Israel Presses Offensive; Italian Journalist Killed

Reuters via Yahoo! News ^ | Wed Mar 13, 6:42 AM ET | Wafa Amr

[wonders]

Did a search and didn't find this on FR.

[theartfuldodger]

bump!

[theartfuldodger]

Index bump

[CatoRenasci]

No doubt, and as a swarthy Italian in Gucci loafers and a Zegna shirt and slacks, he surely looked like one of those awful Palestinians....

[BenF]

Snapping away with his camera he probably looked like a dangerous Palestinian

In the middle of a war with people shooting at you, you can't always be expected not to hit an innocent bystander. As I understand it, we killed quite of few of them ourselves in Afghanistan.

[contessa machiaveli]

the howling will begin in earnest. this is a very unfortunate accident but i wouldn't be surprised if it receives more headlines than daniel pearl deliberate murder. you know....those horrible, horrible israelis. sigh.

[BenF]

See my post #6. Of course, given the mindset of you and Roger, I doubt that reality makes much difference to you.

[wonders]

I posted this mainly because it gives more details about the operation for those of us following it. As for the Italian journalist, I'm withholding judgment as to which side shot him to death, and whether it was accidental or "accidentally on purpose" until more information becomes available. Lots of possiblities here.

It will be interesting to hear what the wounded French journalist has to say. Of course, if we hear nothing from the French journalist, that will speak volumes as well, especially if we never learn his/her name.

[CatoRenasci]

C'mon BenF, not every criticism of Israeli tactics is a condemnation of Israel or support for the Palestinians. Of course accidents happen, but it is stupid to kill journalists, however emotionally satisfying it might be (and it often would be for me) to do so.

[wonders]

Of course "shot six times in the chest" does imply "accidentally on purpose." Whether this is truly the case, and by whom remains to be seen.

[American in Israel]

The U.N. Security Council passed a U.S.-drafted resolution referring for the first time to a Palestinian state existing side by side with Israel.

They tried that already, Arafat refused because he wants it all. The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. How much do we pay these guys?

[Sangamon Kid]

Raffaele Ciriello, who had worked in many of the world's hot spots, was shot six times in the chest...

That sounds like shooting range target practice. Did the shooter have a bench mount for that grouping?

[American in Israel]

So who shot him? If the Palestinians kill their own for media bytes, what is to keep them from shooting an infidel?

[Mamzelle]

the howling will begin in earnest.

Actually, I don't think so. The Italians, like the French, are not likely to be anything but passively sophisticated. To take any other attitude might demand some kind of normal human reaction...

[wonders]

As I said, I'm withholding judgment on who shot him until more information comes out. Both sides could have benefitted from doing away with him: the Palestinians by making it look like the Israelis had killed him, the Israelis by getting rid of a journalist who saw things they preferred were not reported.

[elwoodp]

I really don't have too much sympathy for the journalist (or, "garbage collectors," as Ted Williams used to call them). You walk into the lion's den, you ought to expect to get bit.

[Lion's Cub]

"It is important to remember that there have been exchanges of fire in Ramallah, and that this was the reason the army closed off the area to journalists yesterday," said Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier Rafowicz, an army spokesman.

You enter an operational war zone against the army's warning at your own risk. When an army is really serious about winning, they don't stop the battle for some guy to take pictures safely.

[wonders]

You walk into the lion's den, you ought to expect to get bit.

You enter an operational war zone against the army's warning at your own risk. When an army is really serious about winning, they don't stop the battle for some guy to take pictures safely.

Agreed. No argument at all from me there.

[BenF]

C'mon BenF, not every criticism of Israeli tactics is a condemnation of Israel or support for the Palestinians.

While this is true, a review of the tone and content of the criticism can be very revealing.

Of course accidents happen, but it is stupid to kill journalists, however emotionally satisfying it might be (and it often would be for me) to do so.

This assumes that the intent was to kill the journalist. As I pointed out in my original response, he may have been killed accidently. With all the shooting going on, it is difficult to tell friend from foe. But you automatically assume the intent was to kill the journalist AND you automatically assume it was the Israelis that did so. Possibly you forget that little boy who was killed last year? You know the one whose father hid behind him? The one plastered repeatedly over every media outlet in the world? It turned out that the Israelis could not possibly have killed him, but that didn't stop the accusations. This may be the same thing but you assume that you know it all by the sarcastic tone of your post.

So, c'mon, Cato....who do you think you're fooling with this protestation of unbiased innocence?