Modulator

Taking Out Journalists

Taking out the Journalists

It is dangerous in Iraq and mistakes are made:

Reuters news agency is calling for a "comprehensive investigation" after one of its award-winning cameramen was shot and killed by U.S. troops near Baghdad.

Coalition officials say soldiers mistook Mazen Dana's camera for a shoulder-launched weapon and have described the incident as a "tragic mistake."

The shooting took place in daylight Sunday afternoon outside the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, scene of an attack Saturday night that killed six Iraqis and wounded nearly 60 others.

U.S. military officials say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

"They thought he was aiming an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) at them and they engaged him," a senior Pentagon official told CNN.

We do not know the exact context so it would be wrong to jump to final conclusions but a TV Camera does look a bit different then a rocket propelled grenade launcher.

NB: I'll bet a few folks would get excited if they got the model with the launcher in their sites.

Update: 8/19 Please go to Body and Soul where Jeanne has has more details on this killing. Via Talkleft.

Update (8/19): A commentor provides this link which provides a much different perspective on the differences between a TV Camera and an RPG. The ones shown do look more like cameras then the one SH is holding in picture I link to above.

Posted by Steve on August 18, 2003