Explosions Heard in Central Baghdad

Yahooo via AP ^ | 3/19/04

[areafiftyone]

Searching for more info.

[Damocles]

Prayers for our troops...

[areafiftyone]

Prayers for our troops and for Colen Powell who is visting there today.

[wvnavyvet]

I don't understand how these people doing this get away. We have spy craft, helo's and other ground sensors that should counter target where these attacks come from. It seems someone has tied our forces hands to prevent rapid response; I guess to avoid civilain casualties. The problem is these civilains know what's going on in their neiborhoods and should suffer because they're allowing it to occur.

[areafiftyone]

From Reuters:

Blasts echo across Baghdad hours after Powell visit

BAGHDAD, March 19 (Reuters) - Blasts echoed across central Baghdad and warning sirens sounded in the headquarters of the U.S.-led administration on Friday, the eve of the anniversary of the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

At least two blasts followed the sound of mortars or rockets being fired. A U.S. military spokesman said he had no immediate information on casualties or damage. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had spent several hours in the headquarters compound earlier on Friday before leaving for Saudi Arabia.

[Catspaw]

Powell is long gone.

This must be their way of "celebrating" his visit.

[Coop]

I don't understand how these people doing this get away.

They don't always get away. But we can't do counterbattery fire because they almost always fire from within neighborhoods. And they don't stick around long.

[dogbyte12]

From what I understand, they cover the missile/rocket launcher in hay, in a peasants cart, etc. Then they are sitting in the darkness in a civilian era, and it literally just takes a few seconds for them to attack. They can immediately then blend in to the local population.

Only way to really stop it is to literally search everybody on the streets. My guess is that this isn't politically operative. They are terrorists, they are guerillas. They are dressed as civilians, are nomimally civilians and it's very tough to totally prevent.

[oolatec]

Thanks Spain!

[wvnavyvet]

They have SOPs, the military forces should by now be capable of pre-planned response. Maybe those people calling for more forces are right and a massive swept of suspected areas is called for.

[Wright is right!]

Frankly, it would be news, considering the date, if there WEREN'T the sounds of 'splosions in Baghdad today.

Michael

[Poohbah]

I don't understand how these people doing this get away. We have spy craft, helo's and other ground sensors that should counter target where these attacks come from.

They work great in the open.

They don't work great in complex terrain. Unfortunately, cities are the most complex terrain there is.

[Taiwan Bocks]

Explosions have been heard in Baghdad every night for a year.

Isn't that the story?

[KQQL]

Islam is Peace .....W said so...

[Just mythoughts]

Thanks for the post.

[EggsAckley]

This is like a re-run of nearly daily reports. It's so frustrating. I have to wonder why we are not able to get these guys.

[thackney]

"are they keeping you awake" ping

[Allegra]

Explosions have been heard in Baghdad every night for a year.

Isn't that the story?

Pretty much. And most of them don't make the news.

[Allegra]

"are they keeping you awake" ping

It was noisy a little while ago. Those neighbors of ours are just sooooo rude.

It's quiet now, but "anniversary hour" is still a few hours off.

I'm amazed at my ability to sleep through most of that. In fact, I'm going to sleep now. Hakuna Matada!

[BenLurkin]

bttt