Cameraman to Fallujah Marines: "Something was not right."

[madfloridian]

This statement from the end of the article says it all so profoundly:

"So here, ultimately, is how it all plays out: when the Iraqi man in the mosque posed a threat, he was your enemy; when he was subdued he was your responsibility; when he was killed in front of my eyes and my camera - the story of his death became my responsibility.

The burdens of war, as you so well know, are unforgiving for all of us. I pray for your soon and safe return...."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1357396,00.html

SNIP..."Since the shooting in the mosque, I've been haunted that I have not been able to tell you directly what I saw or explain the process by which the world came to see it as well.

As you know, I'm not some war zone tourist with a camera who doesn't understand that ugly things happen in combat. I've spent most of the last five years covering global conflict. But I have never in my career been a "gotcha" reporter - hoping for people to commit wrongdoings so I can catch them at it.

This week I've been shocked to see myself painted as some kind of anti-war activist. Anyone who has seen my reporting on television or has read my dispatches on the web is fully aware of the lengths I've gone to to play it straight down the middle - not to become a tool of propaganda for the left or the right. But I find myself a lightning rod for controversy in reporting what I saw occur in front of me, camera rolling.

It's time for you to have the facts, in my own words, about what I saw, without imposing on that marine guilt or innocence or anything in between. I want you to read my account and make up your own minds. Here it goes...."

Powerful and very very sad.

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Thanks! Too many Muricans wanting to

shoot this messenger. Tragic that it should be so.

[izzie]

5. The list is long on being wrong.

Wrong war, beheading people, blowing up cars in markets, blowing up homes with 500 lbs. bombs, the whole thing will be another shame for the terrorists and the Am. as far as I can see. I am thinking for the Iraq on the street we all just look like killers.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. Hey Rush, Hannity, etc., and all other freepers

Why don't you read this before you trash this guy any further? Why don't you do a little research EVER before you start running off at the mouth? Why is that so hard? It makes me so angry that this man is being accused of demoralizing the troops.

[Bluebear]

3. I'm certain the Red Man Date flock will continue the call for his head

(the reporter, that is)...but I am glad he wrote this. Especially the part where the network attempted to air every mitigating factor surrounding the incident for the shooter's benefit.

[GetTheRightVote]

4. So powerfully written yet so tragic an ending

...when he was killed in front of my eyes and my camera - the story of his death became my responsibility.

The burdens of war, as you so well know, are unforgiving for all of us.

The burdens of war .......