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Mushtaq Yusufzai / NBC News
A burnt-out vehicle at the site where a suicide bomber rammed a car filled with explosives into a U.S. government vehicle in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan, on Monday.
Four U.S. consulate workers were seriously injured and five other people killed when a suicide bomber rammed a car filled with explosives into a U.S. government vehicle in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan Monday, officials told NBC News.
The four injured were two Americans and two Pakistanis, a U.S. Embassy spokesman said.
"We can confirm that a vehicle belonging to the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar was hit in an apparent terrorist attack," the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan said in a statement.
The statement added:
"Two U.S. personnel and two Pakistani staff of the Consulate were injured and are receiving medical treatment. No U.S. Consulate personnel were killed, but we are seeking further information about other victims of this heinous act. We stand ready to work with Pakistani authorities on a full investigation so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice."
Regional Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain had earlier told reporters that two of the dead were Americans working for the nearby U.S. consulate.
Girl accused of blasphemy in Pakistan may have been framed by Muslim cleric
The dead and injured were taken to the Khyber Teaching Hospital, said Umar Ayub, the chief executive of the hospital.
Muhammed Muheisen / AP
Images of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.
The attack took place in area of the city, near the Afghan border, which hosts several foreign organizations, including the United Nations.
Local television footage showed an SUV at the site that was completely destroyed and burned, and an image of a U.S. passport at the scene, its corners burned by the flames.
US, Pakistan should 'divorce,' ex-ambassador to Washington says
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan's Taliban, who are close to al-Qaida, are blamed for many of the suicide bombings across Pakistan, a strategic U.S. ally.
The daring Navy SEAL raid that ended in the death of terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden came close to failing, according to excerpts of a new book written by one of the U.S. commandos who took part in the assault on the compound deep inside Pakistan. NBC's Mike Viqueira reports.
Those attacks had eased in recent months but it was not clear if the lull was due to pressure from military offensives or a shift in tactics.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The suicide care bomb ,which rammed into the US Consulate car with 2 occupants(a technical and an administrative staff members of US Consulate/Peshawar) at Abdara Road in University Town nearby UN Refugee Agency- was laden with 110 kg of explosives -the blast left a 4ft wide,8 ft.deep crater on the road,destroying other gbehicles,uprooting electricity poles and fronts of nearby buildings. No American killed- 2 foreigners injured(among 19)2 dead on the scene. Police recovered a half-burnt US Passport from the suicide bomb vehicle (Intel off). US Embassies/Consulates received threats 2 days ago- and were on high alert, US Consulate car supposedly bomb=proof.
How do you know there was 110KG explosives on board? Wouldn't it be hard to weigh after it is "blown up". Sure someone could make an estimation of how much was used if they knew the type of explosive and had experience in how it reacts in a situation. But to say 110KG makes me wonder if the explosives they used come in 20KG bags from the Taliban version of Wal-Mart.
While it is true that the Taliban does not have a global agenda, such as other jihadist groups such as Al - qaeda, its methods are similar, its purpose is only to expel Western foreigners from their lands. We are the invaders that we have a culture that they reject and kill its people. Taliban committed an error, and that was to give shelter and support for Al - Qaeda and that is why they are paying a high price. Mostly Afhanistan is Taliban and Pakistan is being invaded by his radical ideas. The problem is simple Pakistan has nuclear weapons fall into the hands of groups extremists cit will create a destabilization of the Middle East. This is a global threat, while other countries invest their money in protect their economies , we invest it to avoid a nuclear crisis. It is time all countries assume their roll of Defense and not only us, which we are losing lives, spending billions keeping a military force when our country is in economic crisis and with a President who does not know how fix the economy and is taking us to a deeper resecion.
That's true only in the sense that they believe the whole world is their land. Their mission is to forcibly convert everyone.
I find it more telling that the Pakistan Internal Minister announced American dead before he even knew. Sounds like he is a mouthpiece for the terrorists. Perhaps we should allow him to speak with Allah directly.
Blowing innocent people to bits while committing suicide is just a Muslim sacred ritual. Osama Bin Laden admitted it when he said “We love death. The US loves life. That is the difference between us two."
Muslims are fundamentally different from people who love life more that death. To try to interact with them by the same standards and rules we would use with civilized people is a serious mistake.
Until Islam is dragged out of its millennium-long dark age, it will represent a lethal threat to civilized people who favor life over death, creation over destruction, and mercy over cruelty.
Very well said.
Agreed. But I read somewhere an interview with a Muslim cleric that reformed Islam is no Islam at all. Any small reforms anywhere in the world of Islam or young leaders of change will be promptly targeted by the radicals. It's questionable if any reforms will ever be made, bringing an enlightenment to Islam.
Drag it nowhere. Exterminate it wherever its found, like the virus it is. Exterminate it for the good of all Mankind.
Muslim immigration should be forbidden by law, as immigration of Nazis and Communists.
I agree Ivan Smith. See 2 March 2006 Karachi consulate bombing. We should stop all aid money to Pakistan and stop issuing Visas to the Pakis to come here. All of the Pakis here are a national threat anyway and they should have their Visas revoked and be sent home. No more money and no more Visas and no more apologies. Close the consulates.
@ GTR5. Couldn't agree more.
I agree with all of the above comments. But I agree with Knight Bus out of anger and geepo out of logic.
When I spoke of the Muslims being in a Dark Age today, that was neither insult nor hyperbole. The European Dark Ages were characterized by theocratic rule (that is spiritual and secular power vested in the same group), centuries-long technological stagnation, state-sponsored xenophobia, cultural isolation, and obsessive desire to enforce their religious beliefs on the entire world. The latter, of course, is epitomized by the Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades. In all those same ways, the Muslim bloc of nations of today is an almost perfect analogue of Europe in the 12th century.
By the same token, I believe Islam can be weaned from its inflexibility and violence, to resemble something closer to Martin Luther's Protestantism. The two enabling factors for a dark age are theocracy and cultural isolation. In the case of Europe from 453 AD to the 1600's, isolation was geographic. The Renaissance was most likely enabled by a loss of faith in the power of the clergy during the Black Plague, thus ending their theocracy. By contrast, the key to "modernizing" Islam is to end their isolation. Muslim isolation is enabled by xenophobia coupled with vast amounts of oil money. That isolation, and thus their Dark Age, could probably be broken if we can deprive them of a market for that oil.
OBL is not a true muslim, no where does one crazy reliogous wackjob represent the billion others. Unless do you take the teachings of Anders Brevick to represent all christians?
Yeah TV - we hear that again and again: "extremists are a very small percentage" but I remember the streets of Gaza crowded with happy Palestinians dancing, honking their horns, and handing out candy to celebrate the deaths of thousands of innocents on 9/11. No Palestinians condemned that barbaric slaughter ...
"one crazy religious wackjob" ?? I don't think so.
Because the USA supports Israel who supports the slaughter of Palestinians and that was their moment the USA got hit as payback for them causing the Palestinians death and destruction. The USA is guilty across multiple spectrum across the middle east.
As you just missed it, OBL stated one of the reasons for 911 was the unilateral US support for Israel and their active role in the oppression of the Palestinian people. Of course the Palestinians would jump to joy for it.
ALso where were all the Christians when Anders performed his terrorist act? All the Christians were all quiet, no one sent me sorry post cards, all quiet..
It is difficult for a Westerner to accept the depths of duplicity and violence in the Palestinian culture. This fact is frequently exploited by their propagandists when they try to excuse a Palestinian act of horrific cruelty by posting, “it must have been Western injustice that drove him/her to such lengths.” In fact, acts of horrific cruelty are everyday occurrences in their society. We must understand that the values of the Palestinians are fundamentally different from those of civilized countries like Israel and the US. There are thousands of examples of this difference, but one, in particular, illustrates the contrast very well:
The Palestinians put a suicide bomb vest on a mentally handicapped Palestinian teenager, Hussam Abdo. Instead of simply shooting him at the border, the Israelis helped him disarm the vest and saved his life. The life that the Palestinians had just tried to destroy. I think that US or European soldiers would have been merciful, too.
It is far more important than posturing or politics to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the nations, like Israel, who share our core values.
KANIN, you so seem to understand. Perhaps in my lifetime,or shortly thereafter there will be a world wide conflagration with civilized people tolerating no more of the hate filled backward islamic culture that demands thier religion and thusly thier government which are the same must rule. These illiterate, hate filled, backward scum will at some time soon be erradicated and then the world can enjoy peace and harmony. Until that happens peace will never occur.
This is likely retribution for the attack that killed a senior Haqqani network member last week. I'm not sure if those reports of his death had been confirmed, but NATO or the US issued the kill confirmation. It was one of the biggest casualties the Haqqani network had suffered up to that point, and given how cozy they are with Pakistan's military and ISI, it's not surprising that they would go after a high value target connected to the US. When the media says members of the "consulate" it's just code for agency or DoD personnel. Just like the attack in Mexico last week. The only people outside of our own military or intelligence networks, that would have advanced knowledge of consulate member movements, would be the Pakistani military or ISI. I hope no Americans were killed in this attack, but it sounds unlikely. Tough couple of weeks for the agency.
The Muslims crucified and slashed a man to death whom they accused of planting the gps chips on the Haqqabi leader who was killed in a drone attack...no evidence regarding the victim of Islam was given...just accusations....Muslims use the fear of death to keep fear of death in the minds of those they control...
Have you ever been there, Pakistan. Even seen the $1 Billion US Embassy that takes $1 Billion a year to operate (and you thought that money was going to the Pakistanis), same with Iraq, soon Afghanistan.
All you are doing is fueling the Pakistanis Paranoia. All you are doing is painting a target on US Diplomatic Corps Personnel.
That information is NOT given to them. It has been known for the longest time that the Pakistanis ISI Agency has been infiltrated by Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists. And most owe or swore their loyalty to Fundamentalist Islam (majority of the people of Pakistan), the Holy Koran and not US Ally Government of Pakistan.
And that the average Pakistanis Military Personnel has to live with Fundamentist Islam on a daily basis, pressure placed on their immediate Family, Relatives, etc. and stuck between the Oath to the US Ally Pakistanis Government and Fundamentalist Islam. This is why a while ago the Pakistanis Military did obey the US Ally Pakistanis Government and attacked the Northern Region of Pakistan controlled by the Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists, until the "Islamic World" placed pressure on the US Ally Pakistanis Government thru the United Nations for them to stop, claiming "Killing own people" without the United Nations realizing that the Fundamentalist Islamic Believers aka "Pakistanis Civilians" were providing Fiundamentalist Islamic Sanctuary for the Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadist; just like the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government provided Fundamentalist Islamic Sanctuary to Fundamentalist Islamic Al Quada and the Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadist Training Camps at Afghanistan prior to us attacking them October 2001 after the 9/11 2001 attacks.
This is why most US and US Ally Civilians just don't get it, you provide support or Islamic Sanctuary to the Islamic Jihadists, you are NOT an "innocent civilian". This has NEVER been Conventional Warfare (Conventional Warfare named after the Conventions, 1907 Hague Convention (result, Charging into Machineguns during WWI Trench Warfare was an Honorable Death), 1949 Geneva Convention (result, charging uphill into machineguns), these Conventions being the Civilians attempting to make War Civilized). Most of these Wars including Vietnam were Asymmetric Wars that Cannot be won with Conventional Warfare, especially the "Cold War" mentality of short term "Total Conventional Warfare".
The biggest problem with most locations is that the numbers of entrances and exits are limited and easy for someone to conduct long term Surveillance and wait for targets of opportunity. The other problem is complacency, and US Diplomatic Corps personnel creating observable routines (oh, it's lunch time, let's go get some KFC).
You have some good information David, and I have not been to pakistan. I would disagree that I am painting a target on US diplomatic corps personnel, as our activities inside Pakistan, both known to the public (drone attacks) and unknown activities (intelligence gathering) have done a good enough job of that already. I'm not saying anything that is unknown to the general public as long as they are able to read and research information that is already publicly available for themselves. I understand the information on consulate member movements is not given to the Pakistani government or ISI, but they are capable of gathering intelligence the same as we are. They are also able to develop moles inside our intelligence community on the ground in pakistan, the same way we do, but for those that think intelligence gathering and billions of dollars is going to stop determined fundamentalist Muslims from dying for jihad, think again.
The problem we have is that we are always in a state of warfare. Things like the fake polio vaccine program has done more harm to our reputation in that country than a hundred drone attacks on terror targets ever could. We have such short term ambitions with these missions and then we wonder why they don't change the "hearts and minds" of these countries' citizens. In fact our short sited ambitions are the reason why we are back in Afghanistan now, and also why we were forced into a position of hunting down a man our CIA trained in the first place. The biggest issue is not that it is obvious we are there, but why we are there in the first place. Every time a new admin gets elected into office, we start this whole process over again, and in 20 years we will be on to the next big threat. Iraq is a perfect example of a minimal threat to our country being turned into a bigger threat, all because we acted alone on bad intelligence for our own perceived benefit. Then again the governments we install or support, like in pakistan, could change and many of the key alliances we worked to build would be for not. At the end of the day, we spend way to much money chasing our tail and getting our own men and women, civilian and military, killed in the process. I appreciate the hardships of those citizens living under oppressive regimes around the world, Muslim or not, but it's not America's job to play world police and peace maker every time a new oppressor pops up. We create as many of these problems for ourselves as we solve, if not more, so at some point we have to decide what we really stand for and lead by example, not force.
We should get out of there and let those idiots kill themselves.
This will go on forever we have mixed ourselves in their lives and we don't seem to know when to leave. Yet we still let them in our country 10 more years and we will be Pakistan.
Interesting, that is what the American Indians said about the syphillis, small pox spreading cut throat (They taught the Indians about rape, scalping and land thieving), European riff-raff.
The Manson Family on camels. And Mecca is their version of the Spahn Movie Ranch.
It actually occured to me that Muhammad was like Charles Manson in many ways. He existed in a time when the violence committed was not mitigated by strong law enforcement. To his followers, he was something to be afraid of unless you submitted to him that you were a true believer. His methods built a momentum in military courage that, even after his death, toppled the two ancient superpowers of the day, Byzantium and Persia. When you read about his exploits from the Hadith, he seems like a cult killer like Charles Manson. Osama Bin Laden was probably more like the real person Mohammad than we care to admit.
Everyday I pray for nuclear war between Pakistan and India. NOT that I dislike India mind you, I just want them to off all the Pakis (and we should help them do it). The CIA should get off their a$$ and try to provoke the situation. (What are we paying them for anyway?)
Well, I don't agree with him on how mass child molestation should be swept under the rug, but thanks. And have a nice day.
Remember - Math and science fly us to Mars, religion flies us into buildings.
"Math and science fly us to Mars, religion flies us into buildings"
Completely wrong!
First, not ANY religion flies us into buildings, but ONLY Islam. Those who extend Muslim atrocities to any religion, excuse and defend Muslim barbarians.
Second, math and science also fly us into buildings - when math and science are in the hands of Muslims or Atheist communists and Nazis.
Another American mental giant speakeths.
WE THE PEOPLE keep sending this horrible country billions of dollara and all they are are killers. I just don't get it at all.
The so called smart ones in Washington have to keep the oil and drugs moving some how
Horrible country Afghanistan?!!!!
It's called 'self-defense Papa!'
Like my grandmother used to say:
"The skunk never smells under its own tail!'
On Thursday Mr. Obama will try to convince the nation that his expansion of the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan has made US and the world more safe. BWahahahahahahahahahahaha
We need to leave the mideast and promise to send back only drones if they continue to mess with us.
All the Republicscums whine about so-called handouts to our people, and the country's going broke. Yet NONE of them whine about the handouts of billions of dollars to foreign countries, why is that? Because it was their party that got us into this, and they know it.Pakistan takes our handouts and splits it with Al Quida, and the Taliban, and we know it, yet we still send it to them. Why? When the drone strikes take these people out, where are they? PAKISTAN. They hide and support them, then tell us they didn't KNOW they were there, like Bin Laden. Oh, we didn't know he was living 2 blocks away. How stupid can we be? But hey, whine about helping our own people out when THEY actually need it. But then that is the Republicscum way after all. That's all you hear from those whiners, they're giving MY money to our people, but NOTHING about the handouts to the rest of the world.
And how much money did Obama give to Brazil and Columbia to build their energy production infrastructure and create jobs?
the islam is the new black death plague on the world. The muslim race are the flees. The world will never be safe as long as they are alive.
A vote for obama is a vote for islam.
Couldn't pay me enough money to work in a US consulate in a some of these countries....It's just wayyyy to dangerous. I hope it wasn't friendly fire from a US drone strike or something, that'd be a tad embarrassing
Ohio Bob, you completely ignore that Obama does have the option to get us of out of the Pakistani and Afghanistan mess, yet he continues to put American lives at risk and waste tax dollars.
Ask the racist 'party of no, the 'GOPeer'er's' if they would cooperate.
'NO!!!!' There! You have your answer!!!
It's time to get out of Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Korea, and other places. Use the money here in the USA and for the military. Mail pictures of the moon to every nation with a caption saying that "Your country will look like this if you conduct hostile acts against the USA". If a country does conduct hostile acts against the USA then create a few giant creaters in their country. Would only have to happen once for the rest of the world to wise up & take note. We don't need wars all we have to do is use a few Big Berthas or Bunker Busters, they will get the message.
This country seems to think we can bribe these countries with cash to subvert their Muslim fanatics, it just won't work, the mullahs have them brain washed from birth, and these people are so poor they grab for any straw held out to them.
In 1774 the British called the American 'Minutemen' terrorists and America just gave the Limies the 'stiff middle finger.' Now, the the Great Satan is getting 'a stiff middle finger' from the AF/PAK 'freedom fighters' what have you got to say for yourselves - genocidal killers of innocent men, women and children? If you think the measly $1,500. the US pays a window and her 5 orphans for having committed another one of their infamous "Opppps killings' with one of them Predator extra-judicial killing machines loaded for bear with two arms full of Hellfire anti-tank missiles - it was a mistake - 'we are sooooo sorry' killing of an Afghan fathe or an entire familyr, you are sooooo wrong - and soon, soooo dead!!
Nothing wrong with the Mullahs pilgrim. It's killer racist America and its Jewish hemmorhoid Aztec bloody killers that need a few (((nukes))) to the mouth.
Hey AmeriKKKan killers of innocents: "What part of 'Get the fugg out of our country' don't you understand?' Like the scumbag genocidal Jews: 'Everywhere that Mary' went the bombs were sure to go. 'Yup, the NeoNazi racist United Snakes' (US/Israel/NATO) are hated with a passion and this is 'only the beginning!'
Dear Ms AzClown, Your anti American blab grows dry. Take a different med and a nap and try again.
PS, STFU.
Have a beautiful day.
RLTW
Tombstone - Your Imam should realize that, when he tells you to post that nonsense, it makes you Muslims look even stupider in the eyes of the world.
Humans are the virus.
Pakistan is needed to keep the supply lines to Afghanistan open. But what if we get out of Afghanistan and tell both countries to go to hell?
Time to clear out of Pakistan and Afghanistan and Iraq .Save the taxpayers money , and american lives , cut off the cash flow to all three countries ! Clear out and let them shift for themselves They will never change , no matter what the USA can do for them ,a continued waste of time and cash aid !
Since 1992 a total of 2,956 federal workers have died in the line of duty, with the overwhelming majority of them being in iraq and afghanistan. These are old numbers of course and don't include more recent deaths, e.g. the ranger in the Pacific Northwest attempting to rescue stranded climbers who fell 1000 feet or the firefighter engaged in a battle with a fire protecting peoples homes. These are federal employees doing their jobs that the Republican party in control of the House voted 100% to cut their pay and benefits to first pay for college loans and second to keep from cutting the military budget by 10% as they previously agreed to.
Wake up world! The hideous culture of islam demands that religion super cedes secular laws and rules. Think now about how many islamist countries with this hate filled, cruel culture are anything more than worthless, dirty, illiterate failed states. The answer is none! Not a single muslim country ranks above the bottom few in education, commerce, quality of life, health, infrastructure, length of life, health, and a stable and non corrupt government. Muslims have destroyed everything they touch. Lest one not listen, remember that in history North Africa and the mid-east were the center of culture,art and commerce. Think of Egypt, Mesopotamia, (now Iraq), Tripoli, Timbuktu, and the entire area of North Africa. Now this entire area is a backward, illiterate, failed culture with hate,violence, poverty, corruption, and the worst quality of life on this plant. All due to islam!
On Thursday Obama will give another speech chock full of fancy rhetoric and promise he never intends to keep and lacking in details. We need concrete solutions not more platitudes designed to get votes and quickly forgotten once the election is over. Four more years of Obama is four more years of stagnation , division and incompetence.
Guys help me in my JIhad to built this company. I am planning on starting a complete toilet solution my products will be Koran toilet paper, Islam toilet cleaner and muslim toilet brush.
Will they come packed in bacon grease?