Taliban suicide bomber targets Cheney PRINT FRIENDLY EMAIL STORY
AM - Wednesday, 28 February , 2007 08:20:00
Reporter: Michael Rowland
TONY EASTLEY: US Vice President Dick Cheney has got a firsthand view of the dangers facing Coalition troops in Afghanistan, after a Taliban suicide bomber attacked the American military base where Mr Cheney was staying.
The explosion killed up to 14 people and prompted secret service agents to hustle Mr Cheney into a nearby bomb shelter.
Washington Correspondent Michael Rowland reports.
(Sound of Afghan soldiers speaking)
MICHAEL ROWLAND: Afghan soldiers clear the debris from a suicide bombing whose shockwaves have extended well beyond the heavily-fortified Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
Dick Cheney was planning to leave the base for a meeting with Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, when the explosion happened.
Mr Cheney was moved immediately to a bomb shelter as military officials declared a red alert at the base.
The Vice President was not injured, but the blast did kill at least 14 people, including an American soldier.
Mr Cheney later told reporters he heard a loud boom, but was otherwise unperturbed by the attack.
Asked if the Taliban were trying to send a message, he said that striking at the Bagram base with a suicide bomber was one way to do this.
But Mr Cheney insisted it would not affect American behaviour in Afghanistan at all.
There is concern the suicide bomber got within striking distance of America's second most powerful politician. The bomber managed to get inside the perimeter of the base and near a second security gate guarded by US troops.
White House spokesman Tony Snow isn't being drawn on how the attack could've become an even bigger tragedy for the US.
TONY SNOW: And, gentlemen, rather than making presumptions about the proximity of the Vice President, it is a large facility, I really think it's probably again better to let people do the forensics on it, figure out what's going on. They can render judgements later. I've got no comment on it right now.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: Dick Cheney later reinforced the US commitment to Afghanistan during his meeting with President Karzai. But this commitment is about to be seriously tested, with the Taliban poised to mount a new offensive against US and NATO troops.
The head of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Lieutenant General Michael Maples, has told a congressional committee the Taliban was on the march.
MICHAEL MAPLES: The Taliban-led insurgency is a capable and resilient threat to stability, particularly in the Pashtun south and east.
Despite absorbing heavy combat losses in 2006, the insurgency has strengthened its military capabilities and influence with its core base of rural Pashtuns.
Over all attacks doubled in 2006 from the previous year, and suicide attacks quadrupled from 2005.
TONY EASTLEY: The head of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Michael Maples. That report from our Washington Correspondent, Michael Rowland.
AM - Wednesday, 28 February , 2007 08:20:00
Reporter: Michael Rowland
TONY EASTLEY: US Vice President Dick Cheney has got a firsthand view of the dangers facing Coalition troops in Afghanistan, after a Taliban suicide bomber attacked the American military base where Mr Cheney was staying.
The explosion killed up to 14 people and prompted secret service agents to hustle Mr Cheney into a nearby bomb shelter.
Washington Correspondent Michael Rowland reports.
(Sound of Afghan soldiers speaking)
MICHAEL ROWLAND: Afghan soldiers clear the debris from a suicide bombing whose shockwaves have extended well beyond the heavily-fortified Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
Dick Cheney was planning to leave the base for a meeting with Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, when the explosion happened.
Mr Cheney was moved immediately to a bomb shelter as military officials declared a red alert at the base.
The Vice President was not injured, but the blast did kill at least 14 people, including an American soldier.
Mr Cheney later told reporters he heard a loud boom, but was otherwise unperturbed by the attack.
Asked if the Taliban were trying to send a message, he said that striking at the Bagram base with a suicide bomber was one way to do this.
But Mr Cheney insisted it would not affect American behaviour in Afghanistan at all.
There is concern the suicide bomber got within striking distance of America's second most powerful politician. The bomber managed to get inside the perimeter of the base and near a second security gate guarded by US troops.
White House spokesman Tony Snow isn't being drawn on how the attack could've become an even bigger tragedy for the US.
TONY SNOW: And, gentlemen, rather than making presumptions about the proximity of the Vice President, it is a large facility, I really think it's probably again better to let people do the forensics on it, figure out what's going on. They can render judgements later. I've got no comment on it right now.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: Dick Cheney later reinforced the US commitment to Afghanistan during his meeting with President Karzai. But this commitment is about to be seriously tested, with the Taliban poised to mount a new offensive against US and NATO troops.
The head of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Lieutenant General Michael Maples, has told a congressional committee the Taliban was on the march.
MICHAEL MAPLES: The Taliban-led insurgency is a capable and resilient threat to stability, particularly in the Pashtun south and east.
Despite absorbing heavy combat losses in 2006, the insurgency has strengthened its military capabilities and influence with its core base of rural Pashtuns.
Over all attacks doubled in 2006 from the previous year, and suicide attacks quadrupled from 2005.
TONY EASTLEY: The head of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Michael Maples. That report from our Washington Correspondent, Michael Rowland.
Comments
Tonid,
can I buy you a trip to a spa or something? or at least promise me you'll spend at least one day this summer relaxing in the sun and let the world go to hell.
as a token of my appreciation, you see.
thanks for keeping the hounds at bay.
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Thanks, Ja!! :)
Nice blog!
Too bad they missed Cheney!