9 die in CIA facility blast in Afghanistan

[VooDoo6Actual]

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/...8121262204483/

Published: Dec. 30, 2009 at 7:43 PM


KHOST, Afghanistan, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up Wednesday in an Afghan military base used by the CIA, killing at least eight U.S. civilians, U.S. officials said.

The bomber eluded security at the facility -- used by the CIA as an operations and surveillance center -- in the eastern province of Khost before detonating his explosives in what U.S. officials described as a fitness center, The Washington Post reported.

U.S. military officials and diplomats confirmed the attack on Forward Operating Base Chapman near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and the deaths.

"We mourn the loss of life in this attack," U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.

At least one Afghan citizen died in the blast, sources said.

Eight people were wounded, several seriously, in the explosion, officials said. Several sources confirmed to the Post the deceased and wounded were civilians, adding that most likely were CIA employees or contractors.

"It is the nightmare we've been anticipating since we went into Afghanistan and Iraq," John McLaughlin, a former CIA official, told the Post. "Our people are often out on the front line, without adequate force protection, and they put their lives quite literally in jeopardy."

CIA's Info release:


https://www.cia.gov/news-information...ghanistan.html



RIP Warriors Valhalla is awaiting you....

[BiggLee71]

Thats a damn shame. Its even disturbing that these bastards knew who and where to strike. Its even more disturbing that the bomber penetrated as far into the base as he did.

[SeriousStudent]

I had read about that. Sadly, it is not the first time this happened. We lost a large contingent of CIA officers in Lebanon as well in the 1980's.

Prayers sent for the fallen officers, and their families.

[snafu]

I had read about that. Sadly, it is not the first time this happened. We lost a large contingent of CIA officers in Lebanon as well in the 1980's.

Prayers sent for the fallen officers, and their families.

As well as 238 MARINES

Prayers and thought for their families.

[SeriousStudent]

As well as 238 MARINES

Prayers and thought for their families.

Believe me that as a former Marine, I'm familiar with that event as well. There were Navy and Army personnel that were lost when the BLT got hit. Remember them in your prayers, also.

My intention was to offer condolences for the loss referenced by the OP.

[Safetyhit]

This is an absolutely horrible story. It hurts.

[variablebinary]

Looks like they had good Intel, so somewhere OPSEC went out the window, or the wrong people were trusted.

[mattjmcd]

That's a lot of solid folks snuffed out at once. Bad news all around there. I read in the WSJ that the bomber blew himself up just prior to being searched.

[RogerinTPA]

That's a lot of solid folks snuffed out at once. Bad news all around there. I read in the WSJ that the bomber blew himself up just prior to being searched.

Sad story indeed, but apparently, he wasn't searched at all or too late, to reach an area that contained the Chief of Station. He should have been searched in a security area outside the gate.

[thmpr]

Elude security? A bad guy playing a good guy?