‘Suicide Attack?’: Afghan Truck Explodes On Runway as Defense Sec. Plane Lands
- Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:48pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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- Truck drives at high speed onto British airfield runway and explodes as Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was landing for surprise trip
- Panetta not injured
- Some outlets reporting it was a suicide attack and the man driving was an Afghan national employed on the base
WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The Pentagon says an Afghan drove an apparently stolen vehicle onto the ramp area of a British airfield in southern Afghanistan and into a ditch, where it exploded in flames, about the same time U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s aircraft was landing.
A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. John Kirby, said no one in Panetta’s party was injured.
Kirby said the vehicle, a pickup truck, drove at high speed onto the ramp where Panetta’s plane was intended to stop. He said there was no immediate indication that the Afghan was attempting to attack Panetta’s party, but the circumstances were still being pieced together.
According to the the British outlet The Sun, “sources at the scene claim it was a suicide attack — but those allegations have not yet been officially confirmed.” The Daily Mail reports the person driving the vehicle was employed at the base, although that has yet to be confirmed also, and the base was placed on lockdown.
The Washington Post says the man stole the truck from a NATO soldier on the base, and that the soldier was injured in the carjacking.
Initial reports said no explosive devices were found in the vehicle or in a search of the driver. Kirby said the driver was being treated for burn injuries.
The incident comes on the heels of U.S. officials burning Korans that were being used to pass secret messages and the apparent actions of a rogue U.S. soldier who went on a shooting rampage killing 16 Afghans.
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Comments (60)
progressiveslayer
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:16pmDid the mad bomber receive international permission to bomb Panetta? That’s the overriding concern here.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:47pmHe said: ‘I can’t read… so, I did not know’!
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:14pmIs this the beginning of the Just Desserts for the BO regime?
Report Post »When Panetta has to disarm American Marines to speak to them, what does this say about HIM and what he is going to tell them.
This is the beginning of paranoia for this administration?
Liberal_Teacher
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:22pmI‘m pretty sure the Secretary of Defense isn’t concerned about US soldiers but about the Afghan ones in the room that were already unarmed but might steal a gun and use it to kill him. The Taliban has infiltrated the Afghan army extensively and there have been other incidents of a similar nature where an Afghan soldier steals a US weapon and kills Americans with it.
Perhaps you’re the paranoid one?
Report Post »GO-FOR-LIBERTY
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:05pmPanetta and holder and obama should be brought up on charges of treason. They have done more to dishonor our service men and women by tying their hands and leading from behind. Whats the matter with the SoD can’t trust your own men?
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:20pm“…The Washington Post says the man stole the truck from a NATO soldier on the base, and that the soldier was injured in the carjacking….”
Our soldiers must endure this sort of crap from the native muslims all the time. Our men and women should not be interfacing with these muslim natives.
Panetta is probably having meetings with his staff trying to figure out how to apologize for landing and offending Islam.
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:28pm@ Lib “teacher”
Report Post »Do you really need the liberal part? It sort of is a given sadly enough-and whatever helps you sleep at night. I picture lots of boxed wine and prescripts, but that also is somewhat of a given too. Were you like a spell checker for the Journ0list crowd?
sasquatch08
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 7:08pm“Afghan ones in the room that were already unarmed but might steal a gun and use it to kill him.”
So leaving the weapons outside the tent with maybe 4-5 guards on a pile of 200+ service rifles and pistols is safer?
Personally, if I was so inclined I would much rather try to sneak up to that pile to get a rifle or grenade than to try to wrestle them off a US Marine.
Report Post »froggy19510
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:22pmObviously. Liberal Teacher was not an english teacher.
Report Post »BostonHarold
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:08pmMaybe a glowing ember from his hash pipe fell on his rayon shirt as he was steering with his feet.
Report Post »karen162
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:05pmIf he were aiming for Panetta, why would he drive the truck into a ditch? If it were packed with explosives, why is he still alive? This wasn‘t an attempt on Panetta’s life. This was an accident by a guy who wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing.
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:30pmIn that drivers defence, there were some recently shorn sheep and goats nearby.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:01pmIf I didn’t know better…, I would think that Afghanistan had segments that were anti-American.
Report Post »One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:55pmSo it looks like Panetta was met by that long old time Afghanistan tribe member AL KABOOM huh?
Report Post »Roberto G. Vasquez
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:03pmNo bombs found? Maybe the truck was taken out by a USA military unit guarding Leon, and nobody wants to admit it?
Report Post »TheLibertyScale
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:19pmWhat? I thought the Afgans loved the U.S. tyranny brought to their country. I thought they welcomed democracy bombs dropped on their loved ones. I think if they don’t like the U.S. killing their wives and children, sons and husbands, then we should just leave and quit killing innocent people in Afghanistan. ‘I’m just saying’
Pete-o
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:39pmhttp://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=106938
Report Post »This is a list of Obama’s anti-American, anti-religion actions. This man told us he “would stand with the Muslims”. Afghan soldiers, trained by our military, have used weapons issued to them, to kill our soldiers. Being Muslims, they are taught it is OK to lie to non-Muslims. We don’t know who is friend of foe in the Middle East. Let us bring our military home from this God-gorsaken country and have them defend the American people against our domestic enemies in Washington and Chicago.
c.foster4722
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:58pmWow BBQ PANETTA. now doesn’t that sound yummy? It could be this guy was hungry, because he couldn’t get a good AFGHAN meal like dog or goat eyes!!
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:17pmHEADLINE: a surprise trip? not so much.
Report Post »bigmel754
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:51pmSo, to me it doesn’t quite go over as a surprise visit! Or is the surprise, the fact that an attempt was made at the time of his arrival for a surprise visit? Or, is it a surprise that Obama will apologize for a surprise visit by an American?
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:50pmSounds to me like this administration could be in clear and present danger.. You think this will wake uo Leon Pannetta?? Or any of them?? We should be so damn lucky. Excuse the French! Lord help us!
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:47pmblaze is not giving out the real info: drudge and radio stations say the assembled marines were ordered to disarm in the secretary’s presence. what is going on between this administration and the military? no trust or honor. dangerous territory for all of us. we have to be very careful about what “standing for the people and the constitution” means if the nightmare scenario comes to pass when the government and sections of the military are no longer on the same side.
side note: the naacp is before the united nations council that includes nations which don’t allow women and minorities to vote, arguing that the free voter id’s being develoed in some states to avoiod fraud and illegal voting is criminal, racist and illegal. way to go knumbskulls. preach about the american dream here at home and then go hasten its extinction at the feet of globalist fakes and hypocrites.
Report Post »Liberal_Teacher
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:20pmThe Afghans in the tent were already without weapons when the Secretary arrived. Two possible explanations for the disarmament of the US troops:
1) There was concern that an Afghan soldier might steal a gun from a US soldier and use it to fire on the Secretary.
2) There was concern that having half the room armed and the other unarmed would send a bad message about the relationship between the Afghans and the Americans (a correct message, but that’s another argument altogether).
Report Post »kapnkd
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:27pmSure he wasn’t just driving a Chevy Volt?????
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:50pmThere ya go …let’s make peace and give all the terrorists a free volt.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:26pmGood thing this wasn’t Hillary – man what a write up would we be getting- If she can’t be placed someplace it might come out she was on the plane also, more fitting for her
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:24pmUmm, if the driver survived with burns, there was no bomb. Might have been a fuel truck, maybe.
Report Post »Nightstalker93
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:19pmWhy kill Peneta? He’s on there side anyway!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:50pmThey are Ignorant & Stupid!
Report Post »OklahomaBound
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:29pmThat was a good practice run, maybe they learned something and can get it right when Obama makes his next surprise visit.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:17pmYeah, he was just there to welcome Panetta. This was an attack, plain and simple. Don’t trust any Afgani employees or soldiers, they have proven they can not be trusted.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:16pmAgain, why are we still there? When can we stop spending absurd amounts of money and risking our troops lives for a country that will never change?
WAKE UP!!!!
Report Post »SpaceCoyote
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:12pmIntell could be gained simply by a worker overhearing a conversation in the chow line or check-out at the PX(store) the an American leader is coming. Worker goes home and gossip finds its way to the enemy. Or the enemy is the worker. Could even be as simple as someone stateside talks to their wife who then posts on facebook that her husband is going to Afghanistan for security detail. A person who “friended” her knows her husband is security for top officials and there you have it.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:21pmShhhhhh! This was supposed to be a secret! Dang the luck!
IMHBLO, the enemy has several of our ‘communications’ devices, frequencies and has insider human intel provided by the government policy to “Hire and pay locals” as a ‘gesture’ of cooperation, who have general access to physical locations that are considered not ‘restricted’ but are TREASURE TROVES of intel.
Cleaning, waste removal, mess facilities, resupply activities et al., All you need to have are ears. It’s one more example of how stupid and self destructive our geopolitical policies are and the potential damage they can AND DO, do.
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:33pmLinguists. Most of the towelie intel comes from the worthless toads we are paying to be go betweens.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:10pmI’mmmm sure that if people juuuuust quit talking about all that’s going on in the middle east …This kind of stuff will quit happening bla bla bla.. Gas will come down ..Bla bla bla and
Report Post »with one big voice …will sing …“We are the world”..
Lone Ranger
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:05pmCalm down,people. It wasn’t a big explosion. The driver survived and is being treated for burns. There were no explosives found on the driver or in the vehicle. Where the reporting got it wrong is that this guy was driving a Chevy Volt.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:16pmSo, he just got lost on his way to the liquor store?
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:20pmYou made my day, needed a good laugh!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:22pmAccording to “NCIS”TV… the Military Industrial (whatever that is) Complex… is against the Good Military Leaders who want to :draw down” (eliminate) troops…
Liberal TV Propaganda is expanding… rate you TV shows!
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:02pmDid the U.N. or NATO, or any European International board give them “Permission” to make this attempt at Panetta’s life directly? Just asking.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:23pmNo Only the USA is required to get permission to defend themselves.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:54pmThree probabilities:
Most likely: coincidence in the timing of the landing/attack.
Probable: Taliban forces got a tip off and prepared a suprise.
Probable: Obama made sure the information leaked to the Taliban so a ‘close call’ could be arranged and Obama can take harsher actions against the armed forces in the area.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:55pmSnow, you are EXACTLY RIGHT on your call.
Praying on.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:03pmAct of GOD!
Report Post »Conservative New Yorker
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:11pmI agree with Kickagrandma!
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:52pmsnow, you may be right on the last. the assembled marines were ordered to disarm. imagine if another attack had happened then? dear lord, what goes down if the administration and military turn on one another? so bad for all of us.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:53pmI am very thankful our defense secretary wasn’t injured could you imagine what afghanistan would be like after that for our soldiers? that would have been a huge amount of propoganda for the nuts out there. I cannot believe he got that close in the truck unbelievable.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:53pm“no immediate indication that the Afghan was attempting to attack Panetta’s party” Yea, just a coincidence, nothing to worry about…they love Americans.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:35pmPremature Explosiotion
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:52pmDamn…
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