Kevin Sites Blog
Some of you may have heard about the incident in Iraq where a Marine shot an unarmed, wounded insurgent. An NBC camera man was following this marine squad and caught the shooting on video. Since then, the video has been shown around the world, with many questioning whether the Marine was justified in taking this action.
The NBC camera man that caught all this on tape has a blog and wrote about the incident. It’s very interesting reading, explaining more of the situation than we’ve heard before. Read his thoughts at www.kevinsites.net.
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Nov 22nd, 2004 at 13:46:35
Knowing firsthand what are soliders are going thru, I was shocked and angry that he released that video, nothing positive can come from that. Irresponsible and selfish Kevin has added fuel to the fire, with what I believe for a chance of personal gain.
Nov 22nd, 2004 at 13:47:14
that should be “our soliders”….sorry
Nov 22nd, 2004 at 14:43:57
I don’t think Kevin was being selfish or out for personal gain by releasing the video. First, he made sure that all the circumstances surrounding it were released. Second, he did give thought to what releasing the video would mean for the troops. As he says on his website:
I think Kevin sounds sincere on this website, not like someone out to make himself famous. Besides, if you had been witness to this incident, would you have covered it up? It’s never good to hide the truth, no matter who it hurts.
Nov 22nd, 2004 at 23:14:57
i agree, the video should have been released. I’ve seen the video, I read the blog and I think the soldier was out of line.
Nov 23rd, 2004 at 14:07:12
Again, I have no respect for someone who doesn’t think about our soliders safety. I am guessing Chris and Paul haven’t read any of the backlash that this video has caused. Of course Mr. Kevin isn’t going to admit he did anything wrong he was just providing the story. My next question is why isn’t there more stories about the good things that are being done by our soliders. But of course if you listen to people in the media, Kevin included, there must only be awful situations because that is all they report. Again per Kevin none of this is for personal gain.
Nov 23rd, 2004 at 14:10:28
“I’ve seen the video, I read the blog and I think the soldier was out of line.”
And how many times have you been involved in a war/conflict?
I think we are sometimes to quick to judge. We don’t know the fear of dying those soliders live with everyday. I am not going to pass judgement on someone who deals with sniper fire, guerilla attacks, roadside and suicide bombers on a daily basis.
War is never a good thing and because of war things happen that aren’t always right.
Nov 23rd, 2004 at 16:29:48
Sean, I have heard the backlash associated with the video being released. I still don’t think that this soldiers actions should be covered up. He did what he did, period, and needs to held accountable for it, just like the soldiers in teh prison abuse scandal. I guess you think those photographs shouldn’t have been release either, huh, just because there would be backlash… Just because this is an American soldier doesn’t give him/her the right to murder someone and ignore the rules of war. I understand the circumstances leading up to this soldier shooting an unarmed, injured insurgent, but that sure doesn’t give soldiers the right to murder them.
Nov 23rd, 2004 at 22:44:51
I typed a nice long reponse to Sean’s notes, but I’m not going to bother posting them. Everyone is entitled to their optinion, and this is why we have juries.
Paul
Nov 24th, 2004 at 15:30:07
Again Chris I am glad that you totally believe what Kevin is saying and stating that he is telling the gospel truth. In fact on the same day that was released their was a photograph on CNN of the story and the room in which the shooting took place. In that photo which I can’t find, is the picture of a couple of assualt rifles in the room. So Kevin’s statement about their being no weapons in the room is circumstantial. In fact the only part of the video released, to my knowledge, was the “unarmed” man being shot. Now of course I don’t know personally if that man had a weapon on his person, I wasn’t there to verify, but Kevin didn’t verify that either by showing us video of it. So you and Kevin are assuming that this is the only time video has captured an act that could be questionable during time of war, to state that would be foolish. On a side note, I am thankful that gracious Kevin gave the US Military 48 hours to perform an investigation before he released that video (note the sarcasm).
Regarding the prison scandal that is something that shouldn’t have happened and the persons who committed those crimes are being punished, like they should be. A prison situation is totally different then the live field of battle, which you nor I cannot relate to in the slightest.
Again, I was not there and therefore cannot verify what actually happened. But if you don’t err on the side of extreme caution of in Iraq your next trip home could be in a coffin. I personally choose to hold to the believe in the justice system of innocent until proven guilty which is “why we have juries”, especially when it comes to the men and women who defend our country so I don’t have to pick up arms for myself. Be a little more respectful to those who serve and not so judgemental.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 15:43:25
My issue with the video is that no one (that I can find anyway) has the soldiers story. Has it been told yet or is everyone going by what the camera guy decided to release? The on CNN.com there was a picture in that mosque(sp) and you can clearly see a weapon leaning against a pillar next to where a person is laying. Now I don’t know whose weapon it is, but my guess is it isn’t the American soldiers, but the enemy’s. And how does that camera guy know that there were no other weapons on his person? And does he know for a fact that the “unarmed” person wasn’t ever shooting at the Americans? I haven’t read teh cameraman’s web page and probably wont because I think it will be biased.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 15:44:13
As Paul said, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I still think Kevin did right in not destroying the video, but you’re entitled to believe what you want in regards to the situation. I would also say to you don’t be so judgemental towards this camera man, because like you have said, you weren’t there and don’t know the all the circumstances of the situation.
The full video was actually released and shown on the Arab TV station, Al-Jeezera. We in the US have only seen a part of the full video.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 15:54:00
I think the FULL video should be shown as well as ALL the circumstances involved should be known. Going strictly by word of mouth does anyone really believe that the camera guy was telling the armed forces where they should go? I just find it difficult to believe that the camera guy would have any influence on those types of decisions.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 15:54:21
And apparently to your and Paul’s view we have only seen the part most condemning to that solider. I wouldn’t begin to speculate that the video showed a complete examination of the room or the situation.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 15:55:53
Well, Scott, I’m not saying that the soldier is right or wrong with his actions, since I don’t have the full story and I wasn’t there. I was just saying that the cameraman was right in not covering up the soldiers actions.
As far as the soldiers’ stories, I’ve heard that the one that shot the insurgent was shot in the face a couple day’s earlier. There had also been several other cases of dead/wounded insurgents being booby-trapped with explosives and such. To me, that gives the soldiers more clearance to treat wounded and dead a certain way. Again, though, I wasn’t there in this siutation, so I can’t say if this particular soldier was justified in his actions.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 15:57:14
Man Sean, you sure like to argue.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 15:58:05
Geesh, Sean, this must be a really hot issue for you or something… It’s not only Paul’s and my view. Don’t limit it just to the two of us. And again, I’m not judging the soldier’s actions. I don’t have enough information for that, though I’m leaning towards him being justified in his actions.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:01:20
I’m not saying he was right or wrong, as much as it seems that everyone is going by Kevin’s story. I wasn’t there to see it first hand (only way I think I would beleive 100%) and we are only getting one side of part of the story. With the body’s being bobby trapped and such I think more discretion should be involved. Should people know when something is being done that isn’t right, yes. But how many things like that have happened to our soldiers by the enemy?
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:09:17
That’s weak Paul can’t come up with anything better than that you tree hugging, pet smooching, egotistical, rice driving, save the enviroment, buy hemp loving, John Kerry fanatic.
(just kidding Debbie)
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:10:29
And for you Chris, pick a side of the fence because the grass isn’t always greener but can be more damaging on the other side of the fence.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:11:03
and to both Chris and Paul just kidding
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:12:41
And Paul “W” still cares about you
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:18:02
Hey, I did pick a side. I agreed with the camera man’s actions, and I’m siding with the soldier at this point in time. However, I’m not going to be as judgemental and critical as you on the situation, since I don’t have all the information.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:31:54
Just curious, how is: “I agreed with the camera man’s actions, and I’m siding with the soldier at this point in time.” picking a side? Siding with the solder but agreeing with the camera guys actions? (sounds like John Kerry!
)I just wish the news would show the entire video.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:39:45
How is that not picking a side? Why can’t I agree that it was okay to release the video, and still think that the soldier was justified with his actions? That’s not mutually exclusive. Sounds like you think that the video should only be released if the soldier acted wrongly and I don’t think that’s the case. Wouldn’t you love to see “good” video of our soldiers, video showing some of the things they face and acting appropriately?
If I were the soldier, and I was confident that I was justified with the choice I made, I wouldn’t care if the video was released. It would show what I was facing and the choices that I had to make. It would show the world a little more of the difficulties that I face in the conflict. However, if I knew I did something wrong, I would be terrified if the video was released, because then I would be “caught” in my wrong-doing. If the soldier did indeed act appropriately, then he has nothing to worry about.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:54:30
The video should have been release, in it’s entirety. Not just the few frames that make the soldier look bad. We will never know if it was justified or not. No matter what the end result of any investigation is, we will NEVER know the truth. The camera guy did just make the rest of the world hate America even more and put more stress on the soldiers that are trying to keep America safe. That’s where the discretion should have been used.
Seams like it’s OK for the enemy to kill anyone for any reason, look at all the beheadings of non-military personnel, but it’s not OK for American solders to kill the enemy.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:57:36
Chris you are being judgemental and critical
Nov 24th, 2004 at 16:59:29
If supporting our troops is a “hot issue” then consider me on fire because I appreciate what they do very much. I would have expected Paul to respond better considering his family has a military background.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 17:19:42
Sean:
“In fact the only part of the video released, to my knowledge, was the “unarmed†man being shot.”
Chris:
“The full video was actually released and shown on the Arab TV station, Al-Jeezera. We in the US have only seen a part of the full video.”
Kevin:
“When NBC aired the story 48-hours later, we did so in a way that attempted to highlight every possible mitigating issue for that Marine’s actions. We wanted viewers to have a very clear understanding of the circumstances surrounding the fighting on that frontline. Many of our colleagues were just as responsible. Other foreign networks made different decisions, and because of that, I have become the conflicted conduit who has brought this to the world.”
Unless Kevin’s statement is false (I haven’t seen *any* of the video, and didnt’ see it originally released), then NBC did release more of the video, even more than the foreign networks. And he said they tried to demonstrate all the ways the soldier could have been justified as well. Perhaps just none of us *saw* the complete video in which Kevin did all of this, and now all we see is the short clips that sell advertising for the media.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 17:20:57
So, erm… remember to read the article.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 17:21:51
I re-read this and makes e feel even more that teh US is under more scrutiny than the enemy: “Amnesty also noted reports that insurgents have used mosques as fighting positions, and in one incident appear to have used a white flag to lure Marines into an ambush.” (cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/15/marine.probe/”
aren’t hospitals and religious buildings off limits? And if you saw a waving white flag would you start to second guess the true intentions of the person/people waiving it. So shouldn’t the enemy report to their superiors that they too are comminting war crimes?
Nov 24th, 2004 at 17:23:49
as a side note, I’m not saying what the soldier did was wrong or right.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 18:07:40
Sean, don’t think I’m not supporting our troops, because I do. I appreciate what they do. Just because I agree the video should be released does not mean I support them any less.
Kevin, the camera man, did release the entire video to the news organizations. They were the ones that did the editing and choose what to show, not him. Al-Jeezera showed everything, including the actual shooting. American TV edited out the actual shooting. That’s what I was referring to earlier. I haven’t seen the full video either, only the short snippets that some of the news organizations have shown on their broadcasts.
Yes, agree that America in particular, and the coalition in general, is being held to a higher standard that the insurgents. However, the insurgents aren’t under control of a government, per se, but under a “radical cleric,” as they like to say on the news. They don’t like to play fair, but we have the world watching us to make sure we do.
Nov 24th, 2004 at 23:14:09
If this is your support I wouldn’t want it…
“He did what he did, period, and needs to held accountable for it”
“doesn’t give him/her the right to murder someone”
“but that sure doesn’t give soldiers the right to murder them”
Maybe these statements were taken out of context but then again isn’t that what reporters are accused of on a regular basis? Maybe or maybe not…
Nov 24th, 2004 at 23:56:51
Sean, are you saying you support the troops that were involved in the prison scandal then? I support the troops, but if they take advantage of their position and mistreat others, then I think they should definitely face the consequences for their actions. If that makes you think that I don’t support them, then so be it, but I know in my heart that I pray for and support the troops and that’s all that matters to me.
And that’s all I have to say on this topic.