CBS Terrorism

[Mycroft]

This is almost in the too bizarre to be true catagory.

CBS stringer arrested in Iraq

U.S. military suspects cameraman of being an insurgent

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A CBS stringer has been arrested as a suspected insurgent, U.S. military officials said Friday.

The video cameraman was wounded during a firefight in northeastern Mosul between U.S. troops and insurgents Tuesday.

U.S. military officials said the man's camera held footage of a number of roadside bomb attacks against American troops, and they believe he was tipped off to those attacks.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/04/08/iraq.main/index.html

Wasn't there some previous speculation on photographers being extraordinarily lucky in being in the right place at the right time to catch the insurgents bomb or gunshot at the right moment?

 

[Hutch]

This is almost in the too bizarre to be true catagory.

Wouldn't call it bizarre. Stringers, IIRC, are usually independents, often working on a 'handshake contract' for various media outlets. Given that you'll find few if any American cameramen out in the field without accompanying US troops (or where US troops will let them go) then hiring Iraqi stringers shouldn't be considered bizarre.

And given that stringers are usually paid (again, IIRC) only if their footage is used on the news, it seems logical that at least a few would try to pad their pockets by playing both sides. Immoral? Probably, depending upon one's defintion. Bizzare? Not really.

IMHO as always....

 

[Eleatic Stranger]

Wasn't there some previous speculation on photographers being extraordinarily lucky in being in the right place at the right time to catch the insurgents bomb or gunshot at the right moment?

Yes, but unfortunately it was pretty much all by raving madmen. Photographers don't have to be lucky to be in the right place at the right time to catch these sorts of occurences any more than infantry men have to be extraodinarily lucky. I have yet to hear speculation that the US Army may be in league with the insurgents, however - but look at the evidence! The US Army men always seem to be in the right place at the right time to be caught in firefights between, er, the US Army and the Insurgents!

More seriously, though, combat photographers go to where they think combat will be. It's not like they're just tourists wondering around taking pictures of stuff and occasionally happen upon a war zone.

I've no idea about this particular case, though, but from what you posted I'd guess that the Army is either possessed of more evidence than they're talking about or they're being deeply silly.

 

[kalen]

Yes, but unfortunately it was pretty much all by raving madmen. Photographers don't have to be lucky to be in the right place at the right time to catch these sorts of occurences any more than infantry men have to be extraodinarily lucky. I have yet to hear speculation that the US Army may be in league with the insurgents, however - but look at the evidence! The US Army men always seem to be in the right place at the right time to be caught in firefights between, er, the US Army and the Insurgents!

More seriously, though, combat photographers go to where they think combat will be. It's not like they're just tourists wondering around taking pictures of stuff and occasionally happen upon a war zone.

I've no idea about this particular case, though, but from what you posted I'd guess that the Army is either possessed of more evidence than they're talking about or they're being deeply silly.

All good points.

As for the evidence, what are the chances of him ever finding out what the evidence against him is? I wonder if he'll ever be a free man ever again, too. Actually, I wonder the same thing about the rest of the people the US has locked up off-shore.