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The US military shot a photographer and his assistant who were embedded with group of insurgents without identifying themselves as press either by their attire

The US military shot a photographer and his assistant who were embedded with group of insurgents without identifying themselves as press either by their attire or by calling the US military hotline designated for just that purpose, one of whom was pointing what could be mistaken for a weapon at US Humvees, from behind cover. It's an understandable, though regrettable, mistake when you look past Assange's "collateral murder" editorializing.

fit2rule 6y ago
Your opinion that the murder of innocent civilians and an attack on their children is a 'regrettable, mistake' is utterly abhorrent to anyone who has watched that video and can clearly see, for themselves, that these people were absolutely NO threat to US forces in the area - who shouldn't have been there in the first damn place. Lied into a criminal war against Iraq, the American people are now complicit in the war crimes committed in their names. What is understandable, though indeed very regrettable, is the American public's general desire to not be held accountable for these crimes against humanity...
- torstenvl 6y ago
  > Your opinion that the murder... This is circular. Your argument that this is "murder" cannot proceed from an assumption of the same. > Your opinion... is utterly abhorrent to anyone who has watched that video... I don't think personal attacks are productive. Additionally, there are wide arrays of views on this video. Your argument in support of your view appears to be based on an assumption that it is widely held and then an appeal to popularity, so it is doubly fallacious. Try making your point without assuming that everyone already agrees with you. > can clearly see, for themselves, that these people were absolutely NO threat to US forces in the area This isn't apparent from the footage; in fact the audio clearly indicates otherwise. They believed they had arms including an RPG. In any case, that isn't the legal test. Even unclassified ROE materials are clear that national self-defense is not the only lawful basis for the use of force in jus in bello.
  - fit2rule 6y ago
    The order to murder these people was given long before the camera lens was observable by those who murdered them. "They could have had a rocket launcher" is an agitprop straw man intentionally proffered in order to minimise the magnitude of the crime committed. I wonder why it is so important for you, personally, to minimise this criminal act?
anotheracct_ 6y ago
Shut up bootlicker

fit2rule 6y ago

Your opinion that the murder of innocent civilians and an attack on their children is a 'regrettable, mistake' is utterly abhorrent to anyone who has watched that video and can clearly see, for themselves, that these people were absolutely NO threat to US forces in the area - who shouldn't have been there in the first damn place. Lied into a criminal war against Iraq, the American people are now complicit in the war crimes committed in their names. What is understandable, though indeed very regrettable, is the American public's general desire to not be held accountable for these crimes against humanity...

torstenvl 6y ago
> Your opinion that the murder... This is circular. Your argument that this is "murder" cannot proceed from an assumption of the same. > Your opinion... is utterly abhorrent to anyone who has watched that video... I don't think personal attacks are productive. Additionally, there are wide arrays of views on this video. Your argument in support of your view appears to be based on an assumption that it is widely held and then an appeal to popularity, so it is doubly fallacious. Try making your point without assuming that everyone already agrees with you. > can clearly see, for themselves, that these people were absolutely NO threat to US forces in the area This isn't apparent from the footage; in fact the audio clearly indicates otherwise. They believed they had arms including an RPG. In any case, that isn't the legal test. Even unclassified ROE materials are clear that national self-defense is not the only lawful basis for the use of force in jus in bello.
- fit2rule 6y ago
  The order to murder these people was given long before the camera lens was observable by those who murdered them. "They could have had a rocket launcher" is an agitprop straw man intentionally proffered in order to minimise the magnitude of the crime committed. I wonder why it is so important for you, personally, to minimise this criminal act?

anotheracct_ 6y ago

Shut up bootlicker