The military people are in a real, real bind. There is no doubt someone with small arms was firing at the 'copter. There is also no doubt that the "battle" was over - the crew was watching from a safe place a ways off.

So, do you fire into a crowd of largely curious onlookers because someone emptyed a few clips at you?

If you're the guy or gal in the chopper, hell yes!! Scroom! They're trying to kill me AND my friends. Completely understandable.

AND, if your mission is "hearts and minds", if the idea is to be liberators and not occupiers, then it seems to me the mission changes and one is very, very careful of innocent lives.

Even at some risk to themselves. It sure seemed to me the choppers could have left the area rather than fire on a crowd. The mission always involves risks. If safety were the greatest concern they'd have stayed home.

But, I promise you, that's the American way. And it's counterproductive as hell. And it's obvious the Bush administration feels the Iraqi people are the enemy. You can't blame the troops, and you can blame those who put them in the situation.

By the way, that's not really "collateral damage", firing into a crowd like that. It's a war crime.

Arf