US soldiers accidentally kill Sunni leader in Iraq

[sabra]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD (AP) — American soldiers accidentally shot and killed the leader of a local U.S.-allied Sunni group Tuesday after coming under attack in a volatile area north of Baghdad, the military said.

The shooting comes a week before the Shiite-led Iraqi government begins to assume authority over the Sunni groups known as the Sons of Iraq, or Awakening Councils. The military has credited the Sunni revolt against al-Qaida in Iraq as a key factor in the sharp decline in violence over the past year.

The head of the group in Siniyah, Jassim al-Garrout, was killed after he rushed to the site of an ambush against U.S. forces in the area, which lies between the northern oil-hub of Beiji and Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, according to witnesses and police.

One of al-Garrout's comrades said the group would demand an apology from the Americans.

"The Awakening Councils have become targets of al-Qaida, the government and sometimes even the U.S. forces. We do not know our fate and we are feeling lost," Farooq Sami said.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD93CJUJO0

[Teaser]

1. That's not gonna be good for business

that's not gonna be good for anyone.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. s**t happens. They all look alike, right?

:sarcasm:

This ain't gonna help win friends, is it?

[underpants]

3. I was just about to post this

Bad move by our forces but then if they weren't still there no HAD EVER BEEN THERE... just saying

[xchrom]

4. the surge is not working. nt

[EnviroBat]

5. But, but, but, but the SURGE IS WORKING!

FOX News told me so! How can this be?
Fucking asshats.

Do you ever get tired of being treated like your stupid? Oh well, Dancing With The Stars is on!

[HopeHoops]

6. Bush smirked and said, "oops!"

[VWolf]

7. Hearts and minds

:cry:

[elocs]

8. A great way to make friends and influence people.

It reminds me of the saying, "The little boys threw rocks at the frogs in jest, but the frogs died in earnest". Accidental or not, the guy is still dead. How many more enemies did we make with that mistake?

[saigon68]

9. "Bring Em On" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[daleo]

10. Whoops, sorry about that Chief

Get Smart reference, for those too young to know.