Israeli Bus Bombing in Bulgaria; Netanyahu Blames Iran

[Admiral Piett]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for Wednesday’s deadly bombing of a bus in Bulgaria that was loaded with mostly Israeli teenagers.

Netanyahu vowed a swift and strong response for the blast that killed at least six people and injured 32 at an airport in the Black Sea beach town of Burgas.

“This is an Iranian terror attack that is spreading across the world,” said Netanyahu, citing a spate of recent attempts on Israeli lives, included a bombing in New Delhi, India, in February that wounded an Israeli diplomat and his wife.

“Israel will react strongly to Iran’s terror,” Netanyahu promised.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday’s bombing. Netanyahu did not provide any evidence to bolster his claim that Iran, who he has accused of seeking nuclear weapons, was at fault.

The 42 Israelis had just arrived in Bulgaria at 4:45 p.m. on a flight from Tel Aviv. They were boarding the bus to go to their hotels when the bomb went off, blowing out the windows and buckling the roof of the coach.

Four people were killed instantly and three died at area hospitals, officials said.

“We were at the entrance of the bus and in a few seconds we heard a huge boom,” said witness Gal Malka, who was slightly injured in the blast.
Malka said most of those aboard the carrier were teens. Bulgarian TV reported that the injured included an 11-year-old girl and two pregnant women.

It was not clear if the bomb had been planted on the bus and detonated remotely.

Oren Katz said he was on a adjacent bus with his wife and three children when a fireball erupted out the window and a plume of black smoke fill the sky.

“The moment we got on (the bus), we heard a very loud explosion,” Katz said. “It was the third bus next to us. Everyone started running in all directions. There was a big chaos.”

He said he and his wife grabbed their children and ran for cover.
“My oldest daughter is handicapped, so I decided to run back in order to pick up her wheelchair,” Katz told CNN.

“I noticed an unconscious woman laying next to me, very close to the burning bus. I picked her up together with another man, and we managed to drag her out of the fire that was about to catch her body in seconds,” Katz said. “I cannot forget the sight of body parts scattered around the bus.”

The bombing coincided with the 18th anniversary of an attack on a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.

Israeli officials had warned the Bulgarian government to be vigilant of terrorist targeting Israelis. Israel has been bracing for a strike from Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas bent on avenging the killing of one of its top leaders, Imad Mughniyah, in Damascus, Syria, in 2008. Israel has never admitted involvement in the assassination.

Hezbollah denied involvement in the Bulgarian bombing. A representative of the group told Lebanese media, “We will not seek revenge over the death of Imad Mughniyah by harming tourists.”

In a Twitter account, Susan Rice, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, described the attack as “an act of supreme cowardice.”

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Obama’s “thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and injured.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...#ixzz210pjqoKr







Several news commentators are claiming that the Israeli government is all but declaring war on Iran, despite the lack of any real evidence tying them to the crime as of yet. While hyperbole, are they right? Netanyahu has shown not to be a rational actor as a leader in certain circumstances prior. He went on to claim that this is a result of the targeting of Israeli citizens in several other countries across the globe and has gone so far as to call on Israelis not to go on vacation in countries like Bulgaria. Personally, I want to wait and see, but this event seems to carry some serious accusations that could lead to provocation.


UPDATE: Witnesses described men camouflaged in Egyptian fatigues. The death toll is now at 7.

[PointOfViewGun]

Several news commentators are claiming that the Israeli government is all but declaring war on Iran, despite the lack of any real evidence tying them to the crime as of yet. While hyperbole, are they right? Netanyahu has shown not to be rational actor as leader in certain circumstances prior. He went on to claim that this is a result of the targeting of Israeli citizens in several other countries across the globe and his go so far as to call on Israelis not to go on vacation in countries like Bulgaria. Personally, I want to wait and see, but this event seems to carry some serious accusations that could lead to provocation.

Haven't they been already attacking Iran for months know through cyber attacks to sabotage their nuclear program? I've never seen them deny it.

[Admiral Piett]

Well, tbf, cyberwarfare has not been seen as a provocation.

[PointOfViewGun]

Well, tbf, cyberwarfare has not been seen as a provocation.

Mostly because Iran can't really do much against Israel. Their scientists have been assassinated and their facilities are under cyber attack. Ironically, the Iranian scientists were killed by remote detonated bombs that is also named as the weapon in this case. Even if the reactors in Isfahan melt down and put 1.5 million population of the city in danger of contamination Iran couldn't really do much.

[John ''True Grit'' Wayne]

Well, tbf, cyberwarfare has not been seen as a provocation.

If i break your pc you will punch me on the nose.If i send a virus to your pc the cops arrest me.
This may be Iran or Egypt or Turkey or Hamas groups it could be anybody why is Bibi always getting a hard on to attack Iran.
Attacking a bus full of kids is cowardly.
Kids getting on a bus all excited to go on holidays in the summer and they get blown up

[Admiral Piett]

If i break your pc you will punch me on the nose.If i send a virus to your pc the cops arrest me.

If nations went by diplomacy on cyberwarfare we'd have bombed China 20 years ago.

This may be Iran or Egypt or Turkey or Hamas groups it could be anybody why is Bibi always getting a hard on to attack Iran.
Attacking a bus full of kids is cowardly.
Kids getting on a bus all excited to go on holidays in the summer and they get blown up

Netanyahu has a certain narrative to push in his foreign policy and he's just using this act as a way of taking some kind of action on it before anyone really knows who's responsible.

[Menelik_I]

Netanyahu has a certain narrative to push in his foreign policy and he's just using this act as a way of taking some kind of action on it before anyone really knows who's responsible.

Why are you ignoring the 2 main points I mad before, and still push the ''Insane Bibi narrative'' ?

1- There are have been previous Iranian terror plots recently, the one with witnesses and physical evidence was in Thailand.

2- Bibi might have privileged information about the attack He can't release publicly, informant and stuff, that He might have received from Mossad and Co.

You ignore these too facts and jump into the conclusions -ironies of ironies- that Bibi is jumping to conclusions.

Can you at least try to wrap your head around these 2 facts or is it too much to ask.

[mrmouth]

Obvious difference between targets?

[PointOfViewGun]

Obvious difference between targets?

I'm talking about de facto declaration of war...

However, tell me what happens when a nuclear reactor melts down.

[mrmouth]

I'm talking about de facto declaration of war...

Iran better get busy then. The list is long and there are plenty of teenagers to blowup.

[PointOfViewGun]

Iran better get busy then. The list is long and there are plenty of teenagers to blowup.

You're not gonna tell me what happens when a nuclear reactor melts down, won't you?

[mrmouth]

So now we are attacking nuclear reactors? We were never against them having nuclear power, just weapons. Different things - different targets.

[PointOfViewGun]

So now we are attacking nuclear reactors? We were never against them having nuclear power, just weapons. Different things - different targets.

Except Israel have been suspected of assassinating Iranian scientists and trying to sabotage Iranian nuclear reactors, not just weapons. I don't know who you're referring to as "we" but Israel doesn't want Iran to enrich Uranium even a little bit.

So, tell me. What happens when a nuclear reactor melts down?

[mrmouth]

Except Israel have been suspected of assassinating Iranian scientists and trying to sabotage Iranian nuclear reactors, not just weapons. I don't know who you're referring to as "we" but Israel doesn't want Iran to enrich Uranium even a little bit.

So, tell me. What happens when a nuclear reactor melts down?

Russia and th US tried to engineer a deal (with Israels understanding) where we would enrich uranium for them and provide them with cutting-edge Western nuclear reactor technology. That's history.

Israel and very likely the US and the Brits (MI6 just days ago admitted they are active), and possibly France and Germany, are attacking Iran's ability to enrich uranium to weapons grade. So it isn't just Israel. Every person or site targeted had to do with enrichment, not nuclear power. So this idea about a meltdown is just ridiculous. Nobody is going to target their reactor.


And of course this was Iran. Israel has been in Bulgaria for at least a month warning of attacks and the Bulgarian govt has just come out with a statement saying they had no particular warning from Mossad.

[PointOfViewGun]

Russia and th US tried to engineer a deal (with Israels understanding) where we would enrich uranium for them and provide them with cutting-edge Western nuclear reactor technology. That's history.

Israel and very likely the US and the Brits (MI6 just days ago admitted they are active), and possibly France and Germany, are attacking Iran's ability to enrich uranium to weapons grade. So it isn't just Israel. Every person or site targeted had to do with enrichment, not nuclear power. So this idea about a meltdown is just ridiculous. Nobody is going to target their reactor.

That deal you talked about, Iran accepted it.

The plant that was targeted was the one in Isfahan. It had nuclear material in it. That's what counts.

So, tell me, what happens when a nuclear reactor melts down?

And of course this was Iran. Israel has been in Bulgaria for at least a month warning of attacks and the Bulgarian govt has just come out with a statement saying they had no particular warning from Mossad.

Your claim and what comes next has no real connection.

[YukonTrooper]

So now we are attacking nuclear reactors? We were never against them having nuclear power, just weapons. Different things - different targets.

Well so far no one has proven they have nuclear weapons or even a nuclear weapons program, but in spite of that the Anglo-American-Israeli establishment has assassinated a lot of their nuclear scientists and sabotaged a lot of their nuclear facilities. While that same establishment may not be against Iran having nuclear power per se, they definitely are against Iranian scientific development, of which a peaceful nuclear program is integral. The West and especially Israel would like to maintain and expand their hegemonic influence in the region, a hegemony that's threatened by the self-determination of country of 80 million people.

And of course this was Iran. Israel has been in Bulgaria for at least a month warning of attacks and the Bulgarian govt has just come out with a statement saying they had no particular warning from Mossad.

Neither which of those things prove Iran had anything to do with the bombing. That's some gigantic leap of logic you made.

[mrmouth]

Neither which of those things prove Iran had anything to do with the bombing. That's some gigantic leap of logic you made.

Yes, 190-200 some-odd nations in the world and Israel just happens to be pressing Bulgaria about potential attacks on Israeli citizens in recent months, and then boom. Not to mention Bulgaria coming out and saying that Mossad did not give them any specific warnings about an attack, after the ing attack.

Come the on, man.

[YukonTrooper]

Yes, 190-200 some-odd nations in the world and Israel just happens to be pressing Bulgaria about potential attacks on Israeli citizens in recent months, and then boom.

Well now, that's quite the warning to Bulgaria, considering there's less than 200 countries on planet Earth (193-196, depending on how they're counted). In other words, what you're saying is the entire world, plus possible other countries that don't even exist (on the moon?), warned Bulgaria of imminent attacks. You'd think with that much intelligence on the matter the culprits would have been apprehended before they were even allowed anywhere near a bus, but apparently these assassins are of Hollywood caliber.

I expect a worldwide warning to be readily available on the internet, but the only warning I can find is one issued by the Israeli government in January. I'd ask you to provide a source, but between the absurdity of your claim and the fact that I can find nothing, I'm certain there's no need to even bother. Unless, of course, there's a Google search engine for your active imagination.

Not to mention Bulgaria coming out and saying that Mossad did not give them any specific warnings about an attack, after the ing attack.

Which is evidence of absolutely nothing.

Come the on, man.

I'm trying, dude, I really am.

Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked at all if Iran was behind the attack, but between Netanyahu's baseless accusation, your stunningly ridiculous and apparently false claims, and your illogical reasoning, I'm left extremely wanting for evidence.

[Tiberios]

Horrible. Hope they find the culprits.

I don't give a flying about whatever happens with Israel. They do not deserve to exist because their existence means extinction of indigenous people and continuous risk for peace in ME. You reap what you sow.

Nice to know that you don't care what happens to other human beings. Your logic is horrible really, as whatever Israel does, blowing up innocent civilians is not justifiable in any way.

I am almost sure that if anyone said the same when Pakistani civilians are killed in drone strikes or suicide bombs by the Taliban, you'd be outraged.

[NotYetRegistered]

This is disgusting.