WAR: U.S. Military Suspects CBS Cameraman of Being an Insurgent

Military officials have arrested a CBS cameraman who was injured in a Mosul firefight yesterday alleging that he is an insurgent. Officials say that tapes in the cameraman's possession showed several insurgence attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces citing that he was tipped off to them. CBS has stated that the man was employed by them 3 months ago.



If this man has been tipped off by insurgents as alleged, he could have prevented injuries and deaths by tipping U.S. and Iraqi military. By him not choosing to do and going after the story instead, he now finds himself also labelled as an insurgent. Since the identity of the cameraman has not been released and we have not heard from him as of yet, it is impossible to know if he shared the same feelings as the insurgents or was indifferent to their cause and just wanted a story.

[edit on 4-8-2005 by worldwatcher]

How can anyone say he was wrong or right ...when the whole issue of war in iraq is wrong.....................

This gives a whole new meaning to the idea of the liberal media sympathizing with the terrorists!

The involvement of CBS in this is disgusting and revolting, the cameraman should be put on trial as a war criminal.

And Mayet, how can you denounce the Iraq war as wrong when many, including myself, think it's a noble cause?

Just because you think its 'noble' does not make the invasion and occupation 'right'

Originally posted by cmdrpaddy
Just because you think its 'noble' does not make the invasion and occupation 'right'

Occupation? Iraq has had elections right? They can ask us to leave at any time.

The invasion was right, and the events after the invasion are noble and right. Bush should receive a Nobel Peace Prize for this but he won't, cause only idiots like Carter and terrorists like Arafat get that award nowadays.

CBS has no credibility, it doesn't surprise me that they didn't check this guy out. Just like they didn't check out the bogus Bush National Guard Documents.

from the CNN article
One official said at least four videos in the man's camera show roadside bomb attacks on U.S. troops.

All had been shot in a manner that suggested the cameraman had prior knowledge of the attacks and had scouted a shooting location in sight of the target.

Seems to me that if this is true, then the 4 videos found will be quite damning/incriminating for this 'freelance' cameraman and to anyone found within CBS who may have known or given permission for this reporters activities.

Here's the real question though:
What is a CBS cameraman doing running with insurgents or terrorists in the first place?





seekerof

[edit on 8-4-2005 by Seekerof]

Wow, heres a idea.

The insurgents gave him the tape because he was smart and said he was from Al-Jazeera.

Oh my another black Eye for CBS.

CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart reports the military became suspicious when they examined the contents of the camera and found pictures of what appears to be the aftermath of four separate attacks by insurgents using IEDs, improvised explosive devices. The footage, taken so soon after the attacks, suggest the cameraman had to have foreknowledge that the attacks would take place, officials told Stewart. The scenes and timing of the taping are very disturbing, said one official.

Source CBS.com

At least CBS is being honest in the reporting of the story.

So much for the inside scoop, CBS judgement is starting to resemble the Daily Show. As for Iraqi media antics, this easily surpasses Fox's Ben Johnson Iraqi art heist in severity.

Amazing range of views here. People blaming CBS for everything from their political bias to their friday night sitcom line up, because an employment agency supplied them with a local cameraman who turns out may have been linked to the insurgents. This is like blaming the VFW because their local pizza boy knows someone who is Japanese.

NEWSFLASH... Nobody knows who the insurgents are! They don't carry insurgency membership cards or have "Terrorist U" bumper stickers.

What's the REAL story here? I'm surprised you haven't figured it out. This is another photo journalist injured and the military are scrambling for an excuse for shooting him.

Read the story.



[edit on 4/9/2005 by mythatsabigprobe]

Originally posted by mythatsabigprobe
What's the REAL story here? I'm surprised you haven't figured it out. This is another photo journalist injured and the military are scrambling for an excuse for shooting him.

Read the story.

Ok...

The U.S. military said the shooting occurred amid the chaos of a suicide bombing and that the cameraman was standing next to an armed insurgent at the time.

I guess he was just asking for the time of day.

Ok...

The U.S. military said the shooting occurred amid the chaos of a suicide bombing and that the cameraman was standing next to an armed insurgent at the time.

In the midst of the chaos of a suicide bombing you're not likely to know who you're standing next to, or have any control over who's standing next to you.

edit to add: Don't forget, all press in a war zone are considered non-combatants and aren't supposed to be targetted. It makes no difference if this guy was an Iraqi insurgent or Tom Brokaw himself, he was only taking photo's. Someone here said he should be tried as a war criminal?? Please..

[edit on 4/9/2005 by mythatsabigprobe]

Originally posted by mythatsabigprobe
Ok...

The U.S. military said the shooting occurred amid the chaos of a suicide bombing and that the cameraman was standing next to an armed insurgent at the time.

In the midst of the chaos of a suicide bombing you're not likely to know who you're standing next to, or have any control over who's standing next to you.

The difference in garb between an armed insurgent and a coalition soldier should be readily apparent to the most casual observer.

The Coolation soldier is easy to pick out in a crowd of insurgents. The solider is wearing a uniform. There have been time where soldiers have been given order to fire on everything in an area that is not a soldier in uniform.

Originally posted by Mayet
How can anyone say he was wrong or right ...

The question isn't is he right or wrong, the question is whose side was he on. If he aided and abetted the enemy and he is in the custody of the US military, then I'd say his goose is cooked, especially if it can be proved that he is responsible for lost US lives. CBS is hemorrhaging badly.

unlike Memogate i don't think this squarely falls on CBS news. More of a bad decision by a recruiter/human resources employee wanting to get more video coverage for stories, and not checking the cameramans record in detail.

I certainly dont see Fox news or CNN covering the Iraqi insurgancy that much. compared to NBC or CBS.

This is clearly a situation where CBS just got caught in a bad situation, but given recent events, its the kind of publicity they don't need. Many heads have already rolled at CBS and I wouldn't be surprised if more rolled over this. Media are cut throat businesses. Someone will pay.


[edit on 05/4/9 by GradyPhilpott]