Video.

This is coolbert:

"A revolution [war] is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous." - - Mao.

The video, the final word.

Some personal thoughts regarding that video showing the Apache helicopter mowing down the Iraqi “farmers”. Hereafter referred to as the “incident”.

What is most important is the aviators state of mind at the exact moment of the “incident’.

Did these American aviators have a reasonable suspicion that these were Iraqi irregulars? Had the Apache aircrew been following and observing the “farmers” for some time prior to the “incident? Did they have intelligence from another source that had tipped them off to the presence and location and possible questionable behavior of the “farmers”?

Or, were the American aviators “out to have some fun”? Blow away anyone that provided them a tempting target? Callous and heedless of human life, reckless and “trigger happy”.

If the latter [“out to have some fun!!”] is applicable, this is a war crime. If the former [reasonable suspicion] applies, it is not!

State of mind is most important. What was the person pulling the trigger and the commander giving the order to fire thinking at the exact moment of engagement?

As to firing upon and killing the wounded man, I think the situation of the helicopter aircrew at that point is analogous to a tank crew being confronted by surrendering enemy soldiers. The tank crew cannot spare a crew member to guard the enemy soldiers and escort them to the rear, and you cannot - - let them go - - so - - the usual and brutal practice is to machine gun them!!

Brutal and harsh!!?? Yes!! As war has been and is practiced?? Yes!!

coolbert.