You sure they're dead?!

[Schroeder]

I find that a bit exaggerated as well. First there is no telling how many civilians are around and second just think of the costs of a guided missile.

[Skybird]

What was the firing distance? The missiels took some time to reach the target. I see the possibility that they fired from a distance where the 30mm maybe was not reliable, and did not wish to put the gunship at risk when approaching that complex area with buildings (with maybe some nasty surprises waiting for them to come closer).

[Freiwillige]

That second shot they were just shooting at corpses! Government waste at all levels

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

That second shot they were just shooting at corpses! Government waste at all levels

Actually, they destroyed the mortartube. But still, waste.

[Platapus]

I found some of the comments on the linked site rather disturbing.

[Jimbuna]

Looked like a thorough job to me

[mr chris]

Good to see some insurgents getting what they deserve.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Actually, they destroyed the mortartube. But still, waste.

that mortar tube will never fire on allied troops again.

no waste seen from my perspective.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

that mortar tube will never fire on allied troops again.

no waste seen from my perspective.

And what if the building right next to it would've been not so strong and would have collapsed from the 2 blasts, possibly burying civvies under it?

Would you still say it wasnt a waste?

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Dowly

And what if the building right next to it would've been not so strong and would have collapsed from the 2 blasts, possibly burying civvies under it?

Would you still say it wasnt a waste?

and i suppose the two men carrying the mortar tube take the care to consider "civvies" in their exploits?

Sure I agree with the "hand tied behind the back" anyone who seeks to use an innocent perosn as a sheild is not what I wwould classify as a human being

It matters not how you classify the actual target , what matters is that in a tribal/clan society it matter as a hell of a lot who actually kills the "shield".
The Taliban were on the way out in Afghanistan prior to the invasion , they had little popular support , they had very much outstayed their welcome ....but now they are back in bigger numbers with lots of local support.
While in Iraq the big change came about with the fiasco in Fallujah, the supposed targets melted away and you ended up with a hell of a lot more locals out for blood.
A few Hellfires are relatively inexpensive in the short term big picture , but the fallout from their use in a residential area can be very expensive in the long run.

Still on the positive side, at least the use of the AC-130 in residential ares is not really an issue anymore.