Wikileaks, the US Government, and the slaughter of civilians

[Asher]

to the good country doctor.

[Wiglaf]

I watched the video. It's pretty clear that what was identified as an RPG was just a camera. It was way too short to be an RPG. Two men might have been carrying RPGs, but the way they were traveling with the cameramen they were probably hired as protection. The entire group walks about casually, the guys with the guns don't react at all to the helicopter. Helicopters make a lot of noise, they'd have to have been aware of the presence of the choppers, but if they're insurgents they would have to treat it as an enemy. They don't, they ignore it. Probably becasue they're with Reuters cameramen and they think they won't be fired upon.

Bodyguards don't carry AK's openly because, presumably, they know that is illegal and would get them arrested or, more likely shot. And even if they heard the chopper (unlikely), it's not like they could see it right above their heads. Not since Stephen Hawking electro-*****ed about global warming has a doctor gotten more over his head than you just did.

[Kuciwalker]

I would pass what I'd seen on and suggest an alternate route.

So all the insurgency has to do to keep US convoys out of an area is have some guys hang out in a way that isn't necessarily threatening but is still worrisome enough that we wouldn't risk sending troops in?

[Asher]

So all the insurgency has to do to keep US convoys out of an area is have some guys hang out in a way that isn't necessarily threatening but is still worrisome enough that we wouldn't risk sending troops in?

You act like this is an absurd suggestion when the alternative is to "kill them all and let god sort them out".

[Drake Tungsten]

kill them all and let god sort them out

[Combat Ingrid]

I'm very happy the kids got shot. Should teach them not to hang around evil terrorists in a warzone

[HalfLotus]

From the second pic there, Asher, it's totally plausible that he's carrying an RPG.

Rules of engagement require positive identification (PID), not plausible.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

The helicopter crew screwed up. Under no circumstances should US air force or helicopter troops open fire until they're convinced it's British infantry that they're aiming at.

[Wezil]

Yeah, the Yanks have a very long history of not knowing who or what they are shooting at. This isn't at all surprising.

[Dinner]

Or Canadians.

[Wezil]

We have been victims of your cowboy mentality as well.

[Wezil]

It's actually the unspoken reason for our leaving Afghanistan. You guys are showing up in larger numbers (late as usual - another American trait) so it's time to get out before the carpet bombing begins.

[Patroklos]

The entire group walks about casually, the guys with the guns don't react at all to the helicopter. Helicopters make a lot of noise, they'd have to have been aware of the presence of the choppers, but if they're insurgents they would have to treat it as an enemy. They don't, they ignore it. Probably becasue they're with Reuters cameramen and they think they won't be fired upon.

If you watch the video there is a good bit of time between the audio of the weapon firing and the video of it hitting. I believe that autocannon has an effective range of 1.5 kilometers. Given that the insurgents may not have been aware they were being watched, and I doubt random helicopter noise is uncommon in Baghdad.

[Dinner]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is9sxRfU-ik

Whole 39 minute video.

[Heraclitus]

Americans are such pussies. Killing civilians only works if you kill lots of them. In the Middle East the easiest way to secure lasting peace would be to just kill everyone.

Genocide works, ask the Romans if the locals gave them anymore trouble after they slaughtered half and ensalved the rest.