Is using flechette shells morally wrong?
April 22nd 2008 05:23
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF DEAD PEOPLE IN FOLLOWING ARTICLE: A flechette shell, fired from a tank say, releases lots of metal darts when it explodes in the air above its intended target. It causes widespread indescriminate damage on detonation, both death and injury, so innocent bystanders will always be affected when it is used, especially in confined highly populated areas.
Photo credit: (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
STORY LINK: CHINA VIEW online news: news.xinhuanet
The top frame, taken from the Reuters cameraman Shana's video, shows the tank position on the hill, second photo shows firing by the tank of a shell at cameraman's position, third photo shows a flechette shell on approach (top of photo) as it is bursting its outer shell so the 3cm metal finned darts can spray the target area, killing and injuring as many as possible in the vicinity. These types of weapons require highly precise and sophisticated targeting/aiming systems so the shell does its work properly, exploding immediately above target.
Should you wish to see the actual video Shana shot of his death, and the video by another news crew immediately, after the shell struck and killed Shana and two children near him, and other injuries, follow the following links, but, be warned, it is graphic.
VIDEO LINK:
WARNING: HIGHLY GRAPHIC IMAGERY OF DEAD PEOPLE:
SHANA'S FILM OF HIS OWN DEATH AND OTHER NEWS FOOTAGE
guardian newspaper video link
In the Gasa this last week, such a shell was fired by an Israeli tank crew, upon 23 year old Reuters news cameraman Fadel Shana, and a small group of children standing nearby. The newsman's van was clearly marked as press, and had just set up his camera to film the tank and the surrounding area, he was standing in an open area.
Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons: Public Domain: taken by USA serviceman
It is alleged the tank fired a flechette shell, without warning, directly at the cameraman, killing him and two children, injuring some others. Shortly afterwards, a second TV crew arrived in their vehicle, also clearly marked TV-PRESS, and they too were fired upon by the tank. This same vehicle had passed the same tank twice that day, and the press using the vehicle ask, how could the tank crew not know they were press?
Photo credit: CHINA VIEWS online news:LINK: CHINA VIEWS online
So, is this an isolated incident? Just a mistake by an individual tank commander, both in targeting the innocent civilian Palestinian children, and the press, or has this sort of thing happened before?
Should the Israeli Army use flechette shells in Gasa, considering it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world?
Was this an incident of mistake, by breakdown in higher command and/or supply? Was the tank crew delivered the wrong type of shell? Should the tank crew have warned the cameraman and the children, that they should leave the area, before firing a mass injury weapon at them?
Is that approach, of firing without warning, an agreed tactic of the Israeli Army or was it, again, the fault of the particular tank commander? What should have the tank crew done instead of firing a mass injury weapon? How many alternatives do tank crews have to the main weapon they have?
To quote the Agence-France Press article:
"In October 2002, Physicians for Human Rights went to Israel's High Court seeking to outlaw the use of flechette shells against Palestinians but the court upheld the continued use of the weapon."
Officially, the IDF has denied targeting the Palestinian Rueters cameraman and the children. The Israeli spokesman stated that their tank was under fire at the time, and that it was responding in a self defensive manner. The Israeli spokesman also stated that no one should have been in the area anyway, as it was a war zone.
Should there be an inforceable UN accord with all nations, that using flechette type weaponry should not be used in areas where there are dense populations of civilians?
Last images by Reuters cameraman Shana before his death.
STORY LINK: CHINA VIEW online news: news.xinhuanet
The top frame, taken from the Reuters cameraman Shana's video, shows the tank position on the hill, second photo shows firing by the tank of a shell at cameraman's position, third photo shows a flechette shell on approach (top of photo) as it is bursting its outer shell so the 3cm metal finned darts can spray the target area, killing and injuring as many as possible in the vicinity. These types of weapons require highly precise and sophisticated targeting/aiming systems so the shell does its work properly, exploding immediately above target.
Should you wish to see the actual video Shana shot of his death, and the video by another news crew immediately, after the shell struck and killed Shana and two children near him, and other injuries, follow the following links, but, be warned, it is graphic.
VIDEO LINK:
WARNING: HIGHLY GRAPHIC IMAGERY OF DEAD PEOPLE:
SHANA'S FILM OF HIS OWN DEATH AND OTHER NEWS FOOTAGE
guardian newspaper video link
In the Gasa this last week, such a shell was fired by an Israeli tank crew, upon 23 year old Reuters news cameraman Fadel Shana, and a small group of children standing nearby. The newsman's van was clearly marked as press, and had just set up his camera to film the tank and the surrounding area, he was standing in an open area.
An example of a flechette shell: (Soviet)
Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons: Public Domain: taken by USA serviceman
It is alleged the tank fired a flechette shell, without warning, directly at the cameraman, killing him and two children, injuring some others. Shortly afterwards, a second TV crew arrived in their vehicle, also clearly marked TV-PRESS, and they too were fired upon by the tank. This same vehicle had passed the same tank twice that day, and the press using the vehicle ask, how could the tank crew not know they were press?
Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana's funeral (news.xinhuanet)
Photo credit: CHINA VIEWS online news:LINK: CHINA VIEWS online
So, is this an isolated incident? Just a mistake by an individual tank commander, both in targeting the innocent civilian Palestinian children, and the press, or has this sort of thing happened before?
Should the Israeli Army use flechette shells in Gasa, considering it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world?
Was this an incident of mistake, by breakdown in higher command and/or supply? Was the tank crew delivered the wrong type of shell? Should the tank crew have warned the cameraman and the children, that they should leave the area, before firing a mass injury weapon at them?
Is that approach, of firing without warning, an agreed tactic of the Israeli Army or was it, again, the fault of the particular tank commander? What should have the tank crew done instead of firing a mass injury weapon? How many alternatives do tank crews have to the main weapon they have?
To quote the Agence-France Press article:
"In October 2002, Physicians for Human Rights went to Israel's High Court seeking to outlaw the use of flechette shells against Palestinians but the court upheld the continued use of the weapon."
Officially, the IDF has denied targeting the Palestinian Rueters cameraman and the children. The Israeli spokesman stated that their tank was under fire at the time, and that it was responding in a self defensive manner. The Israeli spokesman also stated that no one should have been in the area anyway, as it was a war zone.
Should there be an inforceable UN accord with all nations, that using flechette type weaponry should not be used in areas where there are dense populations of civilians?
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Comment by tlcorbin
Raven
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
ideed you are right, however, usually armed conflict involves two armies, at least and both being equipped to do the job, so to speak. In the Israel and Palestinian conflict, it is very one sided.
Never saw the balance between rocks and tanks myself.
The situation there will only deteriorate, as it has become apparnet, Israeil wants all the land, and the Palestinians can bugger off.
It is as sad as it is grotesque, and idiots in the Palestinian side cannot understand they need to stop reacting with bombers etc, and resist being baited into violent action, maybe then the hand of Israel will be forced to negotiate a true peace and settlement.
cheers
fog