U.S. military:(shot) Cameraman with CBS credentials detained in Iraq

[leftchick]

http://cbsnewyork.com/international/Iraq-ReporterDetained-ai/resources_news_html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) A cameraman carrying CBS press credentials was detained in Iraq earlier this week on suspicion of insurgent activity, the U.S. military said Friday.

The cameraman suffered minor injuries Tuesday during a battle between U.S. soldiers and suspected insurgents, the military said. He was standing next to an alleged insurgent who was killed during the shootout, the statement said.

The military issued a statement then saying the cameraman was shot because his equipment was mistaken for a weapon.

But on Friday, the military said the cameraman was detained because there was probable cause to believe he posed ``an imperative threat to coalition forces.''

:banghead:

[kenny blankenship]

1. Same thing as when they shot the hell

out of that burning APC along with the whole street full of Iraqi civilians. People were filming the scene with cameras. There could have been GI bodies inside which may have been dragged out into the streets. Something like 35 civilians were killed to keep the media away from the war.

[kliljedahl]

2. Probably figured, we got away with that attempt

on the Italian journalist, we can get away with anything now.


http://www.kliljedahl.net

[leftchick]

4. oh this goes way back....

The US military has been killing, threatening and detaining these Iraqi stringers as well as more well known Western reporters for the last two years in Iraq. They are trying desperately to have them STFU!

:grr:

[gratuitous]

3. The cameraman "was standing next to an alleged insurgent"?

Who makes up these sentences? What the hell is an "alleged" insurgent? How do you identify one? Is the fact that someone is an "alleged" insurgent sufficient to start blazing away at him or her, as well as anyone standing around?

Shorn of self-justifying militaryspeak, the sentence becomes "The cameraman was standing next to some schmuck who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was blown away by American forces during the shootout. Afterwards, it was decided to call the schmuck an alleged insurgent because that's so much more palatable than the image of a jumpy or trigger-happy military just gunning down people willy-nilly."

[leftchick]

5. alleged insurgent = anyone Brown who lives in Iraq...

:grr:

[kliljedahl]

6. Water Buffalo in Vietnam

were routinely added to the "body count". Nothing new.


http://www.kliljedahl.net

[DELUSIONAL]

12. True -- a whole air wing was ordered to take out a water buffalo

this was not a rare event.

[Todd B]

7. So,...

Um, yeah, so how exactly was Eason Jordan wrong now?

The arrogance of the military is just sickening!

[jukes]

8. out of control

and some day the populous will have had enough.

[daleo]

9. More intimidation of journalists.

They will say it was an accident, and they can't help if they're lucky.

[bossfish]

10. U.S. Military: Cameraman Detained in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A cameraman carrying CBS press credentials was detained in Iraq earlier this week on suspicion of insurgent activity, the U.S. military said Friday.


The cameraman suffered minor injuries Tuesday during a battle between U.S. soldiers and suspected insurgents, the military said. He was standing next to an alleged insurgent who was killed during the shootout, the statement said.


The military issued a statement then saying the cameraman was shot because his equipment was mistaken for a weapon.


But on Friday, the military said the cameraman was detained because there was probable cause to believe he posed "an imperative threat to coalition forces."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050408/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_reporter_detained_1
=====

ANOTHER CBS cameraman? Wasn't there one killed last week by our forces?

[leveymg]

11. Was he a threat because he was a cameraman or a reporter?

"The reporter was detained immediately after the incident, in part because of statements from witnesses to the battle.

Officials are investigating the man's previous activities as well as ``his alleged support of anti-Iraqi insurgency activities,'' the statement said."

Sounds to me like he was shot when US forces opened fire on a group of Iraqis he was talking to. He was then detained after he started yelling -- likely, he was in extreme pain -- "why the f**** did you stupid sh**s start shooting for no apparent reason, and without warning?"

Such a statement could be categorized by the U.S. military as an "imperative threat."

:patriot:

[Laurab]

13. I'm just glad this one is alive

reporters are in a lot of danger over there, and I don't think it's from the "alleged insurgents".

[grytpype]

14. They're easier to torture when they're injured.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[meganmonkey]

17. What about the people who happen to live somewhere

that the US military has turned into a war zone? Can they expect to be shot just for leaving their house? Is that acceptable to you?

What if someone invaded your neighborhood and you got shot - would that be okay? Since you were in a 'war zone' and all..