U.S. airstrike on rebels reportedly kills civilians (at least 45)

[Danieljay]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17045824/

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. airstrike Thursday killed 13 insurgents in a volatile area west of Baghdad, the military said. Local officials said 45 civilians, including women and children, died in the attack.

Police and hospital officials in the area offered a conflicting account, saying the airstrike hit the village of Zaidan south of Abu Ghraib and flattened four houses, killing 45 people, including women, children and old people.

We sure know how to win the hearts and minds. Just take em. Those poor families. Those poor soldiers following orders. This has to end, NOW!

[ShortnFiery]

1. Oh no! Not our precision, pin point, oh boy, munitions.

:sarcasm: This is disgusting. Air strikes, by their very nature, lack preciseness. :(

[indepat]

6. But man, what a magnificent kill ratio can be racked up using sophisticated weaponry on third-world

people. :(

[bobthedrummer]

15. Federation of American Scientists Smart Weapons page

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/index.html


The OP link disappeared due to information war, likely related to the Internet attack earlier this week.

[Dhalgren]

2. Saddam was hung for bombing civilians...

[Kagemusha]

3. I think some relative of Saddam was making the same point yesterday.

Not that he'd be one to talk but...

[Dhalgren]

11. Yeah, I saw that. And his point was well taken.

The US thinks that for some reason when its soldiers kill innocent civilians, it can always be justified (except in some particularly heinous murders), but even when some one is brought to justice it is always only the lowest ranking grunts - never anyone with authority/responsibility. Even when we murder civilians, we're still the "good guys"....

[rodeodance]

4. just starying in for more of the same!

[youngdem]

5. Aren't all the rebels civilians ??

I mean, since Bushco says we are fighting illegal combatants with no flag, would that make them civilians (instead of soldiers)? What else is there? Unlawful combatants (ergo terrorists), I guess?

Or, as I see it, the vast majority of them are only doing what we would do if the tables were turned, so they are civilian freedom fighters.

I know I would do anything I could (to the death) to defend my country if we were invaded, and it wouldn't make me a terrorist or an insurgent.

George, here's a hint on how to know when you've done wrong...When EVERY option available to you sucks worse than the other.

By the way, according to Merriam-Webster, Bush is an insurgent.

2: one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party

Just sayin.

[Benhurst]

7. Anyone killed by one of our military/industrial complex's weapons

is by definition an enemy combatant, whether 1 week old or 100, male or female.

Bringing truth, justice and the American way to Iraq, one bullet at a time.

[democrank]

8. Have we won yet?

That`s what I want to know. Have we freakin won?????????????

[caligirl]

9. Destroying the country to win the battle. so Bush league.

[leftchick]

10. anyone living in Iraq is a civilian

the US has no legal justified targets there. The US is there illegally. The war crimes continue. :(

[Drum]

12. 3 or 4 to 1 seems like the ratio they're working with now....

And the idiots running this infernal war probably see that as an improvement.

x(

[M155Y_A1CH]

13. we're sorry...

but the link you posted cannot be found...

This story seems to have left the internet.

[Danieljay]

14. Holy media blackout, Batman! You're right, the story has changed...

I swear we are living in a scary time....

New story:

U.S. airstrike kills eight Kurdish troops
U.S. checking report of attack in northern Iraq; deaths of 3 GIs announced

[Supersedeas]

16. nothing to see here--if it were blue on blue it would take months to confirm

even with definitive video evidence