Senators' Plane Evades Ground Fire In Iraq

C-130 Carrying 4 Members Of U.S. Congress Was Under Fire From Rocket-Propelled Grenades

(AP)  A military cargo plane carrying three senators and a House member was forced to take evasive maneuvers and dispatch flares to avoid ground fire after taking off from Baghdad on Thursday night.

The lawmakers said their plane, a C-130, was under fire from three rocket-propelled grenades over the course of several minutes as they left for Amman, Jordan.

“It was a scary moment,” said Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., who said he had just taken off his body armor when he saw a bright flash outside the window. “Our pilots were terrific. ... They banked in one direction and then banked the other direction, and they set off the flares.”

Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and James Inhofe, R-Okla., as well as Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Ala., were also on the plane.

Cramer and Martinez said they had just begun to relax about five or 10 minutes after the plane took off under darkness.

Crew members apparently communicated to the pilots as they saw the initial RPG fired from the ground, Cramer said. After the first burst, the pilots maneuvered aggressively and set off flares used for drawing incoming fire away from aircraft.

Once the flares lit up the sky, lawmakers said, two more RPGs were fired as the pilots continued maneuvering.

Martinez said he quickly put back on his body armor.

“We were jostled around pretty good,” said Cramer, who estimated the plane had ascended to about 6,000 feet. “There were a few minutes there where I wondered: 'Have we been hit? Are we OK?'”

Capt. Angel Wallace, a spokeswoman for U.S. Central Command, said she was not aware of the incident, and military public affairs officials in Baghdad could not be reached immediately.

Lawmakers travel to Iraq regularly to get a closer look at military and political progress there, usually staying inside Baghdad's secured Green Zone and traveling under heavy security.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and other lawmakers who walked around a Baghdad market this spring were criticized for offering a rosy assessment of security there.

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., for example, later said he chose his words poorly when he compared the market to a “normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime.”

Despite the scare, Shelby, Martinez and Cramer said they believed the recent increase in troop levels has helped stabilize parts of the country.

“It was kind of dicey,” Shelby said. “But it just shows you what our troops go through every day.”

[tomtomasters]

Seems to me setting off flares would be the wrong thing to do, lighting up the sky so attackers can see you easier. duh.

[feelfree1]

Re: "A military cargo plane carrying three senators and a House member was forced to take evasive maneuvers and dispatch flares to avoid ground fire after taking off from Baghdad on Thursday night."

It appears that the resistance fighters are improving their target choice of their greatest enemies.

I wonder of Shelby brought an extra change of "Depends" for the trip?

[lorinkundert]

"Seems to me setting off flares would be the wrong thing to do, lighting up the sky so attackers can see you easier. duh."

Must be a lib, Flares are set off to attract the heat seeking missiles as they are hotter than the engines, Duh

[feelfree1]

lorinkundert,

The weapons reportedly used in the attack were Rocket Propelled Grenades, for which flares would be of little use, other than to light up the target as mentioned by ''tomtomasters''.

Maybe you should concentrate more on your reading comprehension and reasoning, and less on name-calling.

[radiob-2009]

Despite the scare, Shelby, Martinez and Cramer said they believed the recent increase in troop levels has helped stabilize parts of the country.




What is in the water that these congressmen were drinking from? LSD????

[sharncedar]

Well we almost got term limits for 4 of these crooks ...

But these 4 thieves will continue in their job-for-life, elective office. They have lots of work to do, making sure that middle class America loses all of its job security, good for the economy and all, its important no Americans expect to work forever at one job, or even for 5 years. Except of course congressfags, who expect to work 27 years without a serious election, some of it work and some of it airport bathroom playtime ... yum yum.

[iceman_1960]

The plane nearly had to make a crash landing in one of those really safe Baghdad neighborhoods.

[sgtrds]

No big loss if they got hit. 3 of the 4 were republicans anyway.

[iceman_1960]

Too bad Larry Craig wasn''t aboard.

He could have calmed everyone down.

[incog-nito]

President Bush: "This just proves that Iraq is getting a lot safer now. They missed, didn''t they?"

[sgtrds]

Too bad Larry Craig wasn''''t aboard.

He could have calmed everyone down.

Posted by Iceman_1960 at 10:46 PM : Aug 30, 2007

Or at least held their "hand" while they went to the bathroom.

[sgtrds]

Let''s hope their aim improves before Bush''s next visit............or better yet Cheney''s.......

[mystixa]

True about the flares being of little use against a basic rpg. So you''re sitting in that plane as pilot... how many lives are you going to put on the line because you''re ''certain'' thats the only weapon they have.

An rpg itself isnt the best weapon against a plan, and even if it hits may well tag a non-critical area. If a heat seeking missile is used its almost certain to hit a critical area. These guys have procedures for everything they do, they dont just blow off flares for the fun of it, or to see the pretty lights.

[fairandbal]

radiob,
it''s not water.. it''s the coolaid that Rove had every member of the GOP caucus drink when they got to Washington....

[cfin5]

That was a close one! Glad to hear everybody was OK.

[kissamaarse]

Call these staunch GOP senators "Honcho Chapstick."

What are they doing here anyway/ Working for re-election credits when the GOP can''t do anything in Congress but OBSTRUCT?

[usayesterday]

Nah, that wasn''t ground fire...

...that was just Iraqis shooting fireworks in the air to celebrate the senators who still wholeheartedly support the war. The Iraqis were just showing their loyalty to the U.S. politicians who voted to help make their lives better!


So Mel, Richard, and James...


...is everything still going "swimingly" in Iraq?!

[middleman8]

IT''S A SHAM

It was staged so these GOP''s could claim combat pay and have some combat veterans in Bush''s camp.

[fairandbal]

Hey, this is the best idea the GOP has had in decades.
Have all Senators who voted FOR the war (Dem or Repub) fly over Iraq in shifts 24/7. When the planes aren''t being shot at anymore, it''s safe for the troops to come home. What better gauge can there be for how the war is progressing?!

[nothappyatall]

Dam those incompetant peasants- they MISSED!!!
Could have been a great opportunity to take out FOUR senators, 3 of them repubiCONS, would have been a great way to show them and us just exactly how much they ''LOVE'' us and appreciate our ''liberation'' efforts!!

Yep, the shrub sez he has NO plans to abandon the Iraqis in their hour of NEED, of course, they wouldn''t HAVE this ''hour of need'' were it not for us BLUNDERING in like dumb sheeple, guns ablaze to ''save'' and ''liberate'' the ever so grateful Iraq populace.

[kissamaarse]

Those minority GOP senators had no business being there, no sooner than do our sons and daughters put here by deranged Bush.

[brianbwb-2009]

Had the attack been successful, we would then have to suffer through another round of fear mongering, "stay the course" agitprop, so while I wouldn''t have lamented the loss of some corrupt politicians, I also am relieved to have been spared the insult of hearing Bush blaming it on Al Qaeda "teriss".

Another thought, it could be a set up to scare the GOP rats and the Democrat worms into letting Bush extend the "war" past the deadline...

[waynabq]

1 million dead Iraqis and at least 2.1 million Iraqi refugees. "Mission Accomplished", "Bring it on". As Ann Coulter put it, "things in Iraq are going swimmingly".

If we could only throw Bush, Coulter, Hannity, Rove, Cheney and Limbaugh into the Euphrates River.

Anyone stupid enough to believe that (The 30 percenters) need to be sent to Iraq for a month long vacation outside the Green Zone.

[one_american]

Give up, liberal moonbats.

You''re losing your limp-wristed war on America.

The surge continues, no matter what you say.

Deal with it.

[oakishpines]

'' ... ''tax the world is feed the world and feed the world is tax the world, now get in line to feed it'' ... ''tax the world is tax the world and feed the worls dis feed the world, now get in line to feed it'' ... ''

'' ... more is earned, and less needed, and more resources depleted, and more recycled, building $60,000 homes instead of million dollar, but folk are taught to look the other way ... ''

'' ... u.s. companys pay 3000% more for labor than those in 3rd world, so u.s. babies starve, ... u.s. banks forclose on farms and schools and hospitals around the globe cause ''good education costs good dollars'' ... ''

'' ... most traditional get sick tax world authorities remind all that most folk most time dance porno get sick tax world get well feed world songs rallied round the sick beds drifting tens millions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups cost just a few tips of pennys here and a few dimes there ... ''

'' ... girls allergic pharoahs and congresses go where there''s just girls ... ''

'' ... she''s a huvan, get it in writing ... ''

'' ... because of internet, anyone can do any surgery any place anytime from anywhaere in world: most tho don''t injure and kill w/o permission, but only cause i''ll injure and kill them w/o permission ... ''

'' ... eternal stroyboard dragons swimming infinite oceans of eternal storyboard dragons ... ''

[oakishpines]

'' ... putting women in mens armys did not turn men into gardenets, it turned women into rapists of husbands and children ... putting children into armys does not turn women and men into gardenets, it turns children into parent rapists ... if men are to treat children with respect, then men are to start acting like children ... and are to start treating two year olds like two year olds ... ''

'' ... all the front pages would have been covered in photos of local children dancing get well feed world songs rallied around the sick beds drifting the farm trails, except a terrorist warned against it ... ''

'' ... third world labor costs two dollars per day while first world labor costs in excess of sixty dollars per day and companys are incapable of competing ... only about 20,000 die each day by hunger while 3.5 billion earn less than two dollars per day ... the world throws away more food than it takes to feed the world ... and most in the third world know how to grow their own lunch, most have to ... most in the third world know how to grow their own medicine, most have to ... ironically, their cheap labor pools draw investment, while first world labor pools chase it overseas more and more quickly as restrictions shift because the fastest growing sector is the foreign sector ... ''

Obviously another clear indication that the terrorists are on the run and that we''re winning.

[robertkjjj]

Fairandbal, your idea is close to a good one, but you got it reversed. Rather, load up a single C130 with Kennedy, Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Durban, and every other f****ng as*wipe Democrat liberal loser freak piece of sh*t Senator and then fly it in circles ALL DAY over Baghdad, while only 1 engine is working and it''s trailing smoke, at half speed. It reminds me of the joke "what do you call 100 lawyers at the bottom of the lake? A good start". That''s what we need. A good start without ANY Democrat liberal cheese-eating appeasement monkeys in Congress. Yee friggin ha.

[torocaca]

Must be a lib, Flares are set off to attract the heat seeking missiles as they are hotter than the engines, Duh
Posted by lorinkundert at 10:06 PM : Aug 30, 2007


RPGs aren''t heat seekers...DUH!! Must be a dumb repug.

In addition, they aren''t very effective against fixed-wing aircraft because their range and accuracy is limited to about 300 meters or less.

[tbweb]

It could have been worst, the plane could have made an emergency landing in China and taken apart and returned to the U.S. in a box like our P3 after the Chinese snooped and stole all its secrets!

[brianbwb-2009]

one of them, thar, neocon chickehhawk republicans, never served, thats why they did''''nt know the RPG''''s are''''nt heat seeking.
Posted by tribe.

And the shooters didn''t know that the hearts of the senators are so cold, they suck all the heat from the engines, and the clouds would be warmer...

[usayesterday]

And the shooters didn''''t know that the hearts of the senators are so cold, they suck all the heat from the engines, and the clouds would be warmer...
Posted by brianbwb at 04:55 AM : Aug 31, 2007
.........

LOL!

Good one brian. Good one!

[lars008-2009]

it is fascist nazi terrorislam stupid%u2026.

non muslims of the world unite... fight against the tyranny of the fascist nazi terrorslam imperialist empire of the darkside...

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair''s bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770
Bless the Beasts and Children
Fascist nazi terrorslam kills every man woman and child in the village again%u2026 typical mo for terrorslam%u2026
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm

Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the jizyah (poll tax) and feel themselves subdued; or they fight, in which case their wealth, women, children and homes become permissible as booty for the Muslims.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=13759&ln=eng&txt=before%20islam%20arabia%20pagan

[crater7]

"there were a few minutes where I wondered: have we been hit? Are we ok?"

NOW THESE FOLKS KNOW WHAT OUR TROOPS LIVE THROUGH EACH AND EVERY DAY. AT LEAST THE SENATORS CAN GO HOME AND BRAG ABOUT THEIR WAR EXPERIENCE, BUT, THE TROOPS WILL GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN, "JUST LIKE GROUND HOG DAY".

STAY THE COURSE

If you have ever rode in a C-130 you would know that there is not much of a difference between being under fire and just trying to hold it together in-flight. It needs to be retired soon

[formrusmcsgt]

Dubya will point to this incident as "progress" somehow....

[gunnerv1]

RPG''s don''t have that kind of range (6000 ft) they have a self destruct fuze that will det. the grenade after approx. 5 seconds. Flares will not deter a RPG. It does not have a IR (infra-red) fuze. I find this "story" to be totaly bogus.

[abbe91]

"RPG''''s don''''t have that kind of range (6000 ft) they have a self destruct fuze that will det. the grenade after approx. 5 seconds. Flares will not deter a RPG. It does not have a IR (infra-red) fuze. I find this "story" to be totaly bogus.
Posted by gunnerv1 at 07:26 AM : Aug 31, 2007"

As likely as a dozen guys with carton knives collapsing 3 towers with 2 planes.

[hungry1968]

It''s sad to say, but it''s really too bad that the plane wasn''t hit and everyone on board was killed. That is the ONLY catalyst that would bring the Republicans to their senses and make them stop voting for prolonging the war.
The ONLY thing that would change their mind is the death(s) of their fellow politicians.

[gunnerv1]

abbe91-Your right, "Carton knives" (box cutters) will not bring down a bldg., but a box cutter to the eye of someone being held next to the cockpit door of an airplane may get them to open it up and therefore allow the plane to be hijacked and flown into a bldg. yeah, that could (and did) happen.

[formrusmcsgt]

The ONLY thing that would change their mind is the death(s) of their fellow politicians.
Posted by hungry1968 at 07:47 AM : Aug 31, 2007

I wouldn''t bet on that, hungry.

Remember, the neocon mantra is that more deaths only honor those previously wasted......

[jowand]

It''''s sad to say, but it''''s really too bad that the plane wasn''''t hit and everyone on board was killed. That is the ONLY catalyst that would bring the Republicans to their senses and make them stop voting for prolonging the war.
The ONLY thing that would change their mind is the death(s) of their fellow politicians.
Posted by hungry1968 at 07:47 AM : Aug 31, 2007

If there was votes in staying in Iraq for the Dems you being screaming and kicking to put more troops in Iraq, It''s all about votes for the Dems. quit pretending you care about the military at all

[formrusmcsgt]

If there was votes in staying in Iraq for the Dems you being screaming and kicking to put more troops in Iraq, It''''s all about votes for the Dems. quit pretending you care about the military at all
Posted by jowand at 07:55 AM : Aug 31, 2007

Anyone who cares not that our warriors are being wasted by the thousands for no gain certainly is not expressing any concern for their welfare.....

[jowand]

Anyone who cares not that our warriors are being wasted by the thousands for no gain certainly is not expressing any concern for their welfare.....
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:58 AM : Aug 31, 2007
It''s all about power and votes you are being used, you''re idiot Dem political leaders are on Al Jizeera everynight spouting their lies as propoganda tools by the Islamist Terrorists. You and your lot are giving aid and compfort to any enemy which your Dem Party voted to go to war against. Until your sick twisted freaks like Reid and Pelosi figured there are more votes in getting out than staying, back stabbing cretins.

[harbour28]

Bush and the gang continue to hype all the improvements there, including the security situation, yet when there is a high-profile target (i.e., US congressmen or the vice president, for example) the insurgents seem to know when and where to attack them.
This mess is a lost cause. I only hope SOMEDAY Bush and ALL his supporters will finally be held accountable.

[hungry1968]

Remember, the neocon mantra is that more deaths only honor those previously wasted......
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:50 AM : Aug 31, 2007


You''re right, but that usually only applies to the troops. In the twisted view of the neo-con world:

"Soldiers are supposed to die in battle, so it''s okay if they die."

[jowand]

Bush and the gang continue to hype all the improvements there, including the security situation, yet when there is a high-profile target (i.e., US congressmen or the vice president, for example) the insurgents seem to know when and where to attack them.
This mess is a lost cause. I only hope SOMEDAY Bush and ALL his supporters will finally be held accountable.
Posted by Harbour28 at 08:04 AM : Aug 31, 2007

It''s a lost cause to you because you want it to be, you''re a Dem and you think taking the position you do ehance your party. You''re hatred of Bush is blind power politics, based on being spoon fed trash regulary by the alphabet news networks.

[missingamerica]

I''ve ridden in C-130s a few times...if you''re sitting in the web seats in back any kind of evasive manuevering makes for a thrill ride that puts Cedar Point or Walt Disney World to shame.

I guarantee you those Congressmen will not forget the ride.

Nor are they as likely to swallow the Administration''s line as readily as those who can sit in comfy chairs in this country and come up with stuff like "Much of Iraq is stable. But, of course, what we see on television is the one bombing a day that discourages everybody.".

[jowand]

You''''re right, but that usually only applies to the troops. In the twisted view of the neo-con world:

"Soldiers are supposed to die in battle, so it''''s okay if they die."
Posted by hungry1968 at 08:05 AM : Aug 31, 2007

It''s all about politics, you can spout your Dem talking points form the daily-kook site all day long. You are a bunch of back stabbers who will turn on anyone for votes. Your party took the same position Bush did for 10 years about Sadaam until it looked more opportune to change sides.

[mcvet]

It''''s a lost cause to you because you want it to be, you''''re a Dem and you think taking the position you do ehance your party. You''''re hatred of Bush is blind power politics, based on being spoon fed trash regulary by the alphabet news networks.
Posted by jowand at 08:08 AM : Aug 31, 2007
+ report abuse

You POOR simple minded fascist! You just gobble up the snake oil don''t you. Well let me tell you how it really is and this come''s not from some desk jockey who has never even been close to Combat. When you have spent 5 long years trying to "give" a nation the size of Iraq "Democracy" and a plane with representatives of YOUR government are being shot at, you are LOSING! When you find those who REALLY attacked you have completely rebuilt AND they have used your stupid war against a country that NEVER attacked you, NEVER did anything to HELP the attack against you and NEVER had any WMD''s, THAT''s LOSING! Now you can try to spin the failures of Bush anyway you want but when our guys, those Troops we count on for our defense are in their THIRD or FOURTH Tours, you ARE LOSING! Maybe it''s time you fascist realized you just do not have what it takes and allow those who HAVE taken on Religious Terrorist take over. You DO know we have people in this country who have taken on and defeated OVER and OVER again, the KKK don''t you. Take it from me Sparky, these Arabs have NOTHING on a Slobber Slinging Southern Baptist in his Sheets!! Combat Vet, RVN, 1968