Originally posted on MetaFilter:

Yesterday, Mazen al-Tomasi, a reporter for Al-Arabiya, was broadcasting live from the scene of a carbombed Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which had attracted a crowd of locals. While making his report, a sudden noise came from behind Mazen.

Two Apache helicopters flew in overhead, and one of them started attacking the crowd, with their guns. The crowd, which included several small children, tried to run away. A helicopter launched a missile...

Mazen al-Tomasi was struck by shrapnel from the blast on live television. His cameraman, Seif Fouad, fell down from the force of the explosion. Mazen's blood spattered across the camera's lens and the screams of the dying and injured were heard. Mazen screamed to Seif for help: "Seif, Seif! I'm going to die. I'm going to die."

Seif grabbed Mazen and started to pull him out of harm's way. Suddenly, another missile was launched, and Seif was hit by shrapnel in the leg and abdomen. Seif, seriously wounded, watched his friend Mazen die soon afterwards. Twelve were killed, 61 wounded in the attack.

A US military spokesman said the helicopters opened fire after coming under attack from the crowd, and that they fired to prevent looters from stripping the vehicle. That said, the vehicle was burning too badly to be stripped, and the television footage showed no evidence of any shooting from the ground, or indeed, any armed Iraqis whatsoever. The full video of this is was seen by millions of Arabs and is apparently something that Reuters has the rights to -- Saif works for Reuters -- but something tells me that it will never make the evening news.

More stories here:

• US missile attack kills 13 civilians in Iraq
• Fatal error on Baghdad's front line
• Constant rebel attacks kill 25 in Baghdad

Quoth Major Phil Smith of the 1st Cavalry Division, The helicopter fired on the Bradley to destroy it after it had been hit earlier and it was on fire. It was for the safety of the people around it.

Please, Iraquis, no need to thank us. Just doing our job to ensure your safety.

This statement seems at odds with the official military position, that the helicopters were returning fire aimed at them from the ground. Aside from the fact that the video did not seem to show anyone trying to loot the Bradley or firing at the helicopters, Many of those hit by the rockets in Haifa Street... were on their way to work. "We are just ordinary workers. We are just trying to live," said Haidar Yahyiah, 23, sobbing with pain from a broken leg as he lay in bed in nearby Karkh hospital (source).

I don't get it. Why do they hate us?