Leon Panetta In Afghanistan: Vehicle Explodes In Flames On Runway

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon says an Afghan drove an apparently stolen vehicle onto the ramp area of a British airfield in southern Afghanistan and into a ditch, where it exploded in flames, about the same time U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's aircraft was landing.

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. John Kirby, said no one in Panetta's party was injured.

Kirby said the vehicle, a pickup truck, drove at high speed onto the ramp where Panetta's plane was intended to stop. He said there was no immediate indication that the Afghan was attempting to attack Panetta's party, but the circumstances were still being pieced together.

Initial reports said no explosive devices were found in the vehicle or in a search of the driver.

Kirby said the driver was being treated for burn injuries.

Comments

[prncaragorn]

11:38 AM on 03/15/2012

With Panettas' military background coupled with commander-in-chiefs we might get to see wooden swords replacing M-16s soon. And the brilliant move of trading terrorist leaders for kidnapped soldiers will only cause more kidnapped soldiers. Negotiate with them?, handcuff 'em and take 'em away...the U.S. negotiators that is..

[prncaragorn]

11:27 AM on 03/15/2012

Panetta has become another shill for Obama, probably got the job with that promise anyway. Not surprised. He and Holder must put heads together before anti-American speeches. Disgusting.

[gibster1070]

10:56 AM on 03/15/2012

When does Obama apologize for this one?

[graywoof]

09:54 AM on 03/15/2012

In regards to Jayde1313's comment. Unfortunately I was assigned to assist the air farce in Afghanistan. I had found a 9mm in the head (latrine, toilet, etc), left by one of your elite officers. And rather than turn it in to his CO, I made the mistake of looking the person up and turned the weapon over to him. Several times there had been reports of "responsible" airmen misplacing and losing weapons. During one attack, with airforce personnel hunkered down in bunkers, several of us noted the careless mishandling of weapons and found several unattended weapons left in a hooch. My, and others, assessment of the airfarce, as a whole, is not very complimentary. I'll take one Marine to cover my backside over a dozen airmen.

[terry63]

03:36 PM on 03/15/2012

That happens. Unfortunatly. In every branch of the military. I sure that it happens more with the Airforce as many are not accustomed to handleing weapons. Thats not an insult as I would not purposely offend another branch. But I was Airforce in the early 80's as Security Police. The Airforce is more technical,than other feilds of service. I was later Army, that was all about knuckle dragging, weapons carrying, Enemy killing. Living with your rifle stuff.

[mrdailydigger]

07:19 AM on 03/15/2012

So some guy crashed a stolen car at the same time as a plane was landing at an airfield. This is news? What's next an Afghan drops a stolen wallet is interpreted as a signal of surrender from the Taliban?

[prncaragorn]

11:30 AM on 03/15/2012

Afgan sneezes, Taliban takes credit. Panetta shakes hands with controlled military personel who rather wouldn't, his warm-up to being traitor to their cause.

[frank1946]

04:07 AM on 03/15/2012

So now what ?

Can Panetta shoot ? M2 Qualified ?

How about a VIP Patrol for three days ?

Mr. Secretary, we need more $$$, Thanks !

[jayde1313]

02:12 AM on 03/15/2012

An Afghan drove the truck? Smart dog. Now if it was an Afghani that drove the truck, that's a different story. Hope he left his Afghan at home...

[ssf1183]

01:20 AM on 03/15/2012

So this "attempt" was the reason the Marines were ordered to leave their weapons outside the shelter where Panetta was speaking?

[jayde1313]

02:19 AM on 03/15/2012

In the Air Force, we didn't leave our weapons except in secure lock-up. We also did not give them to anybody unless that person was in our Chain-of-Command. A Marine E-9 learned the hard way, when he tried to take an M-16 from a Security Police A/1C, who propmtly broke the E-9's jaw, with the M-16, putting the Marine in the Army Hospital down the road.

[ssf1183]

10:33 AM on 03/15/2012

I'm sure that applies in ANT branch of the service. The thought of surrendering your weapon in a hostile environment wscapes me. Then I see it was Afgan troops. What the hell is Panetta doing speaking to Afgan troops? Does he speak their language?

[okie rider]

07:56 AM on 03/15/2012

the "afghanistan soldiers" were disarmed, according to the story.

[ssf1183]

10:39 AM on 03/15/2012

I saw that after rereading the article .... thank you. Brings up the question ... why was he speaking to them? An I'm sorry speech?

[ssf1183]

01:49 PM on 03/15/2012

Now they're saying was Marines who were ordered to leave their weapons outside. If you go to the chow hall you remove the magazine, clear the weapon and proceed. This story smells annd not like chow.

[KMAJ]

12:55 AM on 03/15/2012

Golly, more workplace violence there Mr. Panetta.

[shariatthe beach]

11:52 PM on 03/14/2012

Does Panetta have any military experience??

[ssf1183]

01:25 AM on 03/15/2012

Served three years in the Army, left as a Captain.

[cobry4949]

01:32 AM on 03/15/2012

In 1964, he joined the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant, where he served as an officer in Army Military Intelligence.[8] There he received the Army Commendation Medal, and was discharged in 1966 as a First Lieutenant. l

[jayde1313]

02:21 AM on 03/15/2012

No, we're talking military experience here, not what his MOS was as an Army Officer.

[shariatthe beach]

06:20 AM on 03/15/2012

Thank you for the info!

[reality4u2]

11:42 PM on 03/14/2012

Obama apologized for the destruction of the vehilce and offered to replace it with a Chvy Volt.

[gibster1070]

10:58 AM on 03/15/2012

Yep. With money we borrowed from China. Also offering a vehicle that is solar powered with engine by Solyndra.

[lbmx13]

09:48 PM on 03/15/2012

Gosh you guys are so cute - ASMTA = All Small Minds Think Alike

[prncaragorn]

11:33 AM on 03/15/2012

Was there a kuran in the vehicle?, Did it get burned?...Oh lordy lordy was that a lightning bolt from the heavens just before it ignited..?

[tekemsu]

11:25 PM on 03/14/2012

"Tons of money"? Really? Good thing you're not prone to exaggerations. Well, let's see he is Secretary of Defense for the USA. And, you find it questionable that a US Sec. Of Def. is visiting combat troops? Silly me. I thought that was part of his job description. Did you have the same complaint of Rumsfeld visiting Iraq? Could you explain specificially why he is a "slug" and how he "panders" and the "this aristocracy of a government"? Generalities are often not true. Could you enlighten the rest of us with the specifics of your truths?

[TomTheSeal]

10:49 PM on 03/14/2012

Why are we spending tons of good money to fly this slug halfway round the world and back to stand before our brave men and women and flap his mouth ? Leon Panetta is a slug that panders to this aristocracy of a government. He's worthless, but oh so very very expensive on our dime !

[victorzeller]

10:41 PM on 03/14/2012

Hot blonde, I would love to shake her hand and................................

[PPPELOSI]

10:40 PM on 03/14/2012

I wish the headline had said "Vehicle (preferably KIA) Drives Flaming Afghan Onto Runway" instead.