This video from an AC 130 Gunship at work in Afghanistan.
Using rockets to target single individuals. It's hard not to put your feet into the shoes of those on the ground in the video. What a terrible scenario.
Chances are the guys running were cheering their heads off when the people in the twin towers were slain in cold blood so you have to distance yourself.

Nevertheless....It is the most chilling thing...

http://24.222.24.6/misc/AC130_Gunship.wmv

[ 03-19-2003, 12:09 AM: Message edited by: Ziroc ]

Z posted this a while ago. For clarification ..... those are regular shells, not rockets.

Rockets/Shells, the bloke on the receiving end doesn't care. Chilling either way.

Notice the care we (! as if I was there) took to avoid the Mosque. And checked for clearance on the building >1 times.

eh, never seen this particular video before. It does seem a LOT of fire power was used for just fleeing individuals. Do the bombers know who those individuals are? terrorists?

BTW, I just uploaded the HIGH RESOLUTION version of this footage.
Here ---> Click Here to Watch High Res version

Someone on another Forum posted the below, which I kinda agree with. War IS hell. I'll agree.
--------
There always have been and always will be those who oppose the actions that their government takes to protect them. Even as those who view this video as barbarous and cruel sit at home and post their opinions, our sons and daughters are taking the fight away from our door step and stopping our enemies before they can strike again.

The loss of any human life is a tragedy. But when you are dealing with an enemy who will stop at nothing, including suicide, the murder of innocent civillians, children, mothers, the eldery, to destroy you and what you believe in, there is no other option. This is a cruel reality of the world we live in.
The human beings who died in this footage are militant forces hostile to the US who brought this upon themselves. Thier demise was of their own doing. Their fates were sealed when they killed our friends and families in a ruthless and cowardly attack on civillians last September. They started this fight. We will finish it on our terms before our foes have another chance to attack our nation.

The US military is the biggest, baddest, most effective element of diplomacy that has ever existed. It’s use is always a calculated final option to any problem. I do not question the integrity or the professionalism of the crew who were flying this mission. There is no finer force on earth that I would rather have covering my six. To those who oppose this, remember what has happened, realize who we are dealing with, and sleep well knowing that these brave airmen and thousands more like them are protecting all of us, including the cowards.

[ 03-19-2003, 12:24 AM: Message edited by: Ziroc ]

Do you think the original poster believes all who oppose a war against Iraq at this time are cowards. If he does he an idiot!

Well yeah but if they were using rockets people'd be dying alot faster [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Then again perhaps that would be the meciful thing to do? so perhaps by using shells it's like being merciless? hmm... Interesting questions raised by more answers...

Either way :D fun to watch, great footage thanks for you and Z for showing that off...

EDIT: Removed, because I felt my post was unnecessarily harsh. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 03-20-2003, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Nachtrafe ]

Hm, I read it that "including the cowards" would not necessarily include everyone in the protest movement, but those of them that are, and are not opposing the war on moral grounds.

I don't know if this is a statement or a question or both. Unusually for you, your grammar does you a diservice I think.

To set the record straight.
I do not think all who oppose war are cowards.
I don't particularly feel devastated watching the video. As I clearly stated, these men were possibly/probably cheering when the twin towers went down. It's a war on terrorism in Afghanistan video. I don't want to get drawn into political arguments per se regarding innocent civillians and military. The dreadful fact of today is that just because someone looks like an innocent civillian doesn't mean they're not military, hence suicide bombers and the like.....I digress...

The point was that it's chilling stuff, not just in Afghanistan by the US, but in Palestine and other places all over the world and all over the years. It's something I can't comprehend, that pure ferocity. All of our forces have come under bombardment at some time in history, I pray God I never will. To see how it happens in the above mentioned example is, as I said, chilling.

On a footnote....I happen to believe the RAF are the finest airmen in the world bar none, but then I would. ;)

First, these men were sheering when thousands of innocent Americans died.
Now, we are cheering over their horrible demise.
I hope, that some day, the children of the children of my children will live in a better world then this.
For the record; you may call me a sad idealist. But I don’t use the name Dreamer128 for nothing ;)

<font color='white'> Who was cheering? While I am certaintly glad and feel safe in knowing that my country has the capabilty to do this type of thing, I dont think anyone has 'cheered' in this thread. </font>

[ 03-19-2003, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: Iron_Ranger ]

I'm going to have to agree with Donut on this one.

The last three words completely change the message of that otherwise well written post. The writer may have meant those three words in the way Attalus suggests, but even so, those three words change the entire premise of the statement.

Lets all take a step back and breath. :D

Evidently I'm lost here.

Not you knuckle head! [img]tongue.gif[/img] :D

You are absolutely right about the video being chilling. :D

I'm with it now Ronn. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I grew up in the Panhandle of Florida where the AC 130 &HC 130 gunships are stationed (Hurlbert Field) and know several former pilots and gunners. I've been told they can pick out a single target or blanket a area, placing at least 1 20mm round in every square foot of the area plus the howitzer rounds and 40mm armour piercing rounds. The last thing you want do, is to look up and see is an AC 130.

Morbidly fascinating..
Thanks for that vid..

Of course I have an opinion, like yourself I have an opinion on everything. ;)

Many ex-soldiers in the UK have spoken out against this war. Some even fought in the 1st Gulf War, one was even captured and beaten by the Iraqis and paraded on TV. Do you call them cowards because they oppose a war against Iraq at this time?

It doesn't take a great deal of bravery for a person to support a war which will be fought thousands of miles away by people he doesn't even know. In my world standing up for what you believe in doesn't make you a coward, it's just the right thing to do. (Rant mode off and can't find the smiley)

I totally agree Ronn, it is a good article until the last three words.

You berk! :D I wasn't calling you an idiot. I was referring to the original poster in the post posted by Ziroc not the original poster in the thread that I posted in! Now I'm confused! ;)

Back on topic, now you know why the C130 gunship was so feared by the VC in Vietnam. Not a single american force has ever been overrun while protected by one of these gunships.

I'm back because I feel myself slightly beginning to seethe. Yes, he's entitled to his opinion, and if he cares to come round my pub and say it to my face I'll put a (EXPLETETIVE DELETED) cricket bat around his (EXPLETETIVE DELETED) ear 'ole!!

Shouldn't this be in the war forum?

Do you think the original poster believes all who oppose a war against Iraq at this time are cowards. If he does he an idiot!</font>[/QUOTE]I don't support the war... although I'm not an American... just a Brit living in a Muslim country...
I think that they are Iraq's weapons... and if and ONLY if they show signs of using them then they should be taken to task...
Course... I don't know the whole story... but it seems to me that Iraq is having to give up a WHOLE lot... of weapons... AND their prime minister...
America has nuclear weapons too... but they can keep 'em...
just my [img]graemlins/twocents.gif[/img]

Word! [img]graemlins/check.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Of course I have an opinion, like yourself I have an opinion on everything. ;)

Many ex-soldiers in the UK have spoken out against this war. Some even fought in the 1st Gulf War, one was even captured and beaten by the Iraqis and paraded on TV. Do you call them cowards because they oppose a war against Iraq at this time?

It doesn't take a great deal of bravery for a person to support a war which will be fought thousands of miles away by people he doesn't even know. In my world standing up for what you believe in doesn't make you a coward, it's just the right thing to do. (Rant mode off and can't find the smiley)</font>[/QUOTE]LOL...Me? Opinion? On *everything*?? NOOOOOOOO. HEHEHEHEHEHE [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Hey, I edited out my post. I re-read it and thought it was a bit too harsh. LOL...Been re-reading all of my posts yesterday, and I really was in a fine fettle. [img]smile.gif[/img] I'll work on being just a tad more polite about expressing my *MANY* opinions. :D

Erm...And, on topic...Yeah, looking back, I see what you mean. Those last three words really do change the whole complexion of the letter. Up until then it was a very well written and thought provoking post. I would guess, given the tone of the whole letter, that the person was probably just expressing his frustration. But, like a certain little black birdy we all know(and hopefully, love), he didn't go about it very well. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Oh, and just for the record big guy, you (I hope)know me better than to think that I would call *ANY* soldier a coward. I have nothing but respect and admiration for anyone willing to put their ass on the line so that I can continue to have the freedom to express those copious opinions of mine. :D

You're right about the last point too. Standing up for your opinion, and being willing to take it on the chin for that opinion is the right thing to do, regardless of your stance on a particular issue. It takes courage to put yourself in a position to get smacked.

BTW...The [img]graemlins/rant.gif[/img] smiley is : rant : :D

Tis truly sad that this goes on around the world, but unfortunatly it seems to be an necessary evil. I'll agree that what's good for the goose is good for the gander but in this day and age it just doesnt happen. I would hate to be in the president's shoe's because he is damned if he does and damned if he doesnt. You can make some the people happy some of the time but you cant make all the people happy all of the time ;)

War is Hell.

I tried to watch the hi-res one, but the sound kept skipping and it drove me slowly nuts.

Save it to your harddrive, then watch it. Even on my broadband connection it's horrendous how long it takes to download it.

I'm back because I feel myself slightly beginning to seethe. Yes, he's entitled to his opinion, and if he cares to come round my pub and say it to my face I'll put a (EXPLETETIVE DELETED) cricket bat around his (EXPLETETIVE DELETED) ear 'ole!!</font>[/QUOTE]How peaceful

I'm back because I feel myself slightly beginning to seethe. Yes, he's entitled to his opinion, and if he cares to come round my pub and say it to my face I'll put a (EXPLETETIVE DELETED) cricket bat around his (EXPLETETIVE DELETED) ear 'ole!!</font>[/QUOTE]How peaceful</font>[/QUOTE]He never said he was a pacifist.!!