Plane carrying U.S. lawmakers in Iraq comes under attack.
Plane carrying U.S. lawmakers in Iraq comes under attack.
A military cargo plane carrying three senators — Mel Martinez (R-FL), Richard Shelby (R-AL), and James Inhofe (R-OK) — and a House member — Bud Cramer (D-IL) — was forced to take evasive maneuvers and dispatch flares to avoid ground fire after taking off from Baghdad on Thursday night. The AP reports:
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.” [...]
”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?”’ [...]
”It was kind of dicey,” Shelby said. ”But it just shows you what our troops go through every day.”
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Hell yea!!!
Go USA! kick ass!!!
August 30th, 2007 at 8:15 pmâ€It was kind of dicey,†Shelby said. â€But it just shows you what our troops go through every day.â€
No, that's the least of what our troops go through. That's a great day, if you're one of the troops.
A bad day is when you see your buddy blown away, or get your legs shredded by an IED.
You still have no fscking idea what "our troops go through every day", Shelby, and you're disrespecting them by pretending that you know.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:17 pmI can't wait until they come home and tell us how secure things are in Iraq.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:18 pmwow.
I wonder what would have happend if their plane had been destroyed?
BTW no I don't think it would have been good.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:19 pmJust like the flea market in Indiana!
August 30th, 2007 at 8:19 pmU.S. lawmakers come under attack after raving about the successes in Iraq. Glad there o.k. but a bit poetic me thinks.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:20 pmIf these guys come back and say everything is rosy...we'll know they've all been drugged.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:22 pm1) Most people would be inclined to believe that US politicians would fly out from the safest place possible
2) After 4 years and 1/2 trillion dollars the safest airport to leave from in IRAQ is still subject to ground based attacks. (capable of crashing and/or destroying a plane)
Still think the surge is working...
August 30th, 2007 at 8:23 pmAnd they (the R's) will all come back and tell us how nice and calm things are in Iraq. What is it with this endless parade of congress going to Iraq? They can learn nothing from the protected Green Zone and they are never allowed to speak to anyone they want to. They are given Powerpoint presentations and are allowed to talk to carefully chosen people in the military.
I believe it may have been missmolly who said the other day that we could save the taxpayers a lot of money if they held the "dog and pony show" back here in Washington rather than in Iraq.
I thank the stars that these congress people weren't killed. If they were, we would have to stay in Iraq for another 10 years to avenge their deaths.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:25 pmDiscussing "accountability" for education results in New Orleans yesterday, President Bush reiterated one of his favorite sound bites, "It's what I call challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations." Alas, not when it comes to the President himself and certainly not when the subject is the progress in Iraq.
For the details on why the White House wants the GAO to grade Bush's Iraq surge on a curve, see:
August 30th, 2007 at 8:26 pm"White House: Bush Deserves 'Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations' on Iraq."
NO MORE HOMO news finally:)
Comment by Bob
Except you are posting, closet-guy
August 30th, 2007 at 8:26 pm"Hell yea!!!
Go USA! kick ass!!!
Comment by Bob "
Yeah, they kicked ass by evasive maneuvers. You know Bob, you are pathetic, even for a troll.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:27 pmDon't you kinda wonder how this will be scored?
August 30th, 2007 at 8:27 pmMaybe some youth pranksters with fireworks?
With the reports coming out the wh has to really bend, this one should be no problem.
But was thinking if babaroo told p man the upstairs toilet was clogged pretty sure he would feel comfortable knowing it was clogged with high quality sewage and needed no attention.
I like "hangin' with u guys bilbo:) nothing sexual there bubby.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:29 pm"I like “hangin’ with u guys bilbo:) nothing sexual there bubby.
Comment by Bob"
Yuck, don't you come near me. I don't hang with morons.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:32 pmDon't you get it...? The air above Iraq doesn't count as in Iraq. (sickly wry grin)
August 30th, 2007 at 8:34 pm"Damn, I just crapped all over my nice new $5.00 blanket!"
August 30th, 2007 at 8:34 pmP - R - O - G - R - E - S - S !
August 30th, 2007 at 8:36 pmthat will teach them to have a dem on board!
August 30th, 2007 at 8:36 pmThe progress is apparent....almost 3 birds with 1 stone..Things are getting better, they promise!
August 30th, 2007 at 8:36 pmCheers to the pilot for saving those other brave airmen onboard..
They must be making progress, their aim is getting better!
August 30th, 2007 at 8:37 pmfunny! fan man
August 30th, 2007 at 8:39 pmAngry one,
Thanks for the link.
JC,
I'm not sure if we can tell from this article, WHICH airport these lawmakers supposedly took off from, so I'm not sure we should assume it to be the "safest" one. It's difficult to even imagine who might have targeted them with rocket launched grenades. Where did the insurgents get "rockets" anyway? Grenades maybe, but rocket propelled? And from an airport location? It just all seems odd.
Seems like a C130 cargo plane would have been more likely to be coming or going from a US military base. But, it doesn't say. And, who would be shooting rocket propelled grenades from any US military base anyway? Again, it doesn't say. We are presumed to assume that it was the "enemy" that targeted them, but we don't know how the enemy came upon these more sophisticated weapons, since they sure didn't have them before.
Building bombs and IED's are one thing, but rockets...I don't know if the insurgents can actually whip those up in some abandoned factory in the middle of a war zone. It just doesn't seem likely.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:40 pmthat will teach them to have a dem on board!
Comment by billjpa — August 30, 2007
But the surge is working.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:40 pmQuestion: How many ways can this be spun.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:41 pmThis episode--contrary to the progressive defeatists who wish ill on the US mission in Iraq--doesn't "underscore" how hazardous things are in Iraq. Since the plane was carrying high-value targets in the form of US congressmen, the terrorists and insurgents obviously exerted extra effort and attention on the plane, but this kind of attack on a plane in Iraq is more the exception than the norm. Otherwise, you'd hear plenty more reports of copters and plane crashes in Iraq, and you have those on occasion, but also due to mechanical problems, not terrorists. As to the reactions of the congressmen, based on party affiliation, it's enormously easy to reliably guess how each reacted. The Repubs--Martinez, Shelby, Inhofe--probably had no fear of dying and swore to the terrorists to "bring it on." The lone Demoncrat, however, fared much more pitifully as he crapped his pants, promised to convert to Islam, and then fainted the rest of the trip.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:41 pmwhat's martinez wearing armor for? or was it a string of armour sausage he took off?
August 30th, 2007 at 8:42 pmWas the dem on the plane as their boi?
but rockets…I don’t know if the insurgents can actually whip those up in some abandoned factory in the middle of a war zone. It just doesn’t seem likely
Did you see rockets?
August 30th, 2007 at 8:43 pmDid Saddam have rockets?
What is the life span of a rocket? [Years]
I'll bet when the pilot announced it was time to put their heads between their legs the Republicans mistook that for party time.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:43 pmThis episode–contrary to the progressive defeatists who wish ill on the US mission in Iraq–doesn’t “underscore†how hazardous things are in Iraq. -Comment by blah blah WADSGM
Does or does not this undermine the recent progress of the surge?
August 30th, 2007 at 8:45 pmThe surge is working, so claim the GOPer Senators, but their plane almost got shot down. Wow the Iraqis almost killed 3 Senators.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:45 pm27. only in your dreams....zzzz go back to sleep!
August 30th, 2007 at 8:45 pmâ€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."
Not much different than flying into Philly though...really. The surge is working. Democracy will spread across the Middle East as long as everyone claps their hands really, really fast. (phhhhhht)
Oh and the boys heard about the hot sex at the Baghdad airport. They had to check that out too.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:47 pmThose 3 Senators are Bush's favorite pals in the Congress, so Dubya would have dropped Napalm on half of Baghdad to avenge their deaths.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:50 pmWE leave , they can canabolize each other... we won't be the targets... this haS become a training ground because we are there... We leave, they fight it out with each ohter, let the best RAG-HEAD team win... it's about the 25 trillion dollars in oil under the sand the texans want their hands on. "war for oil!".PERIOD..
August 30th, 2007 at 8:51 pmOh and the boys heard about the hot sex at the Baghdad airport. They had to check that out too.
Comment by j swift — August 30, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
"We were just tapping our feet to some music. Swear."
August 30th, 2007 at 8:53 pmMaybe it was an attempted FRAG buy some US military people who are sick of these chicken hawks lying about what is going on and keeping them in a country that doesn't want them there.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:53 pmWhat if? What if it did get hit? It kind of reminds me of the newspaper reporter who was shot and the started the end of the war in central america.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:53 pmComment by Mr. President — August 30, 2007
Where in the aricle does it say Al qaeda fired the rounds? Doe this then undermine the progress that was said to be made?
Which is it mr P?
August 30th, 2007 at 8:53 pmCorrection, Bud Cramer is a Democrat from Huntsville, Al. Yeah I know hard to believe. I vote for him.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:54 pmGW
PRACTICING FOR AIR FORCE 1 ...RELAX EVERYBODY.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:56 pmThis is proof that terrorists and alKaida need to be destroyed!! -Mr P
But then this admits failure of the operation Iraqi freedom program does it not? Why then spend money on reconstruction? Why not just leave Iraq and let the terrorists kill each other?
August 30th, 2007 at 8:56 pmWhyareDemocratssuchgirliemen? sez:
Really? Do tell...
Given the fact that the plane was carrying (as you say) "high-value targets", don't you think the security surrounding the flight would have been correspondingly tighter?
How did the attackers know the flight was carrying these "high-value targets"? There's nothing in the AP article that states that the attackers knew who the C-130's passengers were...so where did you get that information? Perhaps the government needs to talk to you...you seem to possess a lot of information you shouldn't...
Given these two points, your assertion that the attackers exerted extra attention and effort on this target is clearly bunkum. Let's move on.
Funny...I thought we were hearing more reports...from this article:
Four other U.S. helicopters -- three military and one civilian -- were shot down in Iraq between January 20 and last Friday, raising concerns that insurgents are becoming more proficient at downing the aircraft.
How many more qualifies as "plenty"? Could you quantify that for us?
And we wrap up this latest display of neocon apologist blithering idiocy with a pathetic little fantasy...what a joke.
Oh, by the way, "Demoncrat" was a nice touch, moron.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:57 pmAgreed. Thats why we wanted to finish them off in Afghanistan instead of invading and f*cking up Iraq (which was an enemy of al Qaeda nitwit). You "conservative" cretins are truly too damn dumb to be allowed anywhere near the levers of power.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:57 pmRocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) are handheld weapons, basically the modern version of the bazooka, not what you might be thinking of as "rockets." RGPs are a dime a dozen. They're dangerous against helicopters (two helicopters were shot down with RPGs at the 1993 "Black Hawk Down" Battle of Mogadishu), but you'd have to be pretty close and pretty lucky to damage an airplane.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:58 pmPERFECTLY ARTICULATED ICHTHUS!
August 30th, 2007 at 8:58 pm"Since the plane was carrying high-value targets in the form of US congressmen, the terrorists and insurgents obviously exerted extra effort" - spew from some random chickenhawk idiot
And how, exactly would "the terrorists and insurgents" know there were Republican senators on the plane? Were they on the lookout for foot-tapping? Did the senators place their bags in front of the door to block the view?
Or maybe the enemy inside information coming from the high quality puppet government? Or maybe this was not a unique incident as you would like everyone to think? Either way = failure of surge.
BTW, I take exception to the notion that Republican senators constitute "high-value targets". You must be referring to the Dem congressman.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:58 pmIf this is more evidence the surge is working, then we're in deeper shit than I thought.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:59 pm"This is proof that terrorists and alKaida need to be destroyed!!!
In your face, Libs!!!
Comment by Mr. President "
Why does it prove that? Do you have proof that it was a "terrorist" or al Qaeda that did it? Proof...I don't need no stinkin proof, I said it so it must be true (delusional).
August 30th, 2007 at 9:00 pmDang, TripMaster, you beat me to it. You usurped all the points in my post.
Can't wait for the trolls to claim that TMM = gorn...
August 30th, 2007 at 9:01 pmI bet the dem on the plane was crying like a baby
August 30th, 2007 at 9:02 pmTHE TERRORIST SAW THE 3 FACES OF THE GOP IN THE BATHROOM WINDOW, WANTED A BETTER VIEW , "TRIED TO MAKE A PICTURE WINDOW IN SIDE OF PLANE."
August 30th, 2007 at 9:02 pmTHE DEM WAS DOING A CROSSWORD PUZZLE IN PRIVATE.IN THE FORWARD LOUNGE.
Seems like a C130 cargo plane would have been more likely to be coming or going from a US military base. But, it doesn’t say. And, who would be shooting rocket propelled grenades from any US military base anyway? Again, it doesn’t say. We are presumed to assume that it was the “enemy†that targeted them, but we don’t know how the enemy came upon these more sophisticated weapons, since they sure didn’t have them before.
Building bombs and IED’s are one thing, but rockets…I don’t know if the insurgents can actually whip those up in some abandoned factory in the middle of a war zone. It just doesn’t seem likely.
Comment by Cyrena — August 30, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
HUH???
My husband flies a Herk for the USAF and they DID fly in and out of the Baghdad airport during both of his tours.
You have no idea the actions they had to take to land and take-off safely......Actually, you have no idea what they encounter on a daily basis......The evasive manuevers they make......Or what's launched at them.
Educate yourself!!!
August 30th, 2007 at 9:03 pmPERFECTLY ARTICULATED ICHTHUS!
Comment by Tomike
Perhaps Tomike, thank you for the words.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:03 pm"I bet the dem on the plane was crying like a baby
Comment by GitmoRules! "
Well, at least he didn't shit in his pants like the Republicans did.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:03 pmBad Bilbo...Bad Bilbo....I can't believe I posted that.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:04 pmI’m a liberal! Comment by Mr. President — August 30, 2007
Ah yes, Greek liberalism, perhaps?
August 30th, 2007 at 9:04 pmI’m a liberal! Comment by Mr. President — August 30, 2007
Yep......And I'm a VIRGIN!!!
August 30th, 2007 at 9:06 pmTIDES HAVE SURGES.... THE ONLY ACTION IS IN THE WASHINGTON GOP STRATEGISTS MEETING TO TRY TO FILL THE EMPTY SEATS IN THE WAR ROOM. THATS WHERE A SURGE IS NEEDED. TAP TAP TAP
August 30th, 2007 at 9:06 pm"NO MORE HOMO news finally" - Comment by Bob
"I’m a liberal!" - Comment by Mr. President
Mr. President is getting high from snorting Bob's sperm again.
Democrats = party of the big tent.
Republicans = party of the big closet.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:06 pmI'm glad our lawmakers and aviators made it out of that predicament without damage or death.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:07 pmI just can't wait to hear their take on the "improving" situation...
Comment by bilbogaggins — August 30, 20
Perhaps they had vitters on.
Okay, that was a joke.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:07 pmIf this is more evidence the surge is working, then we’re in deeper shit than I thought.
Comment by RUCerious — August 30, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
The surge is working very well for the inSURGEnts. More and bigger tagets, more weapons for the "enemy", as the USA "loses" thousands upon thousands of guns and rounds, leaving domestic law enforcement underarmed and undermanned. Good job, Bushie, you're losing in Iraq, Afghanistan, the War On terror, and you've endangered citizens at home. I like our chances better against Osama, Bush is too dangerous.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:07 pmHelp me out here Mr P. I have a question about Greek morals, since you have studied it.
When in Greece do as the Grecians do.
What does this imply?
August 30th, 2007 at 9:09 pmComment by Mr. President — August 30, 2007
Mr P do you not know whom Tim Osman was?
August 30th, 2007 at 9:10 pmPRAY AND SUPPORT OUR TROOPS THEY ARE LEAD BY A "HEADLESS-IN CHIEF!
August 30th, 2007 at 9:10 pmHey MR. P!
Someone left you another question back on the NY Post thread!
August 30th, 2007 at 9:11 pmGood for you, stay chaste and pure until marriage!
Comment by Mr. President — August 30, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
Wouldn't want to whore myself out like the Republicans are doing for this suicide mission in Iraq!!!
August 30th, 2007 at 9:11 pmPRAY AND SUPPORT OUR TROOPS THEY ARE LEAD BY A “HEADLESS-IN CHIEF! Comment by Tomike — August 30, 2007
My Family has long served Tomike I wholly support them. What I do not support is fomenting wars and playing Roman Empire in a world that is discovered.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:12 pmNope. But his name sounds too Muslim, so I wouldn’t trust him.
Comment by Mr. President
Did you Google it?
August 30th, 2007 at 9:13 pmRepublicans do it on their backs, because they're only good at f*cking "up".
And yes, I'm referring to Senators on Senators. It's the GOP way.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:14 pmComment by Mr. President — August 30, 2007
Your blog often has 0 comments Mr P. You have plenty of time to troll.
Do not lie.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:20 pmComment by Mr. President — August 30, 2007
Poor Mr P, why do you feign importance?
August 30th, 2007 at 9:24 pmRoman Empire?
Comment by Ichthus — August 30, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
August 30th, 2007 at 9:24 pm"...Mr P....You have plenty of time to troll."
His new part time position at the jewelry counter is really cutting into his time here.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:25 pmHe believes it's worth it though, Condi is sure to come back any day now...
Tripmaster..... your my new hero.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:26 pmRoman Empire?
Comment by Ichthus — August 30, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Comment by r — August 30, 2007
Yes.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:27 pmhe Roman Empire in the first century AD mixed sophistication with brutality and could suddenly lurch from civilization, strength and power to terror, ...
http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/index.html
People misconstrued part of my comment so I'll put it another way.
Q: If you can't protect high value targets and people in the Green Zone have to wear body armor because of incoming projectiles, what kind of security do you actually have?
A: NONE
August 30th, 2007 at 9:28 pmComment by Mr. P
Does the word feign cause you pause?
You spend alot of time going Heyooooooooooooooooooooo
But dont answer simple qyestions. To feign.
feign v. , feigned , feigning , feigns . v.tr. To give a false appearance of: feign sleep. To represent falsely; pretend to: feign authorship of a.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:29 pmsuicide mission in Iraq!!!
Comment by redstateblueheart — August 30, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
Our soldiers are winning at a rate of about 100 to 1. The people fighting our guys are committing suicide.
Thanks, I love capturing these Liberal quotes for use later.
Have a nice day.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:30 pmJust sayin’ Comment by Mr. P
Oh stop being a feign.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:30 pmOur soldiers are winning at a rate of about 100 to 1. The people fighting our guys are committing suicide.
Thanks, I love capturing these Liberal quotes for use later.
Have a nice day.
Comment by r
But this is a freedom operation to free the Iraqis!!
August 30th, 2007 at 9:32 pmand you have yourself a civilization!
Comment by Mr. P — August 30, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
No you don't. You have a rightard clan, by definition uncivilized, savage barbarians. A civilization eschews brutality and terror. The use of brutality leads to terror, as exemplified by your failed policies in Iraq. The wholesale slaughter and murder of innocent families is what has lead to the near-disaster of losing 4 members of Congress. Insurgency is getting stronger and better at this type of attack.
With any luck, Cheney will take a little trip to check his oil wells.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:34 pmMr. Pee sez:
Care to elaborate?
August 30th, 2007 at 9:35 pmmix: sophistication, brutality, strength, power and terror
let sit for 10min in room temperature
and you have yourself a civilization!
Comment by Mr. P — August 30, 2007
I worked outdoors and indoors for years at such temps, working, not sitting.
Thanks, I love capturing these Liberal quotes for use later.
Have a nice day. Comment by r — August 30, 2007
But you never use them.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:35 pmnow watch them all try to claim "preogress"
August 30th, 2007 at 9:37 pmOur soldiers are winning at a rate of about 100 to 1. The people fighting our guys are committing suicide.
Comment by r — August 30, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
Thanks, I love capturing these rightard talking lies for later. Have a terrible day. Enlist, and have hundreds of terrible days. Oh, wait, not you. What am I thinking? I'm not addressing a patriot, I'm talking to a coward, a chickenhawk. A fact-free rightard pansy.
My mistake. Go back to the basement and finish your thought for the year.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:38 pmâ€But it just shows you what our troops go through every day.â€
Unnecessarily, you may add....Senator. They go through that because rubbernecked cowards like you cannot say no to the thugs in the crime family.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:51 pmLet's see. Progress Report on Sept 11th.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:54 pmMaliki ousted Sept 15th.
Mahdi army uprising Sept 18th.
Heckuva Job chympie!
Comment by Mr. P — August 30, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
Yes, it mean you dont know.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:54 pmYes, it mean you dont know.
Comment by Ichthus — August 30, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
The hard reality of really low expectations.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:55 pmMr. Pee sez:
I guess my request was beyond you. Pity.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:57 pmThe biggest danger to the 3 lawmakers was from drowning when they opened their bowels from fear and proceeded to fill the interior of that C-130 with a lake of liquid crap.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:59 pmThe Senators said that they made it through the trouble by using the patented Larry Craig Wide Stance.
-GSD
August 30th, 2007 at 9:59 pmLet’s see. Progress Report on Sept 11th.
Maliki ousted Sept 15th.
Mahdi army uprising Sept 18th.
Heckuva Job chympie!
Comment by RUCerious — August 30, 2007
I, and others correctly noted Malikis downfall. The MSM hasn't yet divulged this. Mr P instead of helping guide history chooses to say HeyOOooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooooOOOOOOOOOo.
I guess he does not view today as tomorrows history and has relinquished his spot in that written and unwritten sub conscious hall of records
August 30th, 2007 at 10:00 pmWe came THAT close to getting rid of Inhofe....damn. Maybe next time.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:00 pmLet me just say that flares do nothing to stop a RPG , rocket propelled greande attack. They are not guided by exhaust heat.
Flares would have no effect on them.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:02 pmYet another astonishing sign of normalcy in Iraq!!
August 30th, 2007 at 10:12 pmThe Iranians are to blame. I can't wait till President Bush attacks Iran.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:12 pm"dicey"? Now let's see these lying sycophants return and tell the people how "safe" Iraq is! This is priceless and so timely for the Iraq progress report.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:12 pmInhofe, the girlie-girl probably crapped in his drawers! I can only imagine.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:13 pmVeritas,
The Republican delegation were all wearing diapers that had been given to them by Sen. Dave Vitter(R)-Chicken Ranch in the event of such an occasion.
-GSD
August 30th, 2007 at 10:16 pmFlares only stop an infrared missile attack. They won't stop any other kind of guidance
August 30th, 2007 at 10:19 pmI agree with the idea that BushCo will blame Iran for the attacks. Many neocons are salivating over just such an incident that could be laid at Iran's doorstep.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:25 pmsure it wasn't our own troops trying to frag the people who sent them there?
August 30th, 2007 at 10:25 pm“dicey� Now let’s see these lying sycophants return and tell the people how “safe†Iraq is! This is priceless and so timely for the Iraq progress report.
Comment by veritas — August 30, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
Good point. An additional surge may be warranted.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:28 pmWhy are we in Iraq? Would we like it if Nicaragua invaded us?
August 30th, 2007 at 10:29 pmTake evasive maneuvers? Dispatch flares? Avoid ground fire?
Yup. Just like a Sunday afternoon at an Indiana mall.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:30 pmActually, I don't believe rightard trolls grasp how incensed patriotic U.S. citizens, whether liberal Democrat or moderate semi-sane Republicans, are at the utter criminality and incompetence of the Bush administration. But it is amusing to read the rightard trolls semi-literate attempts at pushing nutty neo-con Republican talking points. Keep up the good work, rightard trolls. Comic relief is so important, especially during this extremely dangerous period in our nation's history...the last 17 months of Bush's and Cheney's lame-duck mal-administration. Who knows, rightard trolls, maybe you'll get a gig on Faux's Half Hour Comedy Hour. Oh right, Faux has cancelled that lame excuse for a comedy program. Reportedly, Faux is replacing this program with a new one: "Larry Craig's and David Vitter's Republican Lonely Hearts Club." The pilot episode will have guest appearances by Ted Haggard, Mark Foley and Jeff Gannon, who will advise Republican viewers on how best to hook up with another Republican, no matter what sexual gender.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:31 pmComing under attack, I imagine they acted like that hysterical woman from Airplane. You know, where everybody lines up to give her a good smack.
Excellent use of our most valuable resources there, gentlemen. Protecting the bedwetters.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:31 pmIn addition to everything you have all brought up thus far, does this sound a little strange to everybody? I realize Wikipedia isn't the most reliable of sources, but I imagine it is pretty spot on when it says that the reliable range of an RPG is about 100 meters, and the absolute max range of 920 meters (because the fuse is at 4.5 seconds). In that case, there is no way that anyone would use them to attack an airplane flying at "about 6,000 feet." I think it's been pretty much determined that most of the time what we are told and what actually happened are two very different things - so what exactly happened out there?
August 30th, 2007 at 10:35 pmSomehow that doesn't sound like Indiana to me.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:41 pmGood point. An additional surge may be warranted.
Comment by r — August 30, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
Maybe two or three. Or fifty. Please be sure to write us when you get over there Mr Patriotic Consonant.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:43 pmOh, for a minute there I thought families were under attack by Sen Craig.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:44 pmUmm… I predicted Malikis downfall as soon as I found out who he was.
Maleleaky = Mucktard al-Sadist
Comment by Mr. P — August 30, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
You also predicted you'd pull your head out of your own ass, Mr PeePee, and we can see how well that has turned out. It is impressive that you can type while gnawing on your own colon, I have to admit.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:45 pmI bet they all three shat down their pant legs.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:50 pmComment by Mr. P — August 30, 2007
Mr P have I ever made a vulgar remark towards you?
Have you not, uner various monikers, recognized by the press mad such vulgar remarks? [Yes your being watched intensively]
August 30th, 2007 at 10:51 pmOh Mr P you dont understand your not anonymous at all.
How does it feel?
August 30th, 2007 at 10:52 pmI’ma lib. Comment by Mr. P — August 30, 2007
Did you know the entire contents of your hard drive have been copied?
August 30th, 2007 at 10:55 pmHow does it feel?
Comment by Ichthus — August 30, 2007 @ 10:52 pm
Umm… the same, I guess.
Comment by Mr. P — August 30, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
Mr PeePee only engages in trolling in an attempt to feel important. If he can't be wanted, at least he can be despised by a number of people. Telling him he's being watched just feeds into this desire for attention. "Ooooh, me? People are watching me? Let me change my underwear and I can put on a little play for everyone."
August 30th, 2007 at 10:56 pmknow. “ET PbD†from News Hounds is obsessed with me!
Comment by Mr. P
Phhbttt. The dogs of war are upon you.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:57 pmJust in those few moments, they have seen more military action than either Bush or Cheney or Rumsfeld or another of those other warmongers...
August 30th, 2007 at 11:06 pmAnother thread totally hijacked by trolls. Time to move on folks.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:06 pmDidn't Bush say that 'militay hostility is over in May of 2003', under banner of 'Mission Accomplished'?
August 30th, 2007 at 11:08 pmNow in 2007,Senators can see that's not the case...But they will come back from Iraq and say, 'Surge' is woking and ALL IS PEACE IN iRAQ.
#136
Er, no. Unless by "obsessed" you mean "amused in a revolted, who-the-hell-can-possibly-be-as-big-a-freak-as-this-clown, kind of way." Besides, you make good Ralph/Blat campaign fodder, on a blog that's not terrified of those scawwy, anonymous, unmoderated comments.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:09 pmhas anyone spoken to the pilots? - ask them what it was like to actually be in control of the plane and avoid getting blown up.
and as for these senator trips back and forth to baghdad - seems as if there are tour groups leaving every week - only a matter of time before one of these terrrrists pops a cap in one or a few of their asses
August 30th, 2007 at 11:20 pmThe Dem Rep in question, accused of crapping his pants, is a Blue Dog Democrat from Alabama. He's not quite a chickenhawk, having served as a tank commander in the harsh hazardous combat environment of Fort Knox, Kentucky, after graduating college in 1972 and losing his deferment. He rode out the rest of the Vietnam conflict in the bluegrass state and the National Guard.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:46 pmi'll bet the senators wanted to land the plane,get out, and go kick some iraqi butt. i don't win many bets though.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:51 pmProbably not the brightest idea Mel.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:57 pmThe attack was probably initiated by a liberal from TP!
August 31st, 2007 at 12:19 amSounds to me like Senator Craig missed a chance to watch 4 men shit.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:37 amAs Father O'KC (#128) noted "Bud" Cramer is a "Blue Dog Democrat" from (North) Alabama. Sadly, while he used to be more of true "D" long ago, lately he's more of a DINO. But, with all of these "R's coming out (or being dragged out) of the closet/stall, maybe Bud'll have the courage of his convictions to return to the "D" party & his earlier held progressive principles.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:09 amThe attack was probably initiated by a liberal from TP!
Comment by michael — August 31, 2007 @ 12:19 am
Care to back that claim up? Or do you want this registered as yet another stupid unsubstantiated comment you've made on behalf of the terrorist oriented radical right?
August 31st, 2007 at 3:02 amHey ET, Pbd,
It looks like TP raptured all of my comments!!!
Comment by Mr. P — August 31, 2007 @ 12:48 am
In the end, Mr. Pee's just another rapturing wingnut extremist homophobic closet hypocrite. Anyone surprised other than Michael and the rest of the bestiality right?
August 31st, 2007 at 3:03 amI don't tend to agree politically with most of you, and I think there's far too much griping and finger pointing without a lot of well thought out plans being bandied about. However, I like lurking here occasionally because I tend to like you as a group and I learn things. Having said that, to have some bozo talk about how our guys aren't getting shot at out there is absolutely infuriating.
I work for a defense contractor, and we definitely lose aircraft to hostile fire. We've also had a fair number of aircraft survive enemy attack [attacks that did a hell of a lot of damage to the aircraft], but it's something that we're constantly working to improve. And don't think that those aircraft in the field aren't constantly getting upgrades. They are. But dealing with something as simple as an RPG isn't a trivial task.
I'm going to assume that the military is also changing tactics frequently to reduce their exposure to those attacks [I'm not privy to that kind of info], but it seems likely and the number of successful attacks have certainly been reduced. That could also be explained by a reduced enemy presence. I don't really know what the case may be and that's not really the point of my post.
But to state that our guys aren't getting shot at out there is asinine at best. You, "Whyaredemssuchblahblahblah", are an idiot. Well - okay - more likely a troll, and a successful one given that you pissed me off enough to respond to you. You are certainly correct that we do have mechanical issues. But that's not the only danger facing these guys.
[Now comes the part where I decide whether to click the Post button or whether having merely written it has been cathartic enough for me]
August 31st, 2007 at 3:21 amWhile wishing no-one harm . . . it seems appropriate that a bunch of pols, in a lame attempt to burnish their street cred by dashing around Baghdad in helocopters get shot down.
It's complete BS. I'm sick to tears of political hacks riding on the back of my dollar to tell me . . . .oh yeah, it's great over here. Let's bring on the Hiltons, pop the cork on some Dom and have a love fest.
The place is a friggin' war zone. You don't know who's shooting at your or if the road's going to blow up when you drive down it. Soldiers are committing suicide, you ain't exactly going to kick up your fluffies and cuddle your grand kids.
Maybe if a couple of these political tourists got blown up by an IED, reality would come home.
August 31st, 2007 at 3:36 amHey Rocky.... not to comment on the bulk of your post [I suspect you're mostly venting], a C-130 is a military transport plane. An incredibly ENORMOUS military transport plane. Apparently the pilots refer to them as "Herks" [for Hercules]. It's the predecessor to the C-5 Galaxy. However, C-130 pilots [at least the few I know] are quite proud & protective of their rides, so I wouldn't bring up the C-5 in casual conversation with them unless you want to get an earful.
Yes - I know - I'm being anal & pedantic at the same time. Just wanted to point out that these guys weren't in helicopters.
August 31st, 2007 at 4:15 amOh shut up Mr. P. Blowhard.
I love America, Jesus, God, Humanity, Goodness, Kindness, Love, and Decency.
Why don't you?
August 31st, 2007 at 4:24 amI can think of no other way to convey the sadness of this foray into horror. These two are American icons . . . a tribute to the reality of this war.
God bless . . .
http://www.jenbekman.com/artists/nina_berman/current/nina_berman_marine_wedding_thmb.jpg
August 31st, 2007 at 4:35 amI'm noy usually much of a screamer. . . . but catch that link:
http://www.jenbekman.com/artists/nina_berman/current/nina_berman_marine_wedding_thmb.jpg
If this lovely couple became the poster child for Bush's war . . . the whole damn thing might just end.
(God bless you both, you may have put a face on a fiasco and snuffed it . . . few people accomplish so much in a lifetime)
August 31st, 2007 at 4:47 am>Our soldiers are winning at a rate of about 100 to 1. -r(idiculous)
Nice fabricated statistic. If thats true, then we've killed 300,000 insurgents and wounded 6 million. And yet we STILL cant travel anywhere in baghdad without heavy army, jackets, helmets, and usually air support. If we've already killed or wounded 6 million insurgents and Iraq still isnt secured, I'd day we're screwed.
August 31st, 2007 at 5:07 amSweet Sphincter . . . please check out this link and let me know what you think ... appreciate it . . .
http://www.jenbekman.com/artists/nina_berman/current/nina_berman_marine_wedding_thmb.jpg
August 31st, 2007 at 5:10 amAlll you have to do is hilight the link, right click, click copy, then put your cursor in the address line at the top of your screen and paste.
August 31st, 2007 at 5:12 am>http://www.jenbekman.com/ artists/ nina_berman/ current/ >nina_berman_marine_wedding_thmb.jpg
>If this lovely couple became the poster child for Bush’s war
CHRIST...thats a f#cked up pic.....
better view is here:
http://www.jenbekman.com/artists/nina_berman/?gallery=current&image=nina_berman_marine_wedding
sad..sad...sad...her eyes are dead..she doesnt even want to look at him...from what little expression you can see of whats left of his face, he seems ashamed to even be looking at her......
man...what kind of mad world to we live in that the peopel who claim to "support our troops" want more couples to end up like this, just so Iraqi's can have the freedom to become as much like Iran as they want to...?
August 31st, 2007 at 5:14 am> please check out this link
I did even before you asked.. very powerful.. very moving.. a perfectly horrible display of the senselessness of all this....
man.. all i can say is put that one on a postcard and mail it to every voter you can in 2008...
August 31st, 2007 at 5:15 amThat was a warm welcome xD
August 31st, 2007 at 5:40 amSeeing the steady flow of U.S. legislators visit the war makes no sense at all. I don't recall any of this in our past wars and I can clearly remember the Korean Conflict and a little of WW2. Can't you picture U.S. legislators buzzing around Germany for one day visits when we were fighting Hitler?
August 31st, 2007 at 7:48 amWeren't they the lucky ones.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:34 amHow long did they spend in Iraq?
How many rugs did they buy?
How many photos were taken?
How much did this little fact-finding (ha-ha) jaunt cost the American taxpayer?
All I have to say is thank goodness they didn't actually blow the plane out of the sky. Bush would have made them all into martyrs.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:54 amFrom the AP article: "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."
From bilbobaggins: "I believe it may have been missmolly who said the other day that we could save the taxpayers a lot of money if they held the “dog and pony show†back here in Washington rather than in Iraq."
I'm liking my idea more and more, actually. Not only will it save taxpayers' money, but it will keep the politicians out of danger. Going to the Green Zone to "get a closer look at military and political progress there" is akin to going to visit Paris and spending all your time in the hotel with the shades drawn. Pointless.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:13 amI have been looking for any kind of evidence that a RPG has the kind of range needed to attack aircraft at 6,000 feet, and can find none. I have found reported ranges of 500 to 900 meters (depending on website), but nothing that even comes close to 6,000 feet. Therefore, I conclude that this C-130 plane was never in any danger from RPGs fired from the ground based on what we know from this report.
So what really happened? Let's look at some possible scenarios, even absurd ones:
1) The representatives made the whole thing up. Possible, but highly improbable. No way would they risk their careers on telling an outright lie that could be debunked, and there really isn't any political gain from telling such a story. It's very likely there was SOME kind of threat causing the pilot to fly like a barnstormer.
2) The warheads were fired from the ground, but they weren't RPGs -- they were missiles with far greater range. If that's the case, who has weapons like this, and who is firing them? If the insurgents do, if Al Qaeda does, if any of the factions of the civil war do, then we need to be concerned. If this was a case of friendly fire, we need to be doubly concerned, and check it out.
3) The weapons were fired from someplace in the air, closer to the C-130. Now, I can't imagine somebody getting into an airplane to fire off rocket propelled grenades to shoot down another airplane -- that seems highly improbable. Chances are that if this was an aircraft-to-aircraft attack, some other kind of weapon was used. But I think the pilot would know if another plane was attacking him.
4) The C-130 was a lot closer to the ground than 6,000 feet, and Cramer's estimate was way off. If they were, say, at only 2,000 feet, an RPG could possibly reach them.
We do know that it was night, so it was probably difficult for the lawmakers to see what was really happening.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:46 amBuilding bombs and IED’s are one thing, but rockets…I don’t know if the insurgents can actually whip those up in some abandoned factory in the middle of a war zone. It just doesn’t seem likely.
Comment by Cyrena — August 30, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
Wow, where have ya been for the last few years, bud? You think they have nothing but IED's? Ya know, there were a few weapons there before our guys got there, not to mention the weapons gone missing and those provided by outside terrorists and countries that support them. You have the beginnings of another great lib conspiracy theory there, buddy. ;)
August 31st, 2007 at 10:15 amBastards missed out a great clearance sale going on the Rugs around the corner. They were about $3 each. 40% off discounted.
August 31st, 2007 at 10:53 amWait a sec... wasn't this Mission Accomplished already?
August 31st, 2007 at 11:32 amActually those pilots do totally kick ass.
This was a dose of reality for the neo-nuts. Glad no-one was hurt.
August 31st, 2007 at 11:54 amUnfortunatly, I have a more sinister view of this incident. What if these most supportive Republican Senators were shot down by these rockets? What would have been the result? Many of you say that the "rockets" could not have been made in home grown insurgent factories, and it takes training to use these things.
Why wasn't there any security to insure these men's safety? If this was a mission to bring senators to the canned tour of the green zone, I am sure that the military knew they were coming, and had made arrangements, including keeping it secret, about their coming and going...which brings about my sinister view.
What if this was the failed attempted pretext to start the war with Iran? What if the mission of the shooters of the rockets were "agents' of the neocons? Just a question.
September 1st, 2007 at 1:18 am