Suicide Bomber Kills Eight U.S. Civilians at Military Base in Afghanistan, Canadian Journalist Michelle Lang, Four Others Killed by Roadside Bomb

An attack by a suicide bomber at a military base in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday reportedly killed eight Americans, believed to be CIA employees. Separately, four Canadian soldiers and Michelle Lang, a Canadian journalist were killed when a roadside bomb hit their armored vehicle in southern Afghanistan, Canada's defense ministry said.

The suicide bombing happened at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost province, Afghanistan. The senior U.S. official who spoke to CNN said information indicates the bomber walked into a gym facility at the base and detonated a suicide vest. It is believed six Americans were wounded in addition to the eight killed. It's not known how the bomber got past security.

A U.S. military source said that FOB Chapman was originally a base for the Khost Provincial Construction Team, but the team left some time ago. Authorities believe that perhaps the suicide bomber attacked just after a convoy was ending or beginning, which would account for high number of casualties. Source: CNN

I am trying to understand how this suicide bomber got into a military base, that is thought to be usually secure. This is such a tragedy and further proof that the military must get a good handle on this country or we will end up being overpowered by a bunch of radical fanatics.

Michelle Lang 34, is a journalist with the Calgary Herald. She was assigned to cover Canadian military efforts in Afghanistan for Canwest News Service. According to Canwest, she could have remained in the relatively safe confines of the base, but she wasn't wire that way. She wanted to get off the base and on the ground with the troops. Her death is the first of a Canadian journalist in Afghanistan. Canwest states that she had a great year, having captured the prestigious National Newspaper Award as the top beat writer in Canada. She also distinguished herself for daily health coverage in Calgary and did investigative work on Alberta's efforts to recruit doctors from South Africa. She was recently engaged to Michael Louie and the two were reportedly set to wed in the summer of 2010.