U.S.: Troops Within Rules in Reuters (Reporter Shooting) Case

[Khephra]

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- 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.

more...........

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-journalist-killed,0,3537074.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[ixion]

1. Rules: shoot first, ask questions later...

this is really sad. :-(

[leesa]

4. Shoot first, make up the "rules" later

[FlemingsGhost]

2. And the press loves Bush, why?

Reminds me of the battered wife, as she tends to her injuries, refusing to press charges:

"I just know this is the last time. One more chance, because I love him so..."

[leesa]

3. Secret rules...security, of course

The supporters of these murderous thugs in the Bush Crime Family must be despised by God.

[stickdog]

5. Rules: Kill all journalists who have ever given us any trouble. (NT)

[depakid]

6. I wonder if killing the tiger at the zoo was within the rules, too?

I betcha so-

According to US military spokesman in Iraq, Lieutenant George Krivo, the soldier had apparently tried to feed the big cat and "the tiger then engaged the soldier's arm."

[booksenkatz]

7. "Rules"="bag limit"/nt

.....