Psyche, Science, and Society

The sectarian Iraqi civil war on tape

January 26th, 2007

British television station Channel four shows dramatic footage of Iraqi troops, Shias, beating Sunnis while US troops egging them on. “An AK butt to the back of the head! I like it!” says one American.

Back at base, the American commender was shocked, nit about the beating, but that the incident might have been filmed by journalists.

The killings are on all sides.

The video also shows the body of murdered Shia baker in a Sunni district, a murder that remains uninvestigated. It also shows a Sunni man, married to a Shia woman, who receives a death threat from Sunni militias.

There are no good guys here:

Watch also this CBS web-only report on the battle for Haifa Street.

UPDATE: Alternet brings us word that the reporter of the CBS segment is asking for help pressuring CBS to air the piece. Here is a text from her asking for help:

ext of the email from Lara Logan:

From: lara logan
Subject: help

The story below only appeared on our CBS website and was not aired on CBS. It is a story that is largely being ignored, even though this is taking place every single day in central Baghdad, two blocks from where our office is located.

Our crew had to be pulled out because we got a call saying they were about to be killed, and on their way out, a civilian man was shot dead in front of them as they ran.

I would be very grateful if any of you have a chance to watch this story and pass the link on to as many people you know as possible. It should be seen. And people should know about this.

If anyone has time to send a comment to CBS — about the story — not about my request, then that would help highlight that people are interested, and this is not too gruesome to air, but rather too important to ignore.

Many, many thanks.

Entry Filed under: Iraq, Middle East, Social Issues, War and Peace