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# US forces questioned about journalist killings
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19326/
- Published: 2005-08-31T16:08:14.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:33:58.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:15

On Sunday, Reuters soundman Waleed Khaled, was [killed by five shots](http://www.newssafety.com/stories/reuters/iraq29.htm1?ref=opendemocracy.net) fired by US snipers in Iraq. His colleague, cameraman Haidar Kadhem, survived a shot in the back, but has now been detained by American forces without explanation. According to the [International Federation of Journalists ](http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=3340&Language=EN&ref=opendemocracy.net)this brings the number of journalists killed by American troops to 18\. And it's caused all the major international freedom of the press organisations, including [IFEX](http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/68948/?ref=opendemocracy.net), [Reporters Without Borders](http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id%5Farticle=14819&ref=opendemocracy.net), and the [Committe to Protect Journalists](http://www.cpj.org/news/2005/Iraq29aug05na.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) to raise questions about not just the killings, but the "wall of silence" they are met with whenever they demand inquiries into their deaths. A statement from the IFJ on Monday [says](http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=3340&Language=EN&ref=opendemocracy.net): "The IFJ acknowledges that many of the incidents may have been unavoidable in the context of the war, but in a number of cases there are serious questions still to be dealt with that have given rise to suggestions of deliberate targeting of media staff." It would be nice to know what's going on. Ever since a US missile hit [Al Jazeera's offices in Kabul](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south%5Fasia/1653887.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net) in 2001, it's hard not to suspect the worst. Then again, if you look at the [high number of soldiers](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8815074/?ref=opendemocracy.net) killed in "friendly fire" or "fratricide" maybe something else entirely is to blame.