UK reporter, US Marine killed in Afghan blast

[StarfarerBill]

Source: Associated Press

LONDON – An explosion in southern Afghanistan killed a British journalist, a U.S. Marine and an Afghan soldier, Britain's military said Sunday.

The Sunday Mirror's defense correspondent Rupert Hamer, 39, and photographer Philip Coburn, 43, were accompanying a U.S. Marine patrol Saturday when the vehicle they were traveling in was hit by a makeshift bomb in Nawa, the Defense Ministry said.

Coburn and four Marines were seriously wounded in the blast, the military said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100110/ap_on_re_us/britain_afghanistan_reporter_killed

[UpInArms]

1. ...

:(

can we have change now?

[StarfarerBill]

2. We have had "change"; that's Newspeak for "more of the same".

[IndianaGreen]

3. BBC: Sunday Mirror's Rupert Hamer killed in Afghan blast

Here is the BBC's coverage of this tragic news.


Rupert Hamer was on his fifth
assignment in Afghanistan

Sunday Mirror's Rupert Hamer killed in Afghan blast

A British journalist has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the UK's Ministry of Defence has said.

Sunday Mirror defence correspondent Rupert Hamer, 39, was embedded with the US Marine Corps when his vehicle was hit by a bomb near Nawa in Helmand.

The father-of-three's Mirror colleague, photographer Philip Coburn, 43, is in a serious but stable condition.

A US Marine was also killed in the blast on Saturday, and five of his colleagues were seriously injured.

It had initially been reported that an Afghan soldier had also been killed but that was later corrected.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8450603.stm

Statement from Sunday Mirror editor Tina Weaver:

“Rupert believed that the only place to report a war was from the front line, and as our defence correspondent he wanted to be embedded with the US marines at the start of their vital surge into Southern Afghanistan.

“He left on New Year’s Eve with photographer Phil Coburn, determined to be there from the start.He was a seasoned, highly-regarded and brave journalist who had reported from both Iraq and Afghanistan on many occasions.

“It was his fifth trip to Afghanistan, and he had forged friendships with a number of the soldiers serving out there.

“One of his last acts was to organise a special Christmas newspaper produced solely for the troops packed with messages from loved ones which was flown out by the RAF three weeks ago.

“He was a fine, fearless, and skilled writer who joined the paper 12 years ago.

“Affectionately known as Corporal Hamer in the office, he was a gregarious figure ,a wonderful friend who was hugely popular with his colleagues.

“Above all he was devoted to his wife Helen and their three young children.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with Helen, his father Nick, who he was so close to, and the children he was so proud of.”

“Phil is a veteran of conflicts in Iraq, Rwanda and Afghanistan who has been with the Sunday Mirror for eight years.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/01/10/sunday-mirror-reporter-rupert-hamer-killed-in-afghanistan-115875-21956665/

[VanW]

4. A Canadian journalist was killed a few days ago

http://cpj.org/2009/12/canadian-journalists-death-is-17th-in-afghanistan.php

Also embedded.


I remember at the start of the War On Terra, there was quite an outcry over reporters being embedded with soldiers and thus a) losing their ability to criticize the invading military, and b) possibly being complicit in illegal and immoral acts.

Now all I can say is...live by the sword, die by the sword.

[saigon68]

5. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE