Monday, June 03, 2013

Bradley Manning


Is anyone following the Bradley Manning fiasco? In case you don't know, Bradley Manning is a 25-year-old Army intelligence analyst. He shared a lot of so-called "classified" material with Wikileaks and is now, after being held with no charges for three years, on trial for "aiding the enemy", among other ridiculous charges. 

One of the most damaging things he shared was One of the most damaging things he shared was a classified video of a United States Apache helicopter firing on civilians in New Baghdad in 2007. The video, available at www.collateralmurder.com, shows Americans shooting and killing 11 individuals who do not return fire. Two of those killed were Reuters’ employees, including 22 year old Reuters’ photojournalist Namir Noor-Eldeen and his driver, 40 year old Saeed Chmagh. 

The video includes an audio recording of the internal commentary by the American soldiers before, during and after the shooting. The soldiers repeatedly request and are granted permission to open fire, encourage one another and joke about the dead and dying civilians.

A total of 11 adults were killed. Two children, passengers in a van that arrived on the scene after the first bout of gunfire had ceased, were seriously injured when the Apache helicopter opened fire on their van.

In 2007, Reuters called for an investigation into the attack. In response, a spokesman for the multinational forces in Baghdad stated: “There is no question that coalition forces were clearly engaged in combat operations against a hostile force.”


  
  

Dumb Law of the Week: In Wisconsin: It is illegal to kiss on a train.


À la prochaine, mes amis.

1 comment:

Amanda said...

That is just terrible! I wonder what will happen to him and Julian Assange.
Did you read this?
http://www.cbsnews.com/2102-3445_162-57587207.html
I didn't know this happened (I am almost finished reading "Paris" by Edward Rutherfurd. Fascinating book.