Taking Page from Israel War Tactics, US Military Employs Controversial 'Roof Knocking'

[Fast Walker 52]

Source: Common Dreams

An Israeli tactic deemed "ineffective" at preventing civilian causalities by a United Nations commission has now been adopted by the United States in its fight against ISIS, according to a U.S. military official.

Air Force Maj. Peter Gersten, the deputy commander for operations and intelligence for the U.S.-led coalition, explained at a press briefing Tuesday that the tactic dubbed "knocking on the roof" was, in fact, used during a strike in Mosul, Iraq against a "major distributor of funds to Daesh fighters." A woman the military had seen come and go with her children from the building died in the strike—"an unfortunality," as Gersten called it.

"We went as far as actually to put a Hellfire on top of the building and air burst it so it wouldn't destroy the building, simply knock on the roof to ensure that she and the children were out of the building. And then we proceeded with our operations," Gersten said. He went on to say that ISIS fighters are "using the civilian force as human shields." He said that the military saw the woman and children leave the building. They then "began to process the strike," but the woman ran back into the building and was killed.

As CNN reported in 2014, "The Israeli Air Force developed the technique in 2009 as a way to warn civilians in Gaza to leave buildings it has identified as locations where Hamas keeps ammunition, a rocket stash or command post. But it is a controversial policy that has been criticized by human rights groups."

Read more: http://commondreams.org/news/2016/04/27/taking-page-israel-war-tactics-us-military-employs-controversial-roof-knocking

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This is not good. This is a terrible, terrible policy. We need to stop bombing!

[bemildred]

1. A great excuse for bombing them twice. nt

[Human101948]

2. We warn them and then we make them homeless....

A truly humane policy.

[Fast Walker 52]

4. winning hearts and minds, I'm sure

[arcane1]

3. Funny how we condemn the use of "human shields" but kill them anyway.

Kind of a useless tactic since it never seems to deter us.

[Fast Walker 52]

5. you know-- it's just the excuse: "they MADE us kill civilians"

[Journeyman]

6. This seems analogous to the tactic the Philadelphia police employed against MOVE in 1985. . .

when a police helicopter dropped two bombs on the group's "compound," a row house in the middle of a neighborhood. The explosion killed eleven MOVE members, including the founder and five children. The resultant fire destroyed 65 houses.



http://www.democracynow.org/2015/5/13/move_bombing_at_30_barbaric_1985

http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/05/13/406243272/im-from-philly-30-years-later-im-still-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-move-bombing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOVE

[PSPS]

7. This doesn't belong in LBN.

posted Tuesday here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141428592

[aurelius2112]

8. And we allow our DOD budget to surge!

When will we stop ignoring the simple fact that the entire Congress and President are endorsing these tactics?
Dems and Repubs!

They continue to increase the deficit by increasing the DOD budget to further the corporate interests.
Both political groups are complicit in funding these illegal and atrocious "military conflicts of interest".(not war of course)

Our Congress and President can fast track any bill or funding related to our "spreading democracy" policy.
Remember when they passed $225M within one week, to replenish the Israeli Iron Dome Missile System, after they used it to destroy the Gaza Strip?
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/01/politics/congress-israel-iron-dome/index.html

But they can't agree to increase infrastructure, education or energy funding for the people they represent?
Flint funding? I can go on and on about what they won't do for us.......very frustrating to say the least.
Political revolution sound good to anyone?

They all need to be kicked out and indicted for crimes against humanity and the lobbyists outlawed.
Our tax money is our lobbying money and our interests are ignored.
The corporations have the lowest tax rate, yet their interests are upheld every time.
wtf? Am I the only one seeing this huge hypocrisy?

I totally respect the armed services, but I cannot agree to the policies that our government instructs them to enforce around the world.
I repeatedly apologize to other people around world, for the actions of the USA government.
The majority of people around the world are struggling through the same bs system we all are forced to live in.
Go to work, pay bills and support their families.
Why do we continue to bomb their towns and create the next "ISIS" group?
They never hated the USA, until we killed their family members for no good reason. (oops, sorry, its an unfortunate casualty of war)

I only hope we can pass the torch to the next generation, with a good conscience, that we tried our best to corral the greed that has encompassed our entire rigged system.

Take care everyone!
Peace!