Collateral Murder
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Wed Apr 7, 2010 @ 12:40pm |
 Coolness: 107040 | Wikileaks Reveals Video Showing US Air Crew Shooting Down Iraqi Civilians
Footage of July 2007 attack made public as Pentagon identifies website as threat to national security Chris McGreal in Washington To watch video footage, follow link: [ www.commondreams.org ] A secret video showing US air crew falsely claiming to have encountered a firefight in Baghdad and then laughing at the dead after launching an air strike that killed a dozen people, including two Iraqis working for Reuters news agency, was revealed by Wikileaks today. The footage of the July 2007 attack was made public in a move that will further anger the Pentagon, which has drawn up a report identifying the whistleblower website as a threat to national security. The US defence department was embarrassed when that confidential report appeared on the Wikileaks site last month alongside a slew of military documents. The release of the video from Baghdad also comes shortly after the US military admitted that its special forces attempted to cover up the killings of three Afghan women in a raid in February by digging the bullets out of their bodies. The newly-released video of the Baghdad attacks was recorded on one of two Apache helicopters hunting for insurgents on 12 July 2007. Among the dead were a 22-year-old Reuters photographer, Namir Noor-Eldeen, and his driver, Saeed Chmagh, 40. The Pentagon blocked an attempt by Reuters to obtain the video through a freedom of information request. Wikileaks director Julian Assange said his organisation had to break through encryption by the military to view it. In the recording, the helicopter crews can be heard discussing the scene on the street below. One American claims to have spotted six people with AK-47s and one with a rocket-propelled grenade. It is unclear if some of the men are armed but Noor-Eldeen can be seen with a camera. Chmagh is talking on his mobile phone. One of the helicopter crew is then heard saying that one of the group is shooting. But the video shows there is no shooting or even pointing of weapons. The men are standing around, apparently unperturbed. The lead helicopter, using the moniker Crazyhorse, opens fire. "Hahaha. I hit 'em," shouts one of the American crew. Another responds a little later: "Oh yeah, look at those dead bastards." One of the men on the ground, believed to be Chmagh, is seen wounded and trying to crawl to safety. One of the helicopter crew is heard wishing for the man to reach for a gun, even though there is none visible nearby, so he has the pretext for opening fire: "All you gotta do is pick up a weapon." A van draws up next to the wounded man and Iraqis climb out. They are unarmed and start to carry the victim to the vehicle in what would appear to be an attempt to get him to hospital. One of the helicopters opens fire with armour-piercing shells. "Look at that. Right through the windshield," says one of the crew. Another responds with a laugh. Sitting behind the windscreen were two children who were wounded. After ground forces arrive and the children are discovered, the American air crew blame the Iraqis. "Well it's their fault for bringing kids in to a battle," says one. "That's right," says another. Initially the US military said that all the dead were insurgents. Then it claimed the helicopters reacted to an active firefight. Assange said that the video demonstrated that neither claim was true. "Why would anyone be so relaxed with two Apaches if someone was carrying an RPG and that person was an enemy of the United States?" he said. "The behaviour of the pilots is like a computer game. When Saeed is crawling, clearly unable to do anything, their response is: come on buddy, we want to kill you, just pick up a weapon ... It appears to be a desire to get a higher score, or a higher number of kills." Wikileaks says it will shortly release a second secret US military video showing the deaths of civilians in an attack in Afghanistan. The Pentagon has been seeking ways to prevent classified material appearing on Wikileaks, including through "criminal sanctions". Wikileaks has made public classified US army reports on weapons, military units and battle strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon report, reflecting the depth of paranoia about where Wikileaks is obtaining its material, speculates that the CIA may be responsible. But perhaps most embarrassing leak for the US defence department was that of the 2008 report itself which appeared on the Wikileaks site last month. © 2010 Guardian News and Media Limited // Fucking gruesome!! :( |
| I'm feeling insects right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» JojoBizarre replied on Wed Apr 7, 2010 @ 2:01pm |
 Coolness: 295900 | how can you think a camera is an rpg????
I mean I know they are stressed out there, but come one.... |
| I'm feeling upup and away right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Wed Apr 7, 2010 @ 2:35pm |
| Coolness: 107040 | I guess death and murder become an abstact notions when you are taking aim through a black and white screen. |
| I'm feeling insects right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Sparklz replied on Wed Apr 7, 2010 @ 2:48pm |
 Coolness: 114320 | Originally Posted By DATABOY
I guess death and murder become an abstact notions when you are taking aim through a black and white screen. I think you just hit the nail on the head with that statement. |
| I'm feeling kapow! right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Wed Apr 7, 2010 @ 3:51pm |
| Coolness: 107040 | More on the subject: [ www.commondreams.org ] |
| I'm feeling regenerate right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» cvxn replied on Thu Apr 8, 2010 @ 8:19am |
 Coolness: 179570 | spread the word and people will maybe realise the true face of war.
I posted it on my deviantart account, and some other guy did too: [ phoenix-06.deviantart.com ] has lots of interesting comments (131 to date lol, but from what I've read is no flame war, so fun to read) |
| I'm feeling / right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» basdini replied on Thu Apr 8, 2010 @ 9:54am |
 Coolness: 146125 | i think that this is just proof of what we all felt in our gut for a long time about the Iraq war and Afghanistan, that is, we are not there to bring peace, justice and democracy, we are there oppressing these people. This is BARBARISM of the worst kind. We must oppose it.
There isn't a lot we can do about the situation (we are already there) however, we have to get ready for the next round...and what i mean by that is that every thinking and feeling person with a conscience MUST oppose the upcoming war in Iran. Don't let people you know dick you around on this. When people you know start saying things like "well the Iranians have to prove that they aren't developing nuclear weapons. Or, there is gonna have to be air strikes." Don't let people get away with saying shit like that, remind them that the war in 03 against iraq was founded on lies (remember those WMD's? where exactly were those anyway?) War with Iran cannot be allowed to happen because war with Iran will not be like these little chicken shit wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, no it's gonna be much much much more serious. Iran is going to defend itself by striking at Israel and using terrorist actions in both Europe and North America. Call or send your MP a message, tell him or her that any MP who votes to join an American led action against Iran just signed his own pink slip, because any MP who takes us into war with Iran is not gonna be allowed to return to parliament when it comes time for re election. Tell him or her that this is a deal breaker, meaning, that any other things that he or she has voted on won't mean anything if they support a war with Iran. This isn't such a big deal here in Quebec because most of the MPs in Quebec get this (especially Bloc MPs), but tell your friends in Ontario, Alberta and BC thet they need to do this too... Stay frosty everyone... |
| I'm feeling surly right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Sun Apr 18, 2010 @ 12:13pm |
| Coolness: 107040 | AN OPEN LETTER OF RECONCILIATION & RESPONSIBILITY TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE
From Current and Former Members of the U.S. Military Peace be with you. To all of those who were injured or lost loved ones during the July 2007 Baghdad shootings depicted in the “Collateral Murder” Wikileaks video: We write to you, your family, and your community with awareness that our words and actions can never restore your losses. We are both soldiers who occupied your neighborhood for 14 months. Ethan McCord pulled your daughter and son from the van, and when doing so, saw the faces of his own children back home. Josh Stieber was in the same company but was not there that day, though he contributed to the your pain, and the pain of your community on many other occasions. There is no bringing back all that was lost. What we seek is to learn from our mistakes and do everything we can to tell others of our experiences and how the people of the United States need to realize we have done and are doing to you and the people of your country. We humbly ask you what we can do to begin to repair the damage we caused. We have been speaking to whoever will listen, telling them that what was shown in the Wikileaks video only begins to depict the suffering we have created. From our own experiences, and the experiences of other veterans we have talked to, we know that the acts depicted in this video are everyday occurrences of this war: this is the nature of how U.S.-led wars are carried out in this region. We acknowledge our part in the deaths and injuries of your loved ones as we tell Americans what we were trained to do and what we carried out in the name of "god and country". The soldier in the video said that your husband shouldn't have brought your children to battle, but we are acknowledging our responsibility for bringing the battle to your neighborhood, and to your family. We did unto you what we would not want done to us. More and more Americans are taking responsibility for what was done in our name. Though we have acted with cold hearts far too many times, we have not forgotten our actions towards you. Our heavy hearts still hold hope that we can restore inside our country the acknowledgment of your humanity, that we were taught to deny. Our government may ignore you, concerned more with its public image. It has also ignored many veterans who have returned physically injured or mentally troubled by what they saw and did in your country. But the time is long overdue that we say that the value of our nation's leaders no longer represent us. Our secretary of defense may say the U.S. won't lose its reputation over this, but we stand and say that our reputation's importance pales in comparison to our common humanity. We have asked our fellow veterans and service-members, as well as civilians both in the United States and abroad, to sign in support of this letter, and to offer their names as a testimony to our common humanity, to distance ourselves from the destructive policies of our nation's leaders, and to extend our hands to you. With such pain, friendship might be too much to ask. Please accept our apology, our sorrow, our care, and our dedication to change from the inside out. We are doing what we can to speak out against the wars and military policies responsible for what happened to you and your loved ones. Our hearts are open to hearing how we can take any steps to support you through the pain that we have caused. Solemnly and Sincerely, Josh Stieber, former specialist, U.S. Army Ethan McCord, former specialist, U.S. Army [ org2.democracyinaction.org ] [ www.commondreams.org ] |
| I'm feeling regenerate right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» cvxn replied on Sun Apr 18, 2010 @ 2:41pm |
| Coolness: 179570 | hmm... the thing is that it's only *after* they come back from war, that they feel sorry.
It's only after, when they're coping with PTSD and depression that they realise what they've done. I think they shouldn't have entered the military in the first place. Heck, military shouldn't even exist, only self-defense forces. No attacking other countries. It causes too much suffering, on both sides. I don't remember the exact numbers, but soldiers coming back from war have lots of mental illnesses and trauma. I think suicide rates are higher too. Question is: Why would you want to be a soldier if you know you'll be coming back broken? |
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| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Sun Apr 18, 2010 @ 4:30pm |
| Coolness: 107040 | Cus propaganda works.
I dont think you can know what war is realy like till you have experienced it first hand. |
| I'm feeling regenerate right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» DynV replied on Thu May 27, 2010 @ 5:25am |
 Coolness: 109730 | Originally Posted By AERIAL
Heck, military shouldn't even exist, only self-defense forces. No attacking other countries. The real war is: where is the war going to happen. US is on the offense because they'd much rather have the usual side-effects of war like civilian casualties and destroyed infrastructures in other countries rather than theirs ; do you think they'll contribute to the reconstruction proportion of their responsibility? |
| I'm feeling <3 sexi_babe_69 right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» MolocH replied on Thu May 27, 2010 @ 2:57pm |
 Coolness: 227200 | Originally Posted By AERIAL
hmm... the thing is that it's only *after* they come back from war, that they feel sorry. It's only after, when they're coping with PTSD and depression that they realise what they've done. I think they shouldn't have entered the military in the first place. Heck, military shouldn't even exist, only self-defense forces. No attacking other countries. It causes too much suffering, on both sides. I don't remember the exact numbers, but soldiers coming back from war have lots of mental illnesses and trauma. I think suicide rates are higher too. Question is: Why would you want to be a soldier if you know you'll be coming back broken? Well, if they raise attention on how they feel, it's technically a crime as per the MP to question orders, and make yourself detached from the views of the Brass. It's better to finish your tour, then go home and talk about what's actually happenned while you were on the field. That's actually a lot better than just bitching and spreading the info around while you're on duty, and get your ass court marshalled. Originally Posted By databoy
Cus propaganda works. Nutty conspiracists make me giggle. Originally Posted By databoy
I dont think you can know what war is realy like till you have experienced it first hand. Precicely. But one question remains, how can YOU know having never been there? |
| I'm feeling maladjusted right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Fri May 28, 2010 @ 10:32am |
| Coolness: 107040 | Originally Posted By MOLOCH
Precicely. But one question remains, how can YOU know having never been there? Nice try troll, You must spend a lot of time in army surplus stores ogling those bb guns, right? |
| I'm feeling regenerate right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» MolocH replied on Fri May 28, 2010 @ 2:45pm |
| Coolness: 227200 | Originally Posted By DATABOY
Nice try troll, You must spend a lot of time in army surplus stores ogling those bb guns, right? Yeah okay wtv dude. |
| I'm feeling maladjusted right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» DynV replied on Sat May 29, 2010 @ 11:09am |
| Coolness: 109730 | databoy, are you a philosopher or sociologist? if not, what make your opinion so much better than others? |
| I'm feeling <3 sexi_babe_69 right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Sat May 29, 2010 @ 6:58pm |
| Coolness: 107040 | Originally Posted By DYNV
databoy, are you a philosopher or sociologist? if not, what make your opinion so much better than others? I don't know, you tell me... Or are you trying to say that being a philosopher or a sociologist would validates my opinions? Is that what you need? You want to see my pedigree? okay, for what its worth I may not be a philosopher or a sociologist but... I'm a very curious 30 something guy of mixed heritage. I have a bachelor in arts and a certificate in sound reinforcements and recording. I have been working with radio hosts, journalists, anthropologists, sociologists, historians, scientists, economists, musicians, singers, actors, poets, philosophers, politicians and simple Jo's for CBC/Radio-Canada/RCI, for the past 11 years. I have traveled across Canada and the U.S. several times for work and pleasure. I've also been to Europe and central America a couple of times. I'm also a musician, been playing guitar for the past 28 years, the bass for the past 8 years percussion's for 5 and well computers and such for about 10 years. I have a girlfriend, 2 cats, an aquarium, and i like composing electronic music. I don't know if this short bio quenches your thirst for references but hey, I could have just said i was a philosopher or a sociologist... this is the net after all ;) peoples say all sorts of stuff. :) |
| I'm feeling regenerate right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» DynV replied on Sun May 30, 2010 @ 2:23am |
| Coolness: 109730 | Originally Posted By DATABOY
I don't know if this short bio quenches your thirst for references but hey, I could have just said i was a philosopher or a sociologist... this is the net after all ;) peoples say all sorts of stuff. Don't worry, it wouldn't have stopped there. Originally Posted By DATABOY
I have a bachelor in arts and a certificate in sound reinforcements and recording. I have been working with radio hosts, journalists, anthropologists, sociologists, historians, scientists, economists, musicians, singers, actors, poets, philosophers, politicians and simple Jo's for CBC/Radio-Canada/RCI, for the past 11 years. What was your main roles working with those important people? |
| I'm feeling <3 sexi_babe_69 right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Sun May 30, 2010 @ 6:42am |
| Coolness: 107040 | I record them, mix them and broadcast them. |
| I'm feeling regenerate right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» DynV replied on Sun May 30, 2010 @ 9:37pm |
| Coolness: 109730 | Originally Posted By DATABOY
I record them, mix them and broadcast them. again, after reading your pedigree and your replies: what make your opinion so much better than others? |
| I'm feeling <3 sexi_babe_69 right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» databoy replied on Sun May 30, 2010 @ 10:12pm |
| Coolness: 107040 | I dont know. Never said that it was.
Everyone's got an opinion and everyone's free to disagree |
| I'm feeling regenerate right now.. | |
Collateral Murder
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