U.S. jets bomb Basra paramilitary meeting (200 Paramilitary Dead?)

Reuters | 3/29/03

[kattracks]

U.S. jets bomb Basra paramilitary meeting

AS SAYLIYA CAMP, Qatar, March 29 (Reuters) - U.S. warplanes have used laser-guided bombs to destroy a building in the southern Iraqi city of Basra where some 200 paramilitary members were meeting, U.S. Central Command said on Saturday.

A spokesman at Central Command's battle headquarters said early reports indicated that "no one came out" of the shattered two-story structure.

The spokesman said the bombing was part of the campaign to take Basra, Iraq's second largest city, from forces loyal to President Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi forces have prevented U.S.-led forces from seizing control of Basra, although British officials say there have been signs of civilian unrest inside the city. British troops say they control the city surroundings, but have not yet moved in.

Central Command said in a statement that two F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets dropped bombs on the paramilitary meeting, terming it "an emerging target."

The bombs used in the night-time attack had a delayed fuse so they penetrate the building before exploding, minimizing damage to the surrounding area, including a church, the statement said.

03/28/03 22:11 ET

[aristeides]

Sounds like a lot of shiite to clean up.

These guys were presumably mostly Sunnis.

[dufekin]

Yes there are Christians in Iraq, and Tariq Aziz (deputy prime minister and second vice president) claims to be one of them. He met with the Pope recently in Rome.

[SuziQ]

A church??? Are there Christians in Iraq??

Sure there are! There are Chaldean Catholics, and Assyrian Christians. Assyrian Pastor, Ken Joseph went over as a 'human shield', but ended up coming back out convinced of the necessity of the war to remove Sadaam because of what he'd learned from his family members and their friends. He was appalled at what he learned about Sadaam. Made me wonder what exactly he'd been reading for the last few years that he'd be so unaware of the atrocities.

[aristeides]

Are there Christians in Iraq??

Plenty of Christians in Northern Iraq and Baghdad. Very few in the south, which includes Basra.

[over3Owithabrain]

He's probably been attending church in America. Sitting for a sermon in 90 percent of our churches now is an exercise in immoral neutrality. No one is bad, everyone is good. War is evil, even if it's against a despot. After all, Saddam just wants the same thing for his people as we do. Who are we to judge?

[MattAMiller]

I've seen obsenely large meetings but 200 sounds a bit high to me. That's a lot of PowerPoint printouts. I suspect we'll see the number come down.

Still stupid to go around holding meeting in Basra.

[Klein-Bottle]

Look how considerate we are. They wanted to meet their God and the Air Force was thoughtful enough to arrange it.

[SuziQ]

You can read about that former human shield, Paster Ken Joseph, HERE

[aristeides]

"Who called this meeting?"

I wonder if it was one of our guys who did.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

They have been sent, special delivery, to Hell, where the belong, and where they will spend all eternity.

"They're dead, Jim."

[ejdouglas]

if i'm correct, that will require 1400 virgins...

[Salvation]

This is war and choices have to be made!

[bart99]

Fox reporting Centcom ORDERING 4 to 6 day delay in ground force addvance on Baghdad.

[bart99]

I'm sure this 4 to 6 day "pause" in advancing on Baghdad will be a new thread in a moment - as soon as someone knows how to do it.

I'm a newbie.

[holyscroller]

Last night there was a link to an Assyrian Christian magazine at www.zindamagazine.com I read the whole thing online and the American Christian Assyrians are extremely patriotic and in favor of the way. The Assyrian pastor sure looks like he was out of step with his own people and his own faith. It's hard to imagine how he could have been so stupid. The only thing I can think is that the Lord allowed him to go there blinded by his Leftism, only to "convert" him so he could come out with 14 HOURS of video tape to show the world.

BTW, according to their magazine, there are a million Christians there.

[2Jedismom]

Very interesting!

[lawdog]

NEWS FLASH>>>>>>>>>>>>CNN REPORTING

Iraqi building took out two U.S. bombs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!

[chemicalman]

Alla's running out of virgins.

[John Valentine]

They are that stupid. People do all sorts of things when they assume that they are safe.

Hopefully there are none left to learn from their mistake.