Cut to pieces: the Palestinian family drinking tea in their courtyard

[Idealism]

Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles – the dreaded drones – caused at least 48 deaths in Gaza during the 23-day offensive

Mounir al-Jarah slowly takes down the bricks he used to wall up the entrance to his sister's courtyard. Inside, flesh still clings to the walls; blood-soaked furniture and family items lie broken and mangled.

Mounir's eyes search around the old house as he recounts the events of 16 January, when a rocket fired from an unmanned aerial vehicle killed his sister, her husband and four of her children.

Sitting around drinking tea with the family in their small courtyard, Mounir heard the loud buzzing of an Israeli drone, clearly visible in the sky above.

He went inside for a moment and, as he returned, he saw a ball of light hurtling down toward him. There was a loud explosion and he was thrown backward. He gathered himself and stumbled out into the courtyard, where he saw the scene he says will never leave him.

More to the article and a video here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/23/gaza-war-crimes-drones

Pretty gruesome article detailing the same type of drones being currently employed by the US in Pakistan. Gross violations of human rights.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Unfortunately technically flawed and questionable in some respects

Your comment as to them being the same type of drones being currently employed by the US in Pakistan is patently false

There is more than enough to discuss without either the MSM or individuals here having to make things up...

[Idealism]

2. Is an unmanned drone not what the US is using in Pakistan?

If you have any problems with the article, perhaps you could point them out? All your post did was accuse me of falsifying a comment, which for starters is true, and secondly has nothing to do with the first-hand accounts in the article. If you don't have anything constructive to add to the discussion, keep it to yourself in the future please.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Your comment was blatantly untrue and drones by definition are unmanned for starters

Also the correct term is UCAV. The US is mostly using the Predator family of UCAVs armed with Hellfire. The IDF is using Israeli UCAVs with Israeli made ordnance, one of the few technically correct items in the article. Significant differences in capabilities, ranges, performance, etc.

Article had some technical errors in it as well as some hyperbole..."But it is the use of drones in the killing of at least 48 civilians that appears most reprehensible." being a good example of that. The first hand accounts were quite powerful, but the rest included Op Ed polluted with factual errors which destroyed much if not all of its value for anyone who understands the details. I have also responded to the author directly pointing them out in some detail.

Adding factually incorrect comments is not constructive to the discussion. Please check such things before you post them please.

[azurnoir]

4. So yet another AI is lying comment

it was AI that compiled the number of Drone victims, and while you are correct that the US is not using Israeli made drones such as the Hermes 450 it does not change much except to allow the "Thank you for Smoking" rule of debate to be used

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Where did I say AI was lying?

The hyperbole was not the number used...

Facts, such as technical details matter, since they often provide needed context and clarity.

[Sezu]

6. Not in some folks' Post-modern mindset. n/t

[azurnoir]

7. Is this your quote?

Article had some technical errors in it as well as some hyperbole..."But it is the use of drones in the killing of at least 48 civilians that appears most reprehensible." being a good example of that.

calling something hyperbole usually indicates that one doubts it is true

[EFerrari]

8. Your legalistic attempt to derail this discussion is noted and pathetic.

[Violet_Crumble]

10. Do you have anything to say that's actually relevant to the article?

No offense, but yr posts come across as quite condenscending and I've yet to see you address anything of any relevance to the article, like how on earth a family sitting in their courtyard are killed by a drone. I really couldn't give a shit about minor technicalities like getting an acronym wrong or stuff like that. My interest is in why this family died the way they did...

[Violet_Crumble]

9. This was interesting...

From the article;

'The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz discovered that the IDF's international law division (ILD,) the body responsible for advising Israeli forces on the legality of their actions, had authorised an easing of the rules of engagement in Gaza.

A copy of the rules of engagement for Operation Cast Lead was obtained by Ha'aretz in the days before the offensive began. According to a journalist who saw the document, the new, less stringent rules were approved at the highest levels of the Israeli military.

Ha'aretz was repeatedly blocked from publishing the document by the military censor.'