Collateral Murder
A shocking video leaked on the internet shows US troops in Apache helicopters itching to attack a group of Iraqis before repeatedly opening fire on the innocent men.
Around 12 people were killed, including two Reuters news staff, who were mistaken for insurgents after their long lens camera was thought to be a rocket propelled grenade launcher.
The gunsight video contains audio of a conversation between the pilots, saying: "Let us shoot!"
Bullets pelt the ground as the men scatter, desperate for cover, and at one point some men are seen trying to dodge bullets while rushing small children away.
The behaviour of the US troopers has been likened to them playing a computer game and aiming for high scores.
In the footage, one of the helicopters opens fire on the small group, killing several people and wounding others in the New Baghdad District of eastern Baghdad on July 12, 2007.
A pilot is heard to say "C'mon, fire!" while the words "light 'em up!" and "keep shooting, keep shooting" are also caught on camera.
The Iraqi men moments before they are attacked
As bullets impact the dusty earth, several Iraqis are seen falling to the ground and at least one person tries to run away.
Even more disturbing is what happens just seconds later.
A van arrives and begins trying to help the wounded, but the pilots are worried the vehicle was occupied by militants trying to collect weapons and help wounded comrades escape.
The US troops are itching to attack again and request permission to open fire. "Come on, let us shoot," said one voice, impatiently.
Permission was given to hit the vehicle and two men were seen trying to run for cover.
Among those killed in the first attack was Reuters photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, and his 40-year-old driver and assistant Saeed Chmagh. Two children were also wounded.
Reuters photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen and driver Saeed Chmagh
The Apaches had been called in to assist ground troops who had been pinned down by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades.
The video provides a rare, disturbing close-up of modern urban warfare at a time when violence was near its peak in the Iraqi capital and the US death toll was mounting.
A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the video and audio were authentic.
Major Shawn Turner said an investigation of the incident shortly after it occurred found that US forces were not aware of the presence of the news journalists and thought they were engaging armed insurgents.
"We regret the loss of innocent life, but this incident was promptly investigated and there was never any attempt to cover up any aspect of this engagement," Major Turner said.
What the footage does display is just how much modern warfare, fought from a distance, resembles computer games.According to US officials, the pilots arrived at the scene to find a group of men approaching the fight with what looked to be AK-47 rifles slung over their shoulders and at least one rocket-propelled grenade.
A military investigation concluded that the 'RPG' was really a long-range photography lens and the camera looked like an AK-47.
WikiLeaks, a group that promotes leaking videos to fight government and corporate corruption, released the footage.
It said it had obtained the video from military whistleblowers and had been able to view and investigate it after breaking the encryption code.
A spokesman said: "The behaviour of the pilots is like they are playing a computer game and their desire appears to be that they want to get high scores in that game''
Sky News
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