US apologises for sparking Baghdad protest

[Judi Lynn]

US apologises for sparking Baghdad protest

August 14 2003 at 03:57PM



By Michael Georgy

Baghdad - The US military has apologised for provoking a protest in a Shi'a district of Baghdad during which troops shot dead one Iraqi and wounded four, the top American commander in Iraq said on Thursday.

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez also said the military was conducting investigations to learn the lessons from a series of accidental killings of civilians that are fuelling resentment against the US-led occupiers.

Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets of the impoverished Sadr City district on Wednesday after a US helicopter flew close to the banner of a religious school that was hanging from a communications tower.

Locals said the helicopter tore down the banner, while the US Army said it may have been accidentally blown off.

"Apparently the helicopter either blew down the flag, or somehow that flag was taken down, and we are taking steps to ensure that that doesn't happen again," Sanchez said, adding that the commander on the ground had apologised to residents. (snip/...)

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=123&art_id=qw1060869421804B262&set_id=1

[frylock]

1. hey sanchez.. we all saw it on the tv.

unless "blown down by rotor wash" is milspeak for "grab it and tear it down", than you better just shut the fuck up!!

[NNN0LHI]

2. Will they will apologise to Ali for his missing arms and dead family too?

[fizzana]

3. Dear Iraq

We're so very sorry for not giving a shit about your welfare.

We promise we won't do it again.

Yours Sincerely

The U.S.

(now we feel a whole lote better)

[lebkuchen]

4. The chopper was close to power poles and utility lines

Helicopters are also expensive to run. I was amazed to see the video of our chopper on such a foolhardy, dangerous mission, though I think it goes to show that our military realize Iraq has never really been much of a "country," but is, rather, an area of land filled with warring factions of Muslims.