Killing of Reuters cameraman okay under (secret) rules of engagement

[Mairead]

Sept. 22, 2003 | BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. soldiers acted within the rules on opening fire when they shot and killed a Reuters television cameraman last month while videotaping near a U.S.-run prison on the outskirts of Baghdad, a U.S. Army officer said Monday.

Mazen Dana, 41, was filming outside Abu Ghraib prison in western Baghdad when he was fatally shot Aug. 17 by U.S. soldiers who the military said mistook his camera for a rocket- propelled grenade launcher. Dana, a Palestinian, was filming a day after a mortar attack in which six prisoners were killed and about 60 were wounded.

Lt. Col. George Krivo, a military spokesman, said an official investigation concluded that "although a regrettable incident," the soldiers "acted within the rules of engagement."

The U.S. Army has never publicly announced those rules, citing security of its soldiers, who face near-daily attack by insurgents opposed to the American military occupation. {emphasis added}

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

ANYONE HAVE A LINK?

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. They have announced that they willl murder whom they choose

Anywhere, any time. And you are either with them, or you are a terrorist.

[mddemo]

2. reporter death

The most important thing about this whole episode is the fact that the soldiers believed he was carrying a shoulder launched missile. The ROE gives soldiers the ability to defend themselves if they believe they or others are in danger. Having been in the heat of combat, i can say mistakes are made, but you only have a split second to make the decision. I for one would rather operate under these ROE than have to lose my men to a terrorist with a launcher who we thought was a reporter with a camera. Its very easy to second guess the troopers from the comfort of a computer.

As to the rules being secret, you got to be joking if you want them published. It gives the enemy a blueprint as to how you will react to certain situations. ie if the rules state that cars that run raodblocks will not be fired apon, then the terrorists know if challenged they can just run, yes this is a simplified example, but it makes the point.

[LittleApple81]

3. Then it means soldiers must be better trained. All life is important. n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Then our soldiers are ill-trained...

A shoulder-held video camera looks NOTHING like a shoulder-held rocket launcher. The only thing they have visually in common is that they are placed on the shoulder.

If this is how our soldiers are responding, I pray that Iraqi youth don't like to walk around with boom boxes on their shoulders.

[jayfish]

8. If I Remember Correctly The ROE in Somolia

prohibited US soldiers from using deadly force unless fired on directly. I'm not sure a single soldier was killed under these RsOE. And don't bring up the Black Hawk Down incident as this was an assault by US forces.

Jay

[mandyky]

4. I heard that on CNN the other day

but I don't have a link.

[Zuni]

6. the day after an attack

it could have been dark, or from a distance....the soldier could have seen what appeared to be a rocket launcher from a distance being aimed at the compund and acted on impulse.
Since it happened the day after another attack, i am willing to believe the military on this one. A large camera, from a distance or in poor light could look like a shoulder fired weapon.

[jayfish]

7. You People Really Need To Educate Yourselves.

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6996821%255E1702,00.html

-SNIP-
"We were all there, for at least half an hour. They knew we were journalists. After they shot Mazen, they aimed their guns at us."

"There were many journalists around. They knew we were journalists."

Reuters quoted soundman Nael al-Shyoukhi, who was with Dana, as saying that the US soldiers "saw us and they knew about our identities and our mission.

"After we filmed we went into the car and prepared to go when a convoy led by a tank arrived and Mazen stepped out of the car to film. I followed him and Mazen walked three to four metres. We were noted and seen clearly," al-Shyoukhi said.
-SNIP-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3160429.stm

-SNIP-
The incident took place in daylight on Sunday afternoon.

Mazen Dana's last pictures show a US tank driving towards him outside the prison walls.

Several shots ring out from the tank and the camera falls to the ground.

His sound engineer, Nael al-Shyoukhi, said that the pair had spoken to a US soldier near the prison shortly before the shooting.
-SNIP-

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article1827.shtml

Check the picture out. Looks like a RPG to me...NOT.

Jay