U.S. knew suicide bomber at large in area as Cheney visited base; Afghan police chief not informed

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: U.S. Knew of Threats as Cheney Visited Base
By ABDUL WAHEED WAFA and CARLOTTA GALL
Published: March 1, 2007

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 28 — NATO and American forces knew that a suicide bomber was at large in the Bagram area before the suicide bomb attack on Tuesday that killed 23 people at the main gate of the United States air base where Vice President Dick Cheney was staying, a NATO spokesman said Wednesday. But despite the vice president’s presence, the Afghan police chief in the area said he had not been informed of the possible threat.

“We know for a fact that there has been recent intelligence to suggest that there was the threat of a bombing in the Bagram area,” the spokesman, Col. Tom Collins, said at a news briefing in Kabul.

“It is clear there are suicide bombers’ cells operating in this country,” he said. “There are some operating in the city of Kabul and, as our intelligence suggests, they had the capability in the Bagram area.”

The Afghan police chief of Bagram district, Muhammad Salem Ehsas, said Wednesday that he had been unaware of any threat of a suicide bomber in the area, suggesting a lack of coordination between the security forces on the ground even while Mr. Cheney was present.

Afghan police officers guard the outer gate at the Bagram air base, and it is possible that they let the bomber through to the second gate, which is operated by American soldiers and other members of the international military force. Commander Ehsas said it was also possible that the bomber gained access to the American gate through the residential areas near the base....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/world/asia/01afghan.html

[oldtimecanuk]

1. They probably invited him in.. lol.... eom...

[Blue Fire]

2. When in doubt....

.....pull out a publicity stunt and see if that works. Oh, wait.....America voted Democrat last November, didn't we! Wonder if shooting someone in the face would work better?

[youngdem]

3. Uh, you don't need to be told, moron

You mean to tell me this idiot Police Chief needed to be TOLD that there were possibly suicide bombers in the vicinity of a huge American military base entrance gate and that they intended to strike said entrance? Shouldn't that be your assumption?

Really? I mean, I know the Afghan schools are bad and all, but holy shit, what a pathetic whine. Perhaps they don't trust you Chief, but to me it seems like there wasn't anything specific here...just common sense warnings that some people outside the base want to hurt those in it.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. The article, as I read it, says "a" suicide bomber. Am I right that it's meant to say...

that there was one person authorities had identified -- and that the police chief was not told about a specific threat.

[Leopolds Ghost]

5. (whistle)

"Oh, Mr. Cheney," volunteered Bush's Adviser #1, looking off in the Afghan distance.

"Look, my shoelace is untied", intimated Bush's Adviser #2, getting on his knees behind Cheney.

"Whoops," suggested Bush's Adviser #3, bumping into Cheney.

"Aiieee!" Cheney added, questioningly.

"Problem solved, notify McCain and the people in charge of the $3 bill," said Bush.

"I'm just resting" mentioned Cheney.

"There is no $3 bill, that's just a figure of speech" noted a nearby warlord.

"I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for those kids," thought Bush.
"No play for Mr. Gray today."

Are you suggesting this is what happened? :crazy:

On Edit: I am reminded of the Twilight Zone Episode where the scientist crash lands on an alien planet and is forced to kill and eat his crew mates in order to lighten the load for the return voyage only to discoiver he has crash landed on a particularly hostile desert region of...Earth! I am guessing Cheney would be the last person standing in the event of any calamity. He is a survivor.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. I always say when I post here that, like Fox, I just report, you decide.

:)

ON EDIT: Seriously, it's a curious story -- don't you think?

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Kicking this curious article. nt