Posted on 05/24/2004 3:05:51 PM PDT by swilhelm73
Yesterday’s Guardian headline was unequivocal: the Americans were behind a “Wedding Party Massacre.” No scare-quotes. No qualifiers. There was a wedding and there was a massacre. It’s not unlikely, of course. The Unites States military has made grave errors in the past (recall the wedding party in Afghanistan, the pharmaceutical plant in Sudan and the Chinese embassy in Belgrade).
But I am skeptical of this “massacre” for a variety of reasons, not least the conflicting eye-witness accounts.
One “massacre” survivor told the Washington Post that “the wedding party was in full swing – with dinner just finished and the band playing tribal Arab music – when US fighter jets roared overhead and US vehicles started shining their highbeams. Worried, the hosts ended the party men stayed in the wedding tent, and women and children went inside the house nearby, the witnesses said. About five hours later, the first shell hit the tent.”
But other ‘witnesses’ forgot their lines, saying that “revelers had fired volleys of gunfire into the air in a traditional wedding celebration before the attack.” The response—like in Afghanistan—was just a big misunderstanding.
So were they hiding in the house for five hours or did the American military–who just happened to be in the area—nervously overreact to a raucous party?
UPDATE: Skepticism over the “wedding massacre” in the New York Times. In the Times account, notice that the slain “wedding singer” has, in death, decided upon a name change.
“Among the dead was Hussein Ali, a popular wedding singer.” - Washington Post (5/20)
“Among the dead, by several accounts, was Nazar al-Khalid, a well-known Iraqi wedding singer who often traveled to Syria.” - New York Times
I don't believe the wedding in Afghanistan was innocent either. As for the pharmaceutical plant, the press defended that for years, because clinton was the perpetrator. That wasn't a military mistake, it was the commander in chief's direct orders, to take the heat off Monica.
Same with the Chinese embassy. There was plenty of evidence that it was bombed on purpose, although for what reason I really don't know.
Where's the "grave error?" I thought they hit the damned thing dead center!
Anybody familiar with the Afghan 'wedding' incident, could easily manufacture same. If the bad guys are willing to store arsenals in and conduct operations sacred places, they are perfectly capable of scheduling a meeting during a wedding.
Where were the bride and groom registered for thir RPGs and SATCOM radios?
I can see Adam Sandler playing the wedding singer in the movie version of this!
There is nothing to support the notion that this was a "wedding". The circumstantial evidence pointing toward this being a terrorist "safe" house, OTOH, is pretty substantial.
But the anti-Bush press isn't get to let this story go - unlike what they did with the Nick Berg story.
Just a guess, Prometheus Radio and Tower, the Nick Berg company?
-PJ
Not too smart for a "wedding party" to go outside and fire a lot of weapons in the air near a patroling U.S. helicopter at zero dark thirty.
Roger that...
Say... on another topic... I think I saw you on another thread saying that you were a coastie on an icebreaker. That wouldn't have been the Polar Sea would it? About the 85-86 vintage or so?
I was an SA/SN on there at that time, and I could swear I remember a CWO Jackson. Might just be creative memory. Dunno. I was there for (at least) Arctic West Summer 86.
I went on from there to QM "A" School. Was on Resolute (Astoria) after that, through '89. Was a QM2 there when I left.
Just wonderin'...
Now the new Alex Haley...you couldn't pay me enough to take a trip on her. She killed one while building, killed one when launched and she scares the heck out of me. It was built for maximum automation and minimum manning (entire crew is roughly 60). I would not want to be on her in the case of a fire or hull breach.
And by the way QM...right way to go.
Roger that... The Polars were (are) an incredible machine that munch hard ice like candy. Nothing like steaming at regular speed through ten foot thick ice without even having to slow, back and ram. The Polar Star (Building 10, as we called it) was *always* either in the yards while we were out doing their job, or they were up stuck in the ice waiting for us to come pull them out. By the time they built my boat (WAGB 11) they had the propeller issues worked out, and we did a lot of underway time.
Roger that on going QM. Loved it. Still miss it. Some days (more than I'll admit) I really wish I'd stayed and made a career out of it.
The wife and I were just over to the stations at Neah Bay and La Push; they were paying honor to the Coastie who was just killed in Iraq. I don't know if you ever got near those stations but the folks on the reservations are awesome to us.
...and... I haven't heard much else about the Haley.
Can't speak to the death rate. We lost one on the Polar Sea due to a freak wave in the Gulf of AK. 50 or 60 foot wave came broadside outta nowhere. Ship heeled over about 58deg, and a guy fell across the 80ft width of the bridge. He never had a chance. Bad things happen in the Gulf of AK.
As for the Healy, her first victim was one of the yardbirds building her. The second was an older lady at the launch. The Healy has a very flat sided hull; they side launched it into the Mississippi with reviewing seats almost right up to the ways. It wouldn't have taken a rocket scientist to know what was going to happen.
That large flat side hit the river, pushed it out and a six foot wave came roaring back over the spectators. A dead head in the water took out the old lady; she lived a couple of days. Many people injured and a lot who drank Mississippi River water.
As for the manning...imagine a ship almost the six of a Polar (no where near the ability) then give it a crew of 60.
Right indecisive of you, that... :-) hehehe..
The wife and I were just over to the stations at Neah Bay and La Push; they were paying honor to the Coastie who was just killed in Iraq. I don't know if you ever got near those stations but the folks on the reservations are awesome to us.
I've been to those stations. I live in Gig Harbor now. I don't get out to the coast all the time, but I do try to do so with some frequency. Sounds like a fine event for them, if somber. Those are good places. Yer' bringing up all manner of memories now. It's good to think back on it all. I sure do miss it.
If anything, it was a good deal more meaningful than the office job I've had for the fifteen or so years hence. Life has been good, but money ain't everything. In fact... it's damn little in the big scheme of things.
They pay sucked until I made Chief and wasn't bad at all when I made warrant. Warrant is the best racket going in the Coast Guard, particularly deck, and CWO4...well, I wouldn't take three stars for it.
I hear you. Warrant is a damn fine way to do it. Congrats on making all the way to CWO4. Wow... nicely done, sir.
I enlisted with a simultaneous application to OCS, but that's a sad story how that didn't work out. I sure did enjoy my years as a QM though. I got to know some pretty damn salty sailors. Got to do things I'd never have had a chance to do any other way in my life. [snif]
OK... not fair... you're making me all reminiscent and stuff.
Are you still in the greater WA area? I'd sure like to invite you to a beer and some sea stories. I'll buy... :-)
Did you ever make a South Trip? I got close to being able to visit Machu Pichu three times and never made it for one reason or another. We're headed down there soon.
We will have to hook up sometime though...and good thing you didn't go OCS. The chances of integration for OCS was way too narrow. It improved in recent years but...you know how it works.
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