Stuff that doesn't get reported in the news

Although I have to be honest and admit I haven't listened or watched national news since this story was first reported on the BBC, this is the type of story that doesn't get reported on national news. It would make us think way too much about our nation's military practices and that would make us listen to that stupid Toby Keith song ("we'll put a boot in their eye, it's the American way) that always gets played during 4th of July fireworks differently.

I also googled the story and none of the front page results were of national news outlets in the US.

I'm posting the link, so surely this isn't plagarism. link to BBC

Here's the link from Amnesty International.


US missile 'used in Yemen raid'
Page last updated at 03:01 GMT, Monday, 7 June 2010 04:01 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version Amnesty says the images show pieces of cruise missiles American missiles were used in a raid against al-Qaeda militants in Yemen in which women and children died in December, rights group Amnesty International says.

Amnesty has released images taken after the raid that it says show remnants of a US-made Tomahawk cruise missile.

Cluster bombs were also apparently used in the attack, which Amnesty described as "grossly irresponsible".

The US has said its troops gave support for the raid, in Abyan province.

But Yemeni officials have denied any US involvement.

Obama congratulates

At the end of 2009 Yemen suddenly stepped up its offensive against al-Qaeda militants.

The authorities launched a number of raids, saying intelligence showed that Western targets were in imminent danger.

On 17 December two attacks on militant targets were said to have killed more than 30 militants. The raids were hailed as a big success in Yemen.

US President Barack Obama telephoned his Yemeni counterpart, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, to offer his congratulations.

But Amnesty now says the US in fact supported the raid with cruise missiles.

"A military strike of this kind against alleged militants without an attempt to detain them is at the very least unlawful," said Amnesty's Philip Luther.

"The fact that so many of the victims were actually women and children indicates that the attack was in fact grossly irresponsible, particularly given the likely use of cluster munitions."

Unnamed US officials have said that elite US troops provided essential support, contradicting Yemeni government claims that it was entirely their operation, says the BBC's Sebastian Usher.

But the US has refused to confirm reports that it had fired cruise missiles - the crux of Amnesty's new allegations.

Analysts say the US is deeply involved in the country's drive against al-Qaeda.

But Yemen's leaders are keen not to appear too closely bound to American interests - one reason why the US has been keeping the extent of its military role in the country under wraps, our correspondent adds.