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July 11, 2008

"The United States Of America: We Can't Find Osama, But We Sure Blow The Fucking Shit Out Of Those Weddings"

July 11, 2008:

A US air strike killed 47 civilians, including 39 women and children, as they were travelling to a wedding in Afghanistan, an official inquiry found today. The bride was among the dead.

May 24, 2004:

RAMADI, Iraq -- The videotape obtained Sunday by Associated Press Television News captures a wedding party that survivors say was later attacked by U.S. planes early Wednesday, killing up to 45 people...

Mourners say the bride and groom were killed.

—Jonathan Schwarz

Posted at July 11, 2008 02:21 PM
Comments
...but one missile went off course and hit the wedding party, said the provincial police chief spokesman, Ghafor Khan.

The US military initially denied any civilians had been killed.

What are the odds that these stray bombs and missiles keep finding the wedding parties? It must be wall to wall weddings.

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I saw on TV that we have a UAV combat squadron with Predators and Reapers. The pilots sit on an airbase in Nevada, and control the UAVs that are flying overseas from their command center.

The military pilot on TV was complaining that he gets stuck in commuter traffic when he goes home every day. Sometime the traffic makes him miss his kid's soccer game. On the way home from combat operations, he stops by the WalMart to pick up bread and milk.

I felt for the dude -- The PTSD must be catching up with him with all the stress.

Posted by: Labiche at July 11, 2008 04:04 PM

Well, what the hell were they doing getting married, anyway? Didn't they know there's a war on?

I laugh so as not to gouge my eyes out and then have my new seeing eye dog direct me off the nearest bridge.

Posted by: ethan at July 11, 2008 04:41 PM

Even if they were not using UAVs and the bomber pilots were flying the B-1 Bombers, do they EVER LOOK DOWN after dropping their bombs to see what carnage they have left behind? But of course not. I guess, their supervisor would say, "It is not in their job description"!! Gosh. It is sick and horrible. And this is supposed to make Iraqis and Afghanis feel SAFE!

Posted by: Rupa Shah at July 11, 2008 05:08 PM

Rupa Shah: Its to make them feel occupied and to understand that they have been invaded. Its directed to assure compliance with whatever it is U&I want them in compliance with.

Posted by: Mike Meyer at July 11, 2008 08:32 PM

After 8-10 millions protested against the invasion of Iraq around the world on February 15/16 2003, how did WE LET the war criminals in the administration take total control over OUR country? May be we did not protest enough! And I know you are being facetious Mike Meyer but coalition forces bursting into their homes and scaring the daylights out of them or being stopped at check points or living surrounded by walls is enough for them to feel occupied without bombs raining down on them!!

Posted by: Rupa Shah at July 11, 2008 10:10 PM

Rupa Shah: NOT a snark or being facetious, THAT IS what is going on, the attempted subjugation of a nation or two with YOUR FINANCIAL HELP AND CONSCENT. Its liberal use of the whip that keeps them in line. Its a whip(war machine), there is NO wrong way to use it when YOU are just whipping people into submission. Displaying the whip's power to wound is ALL that's necessary. Young love destroyed at a wedding, is that not a most terrible wound? Did YOU honestly think WE ARE THERE for some humanitarian purpose?

Posted by: Mike Meyer at July 11, 2008 11:40 PM

Parallels with the bombing of civilians during WWII; I've been reading "Human Smoke" (by Nicholson Baker) and it seems clear that the leadership of the time knew that like 1% of bombs dropped hit a legitimate military target, yet the public story was "precision bombing" and "destruction of strategic railyards". Incidentally "Human Smoke" is well worth reading (if one is into reading).

Posted by: Monkay at July 12, 2008 12:41 AM

This bombing wedding thing in not new, I remember first time they bombed a wedding in Afghanistan was in the early days of war, and have hearding about bombing a wedding here and there ever since. And I think to myself of the sickness of these tactics, the al-qaeda guys bomb the funerals, our guys, the weddings... After much pondering on this subject (to the point of getting a severe headache) I still haven't found the logic behind this sickness. Why weddings? and Why funerals?? There is so much symbolism involved in these two occasions, especially in those areas. But why would anyone do such a thing???

Posted by: Omar328 at July 12, 2008 05:42 AM
But why would anyone do such a thing???

Jilted partner?

It's not many places that you can call in a bombing strike in retaliation for being passed over.

Humanity is what it is. Too bad hedge fund managers aren't over there getting married. It'd be:

Yeah the Paulson-Simmons wedding. Just outside of Kandahar. Planning to have Osama give the bride away. Yup, they's heavily armed, so you better use some standoff when you do something. Where do I get my money?
Posted by: Labiche at July 12, 2008 08:23 AM

The United States, once again proudly proves itself to be the world's leading manufacturer of unbridled hatred against...The United States.

Posted by: Rob T at July 12, 2008 10:12 AM

Mike Meyer : I guess you did not pay attention to my comment but yes, the war crimes being committed are with my tax dollars, BUT NOT WITH MY CONSENT.I have protested, repeatedly, even before the war machine attacked Afghanistan as violence begets more violence and revenge is not in my vocabulary. And, I am under NO ILLUSIONS as to why this administration, lying through its teeth, invaded Iraq illegally. As they say, IT IS THE OIL, STUPID ( and Prof Chomsky has an article in Khaleej Times posted on www.alternet.org/waroniraq/01123 ).

Posted by: Rupa Shah at July 12, 2008 10:51 AM

INCOME TAX IS A VOLUNTEER TAX, and indeed ALL federal taxes are some form of volunteer TAX. When YOU use a SS number YOU agree each time YOU use that number to pay those FEDERAL TAXES---YOUR CONSENT. One may NOT agree with the end use of said TAXES thus the need for VOTER INITIATIVE CONTROL OF BUDGETS. But as for now YOU ARE VOLUNTEERING to pay to bomb those people whether YOU agree with the bombing itself or not.

Posted by: Mike Meyer at July 12, 2008 11:42 AM

Mike Meyer : Thank you for educating me about the Federal tax. I just checked and found out that 16th amendment was never ratified. In any case, I have no problems paying taxes voluntarily if they are going to be used for health care, education, building infrastructure etc BUT CETAINLY not for war machinery and for wars. Till I find out more about the consequences of NOT PAYING my taxes ( e.g. like going to jail --to me, getting arrested to protest something is a waste of time. Sitting in jail, one can not do anything except be a symbol. Staying outside, one can fight for a change one wants to see in the world ), I will continue to pay them but at the same time use all the means available to me to bring an end to this madness called WAR and I hope, you will do your bit too!

Posted by: Rupa Shah at July 12, 2008 01:11 PM

paying no taxes and posting here IS his bit.

Posted by: salad at July 12, 2008 05:10 PM

salad: THAT'S just about the extent of it, and says it all.

Posted by: Mike Meyer at July 12, 2008 07:43 PM