Nadia it could very well be that the protesters weren't armed. Armed men behind the protesters fired at the U.S. troops. Additionally if during the chaos a rock was thrown by a protester it could have easily been mistaken for a grenade at that time of night.
Great. What was the CS monitor talking to a Fedayeen?
UTD i am still waiting.
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
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Still waiting. Who is claiming that they were fired on?
Yallah Habibti. Lets hear it.
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*Originally posted by Malik73: *
Still waiting. Who is claiming that they were fired on?
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They are claiming it. Who did you think?
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Originally posted by underthedome: *
**Armed men behind the protesters fired at the U.S. troops. *
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Alright. IF one agrees to go under this assumption, does that still justify this action? Why not fire off a few rounds of ammo into the air, if you want to suppress the voices of protest ? Why was it necessary to aim at the crowd itself? i mean, i don't get it. These were just innocent protestors, some of them children. They wanted US forces to withdraw from their local school. Is that a horrendous request ? These were innocent civilians. Forget the fact they were Iraqis. They were civilians.
i think the admin. has just dug its own grave a bit deeper. Outside of the US and Canada, many individuals will perceive of this as another example of US occupation forces being hostile towards those who were expressing their legitimate, democratic desire for British/American forces to leave their country.
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
They are claiming it. Who did you think?
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Who is claiming they were fired on? Try giving a straight answer to a simple question.
Better yet post a link.
Fans of Saddam apparently…
Witnesses quoted by the French news agency, AFP, said the demonstrators had been marking Saddam Hussein’s birthday when the Americans opened fire.
The report said protesters were carrying portraits of their ousted leader and Iraqi flags when they approached a school manned by US troops.
US Colonel Arnold Bray said American forces had come under fire from the protesters.
Seven people had been killed in the incident, he said.
According to local residents, several children were among the dead.
A Reuters correspondent in the town said mourners chanted “Our soul and our blood we will sacrifice to you martyrs” as burials got under way.
Cute UTD. Cute. The news media is not reporting that. Rather they are taking a statement from the US military officer, whose first job is to protect his boys. Hook or by crook.
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Originally posted by underthedome:
Witnesses quoted by the French news agency, AFP, said the demonstrators had been marking Saddam Hussein's birthday *when the Americans opened fire. *
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Thank you for confirming that fact.
Selective in your posting UTD. The report also said the following:
There are conflicting reports as to what happened in the town, which lies 50 kilometres (35 miles) west of Baghdad.
A US spokesman said soldiers started shooting after people in the crowd fired on them - but Iraqi witnesses said the protesters were unarmed.
American forces are reported to have entered Falluja for the first time two days ago.
A local Sunni cleric, Kamal Shaker Mahmoud, said the demonstrators were unarmed and had gone to a local school occupied by US forces to ask them to leave, Reuters news agency reports.
"It was a peaceful demonstration. They did not have any weapons. They were asking the Americans to leave the school so they could use it," the cleric is quoted as saying.
They are reporting this though
“The report said protesters were carrying portraits of their ousted leader and Iraqi flags when they approached a school manned by US troops.”
Saddam supporters, they seem like the peaceful type not wanting to cause trouble, right? :halo:
UTD, what part of Iraqi citizens do you not understand? Iraqi citizens have the right to go anywehere in their country. They were trying to start using the scholl and some low life, redneck, hillbilly decided to kill innocent children. Invaders…
I blame the low life, scum sucking, terrorist who fired from behind the children.
I swear you must becoming down with a bad case of stupidity. Nobody fired on the US forces.
utd and OhioGuy and others who think someone from the crowd fired first.
Once and for all:
WHAT ARE THE BASIS OF YOUR ASSUMPTION??
Please straight short answers.. quotes from credible news sources would do too. but please don't say "the military spokesperson" or "Centcom" or "Pentagon" as they are not news sources but a party to the crime committed.
They dont have any.
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*Originally posted by myvoice: *
I think you are probably correct. The FACTS never seem to get in the way of some good anti-American rhetoric. Regardless of the truth, a "majority of Muslims around the world (as well as many western Europeans)" will choose to believe and report that no one fired bullets at the American troops.
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It's very interesting for me the quick way you and other USA-supporters choose to grasp at ANY straw to justify the actions (legal/illegal) of the USA invaders. Just proof the objectivity yet again. For me, I will wait and see what is the final verdict.
To the Americans, I am sympathetic to concerns that the Iraqi crows was armed and opened fire at US forces.
I'd even grumble less if it was just adults killed - at least it's believable that they could have been a threat.
But the fact of the matter is that 6 children were killed. The standard issue rifle of US forces is the M16A2. It has a point accuracy of over half a kilometer. The gun is designed to fire a maximum of just a 3-round burst at a time to encourage precision shooting, which is what NATO forces are all trained for, and is the manner with which they are expected to fight.
The fact is that 6 children were killed by men using one of the most accurate assault rifles in service in the world. By men who are trained to fire aimed shots.