U.S. strikes killed pro-U.S. Iraq fighters-officer (not insurgents, as US military claimed)

[Barrett808]

Source: Reuters

U.S. strikes killed pro-U.S. Iraq fighters-officer
By Maher Nazeh and Ross Colvin

BAGHDAD, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A group of gunmen killed in U.S. airstrikes in Iraq last week were pro-U.S. fighters, an American military officer said on Sunday, despite the military's public statements that they were insurgents.

The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said U.S. military officials had talked to Sunni Arab tribal sheikhs in Taji, just north of Baghdad, to express their regret for the loss of life in the attack, which took place last Tuesday.

"There was some confusion and we were not able to turn off the attack quickly enough," he said of the airstrikes that continued for several hours despite frantic phone calls from local tribal leaders to the U.S. base in Taji.

"We have talked to them and explained our sorrow over the incident and the loss of lives of volunteers trying to bring order to their neighbourhoods," the officer said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL843248.htm

[TwilightGardener]

1. That's a shame--I'll bet our troops involved in that feel awful. So hard

to know who's friendly and who you're fighting over there, I'll bet, and if you're mistaken about friend and foe, you could wind up dead yourself.

[UpInArms]

2. this clusterfuck just goes on and on and on and on

and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on

:(

[Robbien]

3. The military apologized?

Something is up. The military never apologizes for accidents.

[balantz]

4. Hey, let's pump streams of hot, searing lead projectiles

into fellow human beings and rip the life out of them because someone said it's the right thing to do to promote freedom and Democracy.

Oops! Those were good people like us.

That being said, I know the soldiers have it hard.

Bring them all home.

[ohio2007]

5. they have to learn how to communicate better when Iraqi's are stepping up

and calling in the strikes let alone cancelling strikes;

.....There was some confusion and we were not able to turn off the attack quickly enough," he said of the airstrikes that continued for several hours despite frantic phone calls from local tribal leaders to the U.S. base in Taji.

They not only need to improve the lines of communication but speed up the translations.

[scarface2004]

6. there was some confusion?!?!?!?!?!

so let's just go ahead and kill everything that moves!! our military is a bunch of assholes!!!

[TwilightGardener]

7. Our guys are doing their best under a bad policy over there--

this was a terrible mistake. They're not "assholes", they're kids doing a very difficult, confusing and dangerous job--a job WE (through our elected leaders) are still asking them to do. They're risking their lives and limbs--they don't need your shit flung at them too.

[ohio2007]

9. So you figure the GI's handing out candy to kids

that are missing arms,legs and family members the biggest assholes of all?

You prefer they fix bayonets and filet those kids instead? BBQ stomachs over an open napalm flame like the Taliban do?


eom
pos

[Xipe Totec]

8. This is why the insurgency has been quiet

when your enemy is self-destructing, do not get in the way.

[xchrom]

10. since when have things in iraqnam not been confused? nt