12/17: Busted-up Afghan van - Page 2

Joe · 12-18-2001, 12:14 PM

The floor of the van is actually pushed UP in the supposed blast area. How does a bomb do that?

modernhamlet · 12-18-2001, 02:34 PM

VW Van.

I love Volkswagens!

peace,

mh

warch · 12-18-2001, 02:52 PM

Quote:

The floor of the van is actually pushed UP in the supposed blast area. How does a bomb do
that?

"up and to the left, (indicates with pointer) up and to the left." Thats one magic mortar.

I believe there is a second shooter.

MaggieL · 12-18-2001, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by warch

I believe there is a second shooter.

Two words: "grassy knoll"

russotto · 12-19-2001, 03:19 PM

I think among other things the van rolled onto the passenger side and was righted. Might have been a near miss, might have been a hit with a solid (nonexploding) object, might have been an ordinary collision.

Whit · 12-19-2001, 04:09 PM

So, does anyone still believe the mortar story? Just curious.

Griff · 12-19-2001, 06:18 PM

The press says magic mortar, I believe magic mortar. Say has that guy got a mustard stain...

Bitman · 12-19-2001, 07:50 PM

Given the cause of the wars over there, perhaps greasy knoll is more apt. But thing I'm most curious about is -- is that even his van? For some reason, I get the impression that someone else had the accident; then these guys found the van and drove it away.

Why else would they be lying about the damage? I mean, other than the fact that ramming into a concrete abutment and squishing your passenger can be rather embarrasing.

-B

Undertoad · 12-20-2001, 11:46 PM

I found a picture of the same van from the front.

MaggieL · 12-21-2001, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bitman

Why else would they be lying about the damage? I mean, other than the fact that ramming into a concrete abutment and squishing your passenger can be rather embarrasing.

Because it makes a much better story, and gets the news photog to give them more money for the shot. What preess agency is going to run a photo "van that Afghan guy ran into something" as opposed to "plucky afghan man gives thumbs up from his battle-damaged van"

Thanks to Tony for finding the second photo. The shredding of the passenger-side grille area looks a bit more like a mortar or RPG hit. Still nothing that looks scorched, though. I wonder if somebody was driving rapidly *away* from a mortar barrage and ran it into a rock overhang in the mountains? I know there's no moutains in the pic, but I saw film of a van crossing into Pakistan that we were told had plates on it from Mazar e Sharif.

Maybe thr roof work was done by "Omar's Sunroofs"?

russotto · 12-21-2001, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MaggieL

Because it makes a much better story, and gets the news photog to give them more money for the shot. What preess agency is going to run a photo "van that Afghan guy ran into something" as opposed to "plucky afghan man gives thumbs up from his battle-damaged van"

Could also be the news guy just made the story up himself.

12-18-2001, 12:14 PM	#16
Joe Master of the Domain Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: AZ Posts: 221	and one last thing... The floor of the van is actually pushed UP in the supposed blast area. How does a bomb do that?

12-18-2001, 02:34 PM	#17
modernhamlet Regulator of Squalor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 37	Looks like a... VW Van. I love Volkswagens! peace, mh

12-19-2001, 04:09 PM	#21
Whit Umm ... yeah. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 949	So, does anyone still believe the mortar story? Just curious. __________________ A friend will help you move. A true friend will help you move a body.

12-19-2001, 03:19 PM	#20
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	I think among other things the van rolled onto the passenger side and was righted. Might have been a near miss, might have been a hit with a solid (nonexploding) object, might have been an ordinary collision.

12-19-2001, 06:18 PM	#22
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	The press says magic mortar, I believe magic mortar. Say has that guy got a mustard stain...

12-19-2001, 07:50 PM	#23
Bitman cellar smellar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: californy, baby! Posts: 403	Given the cause of the wars over there, perhaps greasy knoll is more apt. But thing I'm most curious about is -- is that even his van? For some reason, I get the impression that someone else had the accident; then these guys found the van and drove it away. Why else would they be lying about the damage? I mean, other than the fact that ramming into a concrete abutment and squishing your passenger can be rather embarrasing. -B

12-20-2001, 11:46 PM	#24
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I found a picture of the same van from the front.

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