Leaked video showing US helicopter shooting journalists and civilians

[Alcibiades]

I'm sorry, I was under the impression America had a professional army.

You know, meaning our soldiers should approach their jobs with full professionalism and seriousness, not act like cowboys raising hell through the old west.

But they did just that. What about them do you think was so unprofessional? The fact that they laughed at some point?

I'd say that the "please, please, let me blow up that van" doesn't quite come off right to general audience.

This wasn't meant for a general audience, I doubt everything you say you think twice about saying just because it could potentially be heard if something goes wrong.

These are for oversight, like it is being used for in the investigation.  This isn't intended for NBC nightly news and Al Jazeera.  As I said, these may be a bit of extreme comments, but  they're basically thinking out loud and not about how they are being monitored in case something is wrong.

[garbon]

I generally choose my words when I know I'm on tape/speaker.

[sbr]

I'm sorry, I was under the impression America had a professional army.

You know, meaning our soldiers should approach their jobs with full professionalism and seriousness, not act like cowboys raising hell through the old west.

But they did just that. What about them do you think was so unprofessional? The fact that they laughed at some point?

I didn't see anything funny about what they were doing. Would you not think it odd if paramedics laughed at your injuries while they took you to the hospital, or a policeman laughed at you while you told him how you came home to find your spouse murdered? War is a serious business, not some video game as these men seem to think. Where is the humor? Note I am not passing any judgment on what they did, just their conduct while doing it.

I think you would be rather surprised at the things that paramedics, cops, and such joke about on a rather regular basis, especially to each other when there is no expectation that anyone else will be listening.

And they weren't saying these things to anyone but themselves, so your analogies are Martyesque in their suckitude.

I went to court with an ex-girlfriend as a ride and moral support.  While sitting there we heard two lawyers joking about a child sex abuse case.  Once they realized someone had overheard them they quickly shut up and hurried off, they never acknowledged us though.  When you deal with something every single day it loses it's emotional impact, no matter how serious the situation may be to people to whom the situation is foreign.

[jimmy olsen]

look like a bunch of liberal gay hippies from San Francisco

Surely just laughing at the ludicrous nature of the statement?

[The Minsky Moment]

Whatever the findings, they will be labeled either a whitewash or a witch hunt.

Or both.

[garbon]

Surely just laughing at the ludicrous nature of the statement?

Alex just wanted to make sure we weren't thinking about those conservative gay hippies in SF.

[Razgovory]

I am sure now that this is leaked, there will be an investigation - however, I am pretty sure once it was clear a couple journos got themselves killed, there was already an investigation. I would like to know what the Army concluded from that, even if I am not sure it would be very good for the Army to release those findings.

The investigation is ongoing, I believe.  Whatever the findings, they will be labeled either a whitewash or a witch hunt.

I read it was already completed (the incident happened 3 years ago after all) and found the soldiers were acting in accordance to the rules of engagement.

[DGuller]

I generally choose my words when I know I'm on tape/speaker.

Same here, I'm always mindful of what I'm putting in the e-mail.  You never know when your recorded communication might be used in some kind of a legal proceeding, to be taken out of context or misinterpreted.

[DGuller]

But they didn't say that.

I'm paraphrasing, of course.  The actual quote is "Come on, let us shoot!" at 9:38, with the crosshair pointed at the van.  Could it be taken the wrong way by people not in the know?  Of course.  Does it sound bad to people not in the know?  Most definitely.

[Razgovory]

I generally choose my words when I know I'm on tape/speaker.

Same here, I'm always mindful of what I'm putting in the e-mail.  You never know when your recorded communication might be used in some kind of a legal proceeding, to be taken out of context or misinterpreted.

Yeah, but you're a Russian and that's second nature to you people.

[Alexandru H.]

Surely just laughing at the ludicrous nature of the statement?

Alex just wanted to make sure we weren't thinking about those conservative gay hippies in SF.

Please, I've watched "Milk". There is no mention of conservative gay hippies, just liberal gay hippies on the streets, in the public office, even in wheelchairs. At the end the hero triumphs and defeats the enemy by killing him, making America safe once more from the forces of evil.

[CountDeMoney]

Would you not think it odd if paramedics laughed at your injuries while they took you to the hospital, or a policeman laughed at you while you told him how you came home to find your spouse murdered?

Happens all the time.

Note I am not passing any judgment on what they did, just their conduct while doing it.

Fag.

[CountDeMoney]

Please, I've watched "Milk".

Which makes you as qualified as Marty to speak on faggit issues.  Carry on.

[grumbler]

Thing is, this wasn't a warzone during the invasion of Iraq. It's an ostensibly occupied city.

Not sure what you are saying here.  Are you saying that there is no war there, or that the war is not taking place in Baghdad?

I'm not saying the soldier's decision wasn't justified, especially as more info comes out about the circumstances, but let's not pretend these guys were walking in the middle of nowhere. The combat zone was where they lived.

The van had the brother, wife, and kids of one of the insurgents in it.  They had just seen their insurgent relative get gunned down during an op.  They would logically, of course, have considered that maybe exposing the kids to the same danger that had just taken out dad might not be a good idea, but they were also probably desperate to help get dad to a hospital (not knowing he was already dead).

So, the van rushes into the combat to try to rescue dad, and gets attacked.  Serving as an insurgent ambulance will sometimes have that result, especially as there are no Red Cross/Crescent markings (it being an entirely unofficial ambulance).  As far as the guys in the helo and on the ground knew, this could have been a suicide bomber's vehicle prepping for a run on the troops, or whatever.

Turns out, though, that the kids seem to have facotred into no one's considerations; not the US pilots, because they didn't know about them, and not their mom or uncle, because they seemed to be anxious to save the kids' dad without thinking about the dangers.

Life sucks for some people, for reasons beyond their control.  So it is with these kids.  There doesn't have to be anyone to blame.

[grumbler]

I'm paraphrasing, of course.  The actual quote is "Come on, let us shoot!" at 9:38, with the crosshair pointed at the van.  Could it be taken the wrong way by people not in the know?  Of course.  Does it sound bad to people not in the know who are looking for evidence to support a conclusion developed in the absence of evidence?  Most definitely.

FYP.  It "most definitely" sounds bad to people who want it to sound bad. You can identify those people because they "paraphrase" to make statements look as damning as possible, hoping that no one will point out that their paraphrase is dishonest.