I do find it useful to back off from this thread from time to time and try to regain some perspective.

Assuming that Terribus is correct in his interpretation of the video (and he may be incorrect in describing specific weapons evident), then it's logical that the military superiors would find the conduct of the copter crew acceptable, with maybe a reprimand for what was said during the shooting. If Terribus is incorrect (that is possible and might even be acknowledged by him if he were feeling less defensive), the copter crew should be court-martialed.

However, in either case, they did make a serious mistake by killing two journalists and two children; several other people who may have been insurgents were also killed and maybe they should get a medal for that. At another level, their actions created an international incident which because the video has become public is at the very least an embarrassing one.

I do think that the families of the innocent victims (while the journalists were not as cautious as they might have been they certainly were not insurgents, nor were the two children) have a cause of action in the courts against the US military for substantial monetary compensation.

I do find it regrettable that so many of the posters on this thread are so uncivil with one another. It's a good thing, in my opinion, that we are not able to link to armed drones!

Charley Noble