Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Six Libyan villagers shot by US team rescuing pilot.
channel 4 ^

Posted on 03/22/2011 10:26:57 AM PDT by darkside321

Channel 4 News International Editor, Lindsey Hilsum, says that the villagers were shot when a US helicopter picked up the pilot who had ejected from the F-15E Eagle plane after it experienced a mechanical failure.

The US aircraft crashed on Monday night and was found in a field outside Benghazi and landed in rebel-held territory.

The local Libyans who were injured in the rescue mission are currently in hospital. They are the first confirmed casualities of allied operations, almost four days after operations began. At the time of writing, no one had died as a result of the gunfire.

Lindsey Hilsum has been in the hospital where some of the injured were taken. She has spoken to the father of a young boy who expects to have his leg amputated due to a bullet wound.

Gauging the reaction of locals in the area, she said: "the local Libyans do not seem resentful, they still want the coalition forces to keep operating."

Both crew members ejected and have now been flown out of Libya by US personel, according to a US military spokesman.

He said the crash was "not due to enemy or hostile actions."

The pilot and a weapons officer were aboard the fighter jet, having set off from from Aviano Air Base in Italy. On experiencing the mechanical difficulties, both pilots ejected safely, but suffered minor injuries.

The pilot was rescued by the US helicopter soon after crash landing and opposition rebels recovered the weapons officer, taking "took good care of him" before coalition forces picked him up some time later.

(Excerpt) Read more at channel4.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: f15; f15eagle; libya; obama
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 next last
To: Owl_Eagle

According to the telegraph:

A rescue helicopter swooped low to collect the second crew member - and strafed the ground to keep the locals at bay.

Since none died, I suppose they were injured by ricocheting bullets...


21 posted on 03/22/2011 10:46:13 AM PDT by Eurotwit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: darkside321

I thought the pilot had been taken in by friendlies, so who where these “villagers” they shot?


22 posted on 03/22/2011 10:47:59 AM PDT by CodeToad (Islam needs to be banned in the US and treated as a criminal enterprise.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: darkside321

When we shoot villagers it OK, when Quadaffi shoots villagers a no-fly zone is needed.


23 posted on 03/22/2011 10:48:56 AM PDT by Mashood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Retired Greyhound

I’ve always thought of the two sides as prisoners. One prisoner is a serial killer and another is serial rapist. No matter who you back you get screwed.


24 posted on 03/22/2011 10:49:00 AM PDT by utherdoul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: darkside321

The fog of war. There wer earlier reports that the pilots has been rescued by the rebels.


25 posted on 03/22/2011 10:49:09 AM PDT by Truth29
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

bless the innocent wounded...


26 posted on 03/22/2011 10:52:11 AM PDT by Maverick68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: darkside321; Berlin_Freeper; American Quilter; TADSLOS; Lurker; Owl_Eagle

In another war Rudyard Kipling said,

“When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s
plain
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll on your rifle and blow out your brains
And go to your Gawd like a soldier.”

I would probably shot also, provided they were not bringing flowers.


27 posted on 03/22/2011 10:54:09 AM PDT by Retain Mike
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Truth29

Two pilots, two separate landings, two incidents would be my guess.


28 posted on 03/22/2011 10:58:40 AM PDT by Eurotwit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: American Quilter
"What were the villagers doing that caused the Americans to fire on them?"

Rule: Never get between a downed pilot and the Pavehawk crew sent to rescue them - that is their sole reason for existing - "recover the pilot".

29 posted on 03/22/2011 11:00:10 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

The pilot no doubt landed in the middle of a wedding ceremony and the grooms men just happened to be firing their AK-47s in the air in celebration that another virgin was about to relieve the goats of their traditional duties.

So the evil Americans broke up the celebration by firing up the local heroes who were dressed in tuxedos and snacking on Grey Poupon covered camel mountain oysters.

Not doubt Odumbass will assuage their bruised egos with a generous dollop of greenbacks, courtesy of the US taxpayer, (that being us!).


30 posted on 03/22/2011 11:03:26 AM PDT by TxDas (This above all, to thine ownself be true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Mashood
When we shoot villagers it OK, when Quadaffi shoots villagers a no-fly zone is needed.

Sounds like you Hate America First. We are at war! Sounds like you're questioning our war president and the war he's waging to protect our freedoms. Sounds like you're a treasonous domestic terrorist!

The proper response to this is to wait for the "war porn" thread and pleasure yourself at the video of civilian children being (accidentally or not) shot or otherwise wounded.

31 posted on 03/22/2011 11:04:01 AM PDT by MichiganConservative (Letting Obama supporters vote is like giving a loaded gun to a child with severe mental retardation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: darkside321; All

6 more dead Libyans saved or created by Obama! HOPEY! CHANGEY!!

So, using the standards set by the liberal left for Bush, Obama MUST be arrested, and brought up on War Crimes charges in the Hague, right?

Or do these people not consider it “Imperialist FAscism” when Democrats kill??

The hypocrisy is so thick you can cut it with a knife.


32 posted on 03/22/2011 11:10:24 AM PDT by tcrlaf (2012 Slogan: "You'd Have To Be Insane, To Vote For Hussein!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: darkside321

Maybe first confirmed, but not the first casualties. That fried tank crew from the first day would be ahead of them.


33 posted on 03/22/2011 11:11:17 AM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MichiganConservative

“The proper response to this is to wait for the “war porn” thread and pleasure yourself at the video of civilian children being (accidentally or not) shot or otherwise wounded.”

Frankly, I don’t see any difference.


34 posted on 03/22/2011 11:11:46 AM PDT by Mashood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Mashood

Yep, you pretty much got it right.


35 posted on 03/22/2011 11:12:36 AM PDT by Grunthor (hcg diet, down 32 lbs in 5 weeks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: darkside321

On the news every Libyan I have seen is an angry male shooting a gun in the air. How does one tell the difference between friend and foe?


36 posted on 03/22/2011 11:14:41 AM PDT by 30Moves
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eurotwit

***A rescue helicopter swooped low to collect the second crew member - and strafed the ground to keep the locals at bay.

Since none died, I suppose they were injured by ricocheting bullets...***

Finally, something that makes sense.


37 posted on 03/22/2011 11:18:14 AM PDT by kitkat ( I sure HOPE that it's time for a CHANGE from Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ArmstedFragg

“That fried tank crew from the first day would be ahead of them.”

Actually, far from it. Al Jezeera has been showing video of Libyan Gov troops killed, but not a SINGLE picture has made it in to American media.

I cannot IMAGINE WHY, can you? It must be a miracle, that makes the dead invisible to US-Owned TV cameras when a Democrat kills.


38 posted on 03/22/2011 11:20:24 AM PDT by tcrlaf (2012 Slogan: "You'd Have To Be Insane, To Vote For Hussein!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: darkside321
"Gauging the reaction of locals in the area, she said: "the local Libyans do not seem resentful, they still want the coalition forces to keep operating.""

Yep, right up until they declare victory. Lets just wait and see what they chant in the streets after the change of power happens, I bet they'll change their tone.

39 posted on 03/22/2011 11:23:03 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: darkside321

Note to Arabs. You do not F&*k with a US Marine Corps TRAP Team. They are there to get the pilot back at all costs.


40 posted on 03/22/2011 11:24:18 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson