Prep the B-36s and the nukes for mass carpet nuking...

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-15 11:29pm

Palestinians blow up US Diplomatic Convoy

Three Americans Killed in Gaza Blast

By IBRAHIM BARZAK
Associated Press Writer

BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip (AP) -- A remote- controlled bomb tore apart an armored vehicle in a U.S. diplomatic convoy Wednesday, killing three American security guards and wounding a fourth in the first deadly attack on a U.S. target in the Palestinian territories.

The attack, on a convoy of U.S. Embassy diplomats entering Gaza to interview Palestinian candidates for a Fulbright scholarship, was a dramatic departure from typical militant operations, which usually target Israeli soldiers and civilians. It was almost certain to lead to greater U.S. pressure for a Palestinian crackdown on militant groups.

"Palestinian authorities should have acted long ago to fight terror in all its forms," President Bush said, blaming Palestinian officials for the attack.

Secretary of State Colin Powell told Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia when Qureia telephoned with condolences that the Bush administration could not move forward on establishing a Palestinian state unless violence and terrorism were eliminated.

Qureia promised to track down those responsible, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat condemned the attack as an "awful crime."

There was no claim of responsibility, and the largest militant groups - Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade - quickly distanced themselves from the attack. Palestinian security sources said they were focusing on small groups who receive funding from abroad, including from Iran.

The attack came four months after a previous assault on a U.S. bulletproof vehicle in Gaza. That attack, which was not publicly revealed until Wednesday, did not cause any injuries, said U.S. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer, providing no other details.

Kurtzer said those killed Wednesday were U.S. citizens working on contracts to provide security for the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.

The State Department identified the slain Americans as John Branchizio, 36; Mark T. Parson, 31; and John Martin Linde Jr., 30 - all employees of DynCorp, a Virginia-based security firm. The wounded American was initially treated at a Gaza hospital before being transferred to a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.

After the bombing, the U.S. government advised its citizens to leave the Gaza Strip. Kurtzer said 200 to 400 Americans, some of Palestinian descent, work in the Gaza Strip, many for aid groups.

U.S. diplomats at meetings in the West Bank were immediately brought back to Jerusalem, and it remained unclear if U.S. travel in the West Bank and Gaza would be further curtailed.

U.S. investigators who went to the scene hours after the attack were chased away by Palestinians hurling stones.

The investigation will be a cooperative probe involving Israeli police and the FBI, according to FBI officials. FBI agents do not intend to go into Gaza immediately; instead, they will rely on the Israelis to collect and preserve evidence, with the FBI doing the detailed examinations of what is found.

The diplomats were riding in a three-vehicle convoy - escorted by Palestinian police - en route to Gaza City when the blast went off about 10:15 a.m.

An Associated Press reporter saw a gray wire with an on-off switch leading from the scene of the attack to a small concrete room at the side of the road. The blast took place about a mile south of the Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza.

The blast hit the third vehicle in the convoy just after it passed a gas station, said Mohammed Radwan, a Palestinian taxi driver who was at the station at the time.

"The first two cars drove quickly and stopped far from the explosion. Palestinian security people jumped out of the car and rushed to the car that had blown up. ... I saw two people covered with blood lying next to the car," he said.

The explosion gouged a deep crater into the unpaved road, nearly tore the vehicle in half and flipped it over. The pavement was stained with blood and littered with bits of flesh that were collected by Palestinian paramedics.

U.S. and Israeli officials said the attack underscored the need to dismantle Palestinian militant groups - a requirement of the stalled, U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan that Palestinian leaders have refused to carry out.

"The failure to create effective Palestinian security forces dedicated to fighting terror continues to cost lives," Bush said in a statement. "There must be an empowered prime minister who controls all Palestinian forces - reforms that continue to be blocked by Yasser Arafat."

At a news conference, Powell said he made clear to Qureia, the Palestinian prime minister, "that the only way forward is for him to get sufficient political authority to deal with this crisis in the Palestinian community, to gain control of all the security forces of the Palestinian Authority and to use those forces to go after terrorism."

Zalman Shoval, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said: "What happened is evidence that no one is immune, unfortunately, to Palestinian terrorism, even when we are talking about the representatives of ... the United States, whose entire goal was and remains to advance a peace agreement between the sides."

U.S. convoys of armored black and silver Chevrolet Suburbans travel in Gaza almost daily and usually take the same route on the main north-south road in the strip. The convoys are easily identifiable: They are escorted by Palestinian police and have diplomatic plates. The color and make of the vehicles are unique to U.S. officials.

Although 49 Americans, many with dual citizenship, have been caught in the crossfire in the past three years of fighting, Palestinian militants have never killed Americans in a targeted attack.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa all issued statements denying responsibility for the attack, saying it was improper to target Americans.

But resentment against the United States has been growing among Palestinians.

In June, the U.S. government announced it had received "credible reports" of plans to kidnap U.S. citizens in Gaza.

An opinion poll released Wednesday, showed 97 percent of Palestinians believe U.S. policy favors Israel and 96 percent believe the U.S. commitment to establishing a Palestinian state was insincere. The poll of 1,318 people had a margin of error of 3 percentage points

A team of U.S. investigators who photographed the charred sports utility vehicle was pelted with rocks by about a dozen Palestinian youths as about 200 Palestinians looked on.

As the angry crowd chanted "Allahu Akbar" - "God is great" - the Americans rushed back into their cars, surrounded by nervous Palestinian security officers with rifles raised. Palestinian police beat some people in the crowd while pushing the spectators back, and the cars sped away under a hail of stones.

The U.N. representative to the Middle East, Terje Roed Larsen, said the attack was "an ominous widening of the conflict."

But Israeli and Palestinian analysts said the attack would likely give Israel an even freer hand to carry out raids in the West Bank and Gaza and targeted killings of militant leaders.

"It will allow Israel to move with greater determination in Gaza and in the West Bank to dismantle the terror capabilities," said Gerald Steinberg, an analyst at Israel's Bar Ilan University.

About six students and two scholars from Gaza come to the United States each year on Fulbright scholarships, said Barry Ballow, director of the Office of Academic Exchange Programs at the State Department.

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-15 11:33pm

The attack, on a convoy of U.S. Embassy diplomats entering Gaza to interview Palestinian candidates for a Fulbright scholarship

Stupid motherfuckers. We should find whoever the fuck did this and drop
a MOAB onto their house, as well as Arafats house for good measure.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-10-15 11:35pm

It's a crime, no doubt. But the fact that all of the major groups are distancing themselves from it indicates to me that they're barking up the wrong tree if they think the dickless Palestinian "government" can do something about it. I also like the grossly one-sided tone of the article, which excoriated the Palestinians but not the Israelis for not doing anything to move toward peace (I don't see the Israelis dismantling their settlements; do you?)

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2003-10-15 11:38pm

An opinion poll released Wednesday, showed 97 percent of Palestinians believe U.S. policy favors Israel and 96 percent believe the U.S. commitment to establishing a Palestinian state was insincere. The poll of 1,318 people had a margin of error of 3 percentage points

It ain't only the Palestinans who think the US government is insincere and favors Israel.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

If I were a Palestinian whose home had been destroyed to make way for Israeli 'settlements' and my family had members killed by the IDF firing live ammo into demonstrations, I'd try to kill some Israelis myself.

And as soon as I realized that it was US aid that made the 'settlements' possible and it was US munitions that killed my people, I'd target Americans as well.

If America wants to be seen as an honest broker in the mideast, military support and economic aid for Israel must be cut off if they don't quit building 'settlements' and trying to steal land that isn't theirs.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-10-15 11:41pm

Getting the B-36's ready for an all out nuclear attack took six weeks..

As for this, so much for promoting "mutual understanding", I hope the program is terminated for the region until say the end of time. Its not worth spending another dollar on or risking a single life. Never was.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-15 11:42pm

I understand your position but I don't see how the U.S. cutting off aid and support to Israel is going to make an enormously huge difference.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-10-15 11:43pm

Isn't it usually the case that terror groups claim responsibility in these bombings? Why are they distancing themselves so much now?

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-10-15 11:44pm

Hamel wrote:Isn't it usually the case that terror groups claim responsibility in these bombings? Why are they distancing themselves so much now?

Em, something about that didn't sound right.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-15 11:45pm

Hamel wrote:Isn't it usually the case that terror groups claim responsibility in these bombings? Why are they distancing themselves so much now?

From another site I'm reading now:

Personally, I think they were targeting Israeli's again, and got out people by mistake, and now they are scared shitless that we will either take the leash off Israel, or, come in ourselves. We have been the Pali's only hope of a state and any semblance of help in the area. They might have just made a big mistake.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-10-15 11:45pm

Durran Korr wrote:I understand your position but I don't see how the U.S. cutting off aid and support to Israel is going to make an enormously huge difference.

You don't see how massive multi-billion dollar support in arms and money for one side of a war makes you look like a rather insincere impartial third-party peace broker?

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-15 11:47pm

This is interesting

There's video of Americans arriving right after the blast, and being stoned
by the Palestinians around the blast site, including CHILDREN. And also footage
of said Palestinian Police officers in the area provoding security for the
area shooting at the children. APparently they don't like being stoned
either.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-15 11:47pm

Darth Wong wrote: You don't see how massive multi-billion dollar support in arms and money for one side of a war makes you look like a rather insincere impartial third-party peace broker?

Uhm, do some reading. We're required to give the Israelis AND Egyptians
obscene amounts of armaments as part of the Camp David Peace accords.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-10-15 11:48pm

Darth Wong wrote: You don't see how massive multi-billion dollar support in arms and money for one side of a war makes you look like a rather insincere impartial third-party peace broker?

That aid is the reason why the US is somtimes more effective then say everyone else in the world, getting anything done.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-15 11:49pm

Well fucking hell, this was deliberate:

U.S. convoys of armored black and silver Chevrolet Suburbans travel in Gaza almost daily and usually take the same route on the main north-south road in the strip. The convoys are easily identifiable: They are escorted by Palestinian police and have diplomatic plates. The color and make of the vehicles are unique to U.S. officials.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-10-15 11:50pm

MKSheppard wrote:
From another site I'm reading now:

Personally, I think they were targeting Israeli's again, and got out people by mistake, and now they are scared shitless that we will either take the leash off Israel, or, come in ourselves. We have been the Pali's only hope of a state and any semblance of help in the area. They might have just made a big mistake.

They'd have to be real morons for that to happen, given the load of Palestinian police leading the convoy and the fact that Israeli's don't drive around in gray SUV's.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-15 11:50pm

Israel gets around 3 billion a year and has a GDP of around 110 billion. I can see what you're saying, but I don't see how the US makes such an enormous difference.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-10-15 11:53pm

MKSheppard wrote:
Uhm, do some reading. We're required to give the Israelis AND Egyptians
obscene amounts of armaments as part of the Camp David Peace accords.

The Egyptians are not Palestinians.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-15 11:54pm

Well shit. This sucks:

From www.ar15.com

Turns out my old classmate John B. was killed in the convoy. Past SEAL, working for Dynacorp(sp?).

LOL:

"Ok, Ariel, you and the kids can stay out late tonight. Don't forget to gas up the tanks before you come home, and dammit, wash the blood off them too, I just had them waxed! Stop by grandmas' and get some extra hellfires, you may need them. Oh, and grab a TV guide on your way back...what?...NO, you can't take the nukes,...well, I'll think about it. If you're home on time, maybe next weekend you can go to Syria. Bye! Have fun!

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-15 11:55pm

Vympel wrote: The Egyptians are not Palestinians.

You never hear about the obscene aid we give the Egyptians. It's just
"Israel this israel that" over and over.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-15 11:56pm

Aye, mea culpa, scratch that. The number is more like 5 billion.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-15 11:58pm

Shep:

Egypt gets around 2 billion. Israel is supposed to get around 3 billion, but after 2 billion dollars in federal loan guarantees it's 5 billion.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-10-16 12:08am

As opposed to the Palestinian Authority:

Celebrating of the killing of 4 American soldiers by an Iraqi suicide bomber, Palestinian Authority officials have named the center of the Jenin Refugee Camp after that suicide bomber - Ali Alna’amani. [In addition to the moral issue, it should be remembered that Palestinian refugee camps are UN property and funded by the UN, so that all expenses involved in the name change may be from the UN budget. Likewise it should be checked to what extent UN salaried officials are involved in agreeing to the name change and implementation.]

The following is the announcement in the PA newspaper:
“The officials, the institutions and the National Islamic Forces in the Jenin Refugee Camp ... decided to continue the blood donor campaign for Iraq and decided to name the center of the refugee camp “Ali al-Na’amani” after the Shahid [died for Allah] who was the first suicide bomber in Iraq...”
[killing 4 American soldiers at a checkpoint.]

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-10-16 12:10am

Durran Korr wrote:Shep:

Egypt gets around 2 billion. Israel is supposed to get around 3 billion, but after 2 billion dollars in federal loan guarantees it's 5 billion.

A loan guarantee costs the US nothing unless the country defaults. And Egypt also has gotten a number of loan guarantees from the US over the years.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-10-16 12:12am

The point I'm trying to make is that Israel could survive with US monetary aid.