U.S. military gives back tape they stole from AP reporter they kidnapped in Iraq

[bigtree]

Military returns tape it took from AP

-- The Associated Press

Published: October 8, 2007
Last Modified: October 8, 2007 at 12:22 PM

BAGHDAD (AP) The U.S. military returned a videotape and digital camera memory card Monday that American soldiers had seized last week from an AP Television News cameraman.

The tape and card were taken without explanation from Ayad M. Abd Ali at the scene of an insurgent attack against the Polish ambassador in Baghdad. The ambassador, Gen. Edward Pietrzyk, suffered burns and was evacuated by helicopter.

After photographing the attack's aftermath and the rescue activities, Abd Ali was detained by U.S. troops for about 40 minutes in spite of having shown the soldiers a valid U.S.-issued press credential and identification.

He says he was never told why he was handcuffed, blindfolded and put in a Humvee, or why the tape and film were taken. Subsequent contact with the U.S. military also has failed to produce a clear explanation for the military's actions.

Other news organizations shot video and still photographs of the scene and had no apparent difficulty.

The AP informed U.S. military authorities about the tape confiscation shortly after the incident.

{snip}

An attorney for The Associated Press said he was dismayed by the incident. "We're glad to have it back, but it should never have been seized in the first place," said Dave Tomlin, associate general counsel for the news cooperative. "We plan to ask for assurances that soldiers aren't actually being told to harass journalists and interfere with newsgathering."

Maj. Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, arranged the return of the tape and memory card. He said he hoped it would not happen again.


report: http://www.adn.com/24hour/world/story/3715248p-13154351c.html

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Prediction:

There is a butterbar somewhere in Iraq who is packing for the trip home and looking for a new career.

Which could mean we will see a rash of this sort of thing. ;-)

[gateley]

3. What's a butterbar? Thanks. nt

[Greyskye]

4. Butterbar

A Second Lieutenant; a reference to the insignia of rank - a single gold bar.

[gateley]

5. Thanks -- no way would I have figured that out. nt

[fenriswolf]

6. also used

in referance to their experiance (ie butterfingers) most butterbars are respected because of their ranks but know enough to learn everything along with the NCO's.

[gateley]

2. The tape and card were taken without explanation

Here's the explanation: Ayad M. Abd Ali

I'm surprised he was only detained for 40 minutes.

[leftchick]

7. exactly. This al-Jazeera employee has been in GITMO for 5 years!

Al-Jazeera cameraman in worse condition at Gitmo, lawyer says

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/22/news/CB-GEN-Guantanamo-Jailed-Journalist.php

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: The health of a hunger-striking TV cameraman at the military prison in Guantanamo Bay has deteriorated sharply in recent months, according to notes released Tuesday by his lawyer after they were censored by U.S. authorities.

Sami al-Hajj, a cameraman for the Al-Jazeera TV network, has lost 18 kilograms (40 pounds) since he began his strike late last year and has developed intestinal problems and other conditions, according to the notes from attorney Clive Stafford Smith.

Al-Hajj, who has been held at Guantanamo since June 2002, seemed anxious and "even paranoid," and had difficulty concentrating or speaking his previously fluent English during a meeting with the attorney, the notes said.

"He's just losing it," Stafford Smith said in a telephone interview. "He's definitely deteriorating physically and mentally from the hunger strike."

The meeting was in early July but Stafford Smith said he received the notes only late last week.

:(