Officials Mourn Bombing Losses; Vow to Continue Operations

American Forces Press Service ^ | Jan. 18, 2004 | By K.L. Vantran

[Calpernia]

Today's bombing outside coalition headquarters in Baghdad will not deter U.S. and coalition forces from their mission in Iraq, a military spokesman said in a briefing from the Iraqi capital.

An explosives-laden truck exploded shortly after 8 a.m. during Sunday's morning rush hour near the entrance to the headquarters. At least 20 people were killed, and at least 60 more were injured. Officials believe most of the dead were Iraqi citizens, but Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for Combined Joint Task Force 7, said two Americans may have been killed by the blast.

"We have indications that some of those that were killed were American citizens -- U.S. contractors," he said. "We believe the current number at two. We're waiting for firmer confirmation."

Kimmitt vowed that the coalition's efforts will not abate. "We will continue our operations," said the general. "We will continue the pace of our operations. We will continue to kill or capture anti-Iraqi and anti-coalition elements throughout the country as long as we are here."

In a statement released on the Coalition Provisional Authority's Web site, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III mourned the "innocent victims" but affirmed that the plan to hand over authority to Iraqis remains on course. Bremer, the CPA administrator, called today's bombing an "outrage."

"(It's) another clear indication of the murderous and cynical intent of terrorists to undermine freedom, democracy and progress in Iraq," he said. "They will not succeed."

The ambassador said the attack, which took place at the height of rush hour in Baghdad, was "clearly timed to claim the maximum possible number of innocent victims. Once again, it is innocent Iraqis who have been murdered by these terrorists in a senseless act of violence. I share the deep outrage of my Iraqi friends and colleagues at this tragic and inexcusable loss of life. I pass my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those murdered."

Bremer said the coalition's determination to work for a stable and democratic future for this country is undiminished.

"Our plan to hand over remaining authority to a new Iraqi government in July this year remains unchanged," he added.

"The coalition is doing all it can to assist the Iraqi security and emergency services in dealing with the aftermath of this terrorist attack," he continued. "Many of the Iraqi wounded are being treated in a nearby coalition military hospital, and will be given the best care available."

[Calpernia]

Pro Military, Pro Coalition, Pro de-Baathification News!

Kimmitt vowed that the coalition's efforts will not abate. "We will continue our operations," said the general. "We will continue the pace of our operations. We will continue to kill or capture anti-Iraqi and anti-coalition elements throughout the country as long as we are here."

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, Cal! Thanks, speedy Admin Moderators, for pulling my duplicate!

 

8 FR live thread on bombing, with news updates  

---

  Lord,
Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.    

. FR FoxHole.

[TruthNtegrity]

Just as the UN is considering going back in, I guess this was a pretty big deterrent.

God bless out Military and all who are serving their Country overseas anywhere.

Being a contractor can be just as dangerous as being a soldier in Baghdad. When they are all going through the same checkpoint, they all become targets for these idiots.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

The United Nations will not go back into Iraq. Kofi Annan is a weak leader and the UN is useless in the war against terror. God forbid the Democrat Party wins the White House and turns our destiny over to the UN! I hope Americans know what is at stake!

[angkor]

Being a contractor can be just as dangerous as being a soldier in Baghdad.

But without a gun. I determined the danger, hazardous duty, and incentive pay couldn't overcome that single problem. The offer went in the shredder.

[RoseofTexas]

Just heard the news and I hate to say this, BUT it's time to bring our soldiers home...THE HELL WITH THE IRAQIS!! Let'em eat their own! Seems a lot of them are HANDS OFF folk who want the US to do all the dirty work. If Iraq is to survive and become a democracy, they need to get their hands wet and join the fight, all 30million of them! They whine and protest too much IMO! And it's getting tiresome!

[Calpernia]

>>>>In a statement released on the Coalition Provisional Authority's Web site, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III mourned the "innocent victims" but affirmed that the plan to hand over authority to Iraqis remains on course. Bremer, the CPA administrator, called today's bombing an "outrage."

http://www.cpa-iraq.org/pressreleases/20040118_Car-bomb.html

Ambassador Bremer Mourns "Tragic and Excusable Loss of Life."
In a statement on the car bomb of January 18th, Ambassador Bremer mourned the "innocent victims" but he affirmed that the plan to hand over authority to Iraqis remains on course.

“Today’s terrorist bombing in Baghdad, which killed at least 16 Iraqi citizens, is an outrage - another clear indication of the murderous and cynical intent of terrorists to undermine freedom, democracy and progress in Iraq. They will not succeed.


The attack, which took place at the height of rush hour in Baghdad, was clearly timed to claim the maximum possible number of innocent victims. Once again, it is innocent Iraqis who have been murdered by these terrorists in a senseless act of violence.


I share the deep outrage of my Iraqi friends and colleagues at this tragic and inexcusable loss of life. I pass my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those murdered.


Our determination to work for a stable and democratic future for this country is undiminished. Our plan to hand over remaining authority to a new Iraqi government in July this year remains unchanged.


The Coalition is doing all it can to assist the Iraqi security and emergency services in dealing with the aftermath of this terrorist attack. Many of the Iraqi wounded are being treated in a nearby Coalition military hospital, and will be given the best care available.”

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

My partial response, from another link. Our enemies want us to doubt, believe their spin, surrender.

Major captives are talking. Our Iraqi allies are coming forward more as we arrest major organizers of attacks against them.

Between the downing of the Blackhawk on Jan. 8 (our troops caught THAT evildoer last week, too), and the Bradley hitting the roadside bomb yesterday, we lost one Soldier to a hostile act in Iraq....with over 120,000 US troops in Iraq, 23 million newly freed Iraqis, across a country the size of California...and NO US Soldier was killed by this 'big bad enemy' in Iraq on Jan. 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, or 16th.

Our troops did conduct multiple raids, capture and kill many enemies and remove massive weapons caches from potential enemy hands.

Check the CJTF7 and CENTCOM for the daily reports the mainstream press ignores, or my homepage.

8 Large Weapons Cache Uncovered In AR Ramadi, 23 Detained ~ CJTF7  | 1/18/04

[blackie]

The terrorists will never win ~ death to all terrorists ~ Bump!

[windchime]

Bump!