OK was this an assassination attempt on Panetta?

[malaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/14/leon-panetta-suspected-attack-afghanistan
<snip>
Nato has ordered a security lockdown at its massive base in central Afghanistan after a car surged on to an airfield and burst into flames just as the US defence secretary landed for an official visit.

The incident happened as Leon Panetta touched down at Camp Bastion in Helmand province and prompted a security alert as investigators tried to establish whether he was the target of an attack.

A man was pulled from the burning car and is being treated at a hospital on the base. Sources said the vehicle was about 100m from Panetta's aircraft when it crashed, and that neither he nor any members of his entourage were in any danger.

However, the Nato-led International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) must now determine whether the driver, thought to be an Afghan, was involved in a failed terrorist plot. Though details are sketchy, the Pentagon confirmed the vehicle involved was a pickup truck that had been stolen from a soldier in a car-jacking shortly before it drove at speed on to the runway.
-------------------
Who knew that Panetta was about to land?

THE RWs at home would love such an attack. And so would several folks in Afghanistan.
Get out of Afghanistan now!!

[gratuitous]

1. Well, you know how much the people of Afghanistan hate us for our freedom

And they're a bloodthirsty lot, to boot. So it shouldn't be surprising at all that our best efforts over the last 10 years or more have failed to convince them of the futility of using violence to solve their problems. We may just have to stay in their little country for a few more years after all, lest we look like we're cutting and running just as we're about to turn the corner to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[99th_Monkey]

3. You forgot the :sarcasm: smilie. Here you can use one of mine.

[monmouth]

2. It surely appeared that way to me. BTW, read on Yahoo that rogue soldier is in US...n/t

[joeybee12]

4. They may have been trying to get anyone that was on the plane...

They might not have known Panetta was coming but out of retaliation for the village killings, they just wanted to get anyone.

[malaise]

5. I'm just glad they missed

We know there are lots of Afghan enemies but are there ideologically driven ReTHUGS among the troops at any level?

I hope the entire Obama administration is on top of all scenarios.

[Mopar151]

6. Does'nt take CIA to figure out it's a VIP's plane

And there are plenty of "targets of opprutunity" on the "ramp" of any busy airport - fuel trucks come to mind, especially if coupled up to a plane.

[CTyankee]

7. Yes, of course. It scared me to death.

good lord, what else could it be?

[arcane1]

8. Perhaps that's why the Marines were ordered to disarm for his speech:

(KABUL, Afghanistan) -- In a sign of possible frayed nerves in the military, U.S. Marines were asked to lay down their weapons on Wednesday before entering a tent where Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was scheduled to speak.


http://abcnewsradioonline.com/world-news/us-marines-in-afghanistan-ordered-to-disarm-before-panettas.html

[malaise]

9. I'm still tryng to figure out if the 'soldier' whose vehicle was

hijacked/stolen/whatever is American/NATO or Afghan.

I'm very nervous about this one.
Can you imagine what would be on air right now if Panetta had been killed today while Obama is hosting a state dinner with Cameron and selecting his basketball bracket.
Sometimes you earn your luck.