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New 4/19/06:  These comments, from a VERY knowledgeable source, directly contradict the Marine's explanation of this video as being the destruction of a "herd of goats".  Read on...

Editor's Note: This comment was received by Technical Adviser, Tony Clay, and has been edited at the request of the submitter to remove details about where he was based and when he flew.   Suffice it to say that this guy knows what he's talking about, and both Tony and I believe him. - JH

"Just to be clear, I'm a current/qualified F-16 pilot.  I don't accuse you of doing anything wrong, and I appreciate you explaining the policy--no issues at all.  I just am trying to provide a different perspective, as I don't think a Marine SSgt necessarily knows what's going on in a cockpit of an F-16 (just like an F-16 pilot doesn't know what a Marine SSgt on the ground is going through). "

"Unfortunately I don't have anything substantive besides what I told you in the first email.  I don't have an original copy of the video.  Those are supposed to be classified until released by the Public Affairs folks at Centcom, so the one floating around is a bootleg."

"The pilots in the squadron we replaced were not thrilled about the video getting out  too much because to the lay-observer it could be interpreted as the Marine SSgt did.  The pilots involved were quite positive that the people moving through the street were in fact people (saw them with their eyes as well as in the Targeting Pod), and the TACP on the ground did have eye-contact with that group, and also the full length, not-copy degraded tape that reinforced notion.  Finally, again, the analyst there was quite positive that the movements were not consistent with 4-legged animals."

"The F-16s assigned there were also using the TARS pod (takes very detailed
pictures for analysis) and that's why they had an image specialist with them. So, I don't really have better information (factual) to refute what the SSgt said, but since he wasn't there it seemed like he didn't have enough credibility to be quoted refuting that video."  

"Incidentally, everything the Marine says about the need to positively ID the target is spot-on, and he is very credible about that.  And the Marines may be using that film in training to reinforce that notion in theatre.  I just don't think there is definitive evidence that the group of 'shapes' is people or 'goats', and without a definitive analysis, I don't think it should be presented as proof positive that it's an F-16 pilot slinging bombs around killing a herd of goats."  

"Wish I could give you something more definitive, but I don't have that available.  Again, please don't quote my name publicly on your site (military security and all that stuff)."