U.S. Forces Kill Seven Iraqi Women, Kids

The Associated Press via The Washington Post ^ | Monday, March 31, 2003; 4:40 PM | ROBERT BURNS

[SlickWillard]

<EXCERPT>

U.S. troops killed seven Iraqi women and children at a checkpoint Monday when the Iraqis' van would not stop as ordered, a military official said.

Two other civilians were wounded in the incident at a U.S. Army checkpoint on a highway near Najaf in southern Iraq, the official said. The military is investigating, he said.

The dead and wounded were among 13 women and children in a van that approached the checkpoint but did not stop, the official said. Soldiers fired warning shots and then shots into the vehicle's engine, neither of which stopped it, he said.

</EXCERPT>

[Archangelsk]

Although it's tragic that those killed were women and children try to imagine how the soldiers who fired feel about now (a number of whom probably have children themselves). They are probably getting help right now as we speak and they are probably going to be no good for fighting for about a month (if ever).

I defy anyone to not feel a sense of remorse upon doing something like this (anyone who says otherwise has probably never heard a shot fired in anger).

[Wyatt's Torch]

Sure sounds like a set up. What better way to get the checkpoint "shoot to kill" orders than parading dead (albeit coerced) "women and children" in front of the ridiculously sympathetic American media. I sure hope these soldiers who were following orders are not disciplined. The lives of many are at stake. Sorry for the loss but too bad.

[Yo-Yo]

When told by a bunch of armed soldiers to stop, the prudent thing to do is to STOP.

[Wphile]

I seriously doubt that they killed all those women and children. My guess is some were already dead beforehand and this was more Iraqi terror tactics. Disgusting.

You are right though...I'm sure the soldiers feel awful but consider how many we have lost due to the shady tactics of the Iraqi "military."

[genefromjersey]

Good shooting !
(If anyone finds this comment offensive, remember 911 ! )

[UCFRoadWarrior]

The difference between the US and Iraq (and Islamic World):

US troops would be very upset that they found out, after-the-fact, that they had killed women and children

Iraq and Islamic World would be celebrating in the streets and dismembering the bodies had they inadvertently killed our women and children

Of course....Americans would not be sending women and children thru military check-points, anyway, without letting them know what exactly to do and the risks associated if they dont

[ladysusan]

I'll take "They were already dead before we ever opened up" for four hundered, Alex.

[kesg]

My first reaction to this story is that the person driving the van was either a Saddamite Baathist or under coercion by a Saddamite Baathist(s).

If I am right, the Saddamite Baathist(s) in question is morally responsible for what happened. In any event, if a warning to stop, a warning shot, and a shot to the engine didn't stop the van, then our guys acted properly. This is war, after all, and we already had the car bombing from the weekend.

[xJones]

See click.

[First_Salute]

"Soldiers fired warning shots and then shots into the vehicle's engine, neither of which stopped it..."

People who are trying to kill you?

[js1138]

Anyone recall the scene in Dr. Zhivago where the schoolmaster sends his students charging into a bank of machine guns?

[ladysusan]

Exactly. The car was full of dead and wonded and throttled towards the checkpoint. That's why it didn't stop...the driver was..ah..asleep...at the wheel.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Harp seals. Baby harp seals, with soulful liquid eyes....

[PISANO]

War is hell!!

[El Gato]

I wonder what percentage of the Iraqi population can read those pamphlets?

According to the CIA (world factbook)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 70.7%
female: 45% (1995 est.)

Chances are a higher percentage can read a little, but not write. Besides the pamplets are basically cartoons with minimal text. Probably written at the 3rd or 4th grade equivalent level.

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

When it gets to 3000, let me know

Hell, don't even bother telling me. 3,000 of MY BROTHERS are priceless. I put no count or cost on their life. If the civilians don't stop and heed our warning, then they are the enemy.

[Russell Scott]

I wonder if the driver was one of these death squad fanatics, and the women and children were forced into the van at gunpoint. Evil knows no limits.

[SLB]

I saw women and children killed in Vietnam. I saw a boy of about 12 or 13 killed while trying to set up a booby trap right outside the gate to our fire base at about midnight. Now tell me, if it was going to be him or you which would it be? I was darn glad the guys on guard saw him and fired him up.

[B4Ranch]

This just more proof that when a Marine with a weapon in his hands say STOP you had best listen to him.

Terrorists take note.

[Poohbah]

OK, you win!