuing their disaster in Iraq (which of course is making "great progress")-- not to mention salvaging their long-ignored "front" in Afghanistan-- we can expect some radical and destructive behavior from the two as their control of events fades rapidly.

For Bush and Cheney, attempts at damage control merely make matters worse. Both are progressively isolated from the American people, and mentally blinkered. Not a good prescription for the next two years, as we enter interesting times.

[searingtruth]

"And so death begat death, and suffering begat suffering, until all had been consumed, and all cause lost."
SearingTruth

"Simple answers do not exist in a world of great complexity. We must sacrifice our instinctive desire for the quick and easy to instead embrace the enduring and efficacious, or we, as a species, will not survive."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[alphaa10-2009]

lars008 quotes Teddy Roosevelt, who said a lack of ethical values brings corruption and death to the Republic, itself.
----
Today, TR might add an unprincipled scrambling for power at any cost to the American people, their constitution and their way of life.

In November, 2005, Bush faced an assembly of party members critical of his NSA spying program. Bush bristled like a teenager caught drinking after curfew-- "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It's just a GD)((#@*! piece of paper!"

Is this figure, who claims to be president of the United States, the same who pledged an oath to "protect, preserve and defend" the document he calls a "GD)((#@*! piece of paper"?

Bush, alone, brought more Big Brother surveillance into the United States than any other president in history, yet there never has been a president so inept in carrying out the mandate of the American people.

Any administration which lies to its people deserves what it gets-- the basic element of any political and social contract is trust in the honesty of leadership.

[searingtruth]

"Hate only works for a little while."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[swwils]

***!

[luvny-2009]

Violence in two of the world's hot spots %u2013 Afghanistan and Sri Lanka - came too close for comfort Tuesday for two U.S. officials.

That's BS too close for comfort? Well what about the 3 soldiers that were KILLED, just because Cheney wasn't hurt doesn't mean it was all ok.

[racam_us]

If Al Quada can't get a fat, loud mouth, white guy, I don't think we have to worry.

[skyk-2009]

What's the matter Dead Eye? Those deferrments ONLY work whey you keep you slimy butt home. ROFLMAO Maybe another confederate Battle Flag would have scared them off? ROFLMAO This pathetic losers are in WAY over their heads folks. They are nothing but a bunch of Religious Reich Lap Dogs. Corporations, who shaw a chance to gain some things they had NEVER been able to get the honest way, used the same methods to sell us these Incompetent Creatures they use to sell you drain cleaner. Today, as we speak, all of europe is rolling in laughter about the absolutely INSANE statements made over the Weekend about Hitler and the Second World War by our "Secretary of State". These Southern Fascist are EMBARRASSING and are going to get us all killed.

[allgood34]

It's a shame they missed. This current administration needs to be removed from office and if the taliban can do it I applaud them. The bush administration is killing out service members, bankrupting our country and commiting the same war crimes we (the US) have accused Hussain of in the past. ie invading a country (that did not possess WMDs)for personal reasons. Isn't that wy we went got involved with the gulf war? It was because Hussain invaded Kuwait for oil right? Why are we in Iraq since there are no WMDs? Oh that's right to execute their leader and get oil that we will never see. In the process we are indirectly the killer of 10's maybe even 100's of thousands of Iraqis along with 3000+ US service members. In case people have forgotten by the twisting facts of the government 9/11 wasn't Iraq it was Afganistan and Hussain didn't have stockpiles of WMDs like we lied to the world and said we were tracking. So why are we there?

What's next Iran, North Korea and Venezula? We'll be weak and bankrupt for sure allowing our enemies an easy victory on invading and causing mass casualties in our country. Good job bush.

[rharrin1]

The attack was not directed at cheney as hinted in this article.The terrorists didn't even know he was there just like we don't know where he is.
If cheney thought there might be any danger to him personally he would not have been there at all as by his conduct during Vietnam.

[dallison7]

Notice there are no quotes from Piglet himself. Reporters can't find him because he is sitting in a corner in the basement shaking like a 'bowl full of jelly'.

[nodaitsu]

No matter how much you dislike the present administration, saying that you'd give kudos or pats on the back to any terrorist organization for taking out senior members clearly shows a regard for life no higher. On an ironic note, it's my full expectation that many who make such comments are in the same group that seemingly have something better to do than vote every two or four years. Be glad you live in a country where changes of power can occur without a loss of life.

[cj7jeepstir]

too bad they missed.

[nodaitsu]

No matter how much you dislike the present administration, saying that you'd give kudos or pats on the back to any terrorist organization for taking out senior members clearly shows a regard for life no higher. On an ironic note, it's my full expectation that many who make such comments are in the same group that seemingly have something better to do than vote every two or four years. Be glad you live in a country where changes of power can occur without a loss of life.

[iambaker]

Let's blame America! Blame America! NO! Blame a hate-filled, primitive ideology. People may disagree with the administration, but, afterall, it is the elected administration and our government. Showing support for the Taliban and al Qaeda used to have a word attached to it: treason.

[nodaitsu]

No matter how much you dislike the present administration, saying that you'd give kudos or pats on the back to any terrorist organization for taking out senior members clearly shows a regard for life no higher. On an ironic note, it's my full expectation that many who make such comments are in the same group that seemingly have something better to do than vote every two or four years. Be glad you live in a country where changes of power can occur without a loss of life.

[karlimhof]

Be glad you live in a country where changes of power can occur without a loss of life.

Posted by nodaitsu


I beg to differ. Those who may make a snide comment or two are just the tip of the opinion iceberg. As to their voting record - did you miss the last elections?

[nothappyatall]

Dam, what a shame they MISSED, would have helped change the Bush regime with Cheney out of the way and then Impeechment on Bush.

[panhandlpete]

"After five years of fighting the Coalition forces, the Taliban takes credit for the attack".

Who keeps supporting the Taliban? The US spends billions of dollars on war efforts. Did the Taliban get their hands on some of the "lost" billions? Could Seymour Hersch be asking the right question......"Why isn't Congress investigating?"

[crater7]

GET READY FOLKS: THE PUPPET MASTER IS PULLING ON ITS STRINGS. YOU CAN EXPECT A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT SOON. MAJOR BREAKING NEWS;
" WE GOT HIM".
WITH THIS ADMINISTRATIONS RATINGS AS LOW AS A ROCK, LOOK FOR THE ROVE ADMINISTRATION, OPPS, (SORRY *** CHENEY), TO ANNOUNCE THAT BIN LADEN HAS BEN KILLED. OF COURSE, THERE WILL BE NO BODY, BUT DNA, CONFIRMS THAT HE WAS KILLED BY A COMBINED PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN, MILITARY OPERATION, WITH INTEL. PROVIDED BY THE CIA ,CODE NAME: SAVE FACE. THE MISSION WAS A TOTAL SUCCESS.

ALL HAIL THE KING.

[lars008-2009]

don%u2019t you just hate 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

and you fascist nazi Islamic muslim collaborators too.....

[navychief8]

Too bad the Constitution does not require the "commander in chief" and his vice consul to actively serve on the front lines during "war."


tuckerndfw ,

While I am not a Cheney fan, your comments are absurd. I hope you don't really think that.

[burlykatz]

Newster1... I think that is a horrific thing to say! Be VERY careful what you wish for... you may be the one standing in the subway when a terrorist attacks! I'm not exactly a fan of this administration, but NO ONE should die at the hands of a terrorist.

[crater7]

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS SITE, FINDS IT NECESSARY TO EDIT THE NAME ***. AFTER ALL THE NAME IS CLEARY PRINTED IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE.
DID I SPELL THE NAME ***? IF SO WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME THE CORRECT WAY TO SPELL IT.
THANK YOU.

[inventagod]

And they were such good friends back before 9/11... Whatever happened, Cheney? Probably has something to do with that oily stuff...

[inventagod]

crater7 -

I believe that even the mention of our dear Vice-President's name by a citizen is so disgusting that we are now censored dramatically every time we utter it.

After the things the Cheney administration has done to America, that name will be erased from ****tionaries worldwide.

It's probably time **** Cheney rode his *** out of Washington, into the sunset...

[generey]

Goofy turban heads cant do anything right. Just my opinion. Seems to me it would make things right for giving up CIA Agent Plumes name.

[navychief8]

newster1,

your pathetic. Most of us sane people will agree that Cheney is not doing a good job. But to say what you did, that crosses the line.

It makes you no better than a terrorist.

If you don't like the way things are going, exercise your political will by voting.

Are you even registered to vote?

[lars008-2009]

don%u2019t you just hate these stupid silly little fascist nazi Islamic muslim monsyters........

Police protect girls forced to convert to Islam
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=437871&in_page_id=1770

[lars008-2009]

NavyChief8
that is because they are terrorists pretending to be americans.........

[tuckerndfw]

I hope you don't really think that.

Posted by NavyChief8 at 08:58 AM : Feb 27, 2007


Yes, Chief, I do mean it.

If it is serious enough to go to war, the "commander in chief" and his assistants should be on the front lines for the duration of the "war."

That will eliminate all but the most necessary wars.


George Bush taking months long vacations while troops in are in the field is inexcusable.

[crater7]

MAYBE THIS SITE HAS THE SAME PEOPLE WORKING FOR THEM, AS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION USED TO REWRITE, AND EDIT THAT NASA, SCIENTIST'S GLOBAL WARMING REPORT.

[lars008-2009]

The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. Theodore Roosevelt

[alphaa10-2009]

Let's Hear It for the Fascists-- 2
(3) granting immunity and green light to Bush leaning co-conspirators like Halliburton, KBR, Bechtel, Unisys and other corporate criminals to feed like hogs with no oversight at the public trough, and then defending their criminal misconduct, fraud and theft of public monies with rear-guard actions to avoid public exposure and prosecution (4) silencing scientists and public servants who warned America with information about everything from global warming to governmental corruption (5) making the United States of America an international pariah, a shameless spectacle among nations for having violated its own principles of law, justice and humanity (6) not content with loss of honor and loss of credibility, Bush made the United States of America into a global bully and unilateralist equal to Louis XIV ("I am the state!") , or more aptly, King George III, with lies about why he invaded Iraq and more lies from about why we must stay there.

Second, shouting about how everyone who disagrees with you is a traitor only advertises how (1) ignorant (2) desperate and (3) belligerent some red posters have become, lacking any basis for making their own point of view coherent or persuasive. Children whose social skills break down in the sandbox begin whining, screaming and throwing mud.

[karlimhof]

Dam, what a shame they MISSED, would have helped change the Bush regime with Cheney out of the way and then Impeechment on Bush.

Posted by newster1

I know you, like many, are not happy, to say the least, about our duly elected vp or our pres. but you were at the limit; you didn't say you wanted to do IT yourself, or call for someone else to do IT, but nonetheless, let's try to keep our hopes to ourselves.

[alphaa10-2009]

Let's Hear It for the Fascists

lars008 said, "... that is because they are terrorists pretending to be americans.... don%u2019t you just hate these stupid silly little fascist nazi Islamic muslim monsyters........"
---
First, define your terms properly, then try to make your argument-- it works better, that way. Fascism is defined as "a system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with a belligerent nationalism." (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

Espousing right-wing neocon, fascist drivel, Bush brought the American political system to a historic low, fulfilling certain important parameters of a Fascist state-- (1) with one-party control of all three branches of government, Bush systematically isolated and excluded the loyal opposition in everything from congressional committees to gerrymandering electoral districts, obtaining rubber-stamped approval from federal courts (2) fostering an unparalleled, unprecedented relaxation-- no, defiance-- of the rule of law, periodically erupting in criminal prosecutions as scandal emerged
(see Let's Hear It for the Fascists-- 2)

[karlimhof]

The things that will destroy America ...

lard008


is, of course, our own little american eye-rab hater lard008

[kba78]

quit ur wining truth is, over there these dumb azz bombers will bomb, then there wife will come pray to jabooty on there scattard body parts right infront of you , you cant tell whos who.

[kba78]

karlimhof We all have dictionarys we dont need you copy and pasting things , geesh

[lars008-2009]

alphaa10

ISLAM / PERFECT EXAMPLE OF FASCISM!!!
pisslam is intent on killing or enslaving all nonmuslims......

The most notable characteristic of a fascist country is the separation and persecution or denial of equality to a specific segment of the population based upon superficial qualities or belief systems.

Simply stated, a fascist government always has one class of citizens that is considered superior (good) to another (bad) based upon race, creed or origin. It is possible to be both a republic and a fascist state. The preferred class lives in a republic while the oppressed class lives in a fascist state.

http://www.couplescompany.com/Features/Politics/Structure3.htm

[kba78]

Sorry karlimhof that comment was made for alphaa10