12 innocent men died today.

by Phil

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Wikileaks.org released Video today of 12 men being shot to death by an Apache helicopter on a Baghdad street.  The incident occurred on July 12, 2007.

I heard first about this from MSNBC.  They ran a 15:49 minute piece on the event.  They showed a bit of the original video and as they replayed the most horrible part over and over 4 noted speakers made comments and offered their thoughts.  MSNBC did not include 18 seconds of footage that gave the chopper fellow the belief in 'impending threat'.  They were the moments from 4:06 thru to 4:24.  

Below is something I noticed on the video that MSNBC did not cover.  From 4:06 to 4:24.

The video is 17 minutes and 47 seconds long.  At 4:11 the fellow on the radio sees what he believes to be a man crouching with an RPG behind the cover of a wall.   (An RPG is a rocket propelled grenade - worn over the shoulder - designed to blow up tanks and shoot down helicopters.)

However, it was only a photographer.  He was intending to be out of eye's view.  Maybe he thought the chopper was too loud, maybe he wanted to be near the group he was with - (they were all chatting and milling about right behind him).  Maybe any number of things.  But if I had to guess I would say it was just the reporter/photographer's natural instinct taking over. 

Wanting to capture the moment and be out of sight while he does it.  Catch a few pics of the chopper and continue on with his day.  

8 seconds later at 4:19 the photographer uses the the side of the building as cover to catch a few quick pics of the chopper.  But the chopper fellow sees a man shooting an RPG and reports such.    Earlier in the video the photography equipment was mistaken for AK-47's and weapons, and at 3:56 the chopper is given the go ahead to 'engage' (fire on them).  But for what it's worth the footage from 4:06 to 4:24 gave the chopper fellow the distinct feeling that they were being fired upon and I thought I would point that out.

And what happens after that is devastating.  Two journalists and ten civilians are killed.  How terrible.  My heart goes out to the men and women who are in the field working the toughest job ever.  The armed services.  These people are amazing.   

I am also impressed by war journalists.  Iraq is a very dangerous place for journalists: from 2003- 2009, 139 journalists were killed while doing their work.  These people are of great moral fiber.  Additionally, I am awed by the people who run "WikiLeaks.org" (and similar truth reporting news crews).

I never knew about Wikileaks.org.  Wow.  Keep up the good work.  And to all the loved ones affected.  I am sorry that this happened.  Finding a way to grow from this may seem hopeless, but if there is a way I hope we can find it. 

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Both of these links will take you to the 17:47 video.

http://wikileaks.org/

http://collateralmurder.com/

And if you want to see how MSNBC presented the news click below.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36182383/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/#36182090

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Phil