WikiLeaks "Collateral Murder" footage

[Gauntlet offline]

So, yeah. Hello, long time no see, etc.,

WikiLeaks revealed classified footage of the U.S. Military firing upon journalists. They mistook their cameras for AK-47s and an RPG. They were begging to unload rounds into them. When Good Samaritans (with two children) in a van pulled up to take the wounded, the Apache helicopters opened fire again. A tank actually ran over a reporter's body and prompted some laughter.

And somehow, the Apple iPad and Tigers Woods' return to golf is more important. CNN didn't mention the children, soldiers firing upon the van, many others things--and ultimately said they would not show the clip out of respect for the family. The soldiers were cleared of all charges.

Though the dust cloud and grainy film covers up most of the extreme details, it is graphic: Collateral Murder


Thoughts? Is anyone else shocked at how little coverage this is getting so far?

[penguin30 offline]

I heard about this on NPR this morning. Their report claimed that RPG rounds were found, but otherwise matches what you've said.

[TheLQ offline]

I know that this is bad but crap like this happens in the military. When your in a country where lots of people want you dead and your buddy just got killed that morning, then distinguishing between friend and foe can be hard. There are many instances where people have been fired upon by their own company just because they looked like someone else.

And with CNN not showing it, it probably is respect for the family and since this significantly shortens what they can say, they probably mentioned it along with all the other news and you missed it.

But that does suck. Hence why I'm not going anytime soon to a country where fighting in, no matter whats there.

[Rho offline]

[knifey offline]

Thoughts? Is anyone else shocked at how little coverage this is getting so far?

Not in the least. There are so many people who are opposed to our military involvement in foreign countries, yet the government keeps on going with it's military industrial complex, and all that jazz.

While I don't have any sources (though I bet I could find some if I looked hard enough) I'm sure there are horror stories like these everywhere that involves our military, but the don't get released because our government tries to keep these quiet. I remember someone mentioning in my current events class that there's a reason why we never see footage of US soldiers in Iraq getting killed.