A very difficult thing

A heartfelt and pained letter from the journalist who shot the notorious footage of the marine killing a prone man in a mosque in Iraq -- explaining to the marines in that unit that he wasn't out for a "prize story" but trying to pick his way through the complicated forest of issues and interests in covering the war. He is clearly very sympathetic to the soldiers he was embedded with, and to the difficulties in maintaining civilized rules of engagement when in the midst of unpredictable combat, and there was much discussion about what to do with the footage before it was finally released.

So here, ultimately, is how it all plays out: when the Iraqi man in the mosque posed a threat, he was your enemy; when he was subdued he was your responsibility; when he was killed in front of my eyes and my camera -- the story of his death became my responsibility.

The burdens of war, as you so well know, are unforgiving for all of us.

I recommend reading the whole thing.

(via Medley)