Web Site Posts U.S. Helicopter Attack in Baghdad
The disturbing video was posted on the internet Tuesday by Wikileaks, a whistleblower Web site. It shows graphic gun-camera images of a U.S. helicopter attack in Baghdad in July 2007. A senior U.S. military official confirmed Monday that the video is authentic.
"That's a weapon," says the helicopter pilot.
"Yeah," says the gunner.
CBS News Justice and Homeland Security correspondent Bob Orr reports that the aerial assault plays out over 40 minutes with an Apache helicopter pilot with the call sign Crazy Horse one-eight repeatedly requesting permission to fire on a group of men he believes to be insurgents.
"Hotel two-six, this is crazy horse one-eight," says the pilot. "Have individuals with weapons."
The pilot is told, "You're clear."
"Alright, firing," says the pilot.
The Apache and a second gunship open up with machine guns as the men on the ground try to flee. A short time later they ask again for permission to fire.
"Come on! Let us shoot!" says the pilot. "Bushmaster, Crazy Horse one-eight."
"This is bushmaster seven," a commander tells the pilot. "Go ahead."
Someone in the helicopter says, "Roger. We have a black SUV or bongo truck picking up the bodies."
"Ah, yeah, look at those dead bastards. Nice," one shooter says.
Among those believed to have been killed in that attack was Reuters photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, and his driver Saeed Chmagh, 40. Two children also were wounded. More than one dozen people were killed. For two years the Pentagon has refused to release the video or the findings of its internal investigation.
The military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the video, said the military could not confirm the identities of the Reuters employees in the film.
According to U.S. officials, the pilots arrived at the scene to find a group of men approaching the fight with what looked to be AK-47s slung over their shoulders and at least one rocket-propelled grenade.
A military investigation later concluded that what was thought to be an RPG was really a long-range photography lens; likewise, the camera looked like an AK-47.
The helicopters later destroy a vehicle that arrived on the scene to help a wounded man. When ground forces arrive, the video shows what looks to be a child being carried from the vehicle and U.S. troops saying the child should be sent to a local Iraqi hospital.
"Well, it's their fault bringing their kids into the battle," a cockpit voice can be heard saying.
According to a July 19 summary of the investigation, obtained by The Associated Press, U.S. troops acted appropriately. Reuters employees were likely "intermixed among the insurgents" and difficult to distinguish because of their equipment, the document states.
"It is worth noting the fact that insurgent groups often video and photograph friendly activity and insurgent attacks against friendly forces for use in training videos and for use as propaganda to exploit or highlight their capabilities," the document concludes.
Wikileaks says it obtained the video from whistleblowers and published it to prove the helicopters were not under fire or acting in self defense.
It appears from the tape that at least some of those hit on the ground were unarmed. But a journalist who was in the general area that same day says it's important to remember it was a hectic, violent and uneasy day.
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "That's a weapon," says the helicopter pilot.
"Yeah," says the gunner.
CBS News Justice and Homeland Security correspondent Bob Orr reports that the aerial assault plays out over 40 minutes with an Apache helicopter pilot with the call sign Crazy Horse one-eight repeatedly requesting permission to fire on a group of men he believes to be insurgents.
"Hotel two-six, this is crazy horse one-eight," says the pilot. "Have individuals with weapons."
The pilot is told, "You're clear."
"Alright, firing," says the pilot.
The Apache and a second gunship open up with machine guns as the men on the ground try to flee. A short time later they ask again for permission to fire.
"Come on! Let us shoot!" says the pilot. "Bushmaster, Crazy Horse one-eight."
"This is bushmaster seven," a commander tells the pilot. "Go ahead."
Someone in the helicopter says, "Roger. We have a black SUV or bongo truck picking up the bodies."
"Ah, yeah, look at those dead bastards. Nice," one shooter says.
Among those believed to have been killed in that attack was Reuters photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, and his driver Saeed Chmagh, 40. Two children also were wounded. More than one dozen people were killed. For two years the Pentagon has refused to release the video or the findings of its internal investigation.
The military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the video, said the military could not confirm the identities of the Reuters employees in the film.
According to U.S. officials, the pilots arrived at the scene to find a group of men approaching the fight with what looked to be AK-47s slung over their shoulders and at least one rocket-propelled grenade.
A military investigation later concluded that what was thought to be an RPG was really a long-range photography lens; likewise, the camera looked like an AK-47.
The helicopters later destroy a vehicle that arrived on the scene to help a wounded man. When ground forces arrive, the video shows what looks to be a child being carried from the vehicle and U.S. troops saying the child should be sent to a local Iraqi hospital.
"Well, it's their fault bringing their kids into the battle," a cockpit voice can be heard saying.
According to a July 19 summary of the investigation, obtained by The Associated Press, U.S. troops acted appropriately. Reuters employees were likely "intermixed among the insurgents" and difficult to distinguish because of their equipment, the document states.
"It is worth noting the fact that insurgent groups often video and photograph friendly activity and insurgent attacks against friendly forces for use in training videos and for use as propaganda to exploit or highlight their capabilities," the document concludes.
Wikileaks says it obtained the video from whistleblowers and published it to prove the helicopters were not under fire or acting in self defense.
It appears from the tape that at least some of those hit on the ground were unarmed. But a journalist who was in the general area that same day says it's important to remember it was a hectic, violent and uneasy day.
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"It is worth noting the fact that insurgent groups often video and photograph friendly activity and insurgent attacks against friendly forces for use in training videos and for use as propaganda to exploit or highlight their capabilities," the document concludes. "
"It appears from the tape that at least some of those hit on the ground were unarmed. But a journalist who was in the general area that same day says it's important to remember it was a hectic, violent and uneasy day. "
Thank "God", the American Propagandist was there, providing the world with the unbiased facts and scrutiny first-hand to blow this cover-up through the roof.
"God Bless America" -- used to hear that a lot after civilians were attacked from the air by uninvited and determined foriegn combatants -- I'm still not sure why.
The only difference here being that children were involved, and there was no immediate retaliation before the facts were uncovered, and their still isn't any apparent justice -- certainly not the kind American's would demand.
Expanded military version: If you can't see what you want to shoot at well enough to recognize the difference between a gun and a camera and if you can't see the children in the front of the van, then you shouldn't be shooting at all.
Face it. They couldn't see well enough to distinguish the difference between cameras and guns but they shot anyway. Another thing you might want to consider... If I was an Iraqi and I knew those who helped the American military had been shot by the American military, would I choose to help the Americans? Answer: No.
Time to consider that the American military hurt their own cause when they engaged in that massacre.
Dgunner, I agree with you that this is war... that this is what happens... even that the actual shooters may not have been at fault given the situation. But when they (higher command) nuked the inactive building/area to cover it up, they crossed over from committing acts of War to War Crimes. And because I love my country, I believe we should hold ourselves accountable for this. We as citizens are responsible for everything we allow our government to get away with. I hope that I would be as brave as Manning, should I ever find myself in a similar situation.
Thanks Bushies!