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honeybee
Apr 1st, 2003, 03:51 AM
Apparently in a knee-jerk reaction to the suicide bombing attacks ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2904911.stm

Interesting piece here:


n Monday's shooting incident, soldiers opened fire at a vehicle that had reportedly ignored warnings to stop, killing seven women and children and wounding two. The four other occupants of the vehicle were unhurt, according to the Pentagon.

A Western journalist "embedded" with the US Army division involved in the incident gives a different version of events.

William Branigin of the Washington Post says the vehicle contained 15 people, of whom 10 were killed and two seriously injured.

He also reports that soldiers at the checkpoint failed to fire warning shots in time.

"You just [expletive] killed a family because you didn't fire a warning shot soon enough!" the paper quotes Captain Ronny Johnson as telling his platoon leader.

The platoon leader says he did fire warning shots, according to the paper.


In another unrelated incident, I just read this in the story on sacking Peter Arnett: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2903503.stm


His reporting of an allied bombing of a baby milk factory there in 1991 drew criticism from the US military, which said it was a biological weapons plant.


Of course, Iraq must be having huge caches of biological weapons :rolleyes:

.

NotLKH
Apr 1st, 2003, 06:21 AM
Originally posted by honeybee
...failed to fire warning shots in time.
...fire a warning shot soon enough
...he did fire warning shots


Not only did they fire warning shots, but the first thing they did was try to wave the vehicles driver to stop. Which he didn't.

Next they verbally shouted for him to stop. Which he didn't.

Then they fired warning shots into the air, while shouting for him to stop, Which he didn't.

[EDIT: I just heard that there were even signs in "arabic" {hopefully Iraq's written language} before the checkpoint warning drivers to pull over/EDIT]

So they stopped him. AND, they all have been ordered to shoot on sight everyone who refuses to stop at the checkpoint, due to the suicide attacks.

At least thats what I heard on an AP Radio News update yesterday.

As to wether they were fired "Soon Enough", how can we determine "Soon Enough"?

Also, why were warning shots necessary to begin with? Why didn't the driver pull over? He didn't notice the checkpoint, manned with soldiers, weapons, didn't notice the war?

Nobody knows what led the driver to ignore the checkpoint, but its a sad thing to have those people die due to his misjudgement.

-Lou

kleinma
Apr 1st, 2003, 07:08 AM
hmm if i had to guess who would post something like this... you betcha it was you... get a life already... all you have done for the past 6 months is post only and any negative material about the US.. and anything positive posted you barf all over with your speculation.... get your shlong out of Saddam :rolleyes:

BTW I woulda shot up that van too after knowing that 2 of my fellow soldiers were killed by a car bomb

kleinma
Apr 1st, 2003, 07:13 AM
Originally posted by honeybee

Interesting piece here:



In another unrelated incident, I just read this in the story on sacking Peter Arnett: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2903503.stm



hmm these are from that article


"I report the truth of what is happening here in Baghdad and will not apologise for it."


"I want to apologise to the American people for clearly making a misjudgement," he said.

plenderj
Apr 1st, 2003, 08:09 AM
Irrespective of who's right and who's wrong - the US is still killian civilians.
And its going to get harder and harder as the days go by to convince the Iraqi people that the US are there to help.

All in all a triple A orginizational ****up

kleinma
Apr 1st, 2003, 08:12 AM
Originally posted by plenderj
Irrespective of who's right and who's wrong - the US is still killian civilians.
And its going to get harder and harder as the days go by to convince the Iraqi people that the US are there to help.

All in all a triple A orginizational ****up

so you would not have done the same thing? you would have let the van drive past without stopping?

MerrionComputin
Apr 1st, 2003, 08:53 AM
Shortly after the coup d'etat in Cameroon we were stopped at a big queue for a checkpoint when a mercedes the other side of the checkpoint did a U-turn and made to speed off.
The vehicle was ripped apart by heavy calibre machine gun and the driver - I believe it was Janek Noah's father - was killed instantly.
The high profile of the victim meant that there was a full enquiry and they concluded that he had suffered a panic attack due to the extreme stress of the situation (people not being overly used to close proximity to large weapons) and that he was not responsible for his actions. The soldiers were cleared of any wrongdoing as well, as you would expect.
However the point is that the driver of the van was probably not in a clear state of mind when he ignored the signs and waving soldiers.

plenderj
Apr 1st, 2003, 08:55 AM
Originally posted by kleinma
so you would not have done the same thing? you would have let the van drive past without stopping?

Hey I'm not debating who should have done what.
I'm just saying, the US are going in there to a people that already pretty much so hate them; they're bombing their cities; they're killing their civilians etc.

The US is going to have a mighty hard time convincing the Iraqi people they're the good guys.

Xanith
Apr 1st, 2003, 09:12 AM
Originally posted by plenderj
Hey I'm not debating who should have done what.
I'm just saying, the US are going in there to a people that already pretty much so hate them; they're bombing their cities; they're killing their civilians etc.

The US is going to have a mighty hard time convincing the Iraqi people they're the good guys.
For the last time they are not targeting civilians they are targeting military targets. I think even the Iraqi's know this as people are still roaming around the cities and not hiding in bomb shelters when bombing is going on. Why can't you understand it?

X

plenderj
Apr 1st, 2003, 09:18 AM
Ya know that is a completely typical gung-ho pro-war attitude.
Did I say the americans are targetting civilians ?

I've never said they're targetting civilians.
I said that they're killing civilians. Not on purpose, but civilians are being killed.
And as the Iraqi people aren't entirely fond of the US anyway, all I'm saying is that I think the US is going to have a hard time convincing the Iraqi people that they're not their enemy.

Xanith
Apr 1st, 2003, 09:27 AM
Originally posted by plenderj
Ya know that is a completely typical gung-ho pro-war attitude.
Did I say the americans are targetting civilians ?

I've never said they're targetting civilians.
I said that they're killing civilians. Not on purpose, but civilians are being killed.
And as the Iraqi people aren't entirely fond of the US anyway, all I'm saying is that I think the US is going to have a hard time convincing the Iraqi people that they're not their enemy.
Considering the small number of civilian deaths in this war I think the Iraqi people will understand that the coalition is there for only one reason and that is to get rid of Saddam. While I agree that it will take some time before the Iraqi people trust the coalition forces but I do think after all is said and done and Saddam is gone and humanitarian aide delivered to the country people will begin to see past the obvious Anti-war propaganda that they have been brainwashed with.

Take the Kuwaiti people as an example. They are extremely pro-war and pro-coalition forces, as they themselves fully understand how brutal Saddam really is and how the same forces liberated their country (and didn't hang around to colonize or take their oil fields I might add). The Iraqi people will come around. I don't blame them for not being trusting of coalition forces, I wouldn’t either if all I had to listen to was Saddam's propaganda machine churning in my ear 24-7.

X

Xanith
Apr 1st, 2003, 09:30 AM
Also my point was that the Iraqi people seem to understand that the coalition forces are not targeting civilians because they are still walking the streets while bombing is going on. My point is that despite what the bias Arab media is telling them I think they understand that Saddam is the target and not them.

X

Memnoch1207
Apr 1st, 2003, 10:46 AM
I would have done the same thing. They knew they had to stop, and they didn't. What if it had been a suicide bomber? No one would be bitchin' about that! The fact is the soldiers didn't know who it was, civilians or a bomber, and they did what they had to do to survive.

Here is my take on the situation.

The republican guard or fedayeen saddam ordered the women and children into the van, and told them to drive to the checkpoint, they were told they had an RPG sited on the van, and if they stopped, they would blow the van up killing all of them. They drove, didn't stop, the soldiers opened fire...More Iraqi propoganda bull-**** about how coalition troops are targeting civilians. So, you tell me why would a van of women and children not stop for a checkpoint? WHy would they risk being killed? Why? because they knew they would die if they stopped, but if they didn't stop maybe the soldiers would see it was only women and children..7 of them died, 2 were injured and 4 were unharmed...we'll find out why they did it...and I bet it was because they were threatened into it.

MasterBlaster
Apr 1st, 2003, 01:09 PM
Originally posted by Memnoch1207

The republican guard or fedayeen saddam ordered the women and children into the van, and told them to drive to the checkpoint, they were told they had an RPG sited on the van, and if they stopped, they would blow the van up killing all of them. They drove, didn't stop, the soldiers opened fire...More Iraqi propoganda bull-**** about how coalition troops are targeting civilians. So, you tell me why would a van of women and children not stop for a checkpoint? WHy would they risk being killed? Why? because they knew they would die if they stopped, but if they didn't stop maybe the soldiers would see it was only women and children..7 of them died, 2 were injured and 4 were unharmed...we'll find out why they did it...and I bet it was because they were threatened into it.

Thats what I was figuring also.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by plenderj
..........
And as the Iraqi people aren't entirely fond of the US anyway, all I'm saying is that I think the US is going to have a hard time convincing the Iraqi people that they're not their enemy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

tell the Iraqi people the feeling is mutual.

nishantp
Apr 1st, 2003, 10:34 PM
Originally posted by Memnoch1207
I would have done the same thing. They knew they had to stop, and they didn't. What if it had been a suicide bomber? No one would be bitchin' about that! The fact is the soldiers didn't know who it was, civilians or a bomber, and they did what they had to do to survive.

Here is my take on the situation.

The republican guard or fedayeen saddam ordered the women and children into the van, and told them to drive to the checkpoint, they were told they had an RPG sited on the van, and if they stopped, they would blow the van up killing all of them. They drove, didn't stop, the soldiers opened fire...More Iraqi propoganda bull-**** about how coalition troops are targeting civilians. So, you tell me why would a van of women and children not stop for a checkpoint? WHy would they risk being killed? Why? because they knew they would die if they stopped, but if they didn't stop maybe the soldiers would see it was only women and children..7 of them died, 2 were injured and 4 were unharmed...we'll find out why they did it...and I bet it was because they were threatened into it.

I thought of the same thing. Only I think its more likely that they found a family, shot one of the kids, and told the father they would shoot the others if he didnt drive into the checkpoint.

Saddam has some great people working for him.:rolleyes:

Arc
Apr 1st, 2003, 10:38 PM
The deal with the Van was that it should have stopped. It didn't, therefore the Soldier shot at the PASSENGER side of the van to avoid hitting the driver, however, he did not know the whole back of the van was full of women and children. So don't act as though we purposely killed innocent people just cause they wouldn't stop.

Plus it has been speculated that the driver ran the check point on purpose so as to force the soldiers hand, knowing he would shoot and therefore create some more propaganda to help the Iraqi army.

nishantp
Apr 1st, 2003, 10:43 PM
No one is disputing that the soldiers in question did their job. Although one thing I am wondering is why he didn't shoot the van's tires...

He may not have been able to, but in any case, the driver of the van was either nuts or he was being coerced in some way.

plenderj
Apr 2nd, 2003, 02:39 AM
Or like earlier stated, he had a panic attack.
Anyway no-one's going to get the true story out of that lot.

The soldiers will always cover eachother's asses and it'll never be resolved.

plenderj
Apr 2nd, 2003, 02:47 AM
Originally posted by Memnoch1207
Here is my take on the situation.

So because the family were shot by US soldiers, it must be the republican guard's fault.
It must be Saddam's fault.

It could never be the soldiers' fault.
Jesus christ anything could have happened.
Absolutely anything.


At the end of the day the Americans are still killing civilians, and its going to be harder and harder for the iraqi people to trust the US.
Add to that the fact that the families might want to extract revenge and you could be fuelling a whole wave of terrorist attacks.

Maven
Apr 2nd, 2003, 03:02 AM
What if that van was packed with explosives and killed 7-10 soldiers... would have this thread been started?

The driver should have stoped, he was given warning shots but kept going. Quite frankly most soldiers would precieve that as a threat.

Arc
Apr 2nd, 2003, 03:57 AM
Hey Maven I just noticed yer from TN. I live in La Vergne, about 5 miles outta Nashville :)

plenderj
Apr 2nd, 2003, 04:19 AM
Originally posted by Maven
What if that van was packed with explosives and killed 7-10 soldiers... would have this thread been started?

The driver should have stoped, he was given warning shots but kept going. Quite frankly most soldiers would precieve that as a threat.

1) But it wasn't.
2) Yes he should have stopped. But the soldiers shouldn't have killed the family either.

Arc
Apr 2nd, 2003, 04:29 AM
Which part of, "He didn't know the back of the van was full of people" don't you understand? You act as if the soldiers did it on purpose.

And if your fellow soldiers had already been car bombed by a psycho islamic suicidle idiot 2 days earlier and you see a speeding van heading right for you, refusing to stop, what would you do?

plenderj
Apr 2nd, 2003, 04:33 AM
I would have laid a spike trap, get my men to get away from the checkpoint, and blow the tyres to pieces.


Actually it should have been UK troops manning the checkpoints.
They have far more experience than US troops.

FantastichenEin
Apr 2nd, 2003, 04:49 AM
It's easy to say what should or could have been done isn't it.

plenderj
Apr 2nd, 2003, 05:22 AM
The UK troops up the north have been dealing with terrorist attacks for decades.
They should have been manning the checkpoints - and they would have known how to handle the situation.

Its fairly obvious.
If you want a checkpoint, you make sure no-one can just go straight through it.
And you also provide cover for the soldiers manning the checkpoint.

venerable bede
Apr 2nd, 2003, 08:55 AM
Maybe America has taken a leaf out of Sadams book.

Maybe Americas taken a leaf out of the Koran.

honeybee
Apr 3rd, 2003, 03:07 AM
Originally posted by plenderj
Actually it should have been UK troops manning the checkpoints.
They have far more experience than US troops.

Hmm.... But the Americans have better weapons, you see :)

And what do the British get in return for their better ability? Friendly fire casualties. I heard about a particularly funny (in a rather sick way) incident where a British armoured vehicle was attacked by a US aircraft, the survivor later said the vehicle carried the British flag and could have been easily identified as one, but the American pilot decided to play cowboy...

As for speculations as to what someone would have done in the situation, I am sure the situation itself wouldn't have arisen if the US forces had not invaded Iraq :rolleyes:

There's a saying in English: Don't start something you can't finish.

.

honeybee
Apr 3rd, 2003, 06:08 AM
An interesting reader comment:


...but what we are getting here is a dose of propaganda war, particularly form the US media. This is evident when one view the coverage of saving a teenage coalition soldier against a family killed at a checkpoint by the coalition forces...loss of life is important. ...


Wonder why the US president didn't bother to come out with an apology about the checkpoint firing .....

.

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 09:33 AM
Nothing to apologize for

plenderj
Apr 3rd, 2003, 09:42 AM
Originally posted by run_GMoney
Nothing to apologize for

That is the very reason Americans are so hated.
You're doing such 'good' work, that any mistakes or casualties along the way are in the name of good and need not be apologized for :rolleyes:

Xanith
Apr 3rd, 2003, 09:50 AM
Originally posted by plenderj
That is the very reason Americans are so hated.
You're doing such 'good' work, that any mistakes or casualties along the way are in the name of good and need not be apologized for.
Its a war. Things like this happen in war. It’s tragic but unavoidable. You make it sound like the soldiers intentionally gunned down some innocent civilians. If they did your right the government should apologize, but not for this. Everything is being done to insure that innocents don’t die in Iraq. No one ever said civilians were not going to be killed, what was said is that every measure was being taken so it doesn't happen.

We are hated for a variety of reasons by many people. I can understand some of the reasoning; it sucks living in a country that used to mean something in the world only to have it dominated by another now. It sucks not having a voice in what happens in the world. It sucks being insignificant and small. No one likes the guy on top whoever that may be.

X

plenderj
Apr 3rd, 2003, 09:52 AM
You wouldn't be so hated if you didn't keep telling everyone how great your country was.
And yes it is war, but if you're trying to gain favour with a country that hates you anyway, the least you can do is apologize.

If the Iraqis shot an American family over there by accident there'd be a ****ing nuclear war.

Xanith
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:00 AM
Originally posted by plenderj
You wouldn't be so hated if you didn't keep telling everyone how great your country was.
And yes it is war, but if you're trying to gain favour with a country that hates you anyway, the least you can do is apologize.

If the Iraqis shot an American family over there by accident there'd be a ****ing nuclear war.
No one is saying how great it is only because it is pretty clear to everyone what country has the political, economic, and military power on the planet at this time.

I don’t think my president has to apologize for every tragic event that occurs in a war. IF that were done in WWII the president would be on TV 24-7 just apologizing.

And if military forces from Iraq landed in the US and started killing civilians on purpose then yes that would make me angry. However if they landed and were in control of an area and inadvertently shot some civilians that ran a check point I would likely say how stupid the driver was when all they had to do to stay alive was hit the brakes.

X

kleinma
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:04 AM
Originally posted by plenderj
If the Iraqis shot an American family over there by accident there'd be a ****ing nuclear war.

yeah your right.. us warmongers would launch nukes at iraq for killing an american family.

Xanith
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:05 AM
Originally posted by kleinma
yeah your right.. us warmongers would launch nukes at iraq for killing an american family.
Might as well take out Syria too while we are at it. They looked at us funny. :p

X

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:06 AM
It was kill or be killed, at that point. How can we distinguish between friend or foe when Sadaam is intentionally sending out civilians to confuse that very issue. If the Iraqi people can't, or won't understand that, then so be it. Everyone in their right mind knows why that van was shot at.

plenderj
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:10 AM
Originally posted by run_GMoney
It was kill or be killed, at that point. How can we distinguish between friend or foe when Sadaam is intentionally sending out civilians to confuse that very issue. If the Iraqi people can't, or won't understand that, then so be it. Everyone in their right mind knows why that van was shot at.

It still shouldn't have been shot.
You should learn a lesson from the British forces in Northern Ireland on how to setup a checkpoint.

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:15 AM
I'm sure the US military will be calling you anytime now for your proper checkpoint guidance. I wasn't aware that Ireland had a fool-proof checkpoint system designed for the exact same situation that we're in right now.

plenderj
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:17 AM
Norther Ireland has had, and still has, a large number of checkpoints.
And the British forces in the north have a lot of experience with dealing with the IRA and other paramilitary organizations.

That is exactly what the US is facing in Iraq.
People trying to smuggle weapons and get through checkpoints.

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:21 AM
Originally posted by plenderj
Norther Ireland has had, and still has, a large number of checkpoints.
And the British forces in the north have a lot of experience with dealing with the IRA and other paramilitary organizations.

That is exactly what the US is facing in Iraq.
People trying to smuggle weapons and get through checkpoints.

I don't think the IRA is faking surrender, using civilians as suicide bombers, or firing at US troops from a mosque. It's a different war over there.

plenderj
Apr 3rd, 2003, 10:24 AM
Originally posted by run_GMoney
I don't think the IRA is faking surrender, using civilians as suicide bombers, or firing at US troops from a mosque. It's a different war over there.

The IRA isn't faking surrender no.

The IRA uses civilians as proxy bombers to get bombs to locations and then detonate them.
They use civilians as much as possible so they have as little connection to things as possible.

The IRA assassinate people in their homes.


Its a different war yes, but the IRA are a paramility organization, and the US should learn from the UK troops.

honeybee
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:08 AM
Originally posted by Xanith
No one is saying how great it is only because it is pretty clear to everyone what country has the political, economic, and military power on the planet at this time.

I don’t think my president has to apologize for every tragic event that occurs in a war. IF that were done in WWII the president would be on TV 24-7 just apologizing.

And if military forces from Iraq landed in the US and started killing civilians on purpose then yes that would make me angry. However if they landed and were in control of an area and inadvertently shot some civilians that ran a check point I would likely say how stupid the driver was when all they had to do to stay alive was hit the brakes.

X

You are right. The people in the WTC buildings too were stupid because they didn't see the planes coming and didn't vacate the buildings. They are solely responsible for their own deaths. Doesn't matter if they were in their own country. Doesn't matter if they were minding their own business. Doesn't matter if none of them was personally against the forces which caused the disaster. They are still responsible for their own deaths.

How does it feel now? :)

Obviously it's not a significant incident for the US soldiers to murder a whole family just because they were shi tting in their pants over a previous suicide attack. It is much more heroic to rescue a teenager Private from a hospital, so heroic that it invites praise from the President. Of course I forgot that private was a US citizen, and the dead people are Iraqis. How stupid of me!

.

kleinma
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:09 AM
Originally posted by honeybee
You are right. The people in the WTC buildings too were stupid because they didn't see the planes coming and didn't vacate the buildings. They are solely responsible for their own deaths. Doesn't matter if they were in their own country. Doesn't matter if they were minding their own business. Doesn't matter if none of them was personally against the forces which caused the disaster. They are still responsible for their own deaths.

How does it feel now? :)

.

feels like ur an a$$hole... but we all knew that already..

besides your point is completly irrelivent to what he said in the first place.. it makes no sense what so ever

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:10 AM
You continue to astound me. How much warning were the people in the WTC given? If they were told before hand that some idiots were going to fly an airliner into the twin towers, I doubt many people would have stayed. I can't believe you would even try to make that comparison...oh wait...it's not surprising at all

honeybee
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:18 AM
Originally posted by run_GMoney
You continue to astound me. How much warning were the people in the WTC given? If they were told before hand that some idiots were going to fly an airliner into the twin towers, I doubt many people would have stayed. I can't believe you would even try to make that comparison...oh wait...it's not surprising at all

I don't see how it's not a comparison. The driver of that ill-fated vehicle probably was paranoid, couldn't hear the instructions because they were shouted in English, and probably didn't see the stop sign in time. Whatever is the case, the killing of that family is as horrible as the WTC disaster.




Yeah, maybe the fact that only around 15 people were killed, and they were not US citizens makes a huge difference. I have already accepted that slip earlier :)

.

kleinma
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:20 AM
Originally posted by honeybee
I don't see how it's not a comparison. The driver of that ill-fated vehicle probably was paranoid, couldn't hear the instructions because they were shouted in English, and probably didn't see the stop sign in time. Whatever is the case, the killing of that family is as horrible as the WTC disaster.


Yeah, maybe the fact that only around 15 people were killed, and they were not US citizens makes a huge difference. I have already accepted that slip earlier :)

.

i bet the warning shots were fired in english too.. yeah thats why they didn't stop... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

honeybee
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:26 AM
Originally posted by kleinma
i bet the warning shots were fired in english too.. yeah thats why they didn't stop... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

The driver may have panicked on hearing the shots, or he didn't even know why those shots were fired. Or had you trained him earlier to stop when he heard gunshots?

And because he didn't step on the brakes when the soldiers fired, it is perfectly just to spray them with heavy gunfire and kill them, right? :)

.

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:26 AM
What about the signs posted in Arabic? But again, this comparison is completely off. That van was more than likely sent by Sadaam as a propaganda message that we're killing civillians. This is a far more likely scenario than the driver being paranoid, missing the signs posted in Arabic, not hearing the troops shouting, and not hearing or noticing any warning shots.

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:28 AM
Originally posted by honeybee
The driver may have panicked on hearing the shots, or he didn't even know why those shots were fired. Or had you trained him earlier to stop when he heard gunshots?

And because he didn't step on the brakes when the soldiers fired, it is perfectly just to spray them with heavy gunfire and kill them, right? :)

.
No we should have just let them drive their suicide bomb into a troop of American soldiers.

Memnoch1207
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:28 AM
Here's the latest on the incident...apparently I was somewhat correct about why they did it.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030403-26484762.htm

kleinma
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:28 AM
Originally posted by honeybee
The driver may have panicked on hearing the shots, or he didn't even know why those shots were fired. Or had you trained him earlier to stop when he heard gunshots?

And because he didn't step on the brakes when the soldiers fired, it is perfectly just to spray them with heavy gunfire and kill them, right? :)

.


if, maybe, possibly, may have, should have, would have

that is all your posts are filled with... do you know what happened for a SOLID FACT? nope you dont.....

do I??? nope I don't either.. but who started this thread anyway?? i forget..

kleinma
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:30 AM
Originally posted by Memnoch1207
Here's the latest on the incident...apparently I was somewhat correct about why they did it.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030403-26484762.htm

ill respond to save honeybee some typing

"The US is just covering up so they won't be blamed for shooting women and children for no reason. The US is evil. HAIL SADDAM!!!!"

honeybee
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:31 AM
Originally posted by run_GMoney
What about the signs posted in Arabic? But again, this comparison is completely off. That van was more than likely sent by Sadaam as a propaganda message that we're killing civillians. This is a far more likely scenario than the driver being paranoid, missing the signs posted in Arabic, not hearing the troops shouting, and not hearing or noticing any warning shots.

Interestingly, there's no way to know exactly how many signs had been posted. I think there was only one sign in Arabic, because there's been no mention of "many signs". Then there's confusion about the warning shots too. One of the soldiers (I think a Captain) has used a lot of "expletives" to call the Platoon Commander who ordered a firing on the van about not being able to fire the warning shots in time, to which the commander has replied he fired them in time. So I think there's reason to believe the soldiers are not telling the complete truth either.

And even then, you certainly can't go about killing people that Saddam or whoever else sent you. Might as well wipe out the entire Iraqi population if you like :)

.

Memnoch1207
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:33 AM
Honeybee, read the story...It totally defeats any argument you had about this situation.

kleinma
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:35 AM
Originally posted by honeybee
Interestingly, there's no way to know exactly how many signs had been posted. I think there was only one sign in Arabic, because there's been no mention of "many signs". Then there's confusion about the warning shots too. One of the soldiers (I think a Captain) has used a lot of "expletives" to call the Platoon Commander who ordered a firing on the van about not being able to fire the warning shots in time, to which the commander has replied he fired them in time. So I think there's reason to believe the soldiers are not telling the complete truth either.

And even then, you certainly can't go about killing people that Saddam or whoever else sent you. Might as well wipe out the entire Iraqi population if you like :)
.

lol... you are running out of material to argue your case on...

but i am sure you are right.. i am sure no one curses in the military.. only when women and children are shot

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:36 AM
No you're absolutely right, next time we'll just let them drive the suicide bomb right into a troop of allied soldiers.

honeybee
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:36 AM
Originally posted by run_GMoney
No we should have just let them drive their suicide bomb into a troop of American soldiers.

Yeah, and where's that suicide bomb? :)


Kleinma, thanks for saving my typing troubles. However, we know for a fact that about 15 civilians were killed by the US soldiers without provocation or engagement. They were not suicide bombers. I doubt if they had anything other than their fists to fight the soldiers. Also most of the occupants were women and children. I don't need to know how it happened, just like people like you don't want to know why 9/11 happened. Your thick president destroys two countries because 9/11 happened, not caring to know why it happened. I don't expect you to do anything different in this case. Long live humanity! :)



By the way, I hope that when this war ends (if it does) there are enough Iraqis left to be ruled.



And do show some mercy to the British, would you :D

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Xanith
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:36 AM
Originally posted by honeybee
How stupid of me!

.
Well at least you got one fact correct in your post :)

X

run_GMoney
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:41 AM
Originally posted by honeybee
Yeah, and where's that suicide bomb? :)


Kleinma, thanks for saving my typing troubles. However, we know for a fact that about 15 civilians were killed by the US soldiers without provocation or engagement. They were not suicide bombers. I doubt if they had anything other than their fists to fight the soldiers. Also most of the occupants were women and children. I don't need to know how it happened, just like people like you don't want to know why 9/11 happened. Your thick president destroys two countries because 9/11 happened, not caring to know why it happened. I don't expect you to do anything different in this case. Long live humanity! :)



By the way, I hope that when this war ends (if it does) there are enough Iraqis left to be ruled.



And do show some mercy to the British, would you :D

.

Ok, I'm resorting to name calling. YOU MORON!!! If they knew whether or not there was a bomb in that van, we would not be in this situation. Without provocation? They drove through the *****ING CHECKPOINT!! QUIT MAKING THE GOD DAMN 9/11 CONNECTION!!!! They intentionally killed civillians for retalliation. We have intentionally killed NO CIVILLIANS!!! Why do you continue to expose yourself like this?

Xanith
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:41 AM
Hey HB why not post how upset you are at your government killing innocent civilians in Kashmir if your so concerned with the deaths of innocent people? Lets hear your outrage over that.

X

Xanith
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:45 AM
Originally posted by run_GMoney
Ok, I'm resorting to name calling. YOU MORON!!! If they knew whether or not there was a bomb in that van, we would not be in this situation. Without provocation? They drove through the *****ING CHECKPOINT!! QUIT MAKING THE GOD DAMN 9/11 CONNECTION!!!! They intentionally killed civillians for retalliation. We have intentionally killed NO CIVILLIANS!!! Why do you continue to expose yourself like this?
Because things called facts, logic, and reason do not exist in Honeybee-land. Only blind hatred applies. Don't even bother trying to reason with the unreasonable. It’s a futile attempt indeed.

X

Memnoch1207
Apr 3rd, 2003, 11:56 AM
Personally, I would like to hear what honeybee has to say on why the 9/11 attack happened.

I know Osama Bin Ladens stance on the western world...So, honeybee enlighten us and explain why 9/11 happened...And after you spew your propoganda, I'll tell you why it really happened and set the record straight.

Arc
Apr 3rd, 2003, 03:24 PM
Originally posted by honeybee
Hmm.... But the Americans have better weapons, you see :)

And what do the British get in return for their better ability? Friendly fire casualties. I heard about a particularly funny (in a rather sick way) incident where a British armoured vehicle was attacked by a US aircraft, the survivor later said the vehicle carried the British flag and could have been easily identified as one, but the American pilot decided to play cowboy...

As for speculations as to what someone would have done in the situation, I am sure the situation itself wouldn't have arisen if the US forces had not invaded Iraq :rolleyes:

There's a saying in English: Don't start something you can't finish.

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Yah i saw that story too, and i noticed how you conveniently left out the part where the British vehicle fired upon the American plane:rolleyes:

Arc
Apr 3rd, 2003, 03:30 PM
Originally posted by plenderj
You wouldn't be so hated if you didn't keep telling everyone how great your country was.
And yes it is war, but if you're trying to gain favour with a country that hates you anyway, the least you can do is apologize.

If the Iraqis shot an American family over there by accident there'd be a ****ing nuclear war.

Umm and exactly who would Bush be appologizing to? It's not like they would show it on Iraqi TV haha.

So he should appologize to all the other nations around the world who have access to the "real" news? Exactly what should he appologize for? Maybe he could pass on his condolences to the familys of the dead, but appologize? nah... The guy who drove the van thru the check point should appologize.. or rather the fedeyeen who forced him to do it.