Bomb explodes at UN HQ in Baghdad

[Insane Bump Machine]

just happened a few minutes ago.

 

There has been an explosion at the UN headquarters in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, leaving several people injured.

 

A UN spokesman said it had been a "major explosion".

 

 

US source said "scores of people" had been injured while residents up to one mile away from the building had their windows shattered by the explosion.

 

Early reports said one of those injured was the UN's head of oil for food programme in the country.

 

Hundreds of UN staff work in the building, the former Canal hotel, and a huge column of smoke could be seen rising from the site.

 

The Sky News correspondent in Baghdad David Chater said local people would have been working in the building.

 

He suggested that any attack on the building would be an attempt to "isolate those working for the Coalition forces".

 

But he pointed out the UN building has "nothing to do with the Coalition or the invasion of Iraq".

 

More to follow...

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,3000...1100904,00.html

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh]

Looks like the war is far from over...

[Jobber of the Week]

There's going to be more people killed on all sides, and unfortunately with these tactics it seems innocents might take a higher toll than troops or terrorists.

 

Stuff like this can be helped by flushing the roaches out, stuff like citizenry sabotaging things can't be until a new government can be formed and they don't feel like we're occupying the place.

[Guest stardust]

From CNN a couple of minutes ago...17 people dead, 8 of which are from the New York headquarters.

[Insane Bump Machine]

One more victim, U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello just died from his injuries.

[Zorin Industries]

I think it's safe to say that this is the most serious attack so far in Iraq since the war offically ended.

 

On that note however, can anyone still stick there heads in the sand and say this problem is under control?

[Insane Bump Machine]

UN ENVOY DIES IN ATTACK

 

A huge truck bomb at the UN headquarters in Baghdad has killed at least 17 people including the UN's envoy to Iraq, say latest reports from the scene.

 

Sergio Vieira de Mello died of the wounds he suffered after being buried under a pile of rubble.

 

Intelligence experts said this may mean Senor de Mello could have been the main target of the attack.

 

Witnesses said a yellow lorry rolled up to the front of the building in the Iraqi capital before exploding, although UN sources said the bomb had been in a car.

 

Initial reports accounted for at least 53 injured people, but more dead and wounded people were still trapped under the rubble.

 

Residents up to one mile away from the building had their windows shattered by the explosion.

 

Journalists had been in the building at the time attending a news conference given by the head of the UN's oil for food, Benon Sevan.

 

US Blackhawk helicopters were soon circling around the building, ploughing through the thick wads of smoke billowing hundreds of feet into the air.

 

Coalition troops and armed police quickly surrounded the scene and cordoned it off to prevent any secondary attacks.

 

Terrorism experts around the world are still drawing up a list of possible suspects and one Pentagon official said the group Ansar al-Islam was among the strongest possibilities.

 

Around 300 UN staff work in the building as do many Iraqis and it was considered a relatively easy target compared to the more heavily defended American sites.

 

It had been home to UN inspectors called to scour Iraq for weapons of mass destruction before the Coalition's invasion of the country.

 

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, cutting short a holiday in northern Europe, labelled the attacks an "act of unprovoked and murderous violence".

 

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the attack had been carried out by "very, very ruthless people".

 

He said: "What makes this all the more appalling is the UN was there simply for the people of Iraq to help the humanitarian situation and ravages of Saddam Hussein."

 

And American president George Bush warned: "The civilised world will not be intimidated, these killers will not determine the future of Iraq."

 

On August 7 this year, a truck bomb shattered the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad killing 17 people.

 

Ansar al-Islam has also been identified as a suspect for this attack.

[Downhome]

FoxNews just said that a huge bombing just took place in Jerusalem as well. A bus was blown apart, and they haven't said how many were killed yet.

[Guest MikeSC]

I think it's safe to say that this is the most serious attack so far in Iraq since the war offically ended.

 

On that note however, can anyone still stick there heads in the sand and say this problem is under control?

Nobody said the problem was totally under control. Iraq, by and large, IS under control --- but pockets of resistance take years to tear down (there are anecdotes of Japanese soldiers stranded on deserted islands in the Pacific still thought the war was going on up to 20 years later).

 

This is a long process --- and the reason we should not even consider leaving anytime soon.

-=Mike

[Swift Terror]

New York, New York

 

This just in: the United Nations, as part of a comprehensive action to respond to an attack on their headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, has called an emergency meeting of the Security Council in an effort to determine what they had done to anger the terrorists. "We want to open a dialouge with those involved in this attack. We want to assure them that we are not here to help the U.S., or any other member of the coalition, in their unjust invasion. We are here to help the Iraqi people, all the people," an unidentified UN official said. Others at the UN, speaking on condition of anonimity, have expressed the view that this is just an example of the terrorists lashing out at what they perceive as yet another in a series of intrusions by the West into their way of life. "We can understand their frustration," said one UN worker. "It is a fact that most of the UN presence here (Baghdad Headquarters) are individuals who look...Western. We will work through this. We will make it known to them that the UN is a diverse organization. We are not the enemy."

[Guest MikeSC]

New York, New York

 

This just in: the United Nations, as part of a comprehensive action to respond to an attack on their headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, has called an emergency meeting of the Security Council in an effort to determine what they had done to anger the terrorists. "We want to open a dialouge with those involved in this attack. We want to assure them that we are not here to help the U.S., or any other member of the coalition, in their unjust invasion. We are here to help the Iraqi people, all the people," an unidentified UN official said. Others at the UN, speaking on condition of anonimity, have expressed the view that this is just an example of the terrorists lashing out at what they perceive as yet another in a series of intrusions by the West into their way of life. "We can understand their frustration," said one UN worker. "It is a fact that most of the UN presence here (Baghdad Headquarters) are individuals who look...Western. We will work through this. We will make it known to them that the UN is a diverse organization. We are not the enemy."

Ah, "diversity" as a legitimate ground for terrorism.

 

Love that U.N

-=Mike

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America]

99% chance that's a bullshit story.

[Jobber of the Week]

I'd bet money it's bullshit, even.

 

Tyler, what's up with that avatar. You don't even live in Cali. O_o

[Guest SideFXs]

99% chance that's a bullshit story.

But it's dead-on right, in it's illustration of absurd liberal foreign policy. I just am at a loss to figure the logic of this attack focused on the United Nations. Oh wait, I have it. It was an attack on the infidels. All kidding aside, this is a tragic loss of life and injuries, including women and children, in Iraq and Israel. The religion of peace? The perverters of Islam want to create doubt and fear, I sense the Democrats will not be far behind.

 

If you want bullshit stories, read the NY Times

 

Funny stuff Swift Terror......

[kkktookmybabyaway]

This just in: the United Nations, as part of a comprehensive action to respond to an attack on their headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, has called an emergency meeting of the Security Council in an effort to determine what they had done to anger the terrorists.

When I first heard of this bombing, that was the first thing that came to my mind -- how the UN was going to try and "understand" the terrorists.

 

That and how fast it will take for them to pack up and move...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America]

Yeah, I know, but it's the "hot political issue" of the day, so I figured I should have a stance on it.

[Jobber of the Week]

Yeah, I know, but it's the "hot political issue" of the day, so I figured I should have a stance on it.

Okay, though you should know from someone over here that almost nobody has actually SAID anything yet.

 

Although Bustamante introduced his "Tough Love For California" plan yesterday which mostly consists of taxing drinkers, smokers, and the upper crust. If he didn't talk about ending useless programs, I'd just roll my eyes.

 

I hope both men address the immigration issue soon, though. That could be the decision-maker for me.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America]

I figured. I was kinda disturbed by the fact that Bustamante doesn't really have any issues up on his website yet, but I'd still rather see someone who has a legitimate claim to the governorship take office.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America]

For those with strong stomachs, CBS had a camera inside the UN when it all went down. Click the video thing at the top of the screen. It's graphic, so be forewarned.

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml

[Swift Terror]

Yes, it was 100% sarcastic parody folks. I thought that was obvious, I guess it hit a little to close to the truth...