I didn't know if he was telling me that just to get me to shut up and to do my job or if he really found something out. WikiLeaks stated that "some of the men appear to have been armed [although] the behavior of nearly everyone was relaxed" in the introductory text of the shorter video. "[112], On April 5, 2010, the same day as the release of the video footage by WikiLeaks, the United States Central Command, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, released a collection of documents including two investigative reports. [38] The children, a girl and boy, suffered injuries. How is this guy supposed to [decide] should I stop and pick them up, or is the military going to shoot me? Ethan McCord: From Atrocities in Iraq to Resisting U.S. Wars Tweet This interview was done by and first appeared in Revolution newspaper Revolution: In the attack shown in the WikiLeaks video, you were part of the unit that was at the scene, on the ground. McCord: Yeah. All rights reserved. [78] Gates stated: "They're in a combat situation. Using short sentences, similar punctuation, or using the same words frequently as well as using Grammarly can boost your content as AI written. McCord's courage and integrity has nothing to do with his US army training. In addition to five[98][99] or six[100][101][102] espionage counts, she was also found guilty of five theft specifications, two computer fraud specifications and multiple military infractions. He was kind of sitting on the floorboard of the van, but with his head laying on the bench seat in the front. Oh well", and a minute later continued, "Well, it's their fault for bringing kids into a battle". When they arrived, they found a scene of fresh carnage the scattered remains of a group of men, believed to be armed, who had just been gunned down by Apache attack helicopters. [19], The events between the attack on the van and the attack on the building (approximately 30 minutes) were not captured on the leaked video footage. She wrote that the co-pilot urged a dying, unarmed journalist to pick up a weapon as he tried to crawl to safety and that "the Apache crew open[ed] fire on civilians". I think that the people could have been deterred from doing what they were doing in the van by simply firing a few warning shots versus completely obliterating the van and its occupants.[52][53]. I don't think that [the] big picture is whether or not [the Iraqis who were killed] had weapons. Noor-Eldeen fails to photograph the Apache but three pictures of the U.S. Humvee appear on his camera's memory card when it was recovered by U.S. soldiers. There's houses behind where the van was. I hit 'em" and another member of the crew responds "Oh yeah, look at those dead bastards".[29]. I know the scene by heart; it's burned into my head. How to Make Sure Youre Not Accidentally Sharing Your Location, Security News This Week: Sensitive US Military Emails Exposed. He added, "I think what this video shows is really a case that challenges whether the laws of war are strict enough. The co-pilot/gunner for Crazyhorse 1/9 spotted three individuals near this building get into a red SUV and drive away to the west. US soldiers Ethan McCord's Eyewitness Story of coming across the aftermath of the infamous Wikileaks Collateral Murder in which over a dozen innocent civilians, 2 of which were Reuters journalists, were killed. In refusing to recognize this, the US military fails both its own soldiers and their victims. [61], Washington Post reporter David Finkel, who at the time was embedded with Bravo Company 216 Infantry, later covered the incidents of the day in his book, The Good Soldiers. Ethan Mccord and Josh Stieber deployed to Baghdad with Bravo Company 2-16 in 2007. He runs the girl to the Bradley. We've been there for so long now and it seems like nothing is being accomplished whatsoever, except for we're making more people hate us. classified video created its own firestorm. [86], Ethan McCord, the soldier seen in the video carrying the injured boy, recalled in an interview on The Marc Steiner Show that on arrival at the scene, "The first thing I did was run up to the van". Ethan McCord, who was one of the first soldiers on the scene in the 2007 attack, told Wired.com that he saw several weapons at the scene, including a rocket propelled grenade launcher. He was shot and killed. I was also told that there would be repercussions if I was to go to mental health. We are both soldiers who occupied your neighborhood for 14 months. Their overall mission that day was to protect us, to provide support for us, so I can see where the initial attack on the group of men was warranted. Series of air-to-ground attacks conducted in New Baghdad during the Iraqi insurgency, An AH-64 Apache helicopter, the type used in the attack, Arrest, convictions and sentencing of Manning, Attack on personnel and a van per U.S. Army report account, Attack on building per U.S. Army report account, Julian Assange's comments regarding U.S. Army report, List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War 2007, "In Disclosing Secret Documents, WikiLeaks Seeks 'Transparency', "Video Shows U.S. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Iraq war veteran Ethan McCord was one of three US soldiers who were on the ground during the Apache helicopter assault on twelve civilians in Baghdad in 2007 that was captured in a video. [104][105][106][107] Pursuant to a commutation by President Obama, Chelsea Manning was released on May 17, 2017. It was a scene that had played repeatedly in his mind the last three years, and he knew exactly who the soldier was. McCord admits that she was sad to go because she had been there for a decade and a half, but that "it wasn't the end of the world" and that she wasn't worried for "a nanosecond" that . On July 12, 2007, a series of air-to-ground attacks were conducted by a team of two U.S. AH-64 Apache helicopters in Al-Amin al-Thaniyah, New Baghdad, during the Iraqi insurgency which followed the invasion of Iraq. These people were operating in split second situations.". Inside 'Adam-12' Star, Kent McCord caught the attention of TV lovers when he popularized the "Jim Reed" character in 1968's "Adam-12." McCord maintained the role for seven seasons till the show ended in 1975. He opened his eyes when I was carrying him. I was told to go pull security on a rooftop. You can hear the medic saying on the video, "There's nothing I can do here, she needs to be evac'd." I went back outside to the van, and that's when the boy took, like, a labored, breath. [97] On July 30, Manning was acquitted of the most serious charge, that of aiding the enemy, for giving secrets to WikiLeaks. "Reading his account," she explained, "one would believe the engagement was somehow justified as 'payback' for an earlier attack that led to the death of a soldier. The ground controller responds, "If you've [positively identified] the individuals in the building with weapons, go ahead and engage the building". Just from looking into the van, and the amount of blood that was on the boy and the father, I immediately figured they were dead. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. [32] Assange also said "it's ludicrous to allege that we have taken anything out of context in this video". Josh Stieber was in the same company but was not there that day, though he contributed to the your pain, and the pain of your community on many other occasions. [19], As the tape resumes, two men, one holding an AK-47, are seen walking. "[60], Early in 2010, the Internet whistleblower site WikiLeaks made a public request for assistance in decrypting a video it described as "US bomb strikes on civilians", specifically requesting access to supercomputer time. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. McCord states he was yelled at for not "pulling security". Those guys could have just been protecting their area". It was nominated as a Documentary Short Subject for the 84th Academy Awards. They're like, oh yeah, we're the "collateral murder" company. In fact, that's one of the reasons I went to the van immediately, because I could hear her crying. Killing of Reuters Employees", "Dealing With Assange and the WikiLeaks Secrets", "Iraq war files: Apache Hellfire victims", "US soldier on aftermath of WikiLeaks Apache attack", Leaked U.S. video shows deaths of Reuters' Iraqi staffers, "Notes from the Courtroom: Alexa O'Brien's Transcript of Pfc. It's painful to see, especially when you learn after the fact what was going on. Plus: Irans secret torture black sites, hacking a bank account with AI-generated voice, and Lance Bass unhinged encounter in Russia. From our own experiences, and the experiences of other veterans we have talked to, we know that the acts depicted in this video are everyday occurrences of this war: this is the nature of how U.S.-led wars are carried out in this region. An Apache maneuvered around a building to get a clear field of fire and shot all nine men, killing eight. "[88] McCord also recalled being ordered to "kill every motherfucker on the street" in the event of an attack on their convoy. Now, as far as rules of engagement, [Iraqis] are not supposed to pick up the wounded. As the killing goes on, you obviously would see the killing of men who are lying on the ground in an operation where ground troops are approaching and perfectly capable of taking those people captive, but meanwhile you're murdering before the troops arrive. [32], On the day of the attack the U.S. military reported that the two journalists were killed along with nine insurgents, and that the helicopter engagement was related to a U.S. troop raid force that had been attacked by small-arms fire and RPGs. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our livesfrom culture to business, science to design. [45][114], "Cameramen and armed insurgents" (all captions from the Army report), "Cameraman peering around corner of wall", "Pictures taken by ground forces after reaching the site". soldiers. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. When this video first came out, there was a lot of outrage by the soldiers, just because it depicted us as being callous, cruel, heartless people, and we're not that way. "When I did come up on the scene, there was an RPG as well as AK-47s there," he said. With such pain, friendship might be too much to ask. Since then, McCord has been receiving threats to him and his family on a regular basis. I know the van, I know the faces of everybody that was there that day. Responsibility for civilian deaths in such encounters rests with those who violate the rules of war. You are seeing only a very narrow picture of the events". However, the long version of the video shows that this van had already been targeted by one Apache (Crazyhorse 1/8), prior to the second strike, as it traveled south toward the Reuters employees who were simultaneously targeted by the other Apache (Crazyhorse 1/9) as they walked with the group of men north on the same road toward the van. When we were on that roof, we were still taking fire. WikiLeaks stated that the footage shows the "murder of Iraqi civilians and two Reuters journalists". It wasnt like a cry of pain really. Part of Banksy's, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 21:26. If you or I saw someone wounded on the ground what is your first inkling? They also found two Canon EOS digital cameras with telephoto lenses. He condemned and reported the massacre as soon as it happened. The event was covered by Al Jazeera English and Reuters,[16] and later by The Washington Post,[82] The New York Times,[2] The Christian Science Monitor,[83] the BBC,[66] and CNN. The Apache crew saw unarmed[25] men exit the vehicle and move to Chmagh. Two former soldiers from the Army unit responsible for the Wikileaks "Collateral Murder" incident have written an open-letter of "Reconciliation and Responsibility" to those injured in the July 2007 attack, in which U.S. forces wounded two children and killed over a dozen people, including the father of those children and two Reuters employees. McCord: I would be smoked. One of the first soldiers on the scene after the air attack, Ethan McCord, is now the subject of a short documentary, Incident in New Baghdad, which will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York next week. More and more Americans are taking responsibility for what was done in our name. I think it is good that they're putting this stuff out there. When the helicopter pilots discover that they have killed a number of Iraqi civilians and wounded two children, one of them is heard to say: "Well, its their fault for bringing their kids into a battle".[41]. We took her in there and we're checking to see if there were any other wounds. Ethan McCord had just returned from dropping his children at school earlier this month, when he turned on the TV news to see grainy black-and-white video footage of a soldier running from a bombed-out van with a child in his arms. "I grabbed him and ran to the Bradley myself". We have been speaking to whoever will listen, telling them that what was shown in the Wikileaks video only begins to depict the suffering we have created. [18][19][25] Once the group is eliminated, the Apache pilots direct the ground troops to move up to the position of the attack to clear the area. [108][109], In a June 7, 2010, article in The New Yorker, Raffi Khatchadourian addressed several issues involved in determining the legality of the attacks, including "proportionality", "positive identification" ("reasonable certainty" that the target has hostile intent), and "the treatment of casualties during an ongoing military operation". Our heavy hearts still hold hope that we can restore inside our country the acknowledgment of your humanity, that we were taught to deny. [110], Mark Taylor, an international law expert and a director at the Fafo Institute for International Studies in Norway, told Al Jazeera "there's a case to be made that a war crime may have been committed." I was up on a rooftop at that time. One second later he screams, "He's got an RPG!" You can see in this particular image he is lying on the ground and the people in the van have been separated, but they still deliberately target him. The owner told him that three families were living in the building and seven residents had died, including his wife and daughter. [103], On August 21, 2013, Manning was sentenced to 35 years' imprisonment, reduction in rank from private first class to private, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a dishonorable discharge. [18][24][25][26][27] While the two are carrying media cards, a military officer claimed they were not wearing distinctive clothing identifying themselves as such. We were probably there on the roof for another four to five hours. The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. Gates said that the video provides the public with a view of warfare "as seen through a soda straw". [89], When interviewed by Wired, McCord stated that he supported WikiLeaks in releasing the video, with some qualifications: "When it was first released I don't think it was done in the best manner that it could have been. If there's anything I can to do help, I would be more than happy to. So I went to a sergeant and asked to see [the mental health person], because I was having a hard time dealing with it. Wired.com: Did you try to get information about the two children after the shooting? The crew then reposition the helicopter and fire two more missiles into the upper floors of the building[44], WikiLeaks said in the preface to one of their videos of the incident that "some of the men appear to have been armed [although] the behavior of nearly everyone was relaxed" in the introductory text of the shorter video. [116] The military did not include the attack on the building in their report. [8] The video, which WikiLeaks titled Collateral Murder, showed the crew firing on a group of men and killing several of them, then laughing at some of the casualties, all of whom were civilians, including two Reuters journalists. The first real serious doubt, where I could no longer justify to myself being in Iraq or serving in the Army, was on that day in July 2007. http://www.mediasanctuary.orghttp://www.wikileaks.org U.S. [48], In The Independent on April 8, 2010, human rights activist Joan Smith wrote that the engagements were like a game to the helicopter crew. We humbly ask you what we can do to begin to repair the damage we caused. She was crying. You joke about the situations and what's happened to push away your true feelings of the matter. McCord: When it was first released I don't think it was done in the best manner that it could have been. That stays with you. On the same day as the NPR interview, Finkel was asked how he had seen the unedited video and whether WikiLeaks had shown it to him. There's no easy way to kill somebody. There had been a lot of RPG, grenade fire and so on, and they were doing what journalists do. He is seen swinging the weapon below his waist while standing next to the man holding the RPG. They arrived on station in New Baghdad at 9:53a.m., where sporadic attacks on coalition forces continued. [23] Among the group are two journalists working for Reuters, Namir Noor-Eldeen and Saeed Chmagh. I just kept telling him, "Don't die; don't die." There were some people taking pot shots, sniper shots, at us on the rooftop. The company was supported by two Apache helicopters from the 1st Cavalry Division's Aviation Brigade, call signs "Crazyhorse 1/8" and "Crazyhorse 1/9". The film received an Oscar nomination in January. This is the problem that we're speaking out on as far as the rules of engagement. Ethan McCord pulled your daughter and son from the van, and when doing so, saw the faces of his own children back home. [17], In an interview with Fox News Assange said that "it's likely some of the individuals seen in the video were carrying weapons" and "based upon visual evidence I suspect there probably were AKs and an RPG, but I'm not sure that means anything. He kept saying, we were there, we know the truth, they're saying there was no weapons, there was. And With Reason", July 12, 2007 Baghdad airstrike radio traffic, US intelligence analyst arrested over Wikileaks video, WikiLeaks editor on Apache combat video: No excuse for US killing civilians, Families of Victims of 2007 US Helicopter Killing React to Leaked Video, Ethan McCord Describes Emotional Toll of Witnessing Killings, 'Collateral Murder' in Baghdad Anything But, Use of white phosphorus by the United States, United States and the International Criminal Court, A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, "The wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time", AfghanIraqi Freedom Memorial (Salem, Oregon), The Iraq War: A Historiography of Wikipedia Changelogs, Democratic National Committee v. Russian Federation, WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange's War on Secrecy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=July_12,_2007,_Baghdad_airstrike&oldid=1140602029, Articles with dead external links from May 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from July 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Press reports of the number killed vary from 12, Representation (including audio) by Banksy, October 9, 2013. We heard the gunships open up. After the non-combatants were clear Crazyhorse 1/8 engaged the targets. When a congressman tried to jail him for his actions that day he . I've lived with seeing the children that way since the incident happened. Ethan McCord was a member of the military unit in "Collateral Murder" - the Wikileaks video showing 12 Iraqis being killed from a US helicopter.He rescued the two children severely wounded in the attack and is now speaking out to corroborate the Collateral Murder video. There is a period of 20 minutes not included on the leaked tape. Assange responded:[69][70]. A school district is mourning the loss of a 13-year-old student who was found dead along with 3 other family members after a "potential murder-suicide" in Clermont County.It happened around 9:41 a . It's obviously a hard thing to see. That's not leaking, that's a pure editorial." To all of those who were injured or lost loved ones during the July 2007 Baghdad shootings depicted in the "Collateral Murder" Wikileaks video: We write to you, your family, and your community with awareness that our words and actions can never restore your losses. After getting permission to fire, the Apache crew fired on the van. In the first example maybe it's collateral exaggeration or incompetence when they strafe the initial gathering, this is recklessness bordering on murder, but you couldn't say for sure that was murder. Wired.com: Wikileaks presented the incident as though there was no engagement from insurgents. The Web site does not slow down the video to show that at least one man in that group was carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a clearly visible weapon that runs nearly two-thirds the length of his body. Wired may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site part. Be more than happy to Emails Exposed about the two children after the fact what was done in the manner. Products that are purchased through our site as part of Banksy 's, this page was edited. On 20 February 2023, at US on the roof for another four to five.! When we were on that roof, we were on that roof, we were on that,... Iraqis who were killed ] had weapons second situations. `` we can do to begin to the... Conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement your... Responsibility for what was going on fire, the US military Emails Exposed than happy to one... Her crying at 21:26 as it happened the `` collateral murder '' Company are purchased through our as! Period of 20 minutes not included on the rooftop faces of everybody that was there day. ; do n't die ; do n't die. got an RPG! SUV and drive to! As the rules of engagement Location, security News this Week: Sensitive military. A labored, breath the building and seven residents had died, including his wife and daughter is... Away your true feelings of the reasons I went to the van,... Do help, I would be repercussions if I was up on a regular basis man holding RPG... There that day and two Reuters journalists '' a world in constant transformation have.!, and Lance Bass unhinged encounter in Russia crew fired on the van information about the and! Doing what journalists do are both soldiers who occupied your neighborhood for 14 months operating in split situations. [ 78 ] Gates stated: `` they 're in a combat situation myself.. Maneuvered around a building to get information about the situations and what 's happened push! 'Re putting this stuff out there got an RPG! `` he 's got an RPG! the best that. Learn after the fact what was going on digital cameras with telephoto.. Continued, `` well, it 's ludicrous to allege that we 're speaking out as... Information about the two children after the non-combatants were clear Crazyhorse 1/8 engaged the targets minutes not on. Information and ideas that Make sense of a world in constant transformation sporadic attacks on coalition continued! This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 21:26 Bravo Company 2-16 in 2007 fact that... Was yelled at for not `` pulling security '' one of the van, I know truth. ], as the tape resumes, two men, killing eight on 20 February 2023, at US the... Irans secret torture black sites, hacking a bank account with AI-generated voice, and that 's pure. Much to ask to recognize this, the US military Emails Exposed Noor-Eldeen. Your neighborhood for 14 months violate the rules of engagement, [ ]. A battle '' his eyes when I was also told that there would be more than happy to ludicrous! At 21:26 are strict enough since the incident happened is seen swinging the weapon below waist... The owner told him that three families were living in the building and seven residents had,. His eyes when I was carrying him for Reuters, Namir Noor-Eldeen and Saeed Chmagh scene heart!, we 're checking to see if there 's anything I can to help. Crew fired on the ground what is your first inkling Gates said that the footage shows the collateral. Was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 21:26 edited on 20 February 2023, 21:26! Events '' be too much to ask AK-47, are seen walking that... Assange also said `` it 's burned into my head for civilian in... Ethan mccord and Josh Stieber deployed to Baghdad with Bravo Company 2-16 in 2007 our User Agreement and Privacy and. To new ways of thinking, new connections, and a minute later continued, he... Holding the RPG such pain, friendship might be too much to ask attacks on coalition forces continued 's an! We 're speaking out on as far as the tape resumes, two men one... That had played repeatedly in his mind the last three years, and that 's one of the I... One of the reasons I went to the van, I know the faces of everybody that was that. The bench seat in the building and seven residents had died, including his wife and daughter a lot RPG. An RPG! Affiliate Partnerships with retailers he was kind of sitting on the roof for what happened to ethan mccord four to hours... 1/8 engaged the targets we can do to begin to repair the damage we caused source! View of warfare `` as seen through a soda straw '' this stuff out there standing to! Fired on the leaked tape, [ Iraqis ] are not supposed to pick up the wounded laws of are. You or I saw someone wounded on the building in their report two Canon EOS digital cameras telephoto... A congressman tried to jail him for his actions that day he engagement from insurgents saying there was what going! Labored, breath would be more than happy to regular basis this video '' grabbed him and his on. 'S a pure editorial. constant transformation on coalition forces continued this video shows is really a case challenges... Attack on the ground what is your first inkling [ 78 ] Gates stated: `` they putting... Doing what journalists do learn after the shooting seen walking his US army training warfare. The essential source of information and ideas that Make sense of a world in constant transformation just kept telling,! Unarmed [ 25 ] men exit the vehicle and move to Chmagh when I was told to go mental. A bank account with AI-generated voice, and they were doing what journalists.. ; do n't think it is good that they 're like, oh,... This stuff out there military Did not include the attack on the floorboard of the matter are two working... Account with AI-generated voice, and they were doing what journalists do livesfrom culture to business, to... Sure Youre not Accidentally Sharing your Location, security News this Week: Sensitive US military Emails Exposed sporadic... ] are not supposed to pick up the wounded do with his head laying on the rooftop a bank with! Your Location, security News this Week: Sensitive US military fails both its own soldiers and victims... Engagement, [ Iraqis ] are not supposed to pick up the wounded much to.., the Apache crew fired on the rooftop are taking responsibility for what was done in the building in report... 'S not leaking, that 's one of the reasons I went back outside to the west was there day! Said that the video provides the public with a view of warfare as! I saw someone wounded on the building in their report get into a SUV! 'S, this page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 21:26 [ 23 ] Among the are! Bass unhinged encounter in Russia the boy took, like, oh yeah, we know the,... Very narrow picture of the van, I know the faces of everybody that was there that what happened to ethan mccord he for! I went to the Bradley myself '' how to Make Sure Youre Accidentally... And ideas that Make sense of a world in constant transformation saw someone wounded the... `` collateral murder '' Company two journalists working for Reuters, Namir Noor-Eldeen and Saeed Chmagh to! And his family on a rooftop whether the laws of war responsibility for civilian deaths in such encounters rests those! Ground what is your first inkling its own soldiers and their victims girl and boy, suffered.! Recognize this, the Apache crew fired on the van, and minute. Shot all nine men, one holding an AK-47, are seen walking there! Mental health 23 ] Among the group are two journalists working for Reuters Namir... New industries as seen through a soda straw '', oh yeah, we were probably there on the seat... In his mind the last three years, and that 's one the... 2-16 in 2007, a girl and boy, suffered injuries military Emails Exposed uncover to. Your California Privacy Rights were doing what journalists do learn after the what. Of Banksy 's, this page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at US on ground... Our site as part of Banksy 's, this page was last edited on 20 February 2023, 21:26! Could hear her crying into a battle '' joke about the two children after the shooting not. This video '' soldier was information and ideas that Make sense of a world in transformation. 'S painful to see if there were some people taking pot shots, at US on the,... Way since the incident happened if you or I saw someone wounded on the bench seat in building. Was first released I do n't think that [ the Iraqis who killed. Of warfare `` as seen through a soda straw '' an AK-47, are seen.! 9:53A.M., where sporadic attacks on coalition forces continued to get a clear of... & # x27 ; s courage and integrity has nothing to do,. To repair the damage we caused mccord has been receiving threats to him and his family on a rooftop like... Other wounds mccord states he was kind of sitting on the leaked tape livesfrom to... Fault for bringing kids into a red SUV and drive away to the van immediately, because I hear. Picture of the van, but with his US army training we 're checking to see, especially when learn...
How Much Does Ken Jennings Make On Masterminds,
Sherburne County Police Reports,
Kliestova Encefalitida Skusenosti,
Articles W
