Suicide bomber strikes Bagram during Cheney's visit

Cheney was symbolically targeted today as a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up outside the first of three checkpoints at Bagram air base. While the the VP was in no danger, it is among the most lethal suicide attacks recorded in Afghanistan, leaving up to 23 dead and 11 injured:

Watch the scene at base where bomb went off

Comments

[Michael]

This is an indictment on our intelligence capabilities in Afghanistan. The fact that we had no knowledge of a possible assasination attempt on the VP speaks volumes to our ability to effectively fight the remnants of the Taliban and a strengthened AQ.

[Phi]

This was to gain attention for the Taliban. Other attacks have been stopped in the last month and did not make the news. Having been to Bagram this was not an assasination attempt. It had no chance for succuss with the way it was carried out.

[Carl Robichaud, www.AfghanistanWatch.org]

I would agree--it had no chance of success, but was a powerful symbolic move. The million dollar question--and one I don't have an answer to--is whether and to what extent the Taliban has penetrated Afghanistan intelligence. They clearly knew the VP was coming.