Explosion levels suspected chemical weapons building in Baghdad; fighting erupts in Fallujah

The Boston Globe ^ | 4/26/2004 | Bassem Mroue

[demlosers]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) A suspected chemical weapons warehouse exploded in flames Monday moments after U.S. troops broke in, killing two soldiers and wounding five. Jubilant Iraqis swarmed over the Americans' charred Humvees, waving looted machine guns, a bandolier and a helmet.

In Fallujah, U.S. troops battled insurgents in the latest violation of a tentative cease-fire for the besieged city. One Marine and eight insurgents were killed.

Marines fought Sunni guerrillas around a mosque in Fallujah's Jolan district, a poor neighborhood where insurgents are concentrated. Helicopter gunships joined the battle, which sent heavy black smoke over the city. Tank fire demolished a minaret from which officials said gunmen were firing.

The U.S. troops met ''a real nasty bunch,'' said Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne, commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. But he said the violence would not deter plans to begin joint U.S.-Iraq patrols in the city.

[Peach]

He said the owner of the site was ''suspected of producing and supplying chemical agents'' to Iraqi insurgents, but did not elaborate.

I just watched a reply of Kimmit answering questions from reporters. All of which were hostile, naturally. Kimmit said if they were just manufacturing lipstick there, it certainly was a heck of a blast.

[Frank_Discussion]

Good for Kimmit! FOAD is a little strong for a presser, but sometimes I wish they'd say it...

[Poohbah]

Kimmit said if they were just manufacturing lipstick there, it certainly was a heck of a blast.

Ouch. Someone go get the reporter's hairpiece; it probably landed just outside al-Najaf...

[HiJinx]

U.S. troops battled insurgents in the latest violation of a tentative cease-fire

U.S. troops battled returned fire as insurgents in the latest violationed of a tentative cease-fire...

Ahhh, that's better! Darned Presstitutes.

[Peach]

I had to re-read that FOAD a few times before I figured out what it meant!

Don't know how the military PR people stay so calm in the face of such ugly accusations which are hurled at them from every direction, including supposedly American Old Media which is becoming as irrelevant as Old Europe (ala Rumsfeld).

[Frank_Discussion]

The PR guys probably have dartboards with pictures of Terry Moran, et al, taped to them. Or label bombing targets with the presstitutes' names?

[Peach]

Maybe Freepers could provide a public service for the military PR guys and send them full color photos of some particularly dreadful media types!

[Frank_Discussion]

Registered could do it, and pre-place the sighting mark!

[backtothestreets]

Nice!

[Milligan]

Didn't Kimmit say the military had limited patience with insurgents a couple of days ago? It's about time to go in there and clean house. Cease fires don't work with people who hide behind women and children. Oh, I forgot they would shoot too!