Kabul Airport attacked, Italian embassy hit

[Sheerpile]

Expect it to be on the news later once they pick it up. Got it from an afghan guy.

you heard it here first

so, 45 minutes ago we're sitting in the living room watching tv, minding our own business and all of a sudden a rocket whistles over the house and there's a very loud crack. it hit the italian embassy about a block away. at this point, one person reported dead. two more attacks reported. one at the airport - multiple rockets, possibly artillary.

the isaf base next door just advised everybody over the loudspeaker to put helmets on.

[Dr Unne]

Is this even news any longer? If one day on the news someone said "There was no large-scale violence in the Middle East today", that might be news. It'd certainly surprise me.

[War Angel]

"There was no large-scale violence in the Middle East today"

There is no large scale conflict in the Midde East, currently.

[bennator]

And, Afghanistan is not really in the middle east.

Actually, I am suprised that this happened in Kabul. Although much of Afghanistan is still lawless (particularly the southeast) and violence occurs, Kabul was considered to be safe, and I don't think any large scale attacks had taken place there for quite some time (pushing a year or so).

[Dr Unne]

By "large-scale violence" I mean exploding a bomb in a public place, shooting missiles at buildings, etc. I mean "large-scale" as opposed to personal one-on-one violence, which probably exists in all places in the world at all times. But in my country you tend not to hear every day that someone just parked a car full of explosives in front of a government building, for example. Is it really still news to people in the Middle East?

So far as Afghanistan not being part of the Middle East, http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/me.htm Just an argument of semantics. Same conflict, same type of violence, same reasons (or lack thereof), so far as I can tell.

[Sheerpile]

By "large-scale violence" I mean exploding a bomb in a public place, shooting missiles at buildings, etc. I mean "large-scale" as opposed to personal one-on-one violence, which probably exists in all places in the world at all times. But in my country you tend not to hear every day that someone just parked a car full of explosives in front of a government building, for example. Is it really still news to people in the Middle East?

So far as Afghanistan not being part of the Middle East, http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/me.htm Just an argument of semantics. Same conflict, same type of violence, same reasons (or lack thereof), so far as I can tell.

Hi, the U.S. military protects the Kabul Airport, so certainly people maybe want to know if their loved ones have gotten hurt. It's news. Thanks.

[Garland]

I think the point was that it's hard to get affected by violence in the middle east anymore. Violence is the trademark of the Middle East, in a way. If you think of France, you think of the Eiffel Tower and pastries. If you think of America, you think of megacorporations and fast food. If you think of the Middle East, you think of terrorist bombings, oil, and religious war. Sad but true. I know I'm no longer suprised by such violence. Chances are, the violence will continue forever. If peace were an option, it would've happened centuries ago. Any effort to bring peace is probably a lost cause.

[Shadow Nexus]

If you think of America, you think of megacorporations and fast food.

Actually, I think of a strangely beautiful city called New York and teens with weapons. I guess it's best than megacorporations and fast food, cause you know, thats everywhere.

If you think of the Middle East, you think of terrorist bombings, oil, and religious war. Sad but true. I know I'm no longer suprised by such violence. Chances are, the violence will continue forever.

Dude, do you really think humanity will last forever?

[Garland]

Human existance defines forever. There is no existance when there are no humans to experience it. As far as I'm concerned, when I die, the universe dies with me. As long as humans exist, I imagine there will be religious violence in the Middle East. God apparently promised the same chunk of land to three uncompromising peoples. Nothing will get settled unless God comes down and makes a few clarifications. Untill then, it's up to the US to play God in that region.

[CloudSquallandZidane]

I must say i agree with Unne.

Now it would be news if they said

"Today the in the Middle East, Israel declared it would recognize the human rights of the Palestinians. In response HAMAS turned in their weapons to the Palestinian Aurthourity, and Israelis and Palestinians joined hands and sang the great classics "Why cant we be Friends", "Whats goin' on?-Marvin Gaye", and "Give peace a chance". Moved by this amazing turn of events Islamic militant groups all over the world promised to turn over a new leaf and embrace Non-Beilevers of Islam."

"Also in news today, President Bush and Vice Pres. Cheney, admitted to, stealing the 2000 election, and fabricating evidence for the war on Iraq, in order to get Haliburton the oil contract. When asked why they turned themselves in, they said the piles of money they had made, just didnt help them with the sleep they lost at night. Both Bush and Cheney are seeing a psychologist to cope with their night terrors, and have given all the money they made to the make-a-wish foundation."

[War Angel]

"Today the in the Middle East, Israel declared it would recognize the human rights of the Palestinians. In response HAMAS turned in their weapons to the Palestinian Aurthourity, and Israelis and Palestinians joined hands and sang the great classics "Why cant we be Friends", "Whats goin' on?-Marvin Gaye", and "Give peace a chance". Moved by this amazing turn of events Islamic militant groups all over the world promised to turn over a new leaf and embrace Non-Beilevers of Islam."

"Also in news today, President Bush and Vice Pres. Cheney, admitted to, stealing the 2000 election, and fabricating evidence for the war on Iraq, in order to get Haliburton the oil contract. When asked why they turned themselves in, they said the piles of money they had made, just didnt help them with the sleep they lost at night. Both Bush and Cheney are seeing a psychologist to cope with their night terrors, and have given all the money they made to the make-a-wish foundation."

"And in other news - Barney the Dinosaur has been arrested today for the murder of two-hunred and seventy-six children and elderly. His trial will begin tommorow, and he's likely to recieve the Meh Sentence."

[Black Mage]

I must say i agree with Unne.

"Also in news today, President Bush and Vice Pres. Cheney, admitted to, stealing the 2000 election, and fabricating evidence for the war on Iraq, in order to get Haliburton the oil contract. When asked why they turned themselves in, they said the piles of money they had made, just didnt help them with the sleep they lost at night. Both Bush and Cheney are seeing a psychologist to cope with their night terrors, and have given all the money they made to the make-a-wish foundation."

I hear there's a few job openings for the tabloids. I think you'd be perfect for the job.

[The Captain]

It's not so much that it isn't news, I think, as much as it's the fact that we've become numb to it. Sadly, it seems to happen every day and has become so commonplace that we no longer react as we would if something like this had happened elsewhere. The question is, how can we get over the numbness and find solutions?

Take care all.

[CloudSquallandZidane]

I hear there's a few job openings for the tabloids. I think you'd be perfect for the job.

Nah, Republicans would have me ousted, because they hate it when i tell them how Bush lied to the country, and how i was telling them the war wasnt justified to begin with, and how the CIA told Bush his claims were false to begin with. And well i wouldnt last there very long.

And u know what really gets'um when i remind them how Oil companies said how biased Cheney was toward giving Haliburton the Iraq Oil Contract, that they gave'up and with drew their applications. If thats not good evidence i dont know what is... Because just the idea of an oil company giving up on a chance to make big money, means it seriously wasnt gonna work out.

It's not so much that it isn't news, I think, as much as it's the fact that we've become numb to it. Sadly, it seems to happen every day and has become so commonplace that we no longer react as we would if something like this had happened elsewhere. The question is, how can we get over the numbness and find solutions?

-The Captain

Very wise.