Tracy;

Another “version” given by an Iraqi (religious person) who lived in the same town as the victims was interesting. He stated that the people in the vehicle were ordered to “run the check point”. If they did not then the men in the family would be killed. I would agree that that version would be an indication of “premeditated murder”, on the part of the Iraqis.

If you attempt to run a roadblock you will suffer the consequences. If the above story is in fact true then these people were sent to be murdered and place the blame on the United States. This would surely draw international attention. Regardless of who was in the vehicle running a road block is not something you take lightly.

Tom



>SNIP
>>This is not an accident. This is refined and premeditated madness.
>
>This statement is ridiculous. How can it be premeditated? Premeditated assumes that the soldiers intended to kill everyone in the vehicle from the start, before the vehicle even failed to stop at the checkpoint. They signalled the vehicle to stop and it did not. From media reports, they were remiss in firing a warning shot early enough. However, it is absolutely ridiculous to assume that a driver of any vehicle going through or approaching a checkpoint does NOT know to stop at the checkpoint. It does not matter what language you speak that is known all over the world. IT is VERY TRAGIC and hopefully will never happen again, but given the suicide bombs, what would you expect the soldiers to do? Let them pass and risk a suicide bomber driving a vehicle right in? That would be irresponsible and would risk the lives of many more people. IT is sad but a tragic result of the complexities of war and the at-times instantaneous decisions soldiers must make.