Conflicting reports over blast in Iraqi city ~ near a soccer field in the city of Ramadi ....

Reuters ^ | Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:09PM EST | Dean Yates and Ibon Villelabeitia

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi police and a community leader said a bomb blast near a soccer field in the city of Ramadi on Tuesday killed 18 people, mostly children, but the U.S. military said it was unaware of such an attack.

Amid conflicting reports over what happened in the volatile western city, the U.S. military said its soldiers had carried out a controlled explosion in Ramadi, also near a soccer field, that slightly wounded 30 people, including nine children.

"I can't imagine there would be another attack involving children without our people knowing," Major Jeff Pool, a spokesman for U.S. forces in western Anbar province, told Reuters. The wounded had cuts and bruises, he said.

Editors Choice: Best pictures
from the last 24 hours.

The U.S. military often carries out controlled blasts in Iraq to destroy captured weapons or unexploded bombs.

Pool said the controlled blast in Ramadi was "stronger than we had expected". He said it was carried out in the courtyard of a building where bags of explosives had been found. Windows from a nearby building were blown out, causing the wounds.

U.S. forces went to the site and helped evacuate the wounded, said Pool.

Two Iraqi police sources said 18 people had been killed in the blast they described. One, a colonel in Ramadi who declined to be identified, said a suicide bomber detonated a truck bomb. 

 

1 | | |   

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Earlier thread:

Iraq TV: Car bomb at soccer field kills 18 children.

[SolidWood]

Uh-oh... Jamil Hussein and his media pals are at it again?

I trust the US military indefinately more than any anonymous Iraqi, Arab or media source. The truth eventually will get out.

[frogjerk]

MSM: "You mean 18 Children didn't die...just damn!"

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well.....from page 2...

****************************************AN EXCERPT ********************************

He put the time of the explosion at about 5 p.m. The controlled U.S. blast was at 5:34 p.m., Pool said.

Tribal leader Hamid Farhan al-Hays from Ramadi told Iraqiya state television 12 children and six women were killed.

Hays blamed the blast on Sunni al Qaeda, which is involved in an escalating power struggle with Sunni elders for control of Anbar, a vast desert province that is the heart of the Sunni Arab insurgency in Iraq. Ramadi is the capital of Anbar.

"The groups which did this barbaric crime are al Qaeda," he said.

********************************************

Now al-Queda is getting blamed ....not sure of the time line here....just fascinating.....

[tobyhill]

Every time something good happens out of Iraq, oil deal, these stories come out, probably from Jamil Hussein. The funny part about this story was that CNN, Fox and MSNBC all on their stations said they confirmed the incident.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I like that Reuters quotes a Tribal leader who inflates the body count,...gets the time wrong and blames it on al-Queda...isn't that a turning point?

[SolidWood]

This becomes more and more interesting.

It appears that the Sunni Sheikh (Anti-alQaeda) distorted the report/incident to gather support against Al-Qaeda. This may be well meant. So to speak Anti-alQaeda propaganda for domestic Sunni Iraqi consumption.

The media on the other hand took up his report, which fits their agenda that Iraq is a mess and the US is losing... Bush is a failure... blah blah blah... which again helps Al-Qaeda's agenda.

[tobyhill]

One of the first confirmations was from the AP but I bet the AP will probably be real quick to correct the story unless they want another Jamil Hussein moment.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It's getting really interesting....the battle is really moving to the media....so to speak,...

[tobyhill]

Iraqi Officials: Car Bomb Killed 18 Boys Playing Soccer

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,254860,00.html


Fox news sticking with original story, for now.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Interesting stuff here.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

We even have a picture:

Feb. 27: A man passes by cars destroyed in a car bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq.

And the first line is:

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A car bomb exploded near a park west of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 18 boys, police said.

Followed by the line:

The blast occurred in central Ramadi, a hotbed of the Sunni insurgency, near an area popular for soccer. The victims were boys aged 10 to 15, police said in the city, about 70 miles west of Baghdad.

************************************OBSERVATIONS*************************

Bombblast was 70 miles west of Baghdad,....picture is from Baghdad,....quoting police who say 18 boys killed....

Reuters has lcal Shiekh saying 12 killed but al-Queda is responsible...US saying there was a explosive disposal happening...minor injuries...times are all over the map....

So WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS ONE???

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They even enhanced the story with a picture from Baghdad which is far east of Ramadi...but really want to presuade the reader that things are not going well in Baghdad...look at the picture please readers....

AP's AGENDA stands exposed once again....

[tobyhill]

Even if it turns out reported wrong it's not a bad thing. Those tribes believe what they first hear and no reality check can convince them otherwise so for them just believing Al-Qaeda killed their children will make them hate Al-Qaeda even more.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Fox has updated the story at it's link with an updated AP story....new headline...

Confusion After Iraqi Officials Report Car Bomb Kills 18 Boys Playing Soccer

They still have the picture of the car bomb in Baghdad however.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Trying to figure out timeline....found this :

Insurgents kill 15 Iraqis, wound nine....
6pm yesterday....reported today

**************************************************

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070227-01
Feb. 27, 2007

Insurgents kill 15 Iraqis, wound nine
Multi-National Force – West PAO

RAMADI, Iraq – Insurgents killed 15 Iraqis including women, children and two police officers in a vehicle born improvised explosive device attack near a mosque in a residential neighborhood of northwestern Ramadi Feb. 26. The attack, which also and wounded nine, occurred at approximately 6:00 p.m. 
“I am mortified at the absolute lack of regard for the lives of the Iraqi people which has been displayed by Al Qaeda in Iraq,” said Col. John Charlton, commander of the 1st Brigade,  3rd Infantry Division. “The murder of any Iraqi citizen is tragic, but to intentionally kill innocent children is proof positive that now more than ever, Iraqi citizens need to stand together with us in support of their local Iraqi security forces to stamp out this terrorist threat.”
“No child should have to live in fear.”

Injured Iraqi child takes comfort in the arms of his father after being treated by coalition forces at Charlie Med located at Camp Ramadi Feb 26, (Photo by Sgt Edward Reagan)               

Medical personnel at the Camp Ramadi aid station tend to the wounded after a suicide car bomb. (Photo by Sgt Edward Reagan)

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR HIGH-RES PHOTOS, CONTACT MULTINATIONAL FORCE – WEST, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER BY E-MAIL AT  
MNFWCEPAOWO@CEMNF-WIRAQ.USMC.MILThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
 

[CJ-50]

The media on the other hand took up his report, which fits their agenda that Iraq is a mess and the US is losing... Bush is a failure... blah blah blah... which again helps Al-Qaeda's agenda.

If you think that fits their "agenda", wouldn't " the U.S. military said its soldiers had carried out a controlled explosion in Ramadi, also near a soccer field, that slightly wounded 30 people, including nine children." have been even better for them.

I would be very glad to find out that no one was killed but I would not expect the local reaction to the story to be positive.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Not sure if this is the same event ...from just above......

Iraq suicide attack kills 14

***************************************************

Associated Press

Tuesday, February 27, 2007 (Baghdad):

A suicide bomber driving a stolen ambulance packed with explosives struck a police station in Ramadi, killing at least 14 people and wounding 10.

It was the second bombing to strike the volatile Anbar province in less than a week.

A truck bomb struck worshippers leaving a mosque on Saturday in Habbaniyah, to the east of Ramadi, killing more than 50 people.

The bomber on Monday tried to slam through a checkpoint outside the Warar police station in central Ramadi but exploded after police opened fire against him.

He was driving an ambulance that had been stolen two days ago from the city's hospital.

Ramadi, 115 km west of Baghdad, is the capital of the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Anbar province and has seen some of the bloodiest street battles of the war.

[tobyhill]

I'm not sure what to make of all the stories? Sounds like some truths with a whole lot of after action exaggerations.