You’ve no doubt heard about this terrible story of a downed helicopter in Iraq carrying American, Fijian, and Bulgarian civilian security workers who were protecting U.S. diplomats in the area:

Eleven people, including six Americans working for a North Carolina private security firm, were killed Thursday when a commercial helicopter was shot down by missile fire from insurgents north of the Iraqi capital, officials said.

Bulgaria’s Defense Ministry said the Russian-made helicopter was downed by missile fire and the victims included a three-member Bulgarian crew. Two Fijian helicopter security guards were also on board the flight.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the six Americans were employees of Blackwater Security Consulting – a subsidiary of Moyock, N.C.-based Blackwater USA – and were assisting the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in protecting American diplomats in Iraq.

“They played a critical role in our effort to bring a better way of life to the people of a country who have not experienced freedom and opportunity for many years,” Ereli said.

Keep all 11 and their families in your prayers.

The Islamic Army in Iraq has claimed responsibility and posted video it claims is of the wreckage. Shocking footage of the terrorists shows them discovering a survivor of the crash (whom analysts say is one of the Bulgarians); helping him to his feet; and then shooting and murdering him.

You can find a link to the unedited, uncensored video at the bottom of In the Bullpen’s post. It’s graphic and horrifying and none of the MSM networks that endlessly broadcast video and photos of Abu Ghraib will dare to show the execution on TV.

Cori Dauber of RantingProfs discusses the dilemma of how much to show (a dilemma the MSM never seem to have when the video or photos make America and its military look bad) and praises NBC for the way it used the footage–making it clear, unlike the other networks, that the film came from terrorists and not a media source, but stopping short of showing the actual killing.

No word yet on whether any AP photographers were tipped off to the cold-blooded execution by the Iraqi “insurgents/militants.” Could be another Pulitzer Prize in the making.

Meanwhile, LGF notes that some unhinged liberals–in the same sick spirit of Howard Dean campaign consultant Markos Moulitsos Zuniga–are gloating over the murders. Here’s a sample:

THESE F[**]KERS ARE NOT NICE PEOPLE. I have a hard time feeling sorry for their families. I have known a few of these wives and if they are in the marriage they are so high on Prozac and Xanax they will barely know he’s gone…If one of their mommas is crying I’m somewhat sorry but I really want to ask that woman why she never got any help for her son, who was obviously a potential serial killer! I lay some of what that man became on her and his father’s doorstep. I have almost no tears for these people. I can barely squeeze one out.

***
More coverage from the NY Times and Washington Post.

comments (0)   trackbacks (28)