(Rep. Jim ) Marshall OK after accident in Iraq (convoy vehicle overturned)

[sabra]

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/13265278.htm

Marshall OK after accident in Iraq
Two congressmen injured when convoy vehicle overturns


A military vehicle carrying U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Macon, flipped on the way to the Baghdad, Iraq, airport Saturday, injuring two other members of Congress, said Marshall, who was not hurt.

Rep. Tim Murphy, of Pennsylvania, was airlifted to a military hospital in Germany for an MRI on his neck, Marshall said, while Rep. Ike Skelton, of Missouri, was being checked at a hospital in Baghdad.

In a phone interview from Baghdad, Marshall explained how dignitaries are shuttled in fast-moving convoys that often take up the middle of the road to deter oncoming motorists.

Shortly after dark Saturday, Marshall's vehicle encountered an oncoming truck that was not yielding to the convoy, he said.

[MaineDem]

1. All Democrats?

Hmmmm

:tinfoilhat:

Hope they're all well and safe.

[seriousstan]

8. Rep. Tim Murphy, of Pennsylvania is a Rep.

Information should be gathered before you invest in tinfoil.

[MaineDem]

34. I was asking if they were all Dems

I didn't know and knew someone would have the answer quicker than I could google.

Thanks for the information and the sarcasm.

[TankLV]

52. It's OK - that was my first thought, too.

Sad, isn't it, that it has come to this.

[still_one]

2. why would they have to shuttle them so quickly

isn't the place secure

[Missy M]

3. Perhaps these guys shouldn't be touring Iraq. What is with that,....

they all keep touring and for what purpose? I guess they want to see first hand the decimation of a country they all helped create.

[donsu]

5. maybe their pockets get filled with money every time the go to Iraq?

nt

[Divernan]

4. It was his SIXTH visit to the war zone! Color me cynical.

He's full of quotes about how he gets together with the troops from Georgia, and how great morale is, and how the Georgia troops have a safer assignment now - guarding perimeters - but how they're soldiers and want to be back where the action is. Sounds like this Dem Congressman is a military groupie/hawk and pro - war. Six visits in a couple of years? I think it secures his voters in red Georgia. Anyone from Georgia to tell me this guy believes Bush lied us into an illegal war? He sure doesn't sound like it from his quotes.

And if you read the whole article - which apparently very few DUers do, you will see this guy didn't even bother to fasten his seat belt, while riding in an unpadded metal box of a vehicle, with bolts sticking into the inside - even though he had made this high speed trip before and even commented that the high speed trips to the airport were more dangerous than the terrorists.

[Laelth]

47. Marshall is my congress critter

... and I'm not exactly proud of him, but at least he calls himself a democrat. I vote for him, for lack of a better alternative.

As far as I know, he stuck his neck out early and argued that the war was a good thing, top to bottom. I am embarrassed to say that he has been a big war booster all along. He hasn't spoken directly to the issue of whether * lied to get us to go to war. He acts like it doesn't matter because we're bringing peace, freedom, and democracy to Iraq. He probably knows, by now, that we're bringing neither peace, nor freedom, and barely democracy to Iraq, but he's so committed to staying the course, all he feels he can do is try to put on a happy face and ignore the obvious.

-Laelth

[AX10]

6. All three Democrats? How come this never happens...

when a group of Republicans go over there? :wtf:?

[seriousstan]

9. They were not "all three Dems." But don't let that stop the tinfoil.

[OKNancy]

7. kick

:kick:

[tuvor]

10. Two Congressmen injured after vehicle flips in Iraq

MACON, Ga. - A military vehicle carrying U.S. politicians overturned on the way to the Baghdad airport on Saturday and injured two members of Congress, said U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall.

Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pennsylvania, was airlifted to a military hospital in Germany for an MRI on his neck, Marshall told the Macon Telegraph. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Missouri, was sent to a Baghdad hospital, he said.

Marshall, a Georgia Democrat, said he was not hurt.

The congressional delegation was riding in a box-like vehicle that troops called the "ice cream truck" that streaked through the middle of the road to deter oncoming motorists, Marshall said.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/13269464.htm

[mzmolly]

11. I hope they recover quickly and that no one has serious injuries.

eom

[lebkuchen]

12. That's one of the most dangerous stretches of road in Iraq

outside the Triangle of Death.

How is Baghdad Hospital adequately able to treat Skelton when the hospital's resources are stretched beyond the surreal? Why wasn't he airlifted as well?

[MissMarple]

14. Does anyone know why we cannot secure that road?

I'm trusting our military enough to think if it can be done they could do it. But what about the road makes it so difficult to secure?

[lebkuchen]

16. Other than the fact that anyone can be driving on it loaded w/TNT

I don't know. But if a 10 mile stretch between Baghdad International and the Green Zone can't be secured, what does that say about Bush's ability to secure the rest of the country?

His generals had tried to warn him...

[tx_dem41]

13. I hope both (and anyone else involved) are going to be okay. n/t

[onehandle]

15. "box-like vehicle" "middle of the road to deter oncoming motorists"

Oh, yeah. Iraq is as safe as milk.

My guess is that pro-quagmire Bruce Willis overlooks "little details" like this.

[stlsaxman]

17. So they airlift the Republican...

and take the Democrat to the Bagdad hospital to die?

yeah right, who gives a piss about a Democrat anyways?

:sarcasm:

THAT really pisses me off!

[sandnsea]

18. Ike Skelton is barely a Democrat

And he's very old. It may have been better to stabilize him then put him through the trauma of an airlift. Or maybe he cut himself and just needed stitches. Being this cynical about every single thng is really no way to live.

[stlsaxman]

31. "Being this cynical about every single thng is really no way to live."

Every single thing, huh? I'm impressed that you take time to read every one of my posts to see how I react. Next time I need to know how to live, I'll check with you first! Thanks!

:bounce: - "yippee! God has finally found me worthy of His advice!!!"

[sandnsea]

45. Good do that

:) kidding

If the shoe doesn't fit...

This place can be incredibly negative. I don't quite know how some people manage to get out of bed in the morning, what with a CIA operative behind every tree and the FBI looking at you through secret cameras installed in your cell phone. And who knows what latest conspiracy theory. Like not lifeflighting somebody out of Baghdad because he's a Democrat. A journalist or peace activist maybe, but not Ike Skelton for chrissake.

[stlsaxman]

48. I heard on NPR that Skeltons injuries were similar to Jim Marshalls...

and that really made me wonder why Skelton wasn't on the flight, too. When someone reminded me of Ike's age it struck me that that was the primary reason.

See? I AM capable of rational thought (at times).

But as always, we must be careful- for the paranoids are chasing us!

:yoiks:

[sandnsea]

49. I'm so paranoid

I go for the rational thought first because I know that they really want me to think of the conspiracy so if I do that then I'll just be buying into what they want me to think and miss the obvious thing that was right in front of my face, like keeping Ike Skelton in a Baghdad hospital for a photo op...

the paranoids are coming, run run run!!!

[TankLV]

53. But it sure keeps us closer to the truth, ya gotta admit that.

Nobody has been proved wrong being cynical about all repukes, that's for sure.

[tx_dem41]

20. Marshall's injuries required an MRI which was only availabe

at a military hospital in Germany. Skelton's were probably less severe. Not everything is automatically a big conspiracy.

[stlsaxman]

30. Right- and not every life is automatically a big deal...

how hard would it have been to airlift them out together? Skelton wasn't important because he has a "D" after his name- even if it does stand for DINO.

[tx_dem41]

39. Maybe because he didn't need to be airlifted 3000 miles away?

That would seem quite silly to do wouldn't it if it wasn't required? You know...the Iraqis actually can practice medicine.

[Art_from_Ark]

50. Marshall was not injured

Murphy was the one airlifted to Germany.

[bemildred]

19. Things are getting better all the time.

Great progress is being made.
There is light at the end of the tunnel.
We have turned the corner.
Stability is just a hairs-breadth away now.

[donco6]

22. "Why don't they ever talk about the good things?"

That one always makes me grimace.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. LOL

I wish we could nominate individual posts. :yourock:

[TomInTib]

21. I have heard that many of these accidents occur because these

vehicles are driven much faster than they were designed to be driven.
Rollovers are quite common, unfortunately.

[BrotherBuzz]

26. Indeed, and compounded by the possibility...

that this 'Ice Cream' truck may be a local improvement on an already unstable platform with the addition of 'Hillbilly' armor.

[gulfcoastliberal]

44. It was probably the "rhino bus" - I've heard of this thing somewhere

The Rhino Runner™ is a custom, hand-made bus and minibus (shuttle) built from chassis up. All the driver and passenger cabins are built using our special materials and know-how. Passengers and drivers are protected on the top, bottom, and sides of the vehicle.

The current approach to an armoring solution for buses and minibuses (also SUVs and luxury cars) is to armor existing vehicles. The problem with armoring existing vehicles is obtaining a balance between protection and performance. Therefore, regular armored buses are only protected against low-level threats, and offer no protection on the roof and floor.

Labock's approach to this problem is unique. Instead of adapting armoring for an existing vehicle, Labock uses the most appropriate chassis and motors, and custom builds vehicles from chassis up, with protection against AP (armor piercing) bullets and provides significant bomb blast protection, however current IED threats are too varied for certification. The Rhino Runner™ is fully protected (sides, front, back, roof, floor, and even glass) against up to Type IV (NIJ standard) including NATO calibers.


http://www.labock.com/english/av_runner.htm



I bet that thing corners on rails!
:sarcasm:

[BrotherBuzz]

46. My, that's an improvement over the airport busses we used in Vietnam...

They just removed the glass windows and installed cyclone fence material over the openings to stop hand grenades from being tossed in.

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Ike Skelton is from my area

I don't always agree with him but I am sorry to hear he was hurt.

[stlsaxman]

32. Likewise, I hope he (and all 3) recovers quickly and return home-

hell, I want that for ALL the troops there, too.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. Is that Jerry Rubin?

Cool avatar.

[stlsaxman]

38. naw- that's Abbie Hoffman...

you were in the right ball park, though... "Yippies" and Chicago 7...

Jerry sold out, man! he freaked out and joined The Establishment, man!

but Abbie... yeah- Abbie was the shit. The closest that comes to Abbie these days is Marc Maron of AAR's Morning Sedition.

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. My first thought was Abbie

then I decided it looked more like Jerry.

[Inland]

25. Shocked to hear they drive US VIPs

I thought they were all helicoptered.

[izzie]

27. Why are they always on tour in that country? Waste of money

We know how they will vote and it will be party line. Can not buy vest but Congressmen can take trips. Crazy

[tuvor]

28. I thought such trips influenced Murtha's current opinon. n/t

[Gin]

29. will Murphy be re-elected when he runs again?

g

[MADem]

35. Ike Skelton is from the Murtha School of military support

His kid is USN (not a frontliner, mind you, he is a Public Affairs type who has benefitted in terms of billets and promotions from his daddy's position as ranking member on the HASC, but hey, at least he put on the uni and went). Ike is no damn spring chicken, either.

Jesus, what else can they fuck up????

[Gogi]

36. Ike Skelton had polio as a child and his arms are very weak because

of it, Marshall put his arms around him so he would'nt be thrown around.

[flyarm]

58. Ike is a wonderful man!!!

my hubby used to hunt with his brother and we helped him get elected the first time when we lived in missouri..he is a truely womderful man..and yes he does have a polio handicap...but a brilliant mind!!

i send my prayers to Ike and my kindest thoughts to his family...

fly

[daleo]

37. One wonders if these are really accidents

Or if Iraqi drivers ("insurgents" or not) are basically playing chicken with occupation vehicles. The story had no mention of what happened to the other vehicle. Was it shot up? Did it drive away? Was anyone questioned or arrested? That seems like an important detail.

The situation of the Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan the other day in a rollover was much the same - an Afghani vehicle basically forced them to swerve and tip over by coming straight at them.

[Penndems]

41. Two lawmakers injured in Iraq vehicle flip

MACON, Ga. -- A military vehicle carrying U.S. politicians overturned on the way to the Baghdad airport Saturday, injuring two congressmen, a fellow congressman traveling with them said.

Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Penn., was airlifted to a military hospital in Germany for an MRI on his neck, and Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., was sent to a Baghdad hospital, said U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall. Marshall, a Georgia Democrat, was in the vehicle but was not hurt.

The politicians were riding in a box-like vehicle in a convoy. The convoy was taking up the middle of the road, a common practice used by the military to deter oncoming motorists. Shortly after dark, an oncoming truck refused to yield, Marshall said.

"Then all of a sudden brakes get slammed on. Then we hit something and go off the side of the road and tip over," Marshall said.

Marshall said that as the vehicle toppled over, he held onto Skelton, who has limited use of his arms due to childhood polio.
**********************************************************************
Link:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Congressmen_Injured.html

[lovuian]

42. My prayers are with them all I hope they are safe Now they

know how unsafe it is over there!!!

[Penndems]

43. Prayers here, too

They're experiencing the terror and danger our troops are facing every second they're in country.

[Up2Late]

51. What the hell kind of Truck is the "Ice Cream Truck?" does it have...

...seatbelts? Sure doesn't sound like it. And didn't they just tell us that they had finally secured that road?

Here's the story from Knight Ridder/San Jose Mercury News

Posted on Sun, Nov. 27, 2005

Congressmen recovering after vehicle overturns in Iraq

BY PHILIP DINE

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

WASHINGTON - Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, was recovering Sunday in a German hospital following an accident in Iraq that injured him and another member of Congress late Saturday....

(clip)

...After visiting U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, Skelton and other members of Congress were on their way to Baghdad International Airport Saturday evening. Their vehicle overturned "when attempting to avoid a head-on collision with an unyielding and speeding tanker truck," American Embassy spokesman Elizabeth Colton said Sunday....

(clip)

...Also injured was Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., while Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., was unhurt. Skelton and Murphy were taken to the American Ibn Sina Hospital in Baghdad for observation and later flown to Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany for evaluation before being released to return to the United States, Colton said.

The Associated Press reported that the delegation was riding in a boxlike military vehicle that troops called the "ice cream truck," that streaked through the middle of the road to deter oncoming motorists. But shortly after dark, when the truck refused to yield, Marshall said that "all of a sudden brakes got slammed on. Then we hit something and go off the side of the road and tip over." Marshall said that as the vehicle toppled over, he held on to Skelton, who has limited use of his arms because of childhood polio. "Everybody sort of fell over to the side," Marshall said. "There's no cushion to it. It's all solid metal with bolts sticking out."

<http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13270486.htm>
(more at link above)

[UpInArms]

54. Two Congressmen (Murphy - R(PA) Skelton - D(MO) Hurt in Iraq Vehicle Flip

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1350717

BAGHDAD, Iraq Nov 27, 2005 — A military vehicle carrying three congressmen overturned on the way to the Baghdad airport, injuring two of them, the U.S. Embassy said Sunday.

Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., was airlifted to a military hospital in Germany for an MRI on his neck, and Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., was sent to a Baghdad hospital for evaluation, said Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., who was also in the vehicle but was not hurt when it overturned Saturday.

<snip>

The politicians were riding in a convoy that was driving in the middle of the road, a common practice used by the military in Iraq to deter oncoming motorists. Shortly after dark, an oncoming tanker truck refused to yield, the embassy said.

"Then all of a sudden brakes get slammed on. Then we hit something and go off the side of the road and tip over," Marshall told The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph by phone from Baghdad.

...more...

[goclark]

55. Very strange --- it is so safe there too sarcasm

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

56. Yeah and the equipment we give our troops is

top notch stuff too!

You can bet that those humvees were the best they had... if there had just been GI's in there they'd be dead.

[Voltaire99]

57. Rich in irony...

"Shortly after dark, an oncoming tanker truck refused to yield, the embassy said."

What a fitting metaphor for this war; oil yields for no one.

[mmonk]

59. May they all return safely from

free and democratic Iraq.