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| Iraq |
| Spanish diplomat killed in Baghdad |
| 2003-10-09 |
| The Spanish Government has confimed the death of one of its diplomats in Baghdad. Jose Antonio Bernal Gomez, a Spanish military attache, was murdered outside his home in the Iraqi capital. Security was tightened outside the Spanish embassy following the killing. Little late for that. Mr Bernal Gomez worked for Spain’s national intelligence centre and had been stationed in Iraq for mroe than two years. Initial investigations into his death indicate that he was murdered outside his front door. Spanish national radio reports say a group of men driving a car with foreign number plates rang at Mr Bernal Gomez’s residence on Thursday morning. Foreign number plates? Syrian, Iranian, Saudi, New Jersey, what’s concidered foreign in Iraq? They say he was then shot as he tried to run past them into the road. And his bodyguard was where? Mr Bernal Gomez is Spain’s second casualty in post-war Iraq. Navy captain Manuel Martin Oar died in the bombing of the United Nations’ headquarters in Baghdad in August. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar was an unflagging supporter of the US-led war on Iraq. Around 1,300 Spanish troops now serve with the multinational occupying force there. Which is why he should of had bodyguards. Following the confirmation of Mr Bernal Gomez’s death, Spain’s left-wing opposition has called for Mr Aznar to report to parliament on the safety Spanish nationals in Iraq. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #9 Frank--Thanks for the warning! I'll be sure to avoid your house this Halloween! :-) |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-10-9 2:24:05 PM |
| #8 Does anyone else smell al'Qaeda in these attacks? Spain has been rounding up al'Qaeda, including their media flackeys. That makes the Spanish ambassador a target for them. Then there's the car bomb -- shoot the guards and drive into the target? Sounds like the Kenyan(? I think) attack. Then there's the story from yesterday or the day before about the AQ guy arrested leaving Iraq. Possibly he was the coordinator/trainer, leaving the area before things got too hot? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-10-9 12:23:55 PM |
| #7 I have the same policy with Jehovah's Witnesses. Excellent policy. I just trained my dog too attack them. And Mormons after one found my house. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-10-9 11:47:02 AM |
| #6 Actually Murat, Speedy Gonzalez was a Mexican mouse, not Spanish. Not to mention a cartoon. |
| Posted by: Kelvin Zero 2003-10-9 11:15:50 AM |
| #5 Was he Spanish for sure? Normally these guys are pretty speedy Arriba! Arriba! Arriba! |
| Posted by: Murat 2003-10-9 10:17:15 AM |
| #4 We have a saying in California: after the really big earthquake hits, Jehovah's Witnesses will be the only ones alive, cuz they're standing in everyone's doorways |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-9 10:10:08 AM |
| #3 "I open fire through the door" I have the same policy with Jehovah's Witnesses. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-10-9 9:58:43 AM |
| #2 should've at least been armed - a muslim cleric comes to my door? I open fire through the door, just on G.P. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-9 9:19:26 AM |
| #1 More details, sounds like a kidnapping gone bad: The plague of postwar violence flared elsewhere in the capital as a Spanish military attache was shot to death after four men, one dressed as a Shiite Muslin cleric, knocked on his door at about 8 a.m., according to a Spanish diplomat in Baghdad who spoke on condition of anonymity. A school guard opposite the diplomat's home said the men tried to drag him out of his house. He escaped, tried to run away and was shot in the head. The diplomat died at the scene. The Spanish Foreign Ministry identified the dead man as Jose Antonio Bernal Gomez, an air force sergeant attached to Spain's National Intelligence Center. He was a sergeant, that explains why no bodyguard, not a high enough pay grade. Bastards. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-10-9 9:10:38 AM |