AP: CBS Camerman Shot in Iraq– possibly with a terrorist gang
I found this on the CBC website via Google. If the allegations in this AP bulletin are proven (and this is an initial report, remember that), this would be a major embarrassment for CBS.
I have a lot of questions about this story, and only time and investigation will answer them.
Here’s what the CBC posts from the AP, and it’s very similar to the BBC report (which adds an interesting quote from AFP):
CBC:
- A cameraman carrying CBS press credentials was detained in Iraq earlier this week on suspicion of insurgent activity, the U.S. military said Friday.
The cameraman suffered minor injuries Tuesday during a battle between U.S. soldiers and suspected insurgents, the military said. He was standing next to an alleged insurgent, who was killed during the shootout.
The military then issued a statement saying the cameraman was shot because his equipment was mistaken for a weapon.
But on Friday, the military said the cameraman was detained because there was probable cause to believe he posed “an imperative threat to coalition forces.”
“He is currently detained and will be processed as any other security detainee,” the statement said.
CBS News spokeswoman Leigh Farris said the network was looking into the situation.
The journalist suffered minor wounds and was with “a number of people” involved in the shootout, said U.S. military spokesman Capt. Mark Walter, adding that he was detained immediately after the incident, in part because of statements from witnesses to the battle.
Officials are investigating the man’s previous activities as well as “his alleged support of anti-Iraqi insurgency activities,” the statement said.
The military and the news media must handle this report very carefully– and I have no reason to think they are not treating this with the utmost in seriousness. An “enterprising” reporter or cameraman can legitimately work his way into a combat situation, and he has not only the right but the professional duty to do that. However, illegitimate “deals to get details” could also be struck. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: The BBC AFP quote (which I did not copy) mentioned a report from Tuesday that a cameraman had been wounded –at that time they had no details beyond that, but the story was obviously much bigger than the first report. News organizations update reports constantly and links change.
CBS first said that he was a stringer!!!!
Comment by Intensive Care — 4/8/2005 @ 6:00 pm
It’s pretty easy to get pictures of Johnny Jihad killing Americans if you slip Johnny Jihad a few dollars. Isn’t that what Zarqawi does…pay people to blow up Americans and capture it on film so he can post it on his Web Site? I fail to see a difference. But then….my soldier is in Iraq….anyone there knows Johnny Jihad is playing to the press…. the fact that he is also being paid by an American Corporation with an FCC license is beyond that pale.
Comment by Soldier's Dad — 4/8/2005 @ 6:18 pm
Interestingly, the BBC report doesn’t, at this time, have a direct quote from AFP on it, and the Beeb has caught a lot of, ahem, flak, for dropping silent edits in the memory hole…
Comment by Guruzilla — 4/8/2005 @ 6:30 pm
Is it possible that the detainee with the CBS credentials previously did some work for CBS, then kept the credentials after his job ended? CBS may be an innocent party in this incident.
Comment by Dodo David — 4/8/2005 @ 6:45 pm
This incident took place on Tuesday, if he did not work for C…BS, I think that they would have been the first to tell us.
Comment by Intensive Care — 4/8/2005 @ 7:10 pm
If you are standing next to a terrorist when the terrorist is shot and killed by our troops, you should expect to be killed, as well. When you are only wounded, and get state-of-the-art medical care besides, you should be very happy, not the reverse. I have no sympathy for this cameraman. He was damned lucky.
Comment by exguru — 4/8/2005 @ 7:53 pm
We had this post: Is it possible that the detainee with the CBS credentials previously did some work for CBS, then kept the credentials after his job ended? CBS may be an innocent party in this incident. Then, just 25 minutes later we had this post: This incident took place on Tuesday, if he did not work for C…BS, I think that they would have been the first to tell us. That second post is bang on. I thing most of us thank the second poster but I doubt CBS will. Neither will those who wish our military ill in Iraq, and everywhre else. John W. Matthews
Comment by John W. Matthews — 4/8/2005 @ 8:24 pm
CNN is reporting , “CBS says the photgrapher was hired three months ago” “He was refrenced to the network by a “fixer”, who has had a trusted relationship with CBS for two years” Go figure………
Comment by Intensive Care — 4/8/2005 @ 8:46 pm
can’t the army do anything right anymore? dead men tell no tales!!!
Comment by Rob Mandel — 4/8/2005 @ 10:09 pm
Stay tuned indeed. What was CBS doing? An “Iraqi Tet” is the last thing we need.
Comment by Air Force Voices — 4/9/2005 @ 6:01 am
Maybe the cameraman was a holdover from the Rather/Mapes administration and he never received word that the forged documents story had fizzled.
Comment by TRH — 4/9/2005 @ 6:33 am