A cameraman killed (Boston Globe Crybaby Alert)

Boston Globe ^ | 8/20/2003 | None Dare

[Lance Romance]

WITH AMERICAN soldiers being killed almost daily in Iraq, nervousness among the occupying forces is understandable. But there is no excuse for US troops gunning down a TV cameraman doing his job, as happened to a prize-winning Reuters newsman on Sunday.

[Lance Romance]

This reminds me of people chastising cops for not shooting someone in the arm.

If you don't want to get shot go cover the local Lesbian Art Fair. Or at least be smart enough to stay behind the enemy soldiers.

I think this guy was killed because his bravado finally caught up with him. There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity.

[Bikers4Bush]

Maybe this will make the rest of the "reporters" think about how they act and where they go.

It's still a war, people are going to die.

[ClearCase_guy]

Eighteen journalists have died in Iraq from hostile fire and accidents. Five have been killed by the US military.

But the US is the Bad Guy, right?

[Drango]

Effective immediately, everyone gets to fire a free RPG round at a tank...then and only then can the tank and crew defend itself. Also, to make it even more fair, the tank gunner must keep on hand behind his back at all times.

[JeeperFreeper]

Nice post. Next time the t.v. is on, take a gander at those shoulder held cameras. There is a strong resemblance to a shoulder mounted tube-like weapon when viewed head on.

[Mr. Bird]

But the United States chose to fight -- and now to make peace -- in an area where foes make sure it is hard to tell them from friends.

Yes, and "journalists" chose to place themselves right in the middle of such an ambiguous war zone. The safety of independent persons placing themselves in a combat zone is not the responsibility of the U.S. armed forces. Such an individual is essentially relinquishing whatever security he may have had on his home turf. If he dies, that's a shame, but it's no one's fault but his own.

[BlueLancer]

"Effective immediately, everyone gets to fire a free RPG round at a tank...then and only then can the tank and crew defend itself. Also, to make it even more fair, the tank gunner must keep on hand behind his back at all times."

REFEREE: "General Cornwallis of the British, this is General Washington of the Americans."
"General Washington, this is General Cornwallis."
"If you'd shake hands, gentlemen."
"O.K., British call the toss."
(Pause.)
"British called heads, it is tails."
"General Washington, what are you gonna do?"
(Pause.)
"General Washington says his troops will dress however they wish, in any color, hide behind the rocks and trees abd everywhere, and shoot whenever they want."
"British, you will all wear bright red and march in a straight line."
("Coin Toss", from "Bill Cosby is a Very Funny Fellow")

[cinFLA]

This reminds me of people chastising cops for not shooting someone in the arm

It was originally reported that his camera lens was mistaken for a RPG launcher and he was in a small crowd. Typical tactic of the terrorists.

[SpinyNorman]

I still think the reporters should be instructed to wear bright pink. Aside from the "pinko" implications (apropos nonetheless), they will be instantly identifiable, and terrorists won't want to wear it (pretending to be reporters) because it will make them stand out when trying to flee the scene of an attack.

Al Jizzera reporters should wear bright yellow (preferably with a bullseye on the back, but this is only wishful thinking!).

[Sunshine Sister]

I couldn't care less if a journalist gets killed. He was in a war zone. What the hell did he think was going to happen? Idiot!

[muir_redwoods]

Okay, okay, listen up! Keep these simple rules in mind at all times:

Don't point squirt guns at the police.

Don't wear your Yankees cap to Shea stadium and

Don't rush our forces in Iraq with a camera that looks like an RPG.

That is all.

[Gunslingr3]

The Pentagon should respond quickly and affirmatively to the many calls for a thorough investigation, sanctions where warranted, and a stricter policy on when to engage.

The purpose of the policy on when to engage is to protect the soldier, not reporters 'shooting' shoulder mounted cameras at them. I saw the clip, the tanker got him with the first round. Bravo!

[mbynack]

Effective immediately, everyone gets to fire a free RPG round at a tank...then and only then can the tank and crew defend itself. Also, to make it even more fair, the tank gunner must keep on hand behind his back at all times.

Wasn't that part of the the rules of engagement when the Marines were killed in Lebenon?

[tx_eggman]

So, I'm a photo journalist in Iraq and 2 US tanks are coming my way from a distance. I think I'll step out from around a corner and show them this profile while I film them ...

http://www.cpj.org/awards01/dana_reuters.jpg

... nature has a way of weeding out stupid people.