The Importance of Positive Target Identification

[CID1990]

I saw the video back when it came out on that wiki leaks website. I saw the guns and the RPG the first time. There is also a large bore (bigger than 80mm) mortar tube that the group conceals near the very start of the video. The second time I went back and watched was when I noticed the media guy. I remember thinking that it sure sucked to be him, but he picked the wrong crowd to run with.

It was a good shoot. If you don't want to be tagged as a combatant, then don't carry weapons out in the open. If you see guys like that, common sense in a war zone (where the other side has stand-off kill capability) is to stay clear of them because they will go pop eventually.

30mm cannon rounds are not a surgical instrument.

[houndawg]

Bradley is a traitor who should never see the light of day again.

As for the two reporters, I'm sure their mamas told them that they "are the company they keep." Hang out with the enemy and you are an accessory to the crime and you get a large dose of lead.

Sucks for them but the heroes in the chopper did absolutely nothing wrong...

Agreed. I hope Bradley spends many a year in Leavenworth. My ? is why did a PFC have access to classified film?

Ditto. As far as you could tell from the film, it was reasonable to assume that that van was driven by insurgents coming to pick up their fellow wounded & dead insurgents. How were the army pilots suppose to know there was a couple of kids in the van?

Some of the army personnel may have had a bit of a cowboy attitude, but they're in the middle of a combat zone dealing with the fog of war in which the enemy isn't wearing uniforms.

My question is why the film was classified at all. My money is paying for that clusterfck and there are no national security implications in the film.

An unfortunate happening, but that kind of stuff happens all the time in those situations. Sometimes we shoot our own troops by accident too.

[Chizzang]

Agreed. I hope Bradley spends many a year in Leavenworth. My ? is why did a PFC have access to classified film?

Ditto. As far as you could tell from the film, it was reasonable to assume that that van was driven by insurgents coming to pick up their fellow wounded & dead insurgents. How were the army pilots suppose to know there was a couple of kids in the van?

Some of the army personnel may have had a bit of a cowboy attitude, but they're in the middle of a combat zone dealing with the fog of war in which the enemy isn't wearing uniforms.

My question is why the film was classified at all. My money is paying for that clusterfck and there are no national security implications in the film.

An unfortunate happening, but that kind of stuff happens all the time in those situations. Sometimes we shoot our own troops by accident too.

Why is it classified...
1) Because it shows a minivan as the enemy vehicle
2) A few camera men and news crew as additional targets
3) A dead or seriously wounded little girl
4) 30MM rounds exploding all over in a neighborhood

I'll summarize:
Why are we spending 10 billion a month on that complete HORSE SH!T
It isn't exactly the kind of dignified war image we like portrayed while we're going broke over here

[BDKJMU]

I'll admit I was locked onto the two reporters the first time I watched and did not notice the guys with weapons. I'll assume the ROE gave the pilots the right to open up on them in the middle of a crowded neighborhood. I still take exception to the cavalier attitude. Just get the kill and move on. You're ending the lives of fellow humans and it's not something to be proud of or give high fives over.

They were still wrong to obliterate a casualty recovery vehicle. Certainly they didn't have the foresight to know they were killing or maiming innocent children, but then again, that's why you don't treat your job as a turkey shoot. If you're in it for medals and bodycounts, you're just a sick ****.

Thats because they were Army pilots and you were just ASSuming. Bet that wouldn't have been the case if they were Marine pilots.... Your initial post indictment was pretty ridiculous...

[93henfan]

I'll admit I was locked onto the two reporters the first time I watched and did not notice the guys with weapons. I'll assume the ROE gave the pilots the right to open up on them in the middle of a crowded neighborhood. I still take exception to the cavalier attitude. Just get the kill and move on. You're ending the lives of fellow humans and it's not something to be proud of or give high fives over.

They were still wrong to obliterate a casualty recovery vehicle. Certainly they didn't have the foresight to know they were killing or maiming innocent children, but then again, that's why you don't treat your job as a turkey shoot. If you're in it for medals and bodycounts, you're just a sick ****.

Thats because they were Army pilots and you were just ASSuming. Bet that wouldn't have been the case if they were Marine pilots.... Your initial post indictment was pretty ridiculous...

I guess you missed the post where I said I missed the weapons. Keep in mind, during my very first view, I'm watching an edited video with animated arrows pointing at the two reporters. Naturally, my eyes follow the arrows. Regarding, Army vs USMC, that really wouldn't make any difference to me. Marines have done a lot of incredibly stupid things in this war and others. The fact these pilots lit up a recovery vehicle with no credible threat evident still makes them douchebag supremes in my book.