Collateral Murder
Pfc. Bradley Manning leaked this July 2007 footage to Wikileaks. It was revealed to the public on April 5, 2010.
The footage shows an Apache helicopter opening fire on civilians, mistaking them for insurgents. When a civilian minivan arrives to transport the wounded, the helicopter opens fire on it as well. Two children were inside. When the soldiers realized that children were in the van, one said dismissively, "Well it's their fault for bringing their kids into a battle." The children miraculously survived.
Two Reuters journalists were killed during the engagement. When Reuters asked to see the footage, the U.S. government flat-out lied and said it could not be found. Pfc. Manning knew this was a lie because he was watching the footage.
Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions requires that the wounded be collected and cared for. Article 17 of the First Protocol states that the civilian population "shall be permitted, even on their own initiative, to collect and care for the wounded." That article also says, "No one shall be harmed … for such humanitarian acts."
This footage clearly shows the United States military deliberately firing on civilian rescuers, constituting a war crime.
Pfc. Bradley Manning never killed anyone. He never tortured anyone. He never revealed troops movements or names that put any person's life in danger. He will spend half his life in a cell for saying what is true.
Restore the United States' human rights record and grant clemency to Pvt. Bradley Manning. Sign this We the People petition put forth by Amnesty International.
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