In 2003, a bomb hit the Marriott hotel in Jakarta. A number of poor Moslems were killed.
"Something interesting happened just hours before the explosion shocked the JW Marriott Hotel, Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta. The US Embassy cancelled the booking of 10-20 rooms in that hotel." -Prison Planet.com: Do You Have the Knowledge to Escape?
On 20 September 2008, at least 60 people were killed, and scores seriously injured, when, reportedly, an explosives laden truck was used against the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Car bomb attack in Islamabad leaves at least 60 people dead)
It was reported that several senior officers of the CIA were in Islamabad, on a visit, at the time of the explosion. (Islamabad blast)
According to Dawn, 21 September 2008, "Well-equipped security officers from the US embassy were seen on the spot soon after the explosions. However, they left the scene shortly afterwards." (Terror tears through capital)
Muhammad Azam, a Marriott security personal, told The Post that he was standing across the road when a big brown truck appeared. "I saw him (the truck driver) getting out of the truck, taking position and firing two rockets at the hotel." (Front & Back Page News Updates)
The explosion created a crater 25 ft deep and 30 ft wide, totally destroyed the road in front of the building. (1000 kg explosives used in Pak blast) .
The aim of the blasts seems to have been to kill ordinary Pakistanis, so as to make Pakistanis and World Opinion sympathetic to America's war on terror.
The bombers may not have intended to destroy the hotel. But, Gas lines running to the hotel’s kitchen exploded and started a fire that damaged about two thirds of the hotel. Police sources said the dead include three South Koreans, two Saudis and at least one American. (62 die as suicide bomber strikes Pakistani luxury hotel (Roundup)
Acording to Jason Burke at The Guardian, 20 September 2008, (Islamabad blast is a victory for no one):
"The attack at 8pm would have come just as hundreds were sitting or standing in the hotel's many function rooms for the communal iftar dinner – the breaking of the Ramadan month's fast.
"Almost all of those killed will be local Pakistanis...
"Strikes on such targets – such as in Amman, Jordan, in 2005 – drastically undercuts support for militants."
Some officials said the intended destination of the truck with the bomb might have been the prime minister’s house. The Marriott is one kilometer distant from Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s house where President Asif Ali Zardari, army chief General Ashfar Parvez Kayani and over 300 MPs were at an Iftar dinner. (62 die as suicide bomber strikes Pakistani luxury hotel (Roundup)
However, Kiyani has been trained in the USA. And Zardari is reportedly a friend of the neocons.
One report suggests that the American neocons toppled Mussharraf and put Zardari into power.
In the Guardian, 7 September 2008, Tariq Ali wrote that "a hardcore neocon faction led by Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to the Security Council, was busy advising Asif Zardari in secret and helping him plan the campaign to oust the general (Musharraf)." Asif Ali Zardari: the godfather as president
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