What the Marine Did (Warning: Graphic language)

Slate ^ | 19 November 2004 | Owen West and Phillip Carter

[IGOTMINE]

A Marine shot an unarmed insurgent in a Fallujah mosque on Saturday. We know this because we saw it. The digital video footage of the shooting—recorded by NBC reporter Kevin Sites, who was embedded with the Marines—is running nearly continuously on cable news channels worldwide. We heard it, too. A Marine says: "He's f*****g faking he's dead. He's faking he's fucking dead." The Marine comes into view with his rifle shouldered. There is a rifle shot. An Iraqi leaning against a wall slumps, leaving a blood stain behind. According to CNN, another Marine says, "Well, he's dead now."

This case would not exist without Mr. Sites. That a young soldier deferred to instinct over the rulebook in combat is unsurprising. What was surprising was the near-instant transmission of a battlefield video around the world, allowing us to witness the actions of one American rifleman. Judging by the swift condemnation from all over, the world is drawing its own conclusion about what happened in the bloody mosque. But to judge the Marine fairly takes more perspective and context. The video is clear enough, but truly understanding requires navigating an underlying landscape littered with legal ambiguity and moral craters.

[IGOTMINE]

This is a tremendous article and well worth following the link.

[IGOTMINE]

Worth the read.

[FrankRepublican]

Slate actually wrote an article supporting the Marine?

I hate NBC news and their parent company GE.

[Diogenesis]

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[Gibtx]

done

[realpatriot]

This soldier had two problems. One of course is the embedded reporter. The second less obvious problem is merely one of proximity.

Had the marine taken out his target from 50 yards or more, there would be no issue at all.

Seems strange to me to get worked up over this non-issue.

Let the marine continue about his business unhindered.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

Thank you for the list. I've boycotted quite a few products lately...

[Fyscat]

"Seems strange to me to get worked up over this non-issue"

But none the less there will be office hours and he'll probably get burned just like with the prison thing. (Another non-issue.

[montag813]

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! DID WE AUTOPSY S.S. OFFICERS WHO WERE SHOT-ON-SIGHT AFTER WWII FIGHTING ENDED? THESE ELDERLY-WOMAN-BEHEADING VERMIN ARE EVEN WORSE THAN THAT.

PLEASE CALL THE PRESIDENT AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND TELL THEM TO STOP THE "INVESTIGATION" ON BEHALF OF OUR ENEMIES, AND CLEAR THIS MARINE'S NAME.

WHITE HOUSE: 202-456-1111, 202-456-1414
FIND YOUR REPRESENATIVE HERE

[7thson]

I think the prison thing and this Marine are apples and oranges. The prison thing, people there actually had time to think and plan what they did. Granted, I think what they did to scumbag prisoners is tame compared to beheadings and torturing individuals but they planned these actions without thinking what harm it could do if the media got wind of it. The Marine's decision was split-second decision making.

While I liked this article what amazes me is that no one seems to understand when of the lessons of Viet Nam. If you fight using two sets of rules, the one using the more compasionate set of rules will lose. Being morally right but dead is a bummer.

If these clowns fight like it is 700 AD, then maybe we should start fighting like that also. I know, I know - we have to take the moral high ground. It seems to me taking the moral high ground is getting a lot of us needlessly killed. Sometimes it is better to be feared than respected.

[concan]

good read and surprisingly on MSN outlet slate

I'd say it's time to pull all embedded reporters. They're the real nuisance in this war. They clearly cannot make the difference between patriotism and commercialism.

[MacDorcha]

Moving or not, the wounded Iraqi was a prisoner, and therefore it was a crime to shoot him, even in the crazy kill-or-be-killed environment of Fallujah.

When a unit seizes terrain, its enemy military occupants generally become prisoners, as long as they don't continue fighting.

As long as they don't continue fighting... All I need to hear, how about you?

[Iowa Granny]

Thanks for posting that list Dio.

Cgg: Heads Up

[Fyscat]

I think the prison thing and this Marine are apples and oranges.

I can see your conclusion. However, for me it's an issue of reasonable conduct (regaurdless of the situation). One can argue that they (MArines) held the building, but as you listen to the vid, you can hear other rooms being cleared. besides that, the first rule of the battle field is "control your situation", thats what he did. Second rule is "comm is your first weapon of defense", I dont recall hearing anybodyelse confirm or deny his suspision. He did act, act in a grey area he did. But as I see it, no black or white, just grey.

[xzins]

First, it shows a breach of discipline, albeit under very stressful circumstances.

I reject the above, I don't consider it balanced, and I do consider it to be among many carefully placed little innuendos throughout the article that proclaim this Marine to be guilty.

It is a propaganda piece designed to injure that Marine and the Marine Corps.

I do not consider it a balanced article at all.

[MyDogAteMyBallot]

"I think ALL reporters (especially ones with camera and tape recorders) should be required to check out ALL dead or wounded terrorists. The Marines should just motion for the embedded to come over and check them out first before the Marine does. That way the journalist can get first hand account of what a booby trapped terrorist really is and exactly what the Marines are up against day and night."

My sentiments exactly!

[EA_Man]

Here's a petition to Congress you can sign as well in support of the Marine.

http://www.petitiononline.com/as123/petition.html

[Fyscat]

"First, it shows a breach of discipline"

Maybe for Fort Ord.