U.S.: 10 Americans Killed in Saudi Blasts

AP | 5/13/03

[kattracks]

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia May 13 —

Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday that 10 Americans were killed in terror attacks at three residential sites in this Arab capital and "there was a large loss of life of others."

Powell gave the toll after a briefing by U.S. Ambassador Robert Jordan upon his arrival here from Jordan.

"Terrorism strikes everywhere and everyone," Powell said. "It is a threat to the civilized world."

Powell was greeted on his arrival by Prince Saud, the Saudi foreign minister, who expressed his sorrow and vowed to cooperate with the United States in fighting terrorism.

"These things happen everywhere," Saud said.

Powell went to the U.S Embassy for a more comprehensive briefing, intending toward the end of the day to fly to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minisger Igor Ivanov.

A U.S. embassy official said this could be one of the costliest terror attacks on record. He said the blasts were set off in a northeast section of the city where Saudi police seized 700 pounds of explosives last week but were unable to apprehend 19 suspects, 17 of them Saudis.

Powell vowed to go after the terrorists who carried out the attacks, giving the U.S. fight against terrorism the highest priority of the Bush administration.

Saud said the bombers "know only to hate and kill" and said his government would increase its counter-terror efforts.

[Eagle Eye]

Heck of a thing to wake up to this morning.

[KeyWest]

The Saudis finance them. It will be interesting to see what happens there when we finally leave.

[Reeses]

19 suspects, 17 of them Saudis

And 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Saudi Arabia is a terrorist incubator.

[not-alone]

again freerepublic is first. missemmapeale reported on another thread last night before 8pm that her brother called from one the bomb sites and told her 10 were dead.

[magslinger]

logic would dictate they want the US's departure; which may possibly, bring to an end at least some terrorism in that region.
Our leaving will mean that the people they recruit for murder will get to travel befor they die. Most of the ones they sent to the states were Saudi's, too.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

This wasn't an attack on the US military. It was against Western and American civilian contractors. As I understand from news reports previously posted here on security measures taken after the Khobar Towers attack, any attempts against our military would have been one sided with only dead terrorists as an end result.

[ovrtaxt]

"These things happen everywhere," Saud said.

Read: Don't blame us! We're really your allies! This happens all the time. It has nothing to do with the extremist turds infesting our society! PLEASE DON"T INVADE!! *Sob--boo hoo*...

Saudi Arabia needs a nuclear enema.

[dawn53]

The word "others" in reference to the casualties is probably referring to other ex-pats of different nationalities.

This was an attack on one of the ex-pat "compounds." My brother-in-law used to work in Saudi, but he's Canadian. They lived on a compound.

Security is tight going and coming, but evidently last night, the reports of gunfire indicate they killed the security people then brought in the bombs.

[not-alone]

Just got off the phone (2 minutes ago) with my brother. He reports that the explosion that ripped through his compoud was explosion #2 out of the three. He and his wife were fast asleep and did not hear #1. They are about .25 mile from the entrance to the compound. There is heavy security to get it. Apparently, some militants in a pick up truck, which was packed with explosives came to the compound. Security tried to stop them. A firefight ensured. The two security guards were killed. The terrorists, lept from their truck and ran away. The truck then exploded. The terrorists escaped. My brother said that there are 10 deaths in his compound (that includes the 2 security guards). The explosion also took out their water supply - they have no water right now. His house is about .25 mile from the main gate. Every ceiling tile had come down- every window is broken. He says row after row of front doors are all off their hinges.posted on 05/12/2003 7:17 PM EDT MissEmmaPeel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/910166/posts?q=1&&page=101

Why such a problem reporting out of Saudi by media?

[magslinger]

Hmmm, so you would agree that they are delibeately targetting US citizens above other nationalities? Presuming you do, what reason is this do you think?
3,000 dead in NY was one clue. We are at war with with a group of organizations that controls most of the governments in the region. This is going to take years and cost a lot, but better that than having them strike here whenever they want.
NO MORE TWIN TOWERS!

[Guillermo]

The US planted these bombs to prove to Saudi we need our troops there and to prolong the War on Terrah

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #16

How long have you been impersonating the "Arab Street"?:)

[zarf]

The Trilateral Commision has it's fingerprints all over this.

[arthurus]

! PLEASE DON"T INVADE!!

I don't think we would have to invade. We are already there. In Arabia it would be more like a 'coup'.