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The
War Profiteers - War Crimes, Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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The Baiji Killings |
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Background -
Baiji, May 21st, 2008 “A U.S. helicopter airstrike on Wednesday night
killed eight civilians, including two children, north of Baghdad, police
officials said on Thursday. Colonel Mudhher al-Qaisi, police chief in the
town of Baiji, said the attack was on a group of shepherds in a vehicle in a
farming area. Relatives said some of those killed were fleeing on foot after
the U.S. military arrived in the area. ‘This is a criminal act. It will make
the relations between Iraqi citizens and the U.S. forces tense. […],’ Qaisi
told Reuters. A U.S. military spokeswoman, Lieutenant-Colonel Maura Gillen,
said the helicopter fired on the vehicle after observing ‘suspicious
activity.’ She said the driver had ignored warnings to stop. […]” Excerpt
of a Reuters article
from May 22nd, 2008 |
After the airstrike - Burying the dead |
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May 23rd, 2008 - Iraq Police Chief Says U.S.
Killed 7 Civilians 1 news article by
the Los Angeles Times May 22nd, 2008 - U.S. Airstrike Kills Iraqi
Children 1 news article by
CBS News May 22nd, 2008 - U.S. Helicopter Strike Kills 8
Iraqi Civilians 1 news article by
Reuters |
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May 22nd, 2008 - Coalition Forces Pressure
Al-Qaeda Detaining 2 Wanted Men, 28 Other Terrorist Suspects Press Release by
the Multi-National Corps Iraq, Press Desk, Baghdad, Iraq “[…] Coalition forces killed six terrorists,
detained two wanted individuals and detained 28 other suspected terrorists
during operations conducted throughout Iraq Wednesday. Two civilians were
also killed during the operations. “[…] Coalition forces continued to follow
individuals believed to be associated with the bombing network and stopped a
vehicle south of Bayji. Coalition forces tried to detain the occupants of the
vehicle using non-lethal force, including firing three warning shots, but the
vehicle’s occupants refused to surrender, despite other individuals in the
area exiting their vehicles with their hands up. Coalition forces engaged the
target vehicle’s occupants, killing five terrorists, after the terrorists
exhibited hostile intent and failed to comply with instructions to surrender.
Two children in the vehicle were also killed. Coalition forces killed another
terrorist in a field next to the road after the terrorist also refused to
follow instructions to surrender and exhibited hostile intent. “In a continuation of the operation, Coalition
forces detained three suspected terrorists allegedly part of the same
network. Detainees on the scene told Coalition forces that those killed in
the vehicle near Bayji included the targeted terrorist. “[…] ‘MNF-I sincerely regrets the injury of any
innocent civilians and condemns those terrorists who place civilians
recklessly in harm’s way. Terrorists continue to show their disregard for
human life by endangering children with their illegal and violent activities,’
said Col. Jerry O’Hara, MNF-I spokesman. An investigation of the incident
involving the children has been initiated. […]” |
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Aftermath of the Killings |
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Funeral scene 1 |
Funeral scene 2 |
Funeral scene 3 |
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Background 1) Residents pray near the bodies of civilians
killed in an air strike, during a funeral in Baiji, 180km north of Baghdad -
May 21st, 2008 - Sabah al-Bazee/Reuters; Aftermath of the
Killings 1) A
man looks at the bodies of shepherds killed in an air strike, during a
funeral in Baiji, 180 km north of Baghdad - May 21, 2008 -Sabah
al-Bazee/Reuters; 2)
Residents gather outside a Sunni mosque to attend a funeral for the shepherds
killed in an air strike in Baiji, 180 km north of Baghdad - May 21, 2008 -
Sabah al-Bazee/Reuters; 3) The bodies of shepherds killed in an air strike
lie on the ground outside a Sunni mosque before their burial in Baiji, 180 km
north of Baghdad - May 21, 2008 - Sabah al-Bazee/Reuters; |
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Back to
the Second Gulf War/Iraq Invasion II Back to U.S. Department
of Defense |
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