Is NPR Flat-Out Lying about Helicopter/Flag Baghdad Story. Please Help

[DUreader]

I caught only part of this report this a.m.

Yesterday I read that cnn? aired video of someone reaching out of

a helicopter grabbing this banner or flag. I think NPR was reporting

it as a total accident. The part I heard was that the chopper was

trying to get close enough to photograph the flag (Like they don't

have telephoto/zoom cameras I guess?) and they had to get so close

they accidently hit or blew over a flag pole.

Anyway the help I need is that I cannot listen to the webradio link

and would appreciate if someone would listen and report back here.

link is at

www.npr.org on the top right(of course) side of the page

also here http://news.npr.org/ third story down which has a synopsis

here that sure seems to lie if I am correct about the existing video footage




Helicopter Mishap Spurs Tensions in Baghdad
Violence erupts in an area of Baghdad populated by poor Shia after a U.S.
helicopter flies into a religious banner. The incident shows how fragile relations
are between U.S. forces and downtrodden Iraqis. NPR's Anne Garrels reports.
Aug. 14, 2003
Expanded coverage



thank you if you can help or give this a kick

[GalleryGod]

1. I Saw the Film of the Chopper

I can't be sure if anyone "reached out" to tear it down-however the nearby blades did one heck of a job! Of course, then those ZANY ZEALTOTS :crazy: of Baghdad Opened Fire:tinfoilhat: on it!

They should've observed the "FREE SPEECH ZONE":shrug:

Yeah,RighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhT!:grr:

[DUreader]

2. Ok thanks for that, one duer said he/she saw an arm reach out and grab

I know NPR is a massive 'spin' but every so often they flat out lie

ie the harken SEC investigation

and when they do I like to call them on it, literally call them

with a phone that is.

[Brian Sweat]

3. The only think I can figure is that there was no wind

and the flag was just hanging on the poll making it impossible for the soldiers to get a picture. So they moved in closer hoping the prop wash would get the flag to move so they could get a picture or they were trying to stretch it out by hand.

On Edit: Regardless, this shows just how volatile things are over there. These are people that we are supposed to have good relationships with and they were that quick to start firing on us.

[catmandu57]

4. I just watched the video on headline news

it looked to me like they were trying to tear down a flag. The report continued while the sounds of gunshots were heard and the crowd scrambled. Later, there were iraqis back on the tower with new flags and a warning to the americans stay out of this neighborhood.

[Trajan]

5. I saw it ...

And it DID appear that someone was reaching out and grabbing that banner ....

What struck me most was that these flyers would put themselves into such close proximity to a superstructure (electrical tower ???) like that: ... helicopters are delicate mechanisms, and one should NOT take lightly the possibility of inadvertant contact with the structure .... There would have to be a VERY damned good reason to place the vehicle in such a proximity to that tower, and to risk the safety of fellow soldiers ....

Hopefully, it wasnt for a stinking picture .....

Then again .... If it was to tear the Muslim banner down .... then that is worse ....

Foolhardy either way ....

[lkinsale]

6. Incredibly dangerous

What the heck did that pilot think he/she was doing? For a flag??? For a picture???

I used to ride in helicopters with ex-Vietnam pilots turned mountain rescue, and they were fearless--they =would= offer to take you right up to a ledge and hop off. But they didn't like to get close to electrical stuff.

[Brian Sweat]

7. Power lines tend to sway around in the prop wash

It makes it difficult of a pilot to know how close is too close.

[DUreader]

8. Well, I hope Some Stills will be Posted on the Net

Hard to believe NPR didn't see this video or at least read about it

[frylock]

9. if they are poting it as an accident, they are lying..

I too saw that footage, and I'm of the opinion it was a deliberate attempt to tear the flag down.