The web site Wiki Leaks, run out of Scandinavia, has released a videotape of an American operation in Iraq in 2007 in which several people were killed by an Apache gun ship. It is entitled, "Collateral Murder". The theme of the video and narration is that troops carelessly attacked and killed some 25 people including two Reuters photographers. Fox News this morning has called into question the analysis of the tape and pointed out that the attack was justified. The Fox article is below:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/07/military-raises-questions-credibility-leaked-iraq-shooting-video/?test=latestnews
Here is the actual video. Pay close attention to the radio transmissions (also in captions).
As Fox News (Megyn Kelly) pointed out this morning, in the opening scenes, four men can be seen walking behind one of the photographers. The troops ascertain that they are carrying automatic weeapons, which can be seen (but ignored by Wiki Leaks). The transmissions also show that the troops reported their observations and requested authority to shoot, which was approved. After the initial attack, you can see a wounded suspect crawling on the sidewalk. The attackers, rather than immediately shoot at him, try to determine if he is carrying a weapon. Eventually, they request and receive authorization to take out the van that comes to rescue him. (It was later determined that there were two children in the van, who were removed to a hospital. Wiki Leaks even criticizes the decision of which hospital they were sent to.)
The intent of Wiki Leaks is to claim that the attack was wanton. They point out "casual" comments picked up from the transmissions to support their assertion.
Well, it is refreshing to see that someone far removed from Iraq is able to see through the fog of war and second guess the actions of these troops. While it is fairly certain that some innocent people were killed or injured, the troops correctly identified enemy fighters with automatic weapons gathered together on the street. Sadly, it happens in war, but if you pay attention to the transmissions, it is also clear the troops did everything they could to identify weapons before they were authorized to shoot. Is Wiki Leaks condemning them because one soldier was heard to comment, "Nice"? Isn't that what those on U-Boats used to say when they had struck and sunk an enemy ship?
Maybe this outfit should try and dig up old transmissions from World War II, when Americans were storming the beaches at Normandy or crossing the Rhine or bombing Berlin. What a scandal that would make.
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13 comments:
Firstly, it's well known that openly carrying firearms in Iraq is not an unusual sight. It's perfectly legal, too, from what I understand. So the fact that these men were carrying weapons was not even close to being enough to justify attacking them in such a manner.
Secondly, setting all of that aside and ignoring our own interpretations of the video, the more outrageous controversy is the cover-up and blatant lies that followed what took place. That's a major part of it that you're ignoring.
You also seem perfectly content to be spoon-fed whatever interpretation the spinsters at Fox News come up with, yet seem insulted that the WikiLeaks people have their own interpretation.
Guess what: the military can and does make mistakes! Shocking, I know, that they're not infallible as you seem to believe. The most outrageous part is the cover-up afterwards.
Anonymous,
I believe the weapons identified were AK 47 and grenade launcher if I'm not mistaken.
You call it a cover up. If I were investigating, based on what I saw, I would clear them too.
Glad you admitted that mistakes are made in war. Clearly, some innocent people were victims, but I think the attack was justified. You would prefer to think the worst of our military. I choose to support them (unless you're talking about a My Lai or something like that. I didn't support those soldiers when they happened.)
"Kind-hearted people might of course thing there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat an enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. Pleasant as that sounds, it is a fallacy that must be exposed: war is such a dangerous business that the mistakes which come from kindness are the very worst."
Carl Von Clausewitz, On War, nineteenth century.
There are no penalties for holding in war.
Again, you're ignoring the fact that the video shows that those in charge BLATANTLY LIED about the incident. (And then conveniently "lost" the video.) That's called a cover-up, not an investigation.
And there's a difference between support and blind support.
What's the lie? That the troops were in a legitimate combat operation against insurgents? Was that a lie? That no innocents were killed or injured deliberately-was that a lie? Key word "deliberately".
What do YOU think the military findings should have been? That the troops committed deliberate murder against innocent unarmed civilans? Is that what you believe? Or is it what you want to believe. Are you ignoring the transmissions about identifying weapons-AK 47s and grenade launchers? Are you ignoring the repeated requests for authoriztion to engage? What is it you want-the prosecution of these soldiers?
So they lied. Obama lied about being a law professor (His office and class was bought for him.), he lied about his associations with Ayers, Wright and Farahkan, and he lied when he said he was a friend to Israel.
So some Iraqis died. That happens in war. Get over it. It will happen again.
And post your name or at least a pseudonym. Not to do so reveals you to be a coward.
Findalis,
I usually note that the most obnoxious disagreers don't use their name.
Smart move.
Anonymous,
I do not think Gary is saying
what you are accusing him of
saying. It is quite clear
from watching and listening
to this that these soldiers
in question
asked repeatedly for
authorization to engage
after the weapons had
been identified.
As to Fox News, if you want
to talk spin lets talk about
PMSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS and we
spin this all day on both sides.
If Fox News is so horrible why
are their vieweing numbers
thrashing all others? I would
rather listen to Fox than the
other options any day. No, I
do not agree with all that Fox
News tells us.
Where is Gary saying the military
is infallible? He is saying
in his opinion, he agrees with
Fox on this. So do I. Tell us
a war that was fought without
civilian casualties? I did read
Gary saying there were innocent
victims, and that is sadly the
case of what happens in war.
These soldiers were justified
in their actions, especially
when so many in Iraq carry
weapons and can be an enemy
or not. What would have them
do, wait until these guys are
up close and personal in range
and conduct a
personal interview of
each person that may be
an enemy/terrorist?
I refuse to condemn these
guys and our military which
is so popular these days.
Cover up? Lets talk about
the cover up and lies
coming out of D.C. and
Obama? The sad thing is
he probably would
be right in lock
step with you, Anonymous.
Ready to line these
soldiers up against the
wall or put the hangmans
noose around their necks.
Gary, please CP to PC if
you have time.
Patriot,
Thanks for your support. It's sad that there are people out there who would take this tape and condemn our troops for the decision they made. This was no My Lai.
No, it was not. I am sickened
by those who villify our
military so callously and
without merit. It is pretty
clear what went down in this
fight. Maybe they 'covered
this up' becuase of the
reaction to it that some
will have like Anonymous.
Gary, this might be of interest: 'Exposing the WikiLeaks/Communist/Media Alliance'.
Thanks Donald. I urge readers to check out the attachment. It goes into much more detail of the incident as well as the motivations of Wiki Leaks.
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