26 Iraqi workers wounded as US troops mistake them for rebels

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A group of Iraqi workers in Baghdad came under fire from US troops who mistook them for insurgents.

An interior ministry source said US troops fired on a crowd of workers in the central Baghdad neighbourhood of Alawi, while a defence ministry source reported an exchange of fire between suspected rebels and US forces in the area.

But a number of casualties lying in Al-Yarmouk hospital told AFP that a US helicopter fired at them as they were gathered outside a hotel.

"The electricity went out at around 0500 (0100 GMT), so we exited the hotel to the street to have breakfast in the fresh air. A helicopter then opened fire into the street," said Ali Mohammad, who sustained neck and leg injuries.

Makki Hassan, a 50-year-old resident of the neighbourhood, said that a number of people sleeping on the roofs of their houses were also struck by gunfire.

The US military, contacted by AFP, had no immediate information on the incident.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050816/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrest

[chelsea0011]

1. Good grief. Winning the hearts and minds.

[jayfish]

2. Hooray For...

just firing into crowds. Just another notch in the hearts and minds belt.

Jay

[ET Awful]

3. Rebels? There is no legitimate government, how can there be

rebels?

[chelsea0011]

4. rebels=large group in one place

[H5N1]

7. perhaps the one who kills the most 'browns' gets to kill Saddam

Like in a video game.

You can call them what you like: rebels, insurgents,
evil doers, fire-brands, al-Qa'ida, Taliban - just don't call them freedom fighters, or you lose all your points!

[The Stranger]

5. I'm sure this has never happened before.

:sarcasm:

Kicked and recommended.

[malaise]

6. That Bushco use the words 'Iraqi sovereignty'

speaks volumes for the plethora of lies spewed as they continue to slaughter innocent Iraqis in the name of grabbing oil. This madness has to stop.

Expect things to get worse because it is not the Iraqis who want that constitution which gives Washington and London the right to own Iraqi assets/oil.

[Orion The Hunter]

8. Is it too early for racial profiling?

Hello...were these Iraqis even armed? Kind of a dead giveaway if they are insurgents....

[xchrom]

9. just another day in iraq-nam.

[kestrel91316]

10. Well, all them ragheads look the same, dontcha know?? .............

:argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh:

[Barrett808]

11. It's fortunate (and unlikely) that there were no deaths

A helicopter gunsihp sprays a crowd and nobody dies? Very, very lucky.

[cliss]

16. That was my first thought, also.

All this shooting, and no deaths?

Well, we certainly are maintaining our friendships, aren't we? We pull out a certain segment of the population, and call them our "buddies". We take another segment, and call them our "enemies".

It just won't work, and the world sees throught that.

[0007]

12. The military is about as fucked up as junior!

Shoot anything that moves is a great policy.

[VegasWolf]

13. Shades of Vietnam! Just can't tell who is the bad guy. nt

[tuckessee]

14. More Hometown Heroes in Action!

I think they deserve some more ribbons and maybe even a parade.

[bribri16]

15. So, do you think a "constitution" will stop this shit? It won't even

apply to American forces on Iraqi soil. We already ignore international law.

[VegasWolf]

17. Wait! Do I smell some more reward Medals!?! nt

[leftchick]

18. and another "mistake" ... 12 year old Ahmed....

Ahmed Tahir, 12 years old, screams in pain as a doctor removes bone fragments caused from a bullet wound to his leg, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005, in the Alaawi al-Hilla area of Baghdad, Iraq. Tahir was among a handful of people that was mistakenly hit by gunfire during an Iraqi police raid on the homes of suspected insurgents. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hato)

[Roland99]

19. Yeah...insurgents often sleep on rooftops! (BTW, vote up the article!)

[hvn_nbr_2]

20. They must have been brandishing Cheerios threateningly.

we exited the hotel to the street to have breakfast in the fresh air.

[mom cat]

21. Just get out now!

[tgnyc]

22. noble cause

[Barrett808]

23. Being Freeped -- Vote this up! 2/5 with 162 votes n/t

[Barrett808]

24. kick

[geckosfeet]

25. run away, run away ! This is becoming a theater of the absurd. nt

[Toots]

26. When a US pilot mistakenly fired upon Canadians he was court marshaled

Any bets on whether this guy gets a medal instead. :shrug:

[Barrett808]

28. Hmm, you have to wonder if skin color has something to do with awards n/t

[daleo]

27. I wonder what the excuse will be?

Or if they will even bother with one. Maybe just a variation on "sorry about your luck".

[Barrett808]

29. Multinational forces apologise for civilian casualties' incident

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1710216

[daleo]

30. It sounds like "sorry about your luck" then. n/t