US forces fire on Iraq minibus, kill 4 - witnesses

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD - U.S. troops hunting a kidnapped American soldier opened fire on a minibus, killing four passengers, during a raid on a Shi'ite militia stronghold in Baghdad on Thursday, police and residents said.

The U.S. military said in a statement that Iraqi special forces and U.S. military advisers had detained five suspected members of a kidnap cell in the early morning operation in the sprawling slum of Sadr City in the east of the capital.

"A vehicle displaying hostile intent was identified as an immediate threat to Iraqi forces. Iraqi forces fired on the vehicle to neutralize the threat," the military said.

U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Garver told Reuters the minibus had ignored warning shots.

Police and residents said earlier that U.S. forces had fired the deadly shots.

Residents said the passengers were workers and not militants. The four dead were three young men and an older man, television pictures showed.

(more)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15861564

[Drum]

1. How coldly antiseptic is their language...

"A vehicle displaying hostile intent was identified as an immediate threat to Iraqi forces. Iraqi forces fired on the vehicle to neutralize the threat," the military said.

:cry:

[Barrett808]

3. Yes, military jargon has that sterile phraseology down cold. n/t

[otohara]

2. I Don't Get It

why are we there? We certainly aren't protecting these people, and troops are scared shitless they shoot to kill all those who may or may not be a threat.

[superconnected]

4. it's the soldiers aren't murderers lie, as they stand in the spilled blood.

But of course johnny and jane couldn't possibly be anyone back here in Amerikkka's kids. Must be someone elses' kids out killing. All the kids in the military from here are, "war heros".

[Opusnone]

5. I don't believe the soldier was "kidnapped"

I think he took off and is in hiding. He speaks the language and knows people in the country.

Look at the things Israel has been able to do recently in the name of one "kidnapped" soldier.