Tragedy Narrowly Averted

There was a failed attack against a military transport plane departing Baghdad, carrying several Members of Congress:

Sens. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and Rep. Robert E. “Bud” Cramer, D-Ala., were uninjured after their C-130 transport plane took evasive measures and dispatched flares to avoid the incoming fire.

Shelby recounted the incident in a conference call with reporters. “I saw the red glare of a shell or a missile coming up toward our plane,” he said, “Then I saw a flare pop out and our plane just started moving and changing directions and trying to move.”

Laura Henderson, a spokeswoman for Shelby, confirmed the details of the attack and said the aircraft landed safely in Amman, Jordan. Henderson did not know whether the attack was being considered as random or if a specific security breach might have compromised the members’ safety.

A successful attack would have, in an instant, changed the Senate and change the perception of the war in Iraq.