Apache gunship goes to work in Iraq. Warning: Graphic Video

Me

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Worked for me!

[finnman69]

THe non edited video ABC showed showed the guy carrying a warm SAM launcher which he ttried to throw in the weeds.

[doug from upland]

Thanks, guys, for saving Americans. These Iraqis had the choice of cooperating and rebuilding their nation. Sorry, but they got what they deserved.

[Kevin Curry]

I got it now.

[wimpycat]

bolobaby never said that they deserve any sympathy.

[TalBlack]

The pilots check in with their operational commander, who is monitoring the situation. When they tell him they are sure the man was carrying a weapon, he tells them: "Engage. Smoke him."

"Check in with the operational commander"? SAY! I got an idea! Why don't we REALLY play it safe and get a Lawyer out there to help the guys actually fighting the damn war to know when and who they can shoot! Yeah, thats the ticket! I mean why just go with the Op. Comm.? Dosen't HE have a boss. And doesn't THAT guy have a Boss? And then doesn't THAT guy have a boss? Shouldn't all these people be in on this? I mean some moron of a soldier might make a mistake and shoot a peace-loving Arab or something!

[.38sw]

Watching this video reminds me of something I'd heard a long time ago, and I don't remember the exact quote:

"We sleep safely in our beds at night because brave men are willing to do violence on our behalf."

[Professional Engineer]

I saw that quote attributed to George Orwell earlier on another thread.

[Walkingfeather]

Archy or anyone else.... You think this might have been a comanche? Do we have any deployed for special ops?

[bolobaby]

The enemy are not "bad guys" that deserve sympathy!

I never suggested that for one minute. Read the whole post again. I'm saying that the guys that deserve some consideration are those step up to the plate and perform this duty for their country.

Look, I've had more than one good friend who couldn't quite shake the fact that he had pulled the trigger on another human being. One guy was a Silver Star recipient. Every single one of the bad guys that my friends killed deserved to die - no exceptions. These guys are proud of their service and woudl do the same thing every time. They love their country.

That doesn't necessarily mean that killing is a pleasant task. That's all I'm getting at. Some guys don't like to talk about it because it revives the spectre.

I'm overjoyed that we got these guys before they did any damage to U.S. troops. Just go back to my original post: this isn't necessarily pleasant work... especially when you know exactly how a 30mm cannon affects the human body.

That's all man.

[B4Ranch]

Maybe when you change your name I'll continue this discussion with you.

[angkor]

We don't have the entire FLIR vid, but in what we do see here, guy #1 is clearly telling tractor man to get out of the way (you can see tractor man turn to look at the helo), then guy #1 reaches into the tractor for something. AK?

If the tube disposal and other details are in the preceding vid, then clearly these guys are part of the insurgency.

Which brings me way back to Tora Bora, December 2001, which presumably was FLIR-intensive free-fire zone. How (if) did anyone get out? Seems improbable.

FLIR is deployed in several operational modes beyond Blackhawks.

[.38sw]

Thanks. I may have to see if I can scout out that out.

[The KG9 Kid]

He wasn't financially wealthy.

[Kevin Curry]

George Orwell wrote it.

[wimpycat]

Gee, how original. I've never heard that one before...nyukyukyuk.

Continue the discussion with someone with a more macho name, then. But nobody on this thread implied those Iraqis deserved any sympathy.

[sarasmom]

I hear you, and for what little it is worth, add this to your words of wisdom:
I spent many years fighting the Cold War.
We won that one, before we had to actually implement what we planned to do if "the balloon went up".
I, and my peers, would have unleashed a degree of destruction and mayhem that most people can not even conceive of.
Not a single individual tasked with actually implementing the war plan would have derived any personal satisfaction from doing what we trained and planned to do.Few of us would have refused to do what most people cant even contemplate.
There would not have been any celebrations, and calm, professional voices would have been the last words many of us would have heard prior to our own expected destruction.
War sucks.
None understand how very much it sucks, as those have sworn to wage it, and are called to do so.
It is acceptable to support them, and to celebrate the survivors of battles., and to mourn our losses.
It is not acceptable to "enjoy" the deaths of your enemies.
If you actually enjoy it, you are not competant to inflict death in war, and your immortal soul is in jeapordy.
But that is an age old truth, that separates the warrior class from those who are not involved in the actual waging of war.
I see this war as needed.
I thank those who wage it on my behalf.
I accept the burden off their shoulders for having waged it.
I am sorry they have to do so, but I still ask that they do, in my name, and the burden is on my soul.

[AnAmericanMother]

I understand. My dad and his best buddy are WWII combat veterans. His buddy still has a bullet in his knee. They both know intellectually that the Germans deserved it - but it was hard then and it's still hard 50 years later.

They both vetoed going to see "Saving Private Ryan" on the grounds of "been there, done that, got the T-shirt."

[bolobaby]

Better said than I.

[Marine Inspector]

Cool and thanks.