Iraqis Call Shuttle Disaster God's Vengeance

Reuters ^ | 2.1.03

[mhking]

Per Reuters:

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Iraqis Call Shuttle Disaster God's Vengeance

Sat February 1, 2003 02:08 PM ET
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Immediate popular reaction in Baghdad on Saturday to the loss of the U.S. space shuttle Columbia and its seven-member crew -- including the first Israeli in space -- was that its was God's retribution on Americans. "We are happy that it broke up," government employee Abdul Jabbar al-Quraishi said.

"God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us," he said.

Car mechanic Mohammed Jaber al-Tamini noted Israeli air force Colonel Ilan Ramon was among the dead when the shuttle broke up shortly before its return to earth.

"Israel launched an aggression on us when it raided our nuclear reactor without any reason (in 1981), now time has come and God has retaliated to their aggression," Tamini said.

[Enemy Of The State]

When our mighty eagle spreads her wings, the Iraqis will know what it is like to feel the true wrath of God!

[The Wizard]

they better pray Uncle Bush doesn't hear that

[HAL9000]

They sure picked a bad time to hurl insults. We're in a bad mood.

Yes, but this was totally predictable, right? It is exactly the sort of insulting rhetoric to be expected from Saddam Hussein.

Iraq's statements are so outrageous, so over the top - even Germany and France should be able to see how deplorable the Iraqi regime is.

We are greiving, and we are in a bad mood, but we are not going to lose our heads over this. Our missions in space and on Earth will continue.

[alisasny]

On our local talk radio with Richard Bey a caller mentioned KEVLAR, Which apparently was developed due to space testing.

Do certian divisions of our military wear kevlar armor?

[Bobby777]

it was only a matter of time ... I expect to see cretins of the worst sort dancing in the streets on TV before nightfall ... like 9/11 good people will stand with the U.S. and mourn and the others will not ... tragedy is the supreme litmus test that divides between friends and enemies and it plumbs the line between them ever-so-clearly ...

prayers for the crew and families ...

[Michael_S]

Shake your rattles and throw your bones someplace else please.

[The Wizard]

seek help

[EaglesUpForever]

These punks are lower than dogs.

Think about it, if a plane crashed in Iraq, even here on FR we wouldn't be celebrating such a tragedy.

[M. Thatcher]

I believe God is removing His protection from America because of our heavy heavy sins.

Your "god" is evil.

[sweetliberty]

Anybody else think these ^&*%^& b*st*rds are just asking for vengeance to be visited upon them??

[Howlin]

Exactly!

[FreeCanuckistan]

We are talking about a group of vulgar barbaric people's here. The day that Iraq gets pounded....will not come too soon.

[BCrago66]

You people are all repreating the Reuters line. The Iragis are not evil people - they are oppressed people. After we liberate them, we will have a great ally in the Iraqi people, much like the easnern European nations that are now our friends.

As for the Reuter's quotes, what are you people - stupid? Don't you know that those quotes are from agents of the givernment, and that any Iraqi who tell a reporter otherwise is a dead man?

[Fizzie]

You wonder how the Democrats will react to this? Try going to DU. Warning, take a dose of Maalox first.

The venom spewed by the "compassionate party" is frightening. They are also accusing Bush of blowing up the Columbia, and quoting the Bible.

For those few people at DU who are expressing honest sorrow, and not politicizing this, I commend them. But the general sentiment over there is puerile and hateful.

[Howlin]

Not a good time to poke us with a stick.

[TomServo]

I know this is a kneejerk reaction from me, but why is Iraq not a sheet of glass right now? Anybody?

Letting emotion get the better of me right now....just venting.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

Their "god" is the devil.

[swheats]

Just a choice of words. Could be low places, any place that could possibly do harm at any given time or place.

Unfortunately, when I first heard of this mission last week and those aboard, there was that sinking feeling this one wouldn't end well.

[BCrago66]

Why don't you say what you really think, instead of speaking in code?

[Howlin]

I'll take your word for it.

Honestly, after hearing that about DU, how could anybody on this site not see how IMPERATIVE it is for US to keep control of the House, the Senate, and the White House.