Journalists come under US fire near Baghdad Green Zone
Iraq, Politics, 10/18/2005

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) wrote a letter on 14 October 2005 to Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., Commanding General of the Multinational Force in Iraq about journalists exposed to fire in Iraq while doing work without having to be embedded. The letter said:

The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by recent incidents in which
journalists have come under fire from US and Iraqi forces at checkpoints
near the International Zone in Baghdad.

Around 9:30 a.m. on October 3, Wall Street Journal reporter Farnaz Fassihi
and her driver came under fire from US troops at Checkpoint 3, the only
access to the International Zone for media. The driver was attempting to
pick up Fassihi. A US soldier in a Humvee fired a warning shot above the
car as Fassihi was about to cross the street to get in it, she told CPJ. As
she and the driver left they were stopped by Iraqi and American soldiers who
shouted that they would shoot the two of them if they again slowed down or
stopped near the checkpoint. Fassihi said there were no signs or indications
that cars were forbidden from stopping in the area.

At 11:00 a.m. that morning, National Public Radio senior producer J.J.
Sutherland and his driver came under fire at the same location. Sutherland's
driver was dropping him off about 100 meters from the checkpoint when they
were fired upon. "Immediately the Iraqi guards began yelling and shooting
warning shots over my head, close enough that I could hear the snap of the
bullets as they passed by," he said. Sutherland noted that he "did not see
the American forces present doing anything to try to prevent what could
easily have turned out to be a tragic incident." Like Fassihi he observed an
absence of any indication that vehicles were barred from stopping at the
location.

Journalists have told CPJ of several similar incidents involving members of
the media that have occurred in recent weeks at US checkpoints near the
International Zone.

Journalists in Baghdad are expected to report from the International Zone
where they attend press conferences, interview US and Iraqi officials, and
join military units for assignments as "embedded" journalists. It is
essential that they are able to report the news there and elsewhere in Iraq
without having their lives placed in danger by the US and Iraqi military.

We believe these recent incidents highlight the ongoing threat that
checkpoints pose to all civilians in Iraq, including members of the press.
Earlier this year, CPJ and Human Rights Watch wrote jointly to Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld describing incidents in which flawed checkpoint
procedures have endangered the lives of civilians. The letter also discussed
the US military's own investigation into the March 4 checkpoint shooting
that killed Italian intelligence officer Nicola Calipari and wounded
journalist Giuliana Sgrena. It included recommendations for improving the
safety of civilians approaching checkpoints, including the use of signs and
other warnings. The recent checkpoint shootings indicate that these
recommendations have not been implemented.

Last month, US Senator John Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, urged you and Secretary Rumsfeld to address concerns about the
safety of journalists in Iraq. Senator Warner's request came after he had
received copies of letters that CPJ wrote to the Secretary, including our
joint letter with Human Rights Watch about checkpoint safety. During that
meeting you told the committee that you would follow up the request and
"work through some of their concerns" with journalists in Baghdad, adding
that "It's an issue that we take very seriously."

Immediately following the Senate testimony we requested a meeting with
Secretary Rumsfeld. In the meantime, we call on you to take steps now to
ensure that these incidents are thoroughly investigated and that the lives
of journalists and other civilians are not endangered, the letter concluded.

Previous Stories:
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  Rice 's remarks on Iraq constitution referendum results   (10/17/2005)
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