Pentagon says it attacked fighters -- not wedding

CNN.com ^ | May 19, 2004 | Kevin Flower, Jamie McIntyre

[veronica]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Pentagon officials Wednesday denied alleged eyewitness reports of a U.S. attack on a wedding party in a remote area of western Iraq that killed innocent civilians.

"Our report is that this was not a wedding party, that these were anti-coalition forces that fired first, and that U.S. troops returned fire, destroying several vehicles, and killing a number of them," a Pentagon spokesman said.

He was responding to a video distributed by The Associated Press showing Iraqi witnesses who said that at least 20 people were killed and five others critically wounded early Wednesday when planes fired on a wedding celebration.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Maybe, just maybe, wedding parties out in the middle of the desert in the middle of the night shouldn't shoot rockets at military helicopters.

[jaykay]

"Our report is that this was not a wedding party, that these were anti-coalition forces that fired first, and that U.S. troops returned fire, destroying several vehicles, and killing a number of them," a Pentagon spokesman said.

Perhaps it was both: a terrorist getting married, then firing at U.S. forces. I prefer a honeymoon, but maybe I'm weird that way.

[Iron Matron]

I believe our militray.

I do not believe any reports - eye-witness or otherwise, which comes from the mouths of anti-coalition iraqis.

[Mr. Mojo]

So, the Jidadis have finally taken note that some in the U.S. media and most in the world media are on their side and have decided to take advantage of that fact.

[soozla]

"Pentagon officials Wednesday denied alleged eyewitness reports of a U.S. attack on a wedding party in a remote area of western Iraq that killed innocent civilians."

Is it possible that this "wedding party" could be the same "worshippers" who honored Allah by stockpiling machine guns, mortar rounds, ammo, grenades, etc., etc., etc. in the local mosques??? If anyone believes it's NOT, then I have a few acres near Falujah to sell you!!

/sarcasm

[Normal4me]

I'm sure the cnn graphics department is hard at work creating a "Wedding Massacre" banner for their entire news line up.Mr Rumsfeld, please keep your schedule open in the coming weeks for another senate hearing.

[petercooper]

what, terrorists can't get married?

[Spok]

"I do not believe any reports - eye-witness or otherwise, which comes from the mouths of anti-coalition iraqis."

Or from the left-wing press.

[Mike Darancette]

Coalition forces on the ground recovered numerous weapons, 2 million Iraqi and Syrian dinar, foreign passports and a satcom radio," the statement said.

Where was the couple registered? And that must have been some money dance.

[Gator113]

All I know for sure is...... if this was a Same Sex marriage, we are all going to be in a lot of trouble with the Media!!!!

What we should do is let the Iraqi's all know that if they don't want us shooting at them, to quickly put a pair of panties over their heads, get down on all fours and bark like a dog. Our Pilot's would laugh and fly right on by!!

[Auntie Dem]

What are these Iraqis complaining about? If we did kill the groom, he now has 72 virgins instead of just one. If it was a wedding party, they should win the Darwin award, and universal condemnation, not pity.

[Milligan]

Don't you know the terrorist are always innocent and the American's are babykillers. Don't you bring your RPG's and other high powered weapons to your wedding? Every bride gets a weapons cache to help her terrorist husband. They really took "death do you part" seriously. Must see wedding video with mock up wailing by grandmama.

[Ignatius J Reilly]

Wonder if we will get to the truth here? If it was not a wedding where did that spin start?


"This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let's not bicker and argue about who killed who." Monty Ptyhon's Holy Grail

[Mr.Atos]

a video distributed by The Associated Press showing Iraqi witnesses who said that at least 20 people were killed and five others critically wounded early Wednesday when planes fired on a wedding celebration.

Fair and balanced reporting from AP? Yeah!

[SLB]

Maybe, just maybe, wedding parties out in the middle of the desert in the middle of the night shouldn't shoot rockets at military helicopters.

You think so? I would tend to agree with you. Especially in a hostile area such as that. Now, if it was in New York, nah, same rules of engagement there.

[Polybius]

Baby Milk Factory Bump

[BunnySlippers]

John Gibson on Fox covering this now. Says that the insurgents may have used this as a cover story.

[Sailorman]

Hi Auntie,
Given the number of Iraqi's that have been killed lately, the number of Virgins is running precariously low at this point. They might have to start sharing or go for a male virgin....
/sarcasm

[Right_in_Virginia]

Nice to have a bride and groom available when you're stockpiling weapons, isn't it?