http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/6/massacre_caught_on_tape_us_military For our television audiences, some may find these images disturbing. This clip captures the moments leading up to when US forces first opened fire.
US SOLDIER 1: See all those people standing down there?
US SOLDIER 2: Stay firm. And open the courtyard.
US SOLDIER 1: Yeah, roger. I just estimate there’s probably about twenty of them. There’s one, yeah.
US SOLDIER 2: Oh, yeah.
US SOLDIER 1: I don’t know if that’s—
US SOLDIER 3: Hey Bushmaster element, Copperhead one-six.
US SOLDIER 2: That’s a weapon.
US SOLDIER 1: Yeah. Hotel two-six, Crazy Horse one-eight .
US SOLDIER 4: Copperhead one-six, Bushmaster six-Romeo. Roger.
US SOLDIER 1: Have individuals with weapons. Yep, he’s got a weapon, too. Hotel two-six, Crazy Horse one-eight. Have five to six individuals with AK-47s. Request permission to engage .
US SOLDIER 5: Roger that. We have no personnel east of our position. So you are free to engage. Over.
US SOLDIER 2: All right, we’ll be engaging.
US SOLDIER 1: Roger, go ahead. I’m gonna—I cant get ‘em now, because they’re behind that building.
US SOLDIER 3: Hey Bushmaster element, Copperhead one-six.
US SOLDIER 1: He’s got an RPG!
US SOLDIER 2: Alright, we got a guy with an RPG.
US SOLDIER 1: I’m gonna fire. OK.
US SOLDIER 2: No, hold on. Let’s come around.
US SOLDIER 1: Behind building right now from our point of view.
US SOLDIER 2: OK, we’re going to come around.
US SOLDIER 1: Hotel two-six, I have eyes on individual with RPG, getting ready to fire. We won’t—yeah, we got a guy shooting, and now he’s behind the building. God damn it!
US SOLDIER 5: Uh, negative. He was right in front of the Brad, about there, one o’clock. Haven’t seen anything since then.
US SOLDIER 2: Just
. Once you get on, just open up.
US SOLDIER 1: I am.
US SOLDIER 4: I see your element, got about four Humvees, out along this—
US SOLDIER 2: You’re clear.
US SOLDIER 1: Alright, firing.
US SOLDIER 4: Let me know when you’ve got them.
US SOLDIER 2: Let’s shoot. Light ‘em all up.
US SOLDIER 1: Come on, fire!
US SOLDIER 2: Keep shootin’. Keep shootin’. Keep shootin’. Keep shootin’.
US SOLDIER 6: Hotel, Bushmaster two-six, Bushmaster two-six, we need to move, time now!
US SOLDIER 2: Alright, we just engaged all eight individuals.