The eight Americans who were killed in a blast set off by a suicide bomber at a military base in Afghanistan on Wednesday were CIA operatives, according to media reports.
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. The attack at the C.I.A. base, Forward Operating Base Chapman, in Khost Province appeared to be the single deadliest episode for the spy agency in the eight years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It also dealt a significant blow to the often insular, tight-knit organization, which has lost only 90 officers in the line of duty since its founding in 1947. U.S. military officials and diplomats confirmed the attack 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. They said the final number of dead could be higher because at least six American civilians were wounded. 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." - www.pakistanideology.com Nawaz -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Islam_Mail" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/islam_mail2005?hl=en.
