U.S. Military Returns Tape It Seized from AP in Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Editor & Publisher

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.



Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003655478

[EST]

1. Probably just some of that unfortunate, unreasoning brutality which

always arises naturally in an occupying, aggressive and threatened force.
Since there were several other reporters, apparently, who had no trouble, this was likely just another stupid, unreasonable event among thousands.

Of course, a dearth of facts, erroneous reporting or deliberate manipulation easily keeps us from accurate accounting and destroys trust.

[Demeter]

2. And Was the Video Intact ? n/t

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. That's what I wanted to know too. The story says...

they were returned without any erasures or deletions. (Sure surprised me.)

[soothsayer]

3. 100% chance they're targeting reporters over there

[pinniped]

4. WTFs with this blindfolding crap?

That sounds like what kidnappers like to pull.

[damntexdem]

5. Oh, how nice -- they're giving it back!

Only a week after it would have been breaking news!