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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: aldo_14 on December 06, 2004, 04:18:04 am

Title: US mission (consulate) in Saudi city attacked
Post by: aldo_14 on December 06, 2004, 04:18:04 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4071387.stm

Attackers have struck the US consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah, starting a fire at the building and shooting at security forces.

The attack is "still in progress", an official US spokeswoman said. Flames and two heavy plumes of smoke can be seen rising from the compound.

Witnesses quoted by Associated Press said a car exploded in the street outside the heavily-guarded consulate.

There are no reports of US casualties, but it is unclear if others were hurt.

About 200 Saudi police and National Guard soldiers are reported to have been deployed in the area.

Correspondents say security around the consulate has been extremely tight since a series of bombings in 2003, mainly targeting buildings that house foreigners.

The US embassy in the capital Riyadh and another consulate in the eastern city of Dhahran were also closed as a precaution, the spokeswoman said.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Sandwich on December 06, 2004, 05:19:20 am
Mission?
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: aldo_14 on December 06, 2004, 05:31:40 am
Alternative name for consulate.. like, not a formal embassy but a trade / outreach type thing IIRC.  Maybe it's a uk term....

Bad news is (worse news) that there are apparently now 18 people (local workers) being held hostage.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Jetmech Jr. on December 06, 2004, 05:36:05 am
:sigh:
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Rictor on December 06, 2004, 07:21:46 am
Well, hardly surprising now is it? The Saudis (meaning the people, especially the more extremist ones) aren't exactly fond of the US presence there.

They've been getting attacked on and off for years. Sucks about the hostages though (do you maybe have a link to a story about that, the article you posted doesn't mention it.)
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: aldo_14 on December 06, 2004, 07:30:37 am
Status of the hostages remains unknown; that article is being constantly updated over time.

It doesn't really matter how surprising it is (albeit it would be a bit worrying based on the breaching of the 'fortification' of the consulate alone), it's still a ****ty thing to do.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: an0n on December 06, 2004, 07:50:46 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich
Mission?

Like a Spanish Mission.

Full of people there to spread the word that whoever set it up is great and they should be friends with them.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: diamondgeezer on December 06, 2004, 10:59:01 am
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition...
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: aldo_14 on December 06, 2004, 11:00:34 am
I just talked to nobody and nobody told me they didn't expect it, so you're wrong.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Kazan on December 06, 2004, 11:02:44 am
it should have been saudi arabia, not iraq


then we would have been justified (saudi arabia is the single largest supporter of terrorism, and al qaeda in particular)
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: aldo_14 on December 06, 2004, 11:07:01 am
That's Bandar Bush for you.........

hmm.  Best not drag this into another Iraq war debate tho, we have one of those in the 'torture pics' thread.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Kazan on December 06, 2004, 11:09:07 am
indeed, that's why im not posting in that thread
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Rictor on December 06, 2004, 06:59:05 pm
*sigh*

Just cause "a country" (keep in mind this means like 0.01% of the population) is supporting terrorists, doesn't mean you can attack it.

Did Nicaragua attack the US? How about Cuba, Columbia, or any of the myriad of nations which were attacked (and in some cases continue to be attacked) by US-sponsored terrorists?

If we do indeed live in a society of law, then the proper recourse is to take action through the appropriate authorites, not by bombing the **** out of said country.

And here was I was all along under the illusion that those who opposed the war in Iraq did so because they believe that violence is not the answer. Silly me.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: pyro-manic on December 06, 2004, 08:56:17 pm
Weeell, you can't expect peole to suddenly stop killing each other - they'd be going against thousands of years of tradition!

Sucks about the consulate though. Not at all surprising, as Rictor said, but still not nice.

I can't help but feel that the slippery slope has become too steep to climb back up. It's only a matter of time before we go over the precipice now....
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Knight Templar on December 06, 2004, 10:20:49 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Rictor
*sigh*

Just cause "a country" (keep in mind this means like 0.01% of the population) is supporting terrorists, doesn't mean you can attack it.


Not according to our president.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Anaz on December 06, 2004, 10:26:43 pm
5 non-monetary units say that the CIA started it all, and we'll be invading SA soon ;)
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Knight Templar on December 06, 2004, 10:34:34 pm
With what troops? :doubt:
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: pyro-manic on December 06, 2004, 10:37:59 pm
Ours, probably... :doubt:
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Sandwich on December 07, 2004, 12:09:55 am
Hey - don't worry! We'll take care of Iran for you, you guys just go get them terrorists wherever they may be!!!!!!!111222 :nod: :yes:
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Knight Templar on December 07, 2004, 12:42:42 am
You scare me sometimes.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: pyro-manic on December 07, 2004, 08:00:08 am
Seconded.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Sandwich on December 07, 2004, 10:01:03 am
Good, now I just need to scare them darned terrorists. :D
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: aldo_14 on December 07, 2004, 10:23:49 am
Try wearing a mask.
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: Janos on December 07, 2004, 10:42:40 am
(http://img30.exs.cx/img30/2912/v4yhellbeast.jpg)
Title: US mission in Saudi city attacked
Post by: pyro-manic on December 07, 2004, 11:07:21 am
Now that is scary! :eek: :D