Maybe my ongoing irritation with members of the news media has desensitized me to anything they feel is a problem for them.
The only thing forcing them to expose themselves to danger is their own personal quest to win a Pulitzer.
Apparently, some of them have their noses out of joint because the police in Luxembourg posed as journalists in order to lure a hostage taker out into the open where they cut his interview short with two well placed bullets to the head.
Never mind the risk the police exposed themselves to.
Or the fate of the of the hostages: 25 children and 3 adults.
They're crying because the actions of the police may damage their credibility with murderous wackos in the future, thereby putting them at greater risk as they valiantly attempt to bring us dramatic footage from the latest blood dance.
Life is full of risks. If they don't like those attached to their occupation, they can always find something else to do!
http://news.excite.com/news/ap/000603/01/int-luxembourg-hostage-taking
Police Chided in Luxembourg Standoff
By CONSTANT BRAND, Associated Press Writer
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The world's largest journalists' group has asked that Luxembourg police tactics be investigated after officers posing as a TV crew lured a gunman into an ambush to end a hostage crisis. One journalism professor, however, said he would excuse the deception because lives were saved.
When the gunman emerged for an "interview" Thursday holding a child in one arm and a grenade in the other, police posing as cameramen shot him twice in the head. That led to the rescue of 25 children and three adults held hostage for about 30 hours.
"These are disturbing tactics," cautioned Aidan White, general secretary of the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, which represents more than 450,000 journalists worldwide.
"Each year many journalists die reporting on incidents of violence. ... Their life is dangerous enough without adding to their difficulties," White said Friday in a statement.
Luxembourg police defended their strategy, saying it minimized the threat to the hostages. Interior Minister Michel Wolter said the hostage-taker's demand for TV airtime gave police an opportunity to get a clear shot.
Northeastern University journalism professor Nicholas Daniloff said the tactic was "a case of deception, and journalists as a whole try not to be deceptive."
And Fred Brown, chairman of the Society for Professional Journalists' Ethics Committee, agreed.
"This just adds to the sense that journalists are not always what or who they appear to be," he said.
Still, Daniloff said the situation called for extreme measures. Since the hostages were freed unharmed and the hostage-taker arrested, Daniloff said he would be inclined to forgive this case.
"This was a question of saving lives," he said. "You can argue that the results justified what was done."
Hostage-taker Neji Bejaoui, an unemployed Tunisian immigrant, was shot at the day-care center in Wasserbillig, a village of 2,300 people in eastern Luxembourg.
Bejaoui was recovering from his injuries Friday after surgery, and police said his wounds were no longer life-threatening.
Authorities released details Friday about the 39-year-old gunman who brandished a pistol, a hand grenade and a knife as he seized his hostages Wednesday.
The Luxembourg government said Bejaoui had a history of violence and was convicted of assault in 1998. He had been seeing a psychiatrist for several years. Its statement called Bejaoui "very unstable" and said he suffers from paranoia and craves attention.
The statement said Bejaoui, who lived in the nearby village of Manternach and obtained Luxembourgish nationality in 1991, was seeking to avenge a 1994 decision to deny him custody of his two children. Residents of Wasserbillig said he blamed the day-care center for the loss of custody when he and his wife separated.
Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said police were forced to act when Bejaoui demanded to flee in a car with three children. The government said the decision to act also came after Bejaoui brought crying children to the telephone, then refused to speak to police negotiators.
Police then sent in the two officers disguised as journalists with Radio Television Luxembourg. Col. Pierre Reuland of the Luxembourg police said the force requisitioned cameras and other equipment from RTL.
He refused to comment on reports police had used a gun hidden in a camera, but RTL Station Manager Vic Reuter said the camera was returned with no damage.
"We got a legal request, so we had no opportunity to refuse it," Reuter told The Associated Press. "They wouldn't tell us what it was for. We discovered the use just like the rest of the journalists, only after it had happened."
Reuter said he had mixed feelings about the operation.
"Of course we are happy we could contribute (to the rescue). On the other hand, we are journalists and are conscious of the fact this might have consequences," he said.
Bejaoui seized 37 children and the three teachers Wednesday at the Sparrow's Nest center. He released eight children that day and then demanded a flight to take him to Libya. He freed two toddlers Thursday morning and two more around noon, leaving three adults and 25 children aged 2 to 11 as hostages.
The only thing forcing them to expose themselves to danger is their own personal quest to win a Pulitzer.
Apparently, some of them have their noses out of joint because the police in Luxembourg posed as journalists in order to lure a hostage taker out into the open where they cut his interview short with two well placed bullets to the head.
Never mind the risk the police exposed themselves to.
Or the fate of the of the hostages: 25 children and 3 adults.
They're crying because the actions of the police may damage their credibility with murderous wackos in the future, thereby putting them at greater risk as they valiantly attempt to bring us dramatic footage from the latest blood dance.
Life is full of risks. If they don't like those attached to their occupation, they can always find something else to do!
http://news.excite.com/news/ap/000603/01/int-luxembourg-hostage-taking
Police Chided in Luxembourg Standoff
By CONSTANT BRAND, Associated Press Writer
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The world's largest journalists' group has asked that Luxembourg police tactics be investigated after officers posing as a TV crew lured a gunman into an ambush to end a hostage crisis. One journalism professor, however, said he would excuse the deception because lives were saved.
When the gunman emerged for an "interview" Thursday holding a child in one arm and a grenade in the other, police posing as cameramen shot him twice in the head. That led to the rescue of 25 children and three adults held hostage for about 30 hours.
"These are disturbing tactics," cautioned Aidan White, general secretary of the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, which represents more than 450,000 journalists worldwide.
"Each year many journalists die reporting on incidents of violence. ... Their life is dangerous enough without adding to their difficulties," White said Friday in a statement.
Luxembourg police defended their strategy, saying it minimized the threat to the hostages. Interior Minister Michel Wolter said the hostage-taker's demand for TV airtime gave police an opportunity to get a clear shot.
Northeastern University journalism professor Nicholas Daniloff said the tactic was "a case of deception, and journalists as a whole try not to be deceptive."
And Fred Brown, chairman of the Society for Professional Journalists' Ethics Committee, agreed.
"This just adds to the sense that journalists are not always what or who they appear to be," he said.
Still, Daniloff said the situation called for extreme measures. Since the hostages were freed unharmed and the hostage-taker arrested, Daniloff said he would be inclined to forgive this case.
"This was a question of saving lives," he said. "You can argue that the results justified what was done."
Hostage-taker Neji Bejaoui, an unemployed Tunisian immigrant, was shot at the day-care center in Wasserbillig, a village of 2,300 people in eastern Luxembourg.
Bejaoui was recovering from his injuries Friday after surgery, and police said his wounds were no longer life-threatening.
Authorities released details Friday about the 39-year-old gunman who brandished a pistol, a hand grenade and a knife as he seized his hostages Wednesday.
The Luxembourg government said Bejaoui had a history of violence and was convicted of assault in 1998. He had been seeing a psychiatrist for several years. Its statement called Bejaoui "very unstable" and said he suffers from paranoia and craves attention.
The statement said Bejaoui, who lived in the nearby village of Manternach and obtained Luxembourgish nationality in 1991, was seeking to avenge a 1994 decision to deny him custody of his two children. Residents of Wasserbillig said he blamed the day-care center for the loss of custody when he and his wife separated.
Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said police were forced to act when Bejaoui demanded to flee in a car with three children. The government said the decision to act also came after Bejaoui brought crying children to the telephone, then refused to speak to police negotiators.
Police then sent in the two officers disguised as journalists with Radio Television Luxembourg. Col. Pierre Reuland of the Luxembourg police said the force requisitioned cameras and other equipment from RTL.
He refused to comment on reports police had used a gun hidden in a camera, but RTL Station Manager Vic Reuter said the camera was returned with no damage.
"We got a legal request, so we had no opportunity to refuse it," Reuter told The Associated Press. "They wouldn't tell us what it was for. We discovered the use just like the rest of the journalists, only after it had happened."
Reuter said he had mixed feelings about the operation.
"Of course we are happy we could contribute (to the rescue). On the other hand, we are journalists and are conscious of the fact this might have consequences," he said.
Bejaoui seized 37 children and the three teachers Wednesday at the Sparrow's Nest center. He released eight children that day and then demanded a flight to take him to Libya. He freed two toddlers Thursday morning and two more around noon, leaving three adults and 25 children aged 2 to 11 as hostages.
To impersonate a videographer, all you need is a small video camera, a grip vest, and deep bags under your eyes (from travel and lack of sleep). Oh, a tattered press pass helps too.