U.S. air strike hits volatile Iraqi city

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

U.S. air strike hits volatile Iraqi city
DIWANIYA, Iraq, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. forces launched an air strike in Diwaniya on Saturday as U.S. and Iraqi troops seeking to return the volatile Iraqi city to government control fought sporadic gunbattles with Shi'ite militiamen.

A local hospital source and a resident said six people, including two children and a woman were killed in the missile strike on a home in the centre of the city.

U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Scott Bleichwehl said one person had been killed when a warplane fired on gunmen carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

"The engagement was initiated by a tip that was called in by a local citizen. We had visual confirmation that there was a hostile target. There was no collateral damage," he said.

Iraqi and U.S. forces launched Operation Black Eagle on Friday to restore the government's authority over a town where Shi'ite militias are a powerful presence, particularly radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army, which the Pentagon says is the greatest threat to peace in Iraq.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL732833.htm

[izzie]

1. Oh my but this is like reading an old newspaper.

Their is a light at the end, right?

[Botany]

2. Say can we bring a little gas to that bonfire ....

We are taking sides in a civil war as 75% of the attacks on our troops come from
the Sunnis armed by our good friends the Saudis as we bomb their enemies the
Shi ite. And meantime in the north the Turks have invaded and are fighting the
Kurds.

[RC]

3. So which is it? Both cannot be true.

"...six people, including two children and a woman were killed in the missile strike on a home..."

"We had visual confirmation that there was a hostile target. There was no collateral damage," he said."

[saigon68]

4. Its the Fog of War

If some asshole bombed my mother's house and killed her,

I might be a "little upset" and want to "even the score"

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. No collaterals were damaged - however, women and children were killed

The spin machine at work...........

[Igel]

6. These bits show the problem:

"A local hospital source and a resident said six people, including two children and a woman were killed in the missile strike on a home in the centre of the city.

"U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Scott Bleichwehl said one person had been killed when a warplane fired on gunmen carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers."

So it's conflicting stories about the death count. Both sides are notorious about getting the count wrong. Yes, both sides: The DOD has an obvious reason for not telling the truth (minimizing outrage), but the guys at the morgue also probably have an agenda (maximizing outrage). Yes, I'm cynical. But far too often have the numbers of casualties for a given event altered by a hefty percentage, up or down.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Air Strikes are chicken-shit because they indiscriminately kill INNOCENTS

as well as "the evildoers."

We look so EVIL in the eyes of the world ... as well we should. :cry: :(

[Heidi]

8. Kick.

:kick:

[Joanne98]

9. U.S. air strike hits volatile Iraqi city

Source: Reuters

DIWANIYA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. forces launched an air strike in Diwaniya on Saturday as U.S. and Iraqi troops fought for a second day to overcome Shi'ite militias and bring the city back under government control.

A local hospital source and a resident said six people, including two children and a woman, were killed in the missile strike on a home in the centre of the city, 110 miles south of Baghdad.

U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Scott Bleichwehl said one person had been killed when a warplane fired on gunmen carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

"The engagement was initiated by a tip that was called in by a local citizen. We had visual confirmation that there was a hostile target. There was no collateral damage," he said.




Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSPAR34073020070407

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Happy Easter!

[uppityperson]

10. darn those uppity women and children anyways.

"no collateral damage" bah.

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. And 700,000 Iraqi's havent died in this invasion either.....nt

[whistle]

12. Surge at work

[Supersedeas]

13. Mission accomplished -- all major combat operations are over.