Revolting video from Iraq and what to do about it

By FinalCall.com News | Last updated: Apr 14, 2010 - 11:43:26 AM

(FinalCall.com) - Thanks to the Internet and the Wikileaks Web site, which exposes government video and information to the public, America and the world had an opportunity to see the U.S. military at work.

Wikileaks' “Collateral Murder” video exposed how Baghdad-deployed “Bravo Company 2-16, whose members were involved in the incident captured, which has made international headlines by depicting a July 2007 shooting incident outside of Baghdad in which over a dozen people, including two Reuters employees, were killed,” notes an activist group.

The group was highlighting the thoughts of Josh Stieber, who they admit wasn't present when the fatal encounter occurred. But, they say, former Specialist Stieber knows those who were involved and knows how things work in the Iraq war zone and is familiar with the environment. Mr. Stieber is promoting peace and is on a tour talking about alternatives to war.

This is what he had to say about the video and the mindset of warriors: “A lot of my friends are in that video. … After watching the video, I would definitely say that that is, nine times out of ten, the way things ended up. Killing was following military protocol. It was going along with the rules as they are.”

The ex-serviceman also offered advice about how to keep these incidents from happening. “If these videos shock and revolt you, they show the reality of what war is like,” said Mr. Stieber. “If you don't like what you see in them, it means we should be working harder towards alternatives to war.”

Military officials and the corporate media said fighting had been going on in the area and the journalists were mistaken for armed insurgents. But no weapons were pointed at U.S. personnel and an independent journalist says arms were common in Iraq as each neighborhood tried to protect itself.

Despite the video, the U.S. military said the incident would not be investigated. This is more than a public relations disaster. It is another example of how the U.S. actions and failures are costing innocent Iraqi lives and another reason why America cannot win the war in Iraq.

Related links:

Collateral Murder Website (CollateralMurder.com)

US mowing down of Iraqis likened to video game (PRESS TV Interview, 04-11-2010)

Hypocrisy and the end of empires (Al Jazeera, 04-14-2010)

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