Interesting stuff. They are saying that it was likely an inadvertent strike or possible an Iraqi attack on the building.
Holy cow... they just showed something hit right next to that Abrams tank! The explosion was right between the camera and the tank.
I thought that it was the position of an Abu Dhabi camera man that was hit, and they are claiming that the camera man is ok. That's wrong dude. The only people who would get hurt in that case are the regular Joes doing their job. They dont' make the decisions for what goes on air.
Some more on the Al Jazeera cameraman who was killed. Jazeera TV Says Cameraman Killed in Baghdad Raid BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al-Jazeera television said on Tuesday its cameraman Tarek Ayoub was killed during a U.S. air raid on Baghdad which also set the Arab network's office ablaze. The Qatar-based satellite network said Ayoub, a Jordanian national, died in hospital after he was wounded in a missile strike on Jazeera's office near the Information Ministry. Another member of Jazeera's Baghdad crew, Zohair al-Iraqi, was slightly wounded. Reuters correspondent Samia Nakhoul had earlier said U.S. planes were bombing targets near the ministry. "We regret to inform you that our cameraman and correspondent Tarek Ayoub was killed this morning during the U.S. missile strike on our Baghdad office," Jazeera said in a statement read out during its news bulletin. "He is a martyr," it said. The network regularly refers to Iraqi civilians killed in the 20-day U.S.-led war as "martyrs." At least six journalists have died while covering the war waged by the United States and Britain to oust President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites). Jazeera, one of the most widely watched channels in the Arab world, has come under fire from U.S. and British officials for showing images of slain Western soldiers and U.S. prisoners of war. Jazeera's Baghdad correspondent Majed Abdel Hadi called the U.S. missile strike and Ayoub's death a "crime." "I will not be objective about this because we have been dragged into this conflict," he said, visibly upset. "We were targeted because the Americans don't want the world to see the crimes they are committing against the Iraqi people." No comment from the U.S. military was immediately available. Jazeera and fellow Arab network Abu Dhabi TV are the only two international channels with their own offices in Baghdad. All other media organizations used to operate from a press center at the Information Ministry, but they moved to a hotel after the ministry was bombed. Abu Dhabi TV had earlier showed footage of a huge fire blazing from the Jazeera office. Jazeera correspondent Tayseer Alouni, who made his name covering the U.S.-led war on Afghanistan (news - web sites), was seen carrying the wounded Ayoub into a car. "One missile hit the pavement in front of us, ripping out windows and doors and then one hit the generator," said Maher Abdullah, another Jazeera correspondent. "The office is now on fire." Jazeera's graphic images of the U.S.-led war on Iraq (news - web sites) have mesmerized millions of Arab viewers, who regard its coverage as more comprehensive and balanced than that of Western media. Some U.S. and British officials, however, say the network is biased toward Iraq. Some media analysts have accused Jazeera of airing Iraqi propaganda to gain exclusive footage -- a charge the network denies. Eight-year-old Jazeera rose to prominence in the West by broadcasting exclusive comments by Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) after the September 11 attacks on the United States. Alouni was one of only a few international correspondents allowed to operate under the aegis of the now defunct Taliban government. Jazeera's office was one of the first targets hit when the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance fighters routed the Taliban in Kabul. I've been watching CNN and Fox and found out that Tarek once worked for Fox. Also, he was well known and respected amongst his collegues at both news orginizations. As you can see, Al Jazeera thinks it was deliberate.
Al Jazeera was also and taken out in the early hours of our bombing of Kabul in Afghanistan by bombs. . We also claimed that was a mistake. Such actions will not help us win the hearts and minds of the Arab World. Al-Jazeera already has established crediblity not just in the Arab World, but worlwide. Unlike with ordinary Iraqi soldiers or militants, it is not as simple as just bombing them to destroy their effectiveness. It will be interesting to see if the US allows Al Jazeera to broadcast from Iraq once we completely take over.
CNN reporting that the US forces also attacked a hotel where news media were, accoring to CNN, 'well known to be staying', and a Reuters reporter was killed. A 'senior White House official' was quoted by CNN as calling this attack ( on the hotel ) and the other attack ( the Al Jazeera one) a 'grave mistake'. Apparently they thought at the time that both were military targets of opportunity...
You should also mention that according to numerous news reports (including CNN), that snipers were taking shots at our troops from several parts of this building, including the lobby and the roof top. Plus they were taking mortar and artillery rounds.
I didn't mention that, or the numerous reporters' claims that they saw/heard absolutely nothing of any shots coming from their building, because I had heard neither at the time, and another post covered it all together by the time I had.
The IRONY: Al-Jazeera members were expelled by Iraq for being biased against Iraq. Al-Jazeera is seen by the US as being biased against the West. Hmmm.... I would think that if we are TRULY bringing democracy to the middle east, that freedom of speech should be allowed.
I guess Al Jazeera needs to be more balanced in it's reporting. It is a war, it is not safe. I have no love lost for Al Jazeera. DD
This seems like it was a terrible mistake. It does not help the attitudes towards the West at all. A Reuters member was killed, lets hope they dont become as biased as Al-Jazeera.
I don't get your point...It needs to be more bablanced so as not to draw the ire of the US for being pro-Iraqi biased, or to not draw the ire of the Iraqis for being pro-US biased? Or to avoid being militarily attacked? I seriously don't get what you're saying here...
I am saying that Al Jazeera is one of the USA's biggest problems in the middle east. It should suprise no one that it was bombed. Also, if you are going to cover a war as a journalist, doing it from the losing sides perspective is inherently more dangerous then covering it from the winning side. Also, I guess Al Jazeera should respect the dead more and not show propaganda images of dead US soldiers. DD
