Call me cynical, but I find this whole episode extremely suspicious. Is this just a ploy to keep us scared? Is it an attempt to build approval of Cheney through sympathy and fear? Justification for the US to go deeper in debt to keep fueling the industrial military complex?
Posted by ann at February 27, 2007 08:23 AMNo. I think there are plenty of people in the Middle East who'd like to kill Dick Cheney.
Posted by snark at February 27, 2007 08:39 AMWhat exactly is the reason for all this juvenile secrecy?
Because he's a coward?
Posted by Jim Faith at February 27, 2007 08:40 AMAttacks against US interests in Afghanistan are probably not that infrequent, since Bush/Cheney pulled resources from capturing bin Laden for their unnecessary invasion of Iraq.
This may have been coincidence.
Karma has yet to catch up with the architect of the US's continuing foreign policy disaster.
Posted by citizen Able at February 27, 2007 08:47 AMSo Cheney inexplicably jets around the globe, just as the jury in the Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial gets the case and low-and-behold, Cheney visits Afghanistan and barely dodges a bomb?
Sorry, but it just doesn't sound right.
Posted by Christopher at February 27, 2007 08:50 AMEverytime Cheney so much as even thinks, he weakens the nation. No way in hell the ISI/Taliban would want to destroy a strategic asset like that. This is just how they communicate their disagreement with his policies and demonstrate their superior intelligence. If they wanted him dead, Graves Registration would be packing his remains in a shoebox right now.
Stay healthy Mr. Five Deferments. That big Irish cop isn't finished with you yet.
Posted by Pvt. Keepout at February 27, 2007 08:52 AMCheney is being empowered by people who say, in effect, that the over-five-year war in Afghanistan is the 'good war', that it is a super idea to send more American teenagers (but not theirs) to die in that forlorn place, and that it is really cool to continue to carpet-bomb Afhani villages and drop cluster bombs that blow afghani kids to bits--all this terror being committed in the name of a bogus 'war on terror'.
Posted by Don Bacon at February 27, 2007 09:00 AMWe have made such a ridiculous hash of the Afghanistan "operation" that it's very likely that it, too, is now a lost cause, despite its much more positive beginning. Heckuva job, Deadeye!
These bombings and other machinations will galvanize support for the "More Violence! Less Restraint!" mouthbreathers in Congress and in the "conservative" Noise machine, further paralyzing the system and making political "progress" in this area even more difficult.
Diving motivations? Might as well try to decipher the Rosetta Stone on your own. There are so many cross motivations and perceived incentives to all this shit that the puzzle likely can't be put together by the most informed, dispassionate experts.
Posted by euzoius at February 27, 2007 09:20 AMI'm not convinced that an 'everyday' bombing that had nothing directly to do with Cheney happened at the right time for the Taliban to boast and for Cheney to get mileage out of it, also.
The real reaction shouldn't be "Oh my, the VP was attacked!" but "Oh my, how pathetic is it that we have guys walking up to our air base and exploding themselves, years after we supposedly defeated the Taliban and established a democratic regime there?" It's ridiculous that so many years after 9/11 there is still a Taliban that can claim credit for anything. Let's ask Cheney how that happened!
Posted by biggerbox at February 27, 2007 09:25 AMThe US didn't 'make a hash' of the US effort, the Afghanis did, just as they have done with other invaders since time began. Just as we would do if Afghanis invaded the US.
Posted by Don Bacon at February 27, 2007 09:29 AMI think Able's right, it's just a coincidence, but both Cheney and the Taliban are using the incident for their own ends. At best, seeing the heavily armed motorcade go by might have prompted the "suicider" to get his death on that day rather than the next, and hope to get a high value target.
I'm guessing Taliban are pretending that they're more organized than they are (though they are getting stronger by the minute); and Cheney gets a sympathy bounce, since most sane people don't like their government officials blown to smithereens by terrorists, even if that official is the universally loathed Cheney. The rightwing noise machine gets to collect quotes from leftie message boards saying "too bad they missed," which they will then use to "prove" the Democrats are sympathetic to the terrorists, while totally ignoring their spokepeople who preach death to liberals day in day out.
Did I miss anything? Oh, yeah, paranoid liberals will run around saying it's all an act, that it never happened, or that it was a hoax to serve as a distraction from Libby/Iraq/Iran/Hillary.
Gee, a suicide bomber in Kabul. Whoda thunk it, since that kind of thing almost never happens there. Sometimes, folks, a bomb in a war-torn area is just a bomb in a war-torn area.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 27, 2007 09:39 AMThis whole story sounds like a pathetic and childish joke. Cheney prances around the world while still in his "undisclosed location" a silver Airstream in the sky, surrounded by castrati reporters and suffering setbacks, like having to dine on cheese and crackers?!? DICK Cheney's excellent adventure in Pakistan!
Excuse me, but at an airbase which has over 1200 structures, the main military prison/torture/rape chambers in Afghanistan and room to house thousands of Air Force and other military personnel, can't find 7 extra tacos or pillows for the reporters? What flaming bullshit! It seems obvious that DICK likes to DICK around with the reporters just because he can.
I doubt that the attack was actually aimed at the DICK. It seems more likely that a quick thinking Talabani PR guy just said so. The attack was not sophisticated or at all likely to reach its target. Of course, after leaving Pakistan, plenty of sympathizers would have been able to guess where he'd be. Who cares? We can't count on good luck to rid us of our big DICK problem. I hope Fizpatrick will actually have the goods to go after him assuming Libby gets the prize. For all our sakes, the best outcome for democracy is impeachment, not martyrdom, however well deserved.
Posted by DeminNewJ at February 27, 2007 09:40 AMThe big "boom" Cheney allegedly said he heard is the closest he will ever get to combat. Remember Cheney didn't go to Viet Nam because he had "other priorities." Like making money.
Posted by Christopher at February 27, 2007 09:42 AMre: "How that happened"
The main objective in these wars is to keep them going and not to 'win' them, because war is the health of the state and there is a lot of money to be made. California's own Senator Feinstein can attest to that.
Posted by Don Bacon at February 27, 2007 09:43 AMIf the motivation for this attack is accurate, then Dickhead is directly responsible for the deaths of the American and South Korean soldiers who died in the explosion.
Fucker.
Posted by God Of War at February 27, 2007 10:02 AM"Sometimes, folks, a bomb in a war-torn area is just a bomb in a war-torn area."
There aren't near as many suicide bombings in Afghanistan as in Iraq, not even close, so that would decrease the odds of it being a coincidence. I suspect some Paki alerted the Taliban of the impending visit. Musharraf barely holds on to his own life, let alone his position because he is so disliked by so many in his country, inside of his own government. How many assassination attempts have been made on Musharraf now? It will be interesting to see if he even lives to see the results of our 2008 election. I believe Afghanistan's history will be shaped inside of Pakistan.
Posted by Julie at February 27, 2007 10:17 AMCheney speaks face-to-face so that there is no record of what he said. That is why he does not use modern technology. He probably threatened to nuke somebody and does not want a record of it.
Posted by mo2 at February 27, 2007 10:18 AMThe Afghani people have been resisting Western colonial aggression, invasion and occupation for the last one hundred and fifty years or so. Why should they stop now? Because the illegitimate traitorous Bush crime family installed a former CIA operative and UNoCAL oil company executive as Mayor of Kabal?
The CIA under Reagan created the al-Queda in Afghanistan and armed disaffected local residents to harass the communist government in Afghanistan and its Soviet backers... So now we don't like our own creations anymore?
Posted by james k. sayre at February 27, 2007 10:19 AMI dunno, I think the reason that Shooter left and is staying out of Dodd is due to Scooter's trial...he's just waiting for a the jury to return a verdict..before deciderating to come back. The fact that the jury is still deliberating might be the reason his flight plan and itinerary are so up in the air and secretative too....He's just trying to waste some time overseas busy trying to find a country that will and can take him at this point. He's not really liked around the world....and he's surely very good creating his share of potentially dangerous problems. It's an article posted last week about that Iranian group we've heard about...but this little nugget was tucked inside and doesn't sound very encouraging or very good.
Many experts now warn that if the U.S.-Iranian frictions over Iraq and Iran's nuclear program escalate into conflict, Tehran would use the Quds Force to launch terrorist attacks against U.S. and allied targets around the world.
And as to the comment "closest he's come to combat"...I agree..but he did have that incident of "friendly fire" a while back that somehow left the man he shot in the face apologizing to him for you know...getting in the way of his bullet. Baffles the mind.
Posted by emal at February 27, 2007 10:36 AMJulie's got it right-- the US sides with the Paks (who support the Taliban occupation resistance in Afghanistan) just as we're in cohorts with the Saudis (who support the Sunni occupation resistance in Iraq). US soldiers are pawns in this game (what's new?) and so treated like pawns when they return all busted up only to be sent out again if they still have a pulse. Let's hear it for The War on Terror.
Posted by Don Bacon at February 27, 2007 10:52 AMcahoots?
Posted by Don Bacon at February 27, 2007 10:55 AMAre cahoots California owls?
How come no one mentioned that one soldier died in the failed attempt on fat-ass?
1 soldier = 1,000,000 shooters.
lets speculate shall we;
that this "bomber" was a plant, and well away from the shooter himself. let's say that the loss of a few dozen grunts at the gate are okay for dick to drum up sympathy on his continuing world tour. or
pointing out that no one has believed anything shooter has said, and that nothing the administration has said has a base in reality.
is he on the run? would he be a liability at this point? could he be running from an organization within the government of our country? has he so angered, or by action, attempted to kill, members of the government's various agencies that they wish to take action?
his continuing "world tour" without schedule and apparent end, has some simple excuses, right? no one would think he is just burning up jet fuel to prove to Nancy that he can and she can't?
just questions that enquiring minds want to know
Posted by oldtree at February 27, 2007 11:50 AMLook where Cheney's judgment has landed this nation. Had the Taliban been successful they'd have been doing us a service.
Posted by steve duncan at February 27, 2007 11:55 AM"Karma has yet to catch up with the architect of the US's continuing foreign policy disaster."
Citizen Able, not quite, but it is closing in.
Posted by Judith at February 27, 2007 12:34 PMIt's been a total mind-blowing tornado of insanity.
When are our elected senators and congressmen and our news organizations going to stand up?
While Dick Cheney and the rest may have other pressing concerns and priorities, the rest of us have an obligation to put a stop to him and the White House/Pentagon gang of self-destructive hungry ghosts who don't deserve to live on American soil. I'm surprised nobody's taken Cheney out yet. Most of us are just too goddamned nice, I guess. We still respect the law even if the White House doesn't, I guess.
The best part of Dick Cheney ran down his mama's leg and that was a long, long time ago.
Posted by bloodstomper at February 27, 2007 12:38 PMAnd lets no forget....they did it out of fear. That fear of Bush and Cheney we heard so much about in 2004.
Posted by Richard at February 27, 2007 12:43 PMHad the Taliban been successful they'd have been doing us a service.
Sorry, but no. The nation would rally behind the president, because though Cheney may be an asshole, he's still the VPOTUS. The firestorm that followed would overshadow any small bit of sick joy you'd get from the death of another.
I'm surprised nobody's taken Cheney out yet. Most of us are just too goddamned nice, I guess.
Gee, don't sound so disappointed that there are actually laws against assassination in this country. I, for one, don't refrain from killing others because I'm too nice. I refrain because it is wrong. Still, I'm grateful that there are laws against such things, because it appears there are many people who would have no problem killing people they don't like.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 27, 2007 01:05 PMiamcoyote, Cheney is a war criminal. There weren't tears shed when advancing Soviet armies prodded Hitler into suicide. However, had he remained defiant and been cut down in the streets of Berlin few if any would have labeled his death sans the benefit of a trial "wrong". Nor would the United States have been too upset a nominal ally (and future nemesis) did the deed. The same goes for Cheney. I'd love to see him in the dockect and subsequently hanged. Our system of justice won't allow it. Sure, it's legally feasible but in practical terms the political class will not permit it. Therefore I stand by my statement. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. If someone wants to bring Cheney to justice for the damage he's done to this country and the rest of the world we shouldn't quibble much with who they are but instead focus on the justice they've delivered. I don't wish Cheney dead because I don't like him. Rather I want to see it to prevent the death and maiming of countless others should he continue to live.
Posted by steve duncan at February 27, 2007 01:56 PMThe enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Having Osama over for drinks and a strategy session?
If someone wants to bring Cheney to justice for the damage he's done to this country and the rest of the world we shouldn't quibble much with who they are but instead focus on the justice they've delivered. I don't wish Cheney dead because I don't like him. Rather I want to see it to prevent the death and maiming of countless others should he continue to live.
You think Dick Cheney being blown up would somehow lead to FEWER deaths and maiming of innocents? That's a laugh. Old 'Bring 'em on' Bush gonna roll up the death machine and put it into storage after viewing pictures of Dick's bloated corpse? Maybe he'll see the futility of it all? Ya think?
This place is going down hill fast.
Posted by snark at February 27, 2007 02:27 PMSigh. It was what I expected, but I had to try.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 27, 2007 02:55 PMWell, I have to agree. As I said above about Cheney, "For all our sakes, the best outcome for democracy is impeachment, not martyrdom, however well deserved."
Posted by DeminNewJ at February 27, 2007 03:38 PMBush is worried about his poll ratings and legacy - offing Dick and replacing him with Condi would be great PR.
Posted by JerseyMissouri at February 27, 2007 03:45 PMI channel Maxwell Smart: "Missed it by >that
Posted by Donald Cormac at February 27, 2007 04:19 PM#@!$% fingers...
I channel Maxwell Smart: "Missed it by >that
Posted by Donald Cormac at February 27, 2007 04:24 PMWhat gives with today's Haloscan? I'll try again.
Channeling Agent 86: "Missed it by *that* much..." Better luck next time, boys. (:>
Posted by Donald Cormac at February 27, 2007 04:26 PMiamcoyote..it aint so just cause you say it is.
In reading you posts I get this little hint of authoritarian tone. Just a little...buts there. GO back and review the facts, you know..those pesky things, on attacks at Bagram. You will see that this one is quite different than any in the past.
In any case you are not owed a reality that conveniences your opinion nor are the readers here obliged to conform to your thinking. And guy, thought motivated by your need to protect yourself from confronting inconvenient fact, is all you got there.
And bag the carping about the rudeness other posters. There is no way to know who that poster is or what his real intents are..like faking a liberal shocker to point it on the GOP'er blogs. Yup..it happens. Nutpicking is tired.
I suspect some Paki alerted the Taliban of the impending visit.
It's well-known that the Pakistani intelligence services are infiltrated with Islamic fundamentalists (they've done a fine job so far of protecting Mullah Omar and Osama from being captured) so this should be more than a suspicion. I bet that by the time Shooter finished shaking Musharraf's hand, the message had gone out to the Pakistani agents who direct the Taliban: "He's on his way. You know what to do."
Posted by Basharov at February 27, 2007 08:06 PMYou will see that this one is quite different than any in the past.
Well, not really. It happens quite a bit. Apparently, there were 139 suicide attacks last year. Besides, the guy was a mile away from Cheney:
But it appeared unlikely the bomber would have been able to reach the vice president, who was in a "very safe and secure place" roughly a mile from the blast site, said U.S. spokesman Lt. Col. David Accetta.
The bomber, Accetta said, never tried to get by any U.S.-manned security checkpoints and instead walked into a group of Afghans outside the base and detonated himself.
"To characterize this as a direct attempt on the life of the vice president is absurd," Accetta said.
But wait, the Taliban claimed Cheney was the target! And they're such a credible source, aren't they? Can I just point out that it ain't so just because they say it is? In any case, I never asked you to "conform to" my opinion, I was just offering my own after checking out those "pesky facts."
And bag the carping about the rudeness other posters.
No, I won't. Just as you have the freedom to whine about my perceived "authoritarian tone," I am free to carp on the rudeness of others. And they're free to protest my statements. It's called "discussion."
Posted by iamcoyote at February 27, 2007 08:55 PMWell, not really. It happens quite a bit. Apparently, there were 139 suicide attacks last year.
Emm, iamcoyote, I just counted the Afghan suicide bombers at the link you yourself posted, and I could swear that there were only EIGHT Afghan suicide attacks in the past year, not 139. Am I misunderstanding you?
Posted by Julie at February 27, 2007 10:06 PMThe first link shows the "major" strikes the second says 139.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 28, 2007 05:20 AMI included the first link because it had descriptions of the major attacks - to help Richard figure out why this recent one was "quite different" than the others.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 28, 2007 05:53 AMHeehee, from your link, coyote:
"...A senior administration official told reporters on Cheney's airplane that Bush had wanted Cheney to travel to the region because of 'the continuing threat that exists in this part of the world.'"
Is Bush putting Cheney on notice that his neck is on lhe line?
Posted by Julie at February 28, 2007 08:25 AMI guess Bush finally wants to be preznit, huh?
You'll notice the story is gone today, because it doesn't hold water, but the wingnuts are now whining that Huffpo "deleted" the thread containing the lefties who just couldn't stop crowing about how wonderful it would be if the Taliban actually was targeting Cheney and had succeeded. Of course Huffpo comments are no better than Yahoo comments in that they're mainly a bunch of high-schoolers lobbing "you're stupid - no, you're stupids at each other." But the wingnuts got their quotes, as I said they would, and now they're running with them.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 28, 2007 08:45 AMWhoops, misplaced the quotes, but you get the picture.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 28, 2007 08:46 AM...how wonderful it would be if the Taliban actually was targeting Cheney and had succeeded
I wish it had been a garlic bomb. It's tough to kill those who can't see their reflection in a mirror.
I am free to carp on the rudeness of others. And they're free to protest my statements. It's called "discussion."
I protest the rudeness of your statements discussing carps.
Posted by phidipides at February 28, 2007 11:54 AMHmm. Let us "discuss" your aversion to fish, shall we?
Posted by iamcoyote at February 28, 2007 12:20 PMHmm. Let us "discuss" your aversion to fish, shall we?
Run away! Run away!
Posted by phidipides at February 28, 2007 06:33 PM