10:38 Witnesses: Gunfire, explosions near U.S. embassy in Damascus

Haaretz ^ | 9/12 2006 | Haaretz

[Eurotwit]

10:25 Witnesses: Syrian forces surround U.S. embassy in Damascus, seal off area (Reuters)

10:22 Witnesses: Heavy gunfire heard in central Damascus (Reuters)

10:21 Black smoke said rising from area around U.S. embassy in Damascus (Reuters)

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Update

Last update - 10:38 12/09/2006

Witnesses: Gunfire, explosions near U.S. embassy in Damascus

By Haaretz Service and news agencies

Syrian security forces surrounded the U.S. embassy in Damascus early on Tuesday and sealed off the area, witnesses said, adding that heavy gunfire and explosions had been heard in the area.

"It appears that the embassy is coming under attack," one resident in the area told Reuters.

There was no independent confirmation of the initial reports.

Haaretz

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Yep, I grew up on the North Shore of LI, in Bayville right on the LI Sound. The drills were practiced on a monthly basis, however I don't remember viewing the film.

[bill1952]

I was 10 in 1962, and I clearly remember doing the duck and cover exercises on a regular basis throughout elementary school (1-6)

I still remember looking around and seeing everyone under the desks in 6th grade.

I do remember the Cuban fiasco.

[bill1952]

I remember the fire sirens in SE Pa. going off every day at 12 noon for decades.

[Cindy]

Thanks to a Special Emailer for pointing to this article:
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http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/misc/janes060912_1_n.shtml


12 September 2006
"Syria foils "terrorist" attack on US embassy"
By Ben Vogel, Janes.com Editor


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Despite official attribution of the failed attack to Takfiri militants, no organisation has claimed responsibility for the incident at the time of writing, and the investigation continues.

Jane’s Sentinel Security Assessments reports that the militant Islamist threat to the Ba’athist regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may have split into two factions over recent years. The first, represented by the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, promises to remain non-violent as the London-based party leadership co-ordinates with groups from the native political opposition.

The more violent threat is that posed by a small number of Takfiri groups inside Syria that see no potential for negotiation within the current political system.

Arrests have shown that many Takfiri groups have loose ties to the Al-Qaeda organisation of Osama bin Laden (in October 2005 US forces intercepted a letter, the authenticity of which is disputed in the Arab press, from bin Laden deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi that called for extremists to expand the Iraqi insurgency into Syria). Incidents involving these cells have been rare in the past, but show a growing frequency. "

[LikeLight]

Excellent pics. The van loaded with LP gas canisters was apparently the main event and somehow it didn't go off. Guess "Allah wasn't willing" this time...

[Cindy]

"Guess "Allah wasn't willing" this time..."

GRINNING...pbuh.

[cake_crumb]

Gotta laugh at the news headlines later this AM like "Syria 'foils' US embassy attack (BBC)" Sounds staged. By Syria.

[jveritas]

The title should be “Syria created a terrorist attack against US embassy in Damascus then claimed that it foiled it”.

[livius]

Lucky you! It gave me horrible nightmares for days afterwards every time they showed it. I only remember seeing it in one school year, though.

[jveritas]

Exactly.

[interrogatorgirl]

Just on FOX, the Muslem Brotherhood is being mentioned, big surprise.

[livius]

Interesting. I would think it would be hard from groups like this to exist in Syria, which I believe is a very firmly controlled state (from what I have read). I wonder if there is some support in the government?

[jveritas]

This whole event is staged by Syria.

[StoneColdTaxHater]

I'll bet the Syrians paid for this

[interrogatorgirl]

Yeah, I am sure that the reason MSM is behind FR is because they are checking the varacity of their information!

[rintense]

Even yahoo says it was Islamic extremists.

[4yearlurker]

I don't remember the sliding poles. I was going to school in Phoenix,Arizona at the time and all the buildings were single story with no basements. The classrooms each had their own front and back doors that led directly outside.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

The justice minister of Cyprus, Sophocles Sophocleous

...a sophmore married to sophia.

[Mo1]

This was a soft target .. that is why they attacked it

[Cindy]

laughing...hey, how about the "militants" were shouting "religious slogans."

"Religious slogans?"

That's a new one in the pc world for me.