Cameraman Kevin Sites Explains Outing Marine Killing
Last week, NBC cameraman Kevin Sites, embedded with the Marines in Fallujah, wrote a startling report of a marine who shot and killed an already wounded Iraqi insurgent. On his website, Sites explains why he did it, in an open letter to marines. He wants to counter speculation that he is an anti-war activist or anything but an impartial journalist. Here's a portion of his eyewitness account of the killing:
When we arrive at the front entrance, we see that another squad has already entered before us. The lieutenant asks them, "Are there people inside?" One of the marines raises his hand signaling five. "Did you shoot them," the lieutenant asks? "Roger that, sir, " the same marine responds. "Were they armed?" The marine just shrugs and we all move inside.
Immediately after going in, I see the same black plastic body bags spread around the mosque. The dead from the day before. But more surprising, I see the same five men that were wounded from Friday as well. It appears that one of them is now dead and three are bleeding to death from new gunshot wounds.