[ctdonath2]

Something fishy here...something relevant isn’t being reported.

Just because someone picked up a curious-looking thing doesn’t make them a valid target ... and our boys know that.

[xzins]

Moments earlier, the man, according to testimony and court documents, had been fleeing an attack on U.S. soldiers and was holding the sickle to masquerade as a farmer.

You missed the above. He was shot because he was an insurgent.

IF the troops placed wire on him, then he was not shot because he was picking anything up.

They were TRYING to keep from getting legally charged for doing their job....sniping.

If this isn't a fine catch 22 we've got the troops in, I've never heard of a better one.

Do your job legitimately..and you get charged. Do your job legitimately and try to cover yourself...and you get charged.

Answer: don't do your flippin' job.

[WLR]

If you are a non-combatant in a Combat Zone...

You become a combatant when you pick up or are in possession of a weapon.. Det Cord, a Clacker a box of ammunition.

(There would be some limited exceptions to this for example moving a suspected bomb away from a market or something to that effect.. Others ...Say goodnight Gracie...

How would you determine who the the enemy or their supporters are?

In Iraq every home may have 1 AK47 or equivalent for self defense..

You cannot get more reasonable than that.

W