From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Thu Apr 11 2002 - 13:32:32 MDT
Harvey Newstrom wrote:
>
> On Wednesday, April 10, 2002, at 08:27 pm, Michael M. Butler wrote:
> > Harvey, have you got an authentic cite for that?
>
> It has been on CNN and ABC evening news all week. The worst example was
> the group of reporters who showed up to cover the Arafat meeting. They
> suddenly were hit with stun grenades, gunfire, and then a tank was
> turned toward their position. The reporters actually yelled at the the
> soldiers and asked what they were doing, and they replied that reporters
> are not allowed here.
Pancritically seeking clarity, not controversy:
OK, but I am asking for a policy statement that any reporters are to be
killed.
I can't tell from your description exactly what the gunfire was: warning
shots, "rubber bullets", or what. I do know that flash-bangs are far from
harmless, and I don't dispute they should only be used against concentrations
of presumed unfriendlies.
It does sound as if the Israelis are, at a minimum, treating concentrations of
people who are acting like news teams as one might expect rioters or threats
to the peace to be treated.
So far, I deduce it is because they don't want wolves (Hamas, suicide bombers,
etc.) among the lambs, and the lambs refuse to get the message and go back to
the pen. You figure it is because they want to cover up other atrocities? Or
that it automatically counts as an atrocity on its face?
Does this state something like our respective positions correctly?
I'm not familiar with Israeli law. If something resembling martial law is in
effect in the areas in question, I would not be surprised if in fact the
actions of the Israeli forces you describe above were 100% legal, especially
use of "nonlethals" (so called--more accurately "not optimized for lethality")
like concussion grenades or plastic projectiles. Not defending that, but not
sure that it qualifies as an atrocity on its face.
--
butler a t comp - lib . o r g
I am not here to have an argument. I am here as part of a civilization.
Sometimes I forget.
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