Posted on 06/15/2003 1:18:39 PM PDT by Tree of Liberty
Fox News just broke in with an alert stating that Reuters is reporting gunshots at the scene of Iranian protests. People wearing kevlar and wielding AK's have been seen. No word on casualties as of yet.
Gunshots were heard in the early hours of Monday morning near a Tehran university dormitory that has been the focal point of six nights of pro-democracy protests, a witness said.
Hardline Islamic vigilantes, some carrying Kalashnikov assault rifles and wearing bullet-proof vests, patrolled the streets near the campus, which were clogged with thousands of cars carrying people trying to take part in the protests.
"I heard three gunshots quite clearly," a correspondent at the scene said.
"Immediately after the gunshots some of these hardliners jumped on their motorbikes and headed in the direction of the (sound of the) shots."
The protesters have vented most of their anger at conservative clerics who control the key elements of power in Iran.
But they have also lambasted the reformist government of moderate President Mohammad Khatami and his allies who control parliament, accusing them of failing to deliver change after six years in office.
US President George W Bush has praised the demonstrators, saying on Sunday their protests were a positive step towards freedom.
Iran has accused the United States, its arch-foe, of interfering in its affairs and exaggerating the demonstrations' importance.
nzoom link
Reporting like this always irritates me. If you're a journalist in a foriegn country, at least bother to familiarize yourself with the local police and military units. That way, when something happense, you can report more usefully than this.
These guys have uniforms? Insignia? Vehicles? Are they from out of town? Are they well equipped? Do they appear well trained and disciplined? Scared? Reluctant?
I suppose this is hoping too much, but you'd think that would be the reporters job.
But YOU would walk right up to a gang of AK-toting vigilante thugs on motorbikes and shine a flashlight on them, to get their "thug battalion" insignia.
Yeah, sure you would.
There is a LOT of good intell here, such as the use of AKs instead of Iranian G-3s.
If I noted that there was a gang (several) of thugs (unit type) with AKs (weapons) on motorbikes (vehicle), then I'd consider that information far more useful than what was in the original post I replied to. I don't need to get their badge or sevice numbers, but a 'police, military or vigilantee' tag is in order.
I do see your point and understand the difficulties of collecting information in that situation. I'd also say that weak report is better than no report at all.
Yeah, sure you would.
I wouldn't use a flashlight, but I guarentee my reporting would be more informative. ;-)
Sounds like an excellent way for the freedom fighters to set up an ambush.
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