US Mil re: air strike killing Iraqi citizens: "They chose to go into a house with civilians to hide"

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23266364.htm

BAGHDAD, Oct 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it killed 11 people in a helicopter attack on a group of men seen planting a roadside bomb north of Baghdad on Tuesday, but police and residents said the dead were farmers, women and children.

...

Major Peggy Kageleiry, the U.S. military spokeswoman in northern Iraq, said an Apache attack helicopter had spotted five men planting a roadside bomb near the city of Samarra, 100 km (60 miles) north of the Iraqi capital.

The helicopter had "engaged" the men and continued firing as they ran into a nearby house.

"They chose to go into a house with civilians to hide. They endangered folks on the ground by doing that. We send condolences to the families of those victims and we regret any loss of life," she said.

HOUSE DESTROYED

Police and residents of the village of Djila, however, gave a different account, saying the group of men attacked by the helicopter were three farmers who had left their homes at 4.30 a.m. (0130 GMT) to irrigate their fields.

[acmavm]

1. Whoa! I'm sure those condolences make it all better

[KansDem]

2. Haven't we heard this song and dance before?

I'm having a difficult time believing anything that comes out of the mouth of a "U.S. military spokesman/woman."

[YankmeCrankme]

3. Isn't it stunning that people think like that

Basically, if someone endangers someone else with their actions those endangered people don't deserve to live!

[Ezlivin]

4. Query: What if the "insurgents" had run into a stadium full of innocents?

Would the military then destroy the entire stadium in an effort to kill the insurgents?

When would a conscientious soldier turn aside his weapon because too many innocent civilians would get hurt?

[OwnedByFerrets]

6. As far as Im concerned, they are ALL

innocents. We invaded their country, we occupy their country. They want us out. We in Amerika would do the same were the tables turned. We are a country full of fucking hypocrites.

[MetaTrope]

5. One suspects those villagers are going to learn to plant something less organic now

[Bandit]

7. Chose to hide with civilians...They are all fucking civilians

Show me one dead Iraqi wearing a uniform. It seems the majority of Iraqis killed are women and children and every single one is a civilian. I wonder if our military is proud of itself....Occupation with Pacification at the point of a gun. All so fat white men can get richer and richer.. War Profiteering where mass murder is applauded..

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. "condolences..and regret" How moving.

No doubt said with all the sincerity that one tells the mother of an ugly child that her kid is cute.

[angstlessk]

9. Let's see a helicopter gunship is comming at me firing its guns

where in the fuck am I supposed to go?? into an open field with open arms to be killed outright or to some sort of shelter regardless of who is in it? WHICH ONE WOULD AN AMERICAN SOLDIER CHOSE? Certainly not an open field...survival is a very big motivator...If we are so fucking brave why do we send in helicopter gunships into areas we KNOW civilizans live?? If we americans are so brave it should be hand to hand combat!