Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

August 29, 2008 10:52:55 CDT



Senators’ Plane Draws Iraqi Fire

Posted Aug 31, 07 10:25 AM CDT in US 

(Newser) – An airplane carrying three US senators and a congressman was fired upon by rockets as it left Baghdad last night, forcing the pilot to resort to evasive maneuvers to avoid being struck. Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby described the rocket attacks as “near misses,” CNN reports. “Our plane started maneuvering and changing directions and shaking all around,” the senator said.

Also on board were Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe and Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, as well as Alabama Rep. Bud Cramer. The southern VIPs saw flares fired by their military plane, used to confuse the censors on heat-seeking rockets. The congressman complimented the flight crew, and said the danger was “something that our men and women in combat face every day.”

Source CNN

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon
Senators Discuss Immigration Bill   (Getty Images)
U.S. Sen. Jim. Inhofe, R-Okla., speaks during a luncheon in Tulsa, Okla., Friday, April 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)   (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, DC - Sen. Richard Shelby   (KRT Photos)
Congressional Delegation Visits Bagram Air Base   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

Iraq   airplane   Mel Martinez   Richard Shelby   James Inhofe



Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other US Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »