US military has been firing missiles almost every day into the crowded Shi'ite slum of Sadr City

[NNN0LHI]

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/U.S._airstrike_kills_8_Iraqi_civilians_0523.html

Increased U.S. airstrikes in Iraq killing more civilians

David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Friday May 23, 2008

A surge in US airstrikes within densely populated areas of Iraq has led to a dramatic rise in civilian casualties.

According to the Washington Post, ever since an attempted crackdown on Shi'ite militias by the Iraqi government in March, which led to increased attacks on the Green Zone in Baghdad that killed some Americans, the US military has been firing missiles almost every day into the crowded Shi'ite slum of Sadr City.

Residents describe the attacks as indiscriminate and say they have led to many civilian deaths. However, the US Army states that they choose their targets carefully and often refrain from firing for fear of civilian casualties.

"On Wednesday, eight people, including two children, were killed when a U.S. helicopter opened fire on a group of Iraqis," the Post reports. "The U.S. military said in a statement that it had targeted men linked to a suicide bombing network. 'Unfortunately, two children were killed when the other occupants of the vehicle, in which they were riding, exhibited hostile intent," the statement said."

[tekisui]

1. ENOUGH!!!!

God damn it. We are going to have a generation of Iraqis becoming would be terrorists. We are going to be suffering consequences from this aggression for the rest of my life, and my niece's.

[Junkdrawer]

2. And the suicide rate of returning vets is skyrocketing...

I wonder if the two are related. After all, not everyone is sociopathic. Usually, it's only the leadership.

[tekisui]

5. After soldiers are sent on their 3rd, 4th, 5th and more tours of duty.

We are in for a world of hurt. The generation of wounded, especially mentally wounded, vets that we will be taking care of(hopefully not ignoring), are going to be a scar on our country.

[Junkdrawer]

7. The estimated long term cost in dollars in over $2 trillion in today's money...

That's why they're doing things like downgrading mental illnesses like PTSD.

The long term costs in human terms is, of course, incalculable.

[ixion]

3. they "exhibited hostile intent" ... so we killed them

yeah, gee, no war crime there. :eyes:

What the hell is "hostile intent"? That could be something as innocuous as shaking your fist.

[PDJane]

4. That's a standard US tactic........

the increased bombing in Viet Nam before the troops left for good was destructive as hell, and killed mostly non-combattants.

And no, I don't believe there was any hostile intent from the car.

[KharmaTrain]

6. While America Sleeps

When was the last time anyone around here has seen a report about what's going on on the ground in Iraq? The corporate media is caught up in this non-sense non-primary popularity contest...more interested in finding a wacky preacher or who called someone a "sweetie" or flag pins. In the meantime, the situation inside Iraq gets worse and our military's position continues to deteriorate.

Just the other day there was a report here that the Ayatollah Sistani...who had initially cooperated with the U.S. is now saying it's just fine for Iraqis to attack Americans...and that he'd rather see Iraqis kill Americans than other Iraqis.

As was the case in Vietnam, the military, when attacked tries to set on the ants with its big elephant feet...and can't root out those attacking...and with each "military intervention" or counterattack, it only makes things worse. Our corporate media's blackout on this ugly war is a travesty...it's never portrayed the real situation in the country and now just ignores what it doesn't want to report.

[madrchsod]

8. warsaw ghetto....

build a wall and murder everything that moves

[hokies4ever]

9. Blame the victim

Sad to see that the US Military feels compelled to justify civilian casualties with 'blame the victim' tactics.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. So the claim that "violence is down in Iraq" doesn't include this violence

[countryjake]

11. While many in America worry about how far to drive for their picnics...

what a memorial day this will be!

I don't think I've ever been so ashamed of this country, the leaders (and potential leaders), the legislators, and the piss-poor way the general public just accepts torture and indiscriminate murdering as our "daily fare".

End the Occupations, NOW!

[AzDar]

12. Is it genocide, yet?

:puke:

[NNN0LHI]

13. I think it all depends on which end of the Sidewinder missile one is on

If someone were turning my friends and family into pink mist I would definitely vote genocide.

Don