Explosion near Afganistan base kills at least 19, U.S. Vice President may have been target

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

A suicide attack at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan at 10:30 a.m. Afghan time has left at least 19 dead reports the Associated Press. President Hamid Karzai's office said 23 people were killed and 20 were injured. Agence France-Presse has reported that at least one U.S. soldier was killed in the attack. A South Korean soldier was among those killed said South Korea's defence ministry.

Qari Yousef Ahmadi, who claims to be a Taliban spokesman, said that Dick Cheney was the target of the attack. Cheney made a surprise visit to the base. He ate breakfast with Major General David Rodriguez, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and troops. Cheney had been in his room before the explosion occurred. He was quickly escorted to a nearby bomb shelter, where he remained, unharmed, until the situation settled.

Cheney told reporters traveling with him, when informed of who claimed responsibility for the attack, "I think they clearly try to find ways to question the authority of the central government," he said according to Donna Miles of the American Forces Press Service. "Striking at Bagram with a suicide bomber, I suppose, is one way to do that. But it shouldn't affect our behavior at all."

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Sources

Brendan Murray. "Cheney Safe After Attack on Air Base in Afghanistan" — Bloomberg, February 27, 2007
"Cheney targeted in Taliban attack" — Al Jazeera, February 27, 2007
Abdul Waheed Wafa. "Cheney Unhurt After Bombing in Afghanistan" — New York Times, February 27, 2007
Alisa Tang (AP). "Taliban: Cheney was suicide bomber’s target" — Detroit Free Press, February 27, 2007
Alisa Tang (AP). "Cheney OK After Afghan Blast; 14 Killed" — The Guardian, February 27, 2007
The Associated Press. "Cheney unhurt in blast outside Afghan base" — CNN, February 27, 2007
Caren Bohan. "Cheney takes refuge in bomb shelter after Afghan blast" — Reuters, February 27, 2007
Donna Miles. "Suicide bomber attacks Bagram Air Base during Cheney visit" — American Forces Press Service, February 27, 2007

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