Gates Calls Air Strike Video ‘Painful to Watch’

[The Straight Story]

Gates Calls Air Strike Video ‘Painful to Watch’

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said recently published footage of a U.S. Apache helicopter killing 12 people in Iraq, including two Reuters news agency personnel, was “painful to watch,” and that the attack has been thoroughly investigated.

The 17-minute video from a July 12, 2007, air strike shows U.S. military personnel gunning down a group perceived to be armed militants and opening fire on a subsequent rescue attempt. The footage was made available last week by WikiLeaks, a whistle-blowing Web site that publishes anonymous submissions and leaked documents.

“We've investigated it very thoroughly. And it's unfortunate -- it's clearly not helpful,” Gates said yesterday on ABC News’ “This Week.” “But by the same token, I think it should not have any lasting consequences.”

Asked if the release of the video would damage the image of the United States in the world, Gates said he didn’t think so.

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=58713

[no limit]

1. "We've investigated it very thoroughly". I bet he's lying

[Webster Green]

2. Painful for Gates?

:nopity:

[PDJane]

3. He doesn't think so?

If it doesn't, it's only because most of the world has come to expect this behaviour from U.S. forces.

[Laughing Mirror]

4. Painful to watch, surely

But thrilling for those putting on the show, it is clear.

[ArcticFox]

5. I wish they'd never made that stupid movie

It seems that everywhere I look, I see these a-holes attributing things to "a perfect storm." How many "Perfect Storms" can there be?

"A defense official interviewed for the story said 'a perfect storm' of circumstances contributed to the missteps. The official said a longer version of the video, also available online, shows the fuller context of the air strike, including evidence of nearby gunfire."

Gates said “We've investigated it very thoroughly. And it's unfortunate -- it's clearly not helpful,” Gates said yesterday on ABC News’ “This Week.” “But by the same token, I think it should not have any lasting consequences.”

No lasting consequences for the mother who has to raise two (probably seriously) wounded children without a husband? No lasting consequences for the relatives of any of the others killed? WRONG.

REPORTERS TAKE NOTICE: If you try to report on its actions, the United States will kill you without even an apology.

[sabrina 1]

6. There is something that makes people human missing from

these people. Eg, what does he mean when he says he doesn't think it will 'lasting consequences'?

I wonder if, during this thorough investigation, he watched the video of the children whose father was killed and themselves were wounded in the attack. Are they simply not human to him?

And when he says 'it was painful to watch' is he referring to the victims, or to the image of the military in that country?

They are about to launch increased attacks throughout the summer. More innocent people will be killed.

I remember early in the Iraq War a report on Gen. Miller's comments to the troops. He told them to 'treat the Iraqis like dogs'.

[indepat]

7. Question for Sec. Gates: During your tenure, how many hundred would this incident need to be

multiplied to give a real flavor of the shock and awe dispensed in aggregate upon helpless/innocent victims? :-)