12 innocent men died today.

by Phil

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Wikileaks.org released Video today of 12 men being shot to death by an Apache helicopter on a Baghdad street.  The incident occurred on July 12, 2007.

I heard first about this from MSNBC.  They ran a 15:49 minute piece on the event.  They showed a bit of the original video and as they replayed the most horrible part over and over 4 noted speakers made comments and offered their thoughts.  MSNBC did not include 18 seconds of footage that gave the chopper fellow the belief in 'impending threat'.  They were the moments from 4:06 thru to 4:24.  

Below is something I noticed on the video that MSNBC did not cover.  From 4:06 to 4:24.

The video is 17 minutes and 47 seconds long.  At 4:11 the fellow on the radio sees what he believes to be a man crouching with an RPG behind the cover of a wall.   (An RPG is a rocket propelled grenade - worn over the shoulder - designed to blow up tanks and shoot down helicopters.)

However, it was only a photographer.  He was intending to be out of eye's view.  Maybe he thought the chopper was too loud, maybe he wanted to be near the group he was with - (they were all chatting and milling about right behind him).  Maybe any number of things.  But if I had to guess I would say it was just the reporter/photographer's natural instinct taking over. 

Wanting to capture the moment and be out of sight while he does it.  Catch a few pics of the chopper and continue on with his day.  

8 seconds later at 4:19 the photographer uses the the side of the building as cover to catch a few quick pics of the chopper.  But the chopper fellow sees a man shooting an RPG and reports such.    Earlier in the video the photography equipment was mistaken for AK-47's and weapons, and at 3:56 the chopper is given the go ahead to 'engage' (fire on them).  But for what it's worth the footage from 4:06 to 4:24 gave the chopper fellow the distinct feeling that they were being fired upon and I thought I would point that out.

And what happens after that is devastating.  Two journalists and ten civilians are killed.  How terrible.  My heart goes out to the men and women who are in the field working the toughest job ever.  The armed services.  These people are amazing.   

I am also impressed by war journalists.  Iraq is a very dangerous place for journalists: from 2003- 2009, 139 journalists were killed while doing their work.  These people are of great moral fiber.  Additionally, I am awed by the people who run "WikiLeaks.org" (and similar truth reporting news crews).

I never knew about Wikileaks.org.  Wow.  Keep up the good work.  And to all the loved ones affected.  I am sorry that this happened.  Finding a way to grow from this may seem hopeless, but if there is a way I hope we can find it. 

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Both of these links will take you to the 17:47 video.

http://wikileaks.org/

http://collateralmurder.com/

And if you want to see how MSNBC presented the news click below.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36182383/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/#36182090

___________________________

Phil

CLASSIC JANKIPOTIMUS!

by Katrina Lim

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I made a 24 hour trip to Vegas so my family can spend the week for free at the Palazzo. It was good to check up on the condo too. Same ole, same ole. Spent the evening sitting on the couch looking around the room wondering if it is worth keeping. Like the rest of America, my condo is one of the millions of underwater mortgages that is begging for mercy from BofA, also known as the Great Satan. I should hear from Satan any day now regarding a loan mod and will decide if I should continue to sell my soul to him.

Had dinner at Naked Fish with XTracey and Pearljammer and we enjoyed some of their famous sushi rolls. Yum! Spent some time at the Ballys tables and it was nice to see my dealer friends again. But it sure sucked losing $500 last night. Worst beat was when my set got rivered by the villain’s 2 pair when he rivered a flush.

Driving home on the 15 was the worst case of jank ever! I was stopped by CHP and the fool gave me a ticket for 78. Yes, I was speeding considering the limit is 70. Yes, other fools were passing me up but of course he has to stop me. C’mon! How fast can a 115 horsepower Honda Civic really go?! I think my Decepticon sticker just attracts Blue. Anyway, fine! Gimme my dumb ass ticket cuz it’s almost the end of the month and I know you have a quota to meet! Dumb ass CHP! They’re all slaves to Arnold now that the Governator has demanded more tickets issued. Start with your dumb ass wife getting caught on TMZ talking on her cell phone…twice!

Anyway, here is where I get really janked…about 10 miles after I get my ticket, the same dumb ass CHP officer is behind me in the fast lane and I’m going exactly his recommended 70 mph limit. He flashes his headlights at me to move over so he can pass me up cuz now I’m going too slow!!! OMG!!  Sure enough, Decepticivic moves over to the next lane and Mr. Officer passes me up real fast. I actually laughed cuz I realized the fool just janked me up without even knowing it. But he made a big mistake for picking on LimShady!!! No one screws LimShady and gets away with it. So, I truly believe Mr. CHP just cursed himself and sooner or later, the next gangsta he stops is going to put a cap in his dumb ass cuz no gangsta is gonna accept what happened to me today. Mr. CHP is just asking for a 187.