Makes me wonder why don't we just shoot the irish rioters... hell, anti-globalism rioters could be shot just as well.
Besides, whatever you think those people are, who are throwing rocks and some even throwing molotovs at them, it is a fact that if the soldiers had fired into the crowd, it would have caused serious riots all around Iraq and the muslim world - call them all militants if you wish.
Even israelis, at their most fascistic times, have tried to avoid crowds and shooting into the crowds - on a long run it'd be just same as stabbing yourself in the stomach. They would've had at least ten times more suicide bombers.