US air strike kills six in Iraq (allied Awakening members at checkpoint)

[Barrett808]

Source: AFP

SAMARRA, Iraq (AFP) - An air strike by a US Apache helicopter near the central Iraq city of Samarra on Saturday killed six Iraqis and wounded two, an anti-Qaeda leader and the American military said.

Abu Faruq, leader of an anti-Qaeda "Awakening" front in Samarra, said those killed were members of his group who had been manning a checkpoint when they came under attack.

The US military, however, said the assault had been launched after five people "were spotted conducting suspicious terrorist activity" in an area known for roadside bomb attacks near Samarra, 125 kilometres (80 miles) north of Baghdad.

...

Abu Faruq insisted that the victims had all been Awakening members who had been wearing reflective vests -- the distinctive clothing of anti-Qaeda fighters -- and had been manning a checkpoint at the time of the attack.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080322/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrest

[Lone_Star_Dem]

1. Oops?

Guess those reflective vests they wear were defective?

Or perhaps we should call it what it really is, FUBAR.

[LynnTheDem]

2. No worries. They were "terrorists" and if not, they were definitely brown

and not Americans, so they're just untermenschen anyways.

Yes, this would be very deeply angry :sarcasm:

[gratuitous]

3. God DAMN, but our fightin' men and women are brave

I mean, you see some reflective vests off in the distance, push a button, and people that don't even know they're being attacked, can't fight back, and can't get away are vaporized in an instant. What red-blooded American 17- or 18-year-old wouldn't want to get in line to do that? God bless America!

The preceding message has been launched as a pre-emptive post against the irrefutable logic we're soon going to hear from Republicans and other supporters of Straight-Talkin' Johnny Maverick when questioned about this incident.

Oh, and to shortcut Dick Cheney, when someone wonders aloud how this advances American interests, and expresses doubt that the American people will support this: "So?"

[Strelnikov_]

4. This story should dispel any myth as to how things are going

Collection of guys doing something suspicious. Instead of investigating, they simply light em up with a very expensive cold war weapon designed to stop armored columns.

Can't, or won't, send out a patrol from FOB Cheney to investigate. Just kill em all, and let God sort it out.

This tells me that as far as the military is concerned, the area was considered unsecured and hostile.


Also, wonder how many millions more we will have to pay this 'awakening council' now.

[StClone]

5. They are now Awakening to Amerika

"you get hurt..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6unDcYBQSpQ

[Arctic Dave]

6. Things just seem to always fall apart.

I'm sure this incident will not help the already strained "relationship" the military and the Sunni people have. The only reason these guys haven't been cutting our throats is we've been paying them. I'm thinking three hundred bucks a month is not going to cut it anymore for them to be our "friends". Expect an increase in violence in the coming months. Although the repugs will spin it as Al Coody is trying to manipulate the elections I don't believe joe six pack will buy it anymore. Or not.