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British Journalist unlawfully killed by US forces
Topic Started: Oct 13 2006, 04:44 AM (234 Views)
John D'Oh
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MAMIL
Or so says the coroner...

Unlawful killing verdict

Quote:
 
A coroner has recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on ITN reporter Terry Lloyd, who was shot dead by US forces in southern Iraq in March 2003.
An inquest heard Mr Lloyd was killed by a US bullet near Basra. His interpreter died and his cameraman is missing.

The inquest heard Mr Lloyd, 50 and originally from Derby, was hit while in a makeshift ambulance, having already been hurt in American-Iraqi crossfire.

The Pentagon denied ever targeting non-combatants, including journalists.

The coroner is to ask the attorney general to consider pressing charges.

Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker said he would also be writing to the director of public prosecutions asking for him to investigate the possibility of bringing charges.

'War crime'

Mr Lloyd's Lebanese interpreter, Hussein Osman, was also killed and French cameraman Fred Nerac is still officially classed as missing, presumed dead. Belgian cameraman Daniel Demoustier was the ITN crew's only survivor.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said Mr Lloyd's killing was a "war crime" and this was echoed by Mr Lloyd's widow, Lyn.

The ITN crew

Terry Lloyd, reporter - killed
Hussein Osman, interpreter - killed
Fred Nerac, cameraman - missing, presumed killed
Daniel Demoustier, cameraman - survived

In a statement she said: "This was a very serious war crime, how else can firing on a vehicle in these circumstances be interpreted?

"This was not a friendly fire incident or a crossfire incident, it was a despicable, deliberate, vengeful act, particularly as it came many minutes after the initial exchange.

"US forces appear to have allowed their soldiers to behave like trigger happy cowboys in an area where civilians were moving around."

A spokesman for the US Department of Defense said: "An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident was completed in May 2003.

"The investigation was limited to the engagement of the vehicle Mr Lloyd was traveling in. The investigation determined that US forces followed the applicable Rules of Engagement

'We do not target non-combatants'

"The Department of Defense has never deliberately targeted non-combatants, including journalists. We have always gone to extreme measures to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage.

"It has been an unfortunate reality that journalists have died in Iraq. Combat operations are inherently dangerous and we do not take lightly our responsibilities in the conduct of these operations. We do not, nor would we ever, deliberately target a non-combatant civilian or journalist."

His daughter Chelsey said: "The killing of my father would seem to amount to murder, which is deeply shocking."

ITN praised

Mr Lloyd was covering the British and American invasion of Iraq as a "unilateral" journalist, rather than those "embedded" with UK or US forces, who were subject to military censorship.


The ITN crew's vehicle was completely destroyed

He and his three colleagues were caught up in a firefight between US and Iraqi forces near the Shatt Al Basra Bridge on 22 March 2003.

After an eight-day inquest Mr Walker cleared ITN of any blame for Mr Lloyd's death and praised him and his team for their "professionalism and dedication".

He said it was his view the American tanks had been first to open fire on the ITN crew's two vehicles.

He added Mr Lloyd would probably have survived the first bullet wound he received, but was killed as he travelled away in a makeshift ambulance.

Mr Walker said it "presented no threat to American forces" since it was a civilian minibus and was facing away from the US tanks.

 
The killing of my father would seem to amount to murder, which is deeply shocking

"I have no doubt it was the fact that the vehicle stopped to pick up survivors that prompted the Americans to fire on that vehicle," he said.

ITN's editor in chief David Mannion said: "I would also like to say something that I know Terry would have wished me to say.

"Independent, unilateral reporting, free from official strictures, is crucial; not simply to us as journalists but to the role we play in a free and democratic society."

Mr Nerac's widow Fabienne said she would continue her "lonely vigil" to find out what happened to her husband.

What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
It's unlawful to shoot journalists?

"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne


There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it".


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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
Quote:
 
"This was not a friendly fire incident or a crossfire incident, it was a despicable, deliberate, vengeful act, particularly as it came many minutes after the initial exchange.

"US forces appear to have allowed their soldiers to behave like trigger happy cowboys in an area where civilians were moving around."


So what did he do or see or photograph that would have incurred an act of vengence?

What sort of chain of command would permit the employment of multiple tanks firing on civilian vehicles?

This seems to be a very partial story -- given the track record of reported "atrocities", I'll withhold my judgment pending the investigation.

My condolances for his family, but it seems an imprudent job running about battlefields in search of news.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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The 89th Key
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JBryan
Oct 13 2006, 08:47 AM
It's unlawful to shoot journalists?

There goes my weekend plans...
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
ivorythumper
Oct 13 2006, 04:26 PM
Quote:
 
"This was not a friendly fire incident or a crossfire incident, it was a despicable, deliberate, vengeful act, particularly as it came many minutes after the initial exchange.

"US forces appear to have allowed their soldiers to behave like trigger happy cowboys in an area where civilians were moving around."


So what did he do or see or photograph that would have incurred an act of vengence?

What sort of chain of command would permit the employment of multiple tanks firing on civilian vehicles?

This seems to be a very partial story -- given the track record of reported "atrocities", I'll withhold my judgment pending the investigation.

My condolances for his family, but it seems an imprudent job running about battlefields in search of news.

I'm not commenting on the possibly rather OTT and emotional remarks made by those quoted in the article, but the fact that the coroner describes the death as 'unlawful killing' would appear to raise serious questions about what happened.

Without people 'running about battlefields' in search of news, how would we find out what was going on? Would you prefer that we were restricted to official government reports?
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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George K
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Finally
The identification of these journalists as "civilians" poses a problem when you're a soldier and other "civilians" fires an RPG at your HUMVEE. That's why we have rules of engagement, and Geneva "Conventions."
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"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

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Mikhailoh
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JBryan
Oct 13 2006, 08:47 AM
It's unlawful to shoot journalists?

Not normally, but this was out of season.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
John D'Oh
Oct 13 2006, 01:34 PM

Without people 'running about battlefields' in search of news, how would we find out what was going on? Would you prefer that we were restricted to official government reports?

I really don't care if someone wants to put their life on the line in search of a Pulitzer. It just seems a reckless way to earn a living and playing up of the grieving widow angle in the article is also OTT (but what in contemporary "journalism" isn't?)
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
Quote:
 
I'll withhold my judgment pending the investigation.


Me too. Something doesn't sound right. I wonder what the U.S. investigation found; the explanation given by the spokesperson leaves something to be desired.
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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George K
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Finally
Remember the Italian reporter whose car ran the security barricades after multiple warnings to stop and identify? US soldiers opened fire, killing the driver. The military investigation found that nothing was done wrong by the soldiers. They followed the rules.
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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kluurs
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JBryan
Oct 13 2006, 04:47 AM
It's unlawful to shoot journalists?

Must not have met Geraldo.
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Nobody's Sock
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Fulla-Carp
JBryan
Oct 13 2006, 04:47 AM
It's unlawful to shoot journalists?

Who knows, but if you do, it makes the front page.

20 Gi's could be slaughtered one day but if a Journalist gets whacked that same day you won't even read about the soldiers dying.

Before the coroner can untie the toe tag there will be a whole life story on what a fabulous man this was along with petitions for sainthood.

I hate the press.
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
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