July 17, 2009

What's on tap – Friday, July 17, 2009

Posted: 06:00 AM ET

American Morning - amFIX
Filed under: What's On Tap

Indonesian counter-terrorist police commandos secure the damaged Ritz-Carlton hotel in Jakarta on July 17, 2009 after an explosion hit the Ritz-Carlton and nearby JW Marriot hotel. (Getty Images)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) - Bomb blasts tore through two luxury hotels Friday morning in Jakarta, Indonesia, killing at least nine people in what the country's president called a "terrorist" attack.

Officials said more than 50 people were injured in the explosions at the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels, which punched out the windows of a usually crowded restaurant and sent plumes of smoke into the sky.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the bombings as the work of extremists.

"I condemn this terrorist attack," Yudhoyono said. "I know they will never stop."

One hospital reported that there were 16 foreigners wounded in the blast, according to state-run Antara News Agency. The victims were from the United States, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, India, Australia and Britain.

Indonesia has been hit by several deadly bomb attacks targeting foreigners in recent years. More than 200 people were killed on the resort island of Bali in 2002 while 12 people were killed in a blast at the same Marriott hotel in Jakarta in 2003.

Those attacks were blamed on the Jemaah Islamiyah terror group, said to have links to al-Qaeda.

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michael armstrong sr.

July 17th, 2009 7:36 am ET

Heres another good reason to love America you dont have to play rusian rulett with your life when you take a vacation countrys overseas are a nice place to visit but are they a worth while risk .

Thomas

July 17th, 2009 7:58 am ET

I love AMFIX in the morning but this morning was even better in regard to GOD, GUNS and what Jesus would do with GUNS. I know Jesus said "GIVE THE OTHER CHEEK" I guess He didnt valued this life as much as gun owners do. I dont care if they want guns, they just have to leave God out of it. God create LIFE not destroy it SATAN DESTROY life. AMFIX YOU ROCK!

Philip J. Palin

July 17th, 2009 8:59 am ET

This morning John Roberts interviewed Alan Orlob, the Marriott International security chief, on the phone from Jakarta. In an otherwise helpful interview, Mr. Roberts said something akin to the attack indicating a "serious gap" in the hotels' security scheme.

Early reports from the attack site suggest, instead, that the attack required very careful, even intricate, planning and execution. Further, the early reports seem to suggest the attacks were limited in impact; much more limited, for example, than the early June attack on the Peshawar Pearl Continental. Rather than a serious gap, the early reports suggest to me a significant effort to exploit the sort of narrow seam that will always exist in any public place.

The real story here seems to be how even the very best security will not always prevent every attack. I am not sure this is widely understood, especially in the United States. It is a reality worth greater media attention. Jakarta could be - maybe should be - the news lead for this broader story that has very significant policy implications.

LILIAN OBILOR

July 17th, 2009 9:10 am ET

Until discrimination and segregation go away, affirmative action will continue to be a factor for considering other race and minority. Just because few minorities has been given a chance does not make it a case for eliminating affirmative action. Majority of women and minority are still not there yet
Eliminating affirmative action now is like eliminating minority to equal share of the American dream

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