U.S. Aircraft Destroys Fallujah Restaurant

AP ^ | 10/11/04

[nypokerface]

FALLUJAH, Iraq - A U.S. warplane early Tuesday destroyed a popular restaurant which the U.S. command said was a meeting place for members of Iraq's most feared terrorist organization.

The 12:01 a.m. blast demolished the Haj Hussein restaurant as well as nearby shops, residents said. There was no report of casualties and the restaurant was closed at the time, but two night guards were missing, residents said.

Ambulances and fire trucks rushed to the scene.

The U.S. military command in Baghdad made no mention of the restaurant but said the target was "a center" for the Tawhid and Jihad terror network, led by Jordanian-born extremist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

"Following the engagement, secondary explosions were reported, indicating the strong likelihood of weapons caches and explosive devices," the statement said. "Terrorists frequently planned operations from this location. Plans included targeting Iraqi governmental leadership, Iraqi security forces, coalition forces and innocent Iraqi citizens."

Al-Zarqawi's network has claimed responsibility for numerous car bombings, kidnappings and beheadings of foreign hostages, including American businessman Nicholas Berg, South Korean translator Kim Sung-il, British civil engineer Kenneth Bigley and U.S. engineers Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley.

[Polybius]

Modern artillary can hit a dime from a distance of 20 miles....

Not really.

For Indirect fires the measurement is indeed CEP (Circular Error Probable)........a circle with centre at target inside which 50% of rounds fired will land.......Desired Low angle CEP is 60 Meters. Threshold Low angle CEP is 120 Meters, Desired High Angle CEP is 150 meters, Threshold High Angle CEP is 275 meters.

[Wolfhound777]

Why in the world would they hit the place when it's closed? Unless the terrorists typically met there after hours.

Because when its open it's full of normal Iraqi's, women, and children. The terrorists hide among the populace so it's hard to target them. This was just like leaving a calling card to let them know their days are numbered.

[sheik yerbouty]

ROFL!

[Wiggins]

I hear that restaurant's a blast.

[Bad Dog2]

Dag nabit Dave!

Ya beat me to it!

It was actually reported that the Haj Hussein restaurant(1 Crescent rating in Michellin Mideast Guide)was infested with "cockroaches" and that despite persistent visits by the Fallujah Health Inspectors the owners had failed to resolve the problem. The FHI called in the exterminators and terminated the cockroaches with extreme predjudice.

[DefCon]

"...Modern artillary can hit a dime from a distance of 20 miles..."
- - -
First round on target? Or after several corrections?
(My only experience is 35 yrs ago w/ a mortar tube)

[The Duke]

Ooops...I also forgot about the need for "registration rounds", which wouldn't be too popular with the neighbors!

We need a cheap, GPS-GUIDED artillery round!

And, yes, I am aware that I misspelled "artillary" previously - but heck, it was early hours! :(