Quote:
Originally Posted by flip
The video provides no evidence of shots fired. If there were shots fired, I'm fairly confident it wasn't at the helicopter.
|
But you don't know, I don't know, the only person who knows is the pilot and the gunman. Remember this is a gunsight camera that is mounted under the nose of the helicopter its a different view from what the pilot had.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flip
Everyone on the ground in the video looks like they are out for a Sunday stroll. No one is hiding or running or looking tense. The US guys don't intentionally misrepresent the # of weapons (I don't think) but it appears that they do mistake the cameras for AK 47s.
|
Until the helicopter swung around the building we don't even know if these people on the streets insurgents or not knew if there was danger. Gunships are notoriously quiet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flip
The guy with what is presumably an RPG kind of crouches behind a corner when they get to an intersection. Hard to tell if he's watching the helicopter or looking at something else.
It also appears they incorrectly say that the RPG guy is getting ready to fire. I'm not weapons expert but at no point does he point his RPG at anything and look ready to fire.
|
We're not talking police rules of arrest here. The fact that he's carrying a weapon or possible weapons marks him as a target. He doesn't have to point it at the helicopter to elicit a response.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flip
The helicopter then reports shots fired which aren't visible in the video, and IMO, based on the actions of the people in the video appear to be complete BS.
|
But thats an opinion, not a fact.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flip
They get permission to engage BEFORE they report shots fired so even if there were shots fired it is irrelevant. They were gonna waste those guys no matter what.
|
They were on a mission to go after insurgents. The fact that they identified weapons was enough. The shots fired made the situation more defensive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flip
A van comes to save the Reuters guy. They open fire on the van for no real reason other than they think he's saving an insurgent.
Two kids happen to be in the van. And are injured/killed.
|
How are the pilots suppossed to know that there were kids in the van.
And your right, they open fire on a van thats rescuing an insurgent. Its not an ambulance, its a van, and the pilot suspects that the person is also going to collect weapons.