Journalists Accuse U.S. Soldiers of Negligence in Shooting of Cameraman (who appeared to have RPG)

AP News ^ | Aug 18, 03 | Tarek Al-Issawi

[xzins]

The U.S. Army said its soldiers mistook his camera for a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. .....A U.S. military official said on condition of anonymity that American soldiers saw Dana from a distance and mistook him for an Iraqi guerrilla

It was a hot engagement area. The cameraman aimed at the troops.

Our troops did exactly the right thing.

We should always return fire when fired upon. If everyone gets used to that, they'll clear out when the terrorists show up to begin shooting. They need to believe that we will ALWAYS return fire.

[MindBender26]

A Betacam on the shoulder looks very much like an RPG. The round lens looks like the round projectile, the front grip looks very much like the grip on the RPG.

It's a danger any vidographer faces in a war area. We never raised the cameras until we knew they knew who we were. It especially helped to have US troops in area, near/with you.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Exactly. Well said. Removing most of the mischief-making press from Iraq would be the best thing we could for the troops, the military leaders and the newly freed Iraqis.

Our enemies would be saddened, though.

[End Times Sentinel]

What???  OUTRAGEOUS!  Our troops are clearly crazy. 

War should be a quick, clear, clean thing.  No one should expect to be killed in a hot combat zone.

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

If its that bad then why don't the journalists leave Iraq?All they are doing is degrading our troops,reporting false news and using this in a negative way to trash Bush.

[Crowcreek]

It's time to make "blaze orange" mandatory for journalists and photographers working in combat zones.

[McGavin999]

"There were many journalists around. They knew we were journalists. This was not an accident," he said.

If they did it deliberatly you'd all be dead, you moron. One shot and that vehicle and everyone in it would have been a smoking hole. Good grief, you go into a combat area, get out of a car and aim something at a tank and then act surprised when that something is taken out, along with the guy aiming it.

[Pikamax]

nah.. doesn't look like suspicious at all.

[xzins]

If you're going to go into an engagement area, then expect it to be dangerous.

I remember the incident during the race to Baghdad when journalists appeared to be shielding those who were attacking our troops by permitting them to fire from behind them.

If you lift anything to your shoulder in an engagement area, then you should expect to be fired upon.

[GodfearingTexan]

picture of a man holding a betacam:

http://www.rondexter.com/professional/intertial_camera_stabilization/beta_cam_rig.htm

picture of a man holding an rpg-7v:

http://www.emergency.com/2001/taleban-rpg-7.jpg

its possible that someone could mistake a shoulder-held camera as an rpg.

[VoiceOfBruck]

He was shot at least three times in 2000, according to the citation on the group's web site.

Dana was married and had four children.

"Words and images are a public trust and for this reason I will continue with my work regardless of the hardships, even if it costs me my life," Dana said after accepting the award.

I feel very sorry for the wife and children he left behind. But he clearly put his work and fame before his family.

[xzins]

Looks very suspicious to me, and especially as the distance increases. :>)

The notion that the troops deliberately aimed at them is most like PRECISELY true. If you look like you're engaging them, I HOPE they deliberately aim at you.

[xzins]

I agree. It looks very similar to me.

[MizSterious]

" If its that bad then why don't the journalists leave Iraq?All they are doing is degrading our troops,reporting false news and using this in a negative way to trash Bush."

Actually, I think they're doing more than that. I think some of them--certainly some of the ones working for the Arabic networks--are working as spotters and spies for the enemy.

[SolutionsOnly]

It unfortunate that such things happen, but they do.

That being said, it couldn't have happened to a nicer news organization. I'm sure they'll try to make the worst of it.

[schu]

Hmm, let’s see. There is a group of very serious people who have been shot at and some killed who are driving toward me in a big tank. In the immediate area the bad guys have been shooting and launching mortars. So I’ll get out of a vehicle, raise a big think to my shoulder and point it at them. Is this a candidate for Darwin awards?

It is amazing that the entire group was not vaporized.

[b4its2late]

I agree too. They've been under alot of RPG fire lately.

[PISANO]

A Frenchman accusing our soldiers of not UNDERSTANDING!! What a crock! Go back to France and have some cheese.

[montag813]

"They are young soldiers and they don't understand what is happening," Breitner said.

Yeah I guess the concept of a journalist on the enemy side of the action, dressed like an Iraqi, and carrying a large camera on his shoulder easily mistaken for an RPG with mortar smoke all around...this is basic journalistic technique right? Our boys are too dumb to get this, I suppose.

[xzins]

dressed like an Iraqi, and carrying a large camera on his shoulder easily mistaken for an RPG with mortar smoke all around...this is basic journalistic technique right?

Rotflol! Thanks

And they think our troops don't understand!