Wikileaks has obtained and decrypted this previously unreleased video footage from a US Apache helicopter in 2007. It shows Reuters journalist Namir Noor-Eldeen, driver Saeed Chmagh, and several others as the Apache shoots and kills them in a public square in Eastern Baghdad. They are apparently assumed to be insurgents. After the initial shooting, an unarmed group of adults and children in a minivan arrives on the scene and attempts to transport the wounded. They are fired upon as well. The official statement on this incident initially listed all adults as insurgents and claimed the US military did not know how the deaths ocurred. Wikileaks released this video with transcripts and a package of supporting documents on April 5th 2010 on http://collateralmurder.com
Wikileaks and Whistle-blowers from Brian Lehrer Live on Vimeo.
Perhaps he should do a little unbiased, independent investigation! The truth of the matter is always in the details. If you look closely at the video at least one person has an AK-47 and one person has an RPG. The two journalist who were killed were imbedded with the enemy and as such are complicit in whatever actions they took. They involved themselves in the action; the action doesn't stop because they are there. The Iraqi individuals killed were a group who had just previously been engaged in a fire fight with American troops just a couple blocks away. Did he really think American troops just fly around looking for people walking the streets. Come on, give me a break. The troops who were involved in the firefight called in air-support as they were pinned down. Air support followed all the rules of engagement, and were given the green light to fire on these Iraqi individuals. perhaps if your work friend had served in the military he'd understand how this stuff all works. instead, from a perspective far removed from the reality of the siutuation, he made a judgement based on biased reporting. Ignorance isn't really bliss, it's dangerous. Way to go...
ReplyDeleteYour blog just keeps getting better and better! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteHTBWS, we invaded their country! We don't belong there in the first place!!! They have a right to fight back against the invaders, just like you hopefully would fight back if we were invaded.
Iraq did not attack us.
Bring the troops home!!!
Jim T, that's not the point. The commentary is trying to show that we fired non-discriminately and unprovoked. That was not the case. That was my only point.
ReplyDeleteI am happy, however, that we took the initiative to oust a maniacal leader. I'm sure there are millions of Iraqi's who feel the same. Should we have sat by with our hands in the sand while Hitler was committing atrocities? Thank God we didn't. Someone had to stop Hussien, and we stepped up. Now we need someone with spine to stop Iran. That won't be Obama, but hopefully it might be Netanyahu. There's someone with leadership skills...
You need to look at the bigger picture my friends, not through a narrow prism...
given the green light to fire on these Iraqi individuals
ReplyDeleteGiven the green light by murderers, yes. So what?
While I thank you for your comments (sincerely) I'm tired of pro-state apologists who think they love liberty. Get rid of the contradictions in your thinking. "War IS the health of the State".