"Are you sure it was a weapon?", "Positive"

And journalists

and ... almost anyone, really

 

Well, I agree that in a war environment one would treat anything
suspicious as a potential threat and one's fire control orders could
well be to shoot first. In addition, we don't know the context for the
situation, for example, they could be in a restricted or otherwise
sensitive area, like near a military compound.

It does look as though they think that the "field" is forbidden
territory from the way they behave.

But: here we have a bunch of guys who are faffing around in the open,
really tactical, not. They are acting very suspiciously, it has to be
said. One runs out, lobs something onto the ground, then runs back
like a scared rabbit. There seems to be some sort of argument or
indescision about this act - one of them almost goes back a couple of
times.

It's possible that they're testing the area's defences, I suppose, to
see how far they can push them.

The scene has been edited and the zooming in and out makes working out
who does what difficult.

If the guy with the alleged weapon were up to no good and it were his
personal weapon then he'd either keep it on him (wouldn't you?) or
leave it in the vehicle, not throw it on the ground and run away. It
looks too long to be a rifle, especially for a popular assult-type
weapon. It looks too thin to be a rocket or missile tube.

If it were some sort of pipe bomb, would he really lob it onto the
ground well away from the highway and only a yard or so from himself?

Similarly, if it were part of a missile launcher, would he just lob it
and run?

As to the engagement: were they challenged first? It doesn't look like
it. They were simply fired upon.

Finally, did the guys really present a clear and present danger to
anyone?

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Champ

"Who ya got?"

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer as featured in
Performance Bikes and Fast Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Warren Turr.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..87446../..22490.../..31893.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 84 Pts:1800 Miles:5704

 

Silence, Liberal Hippie Scum! If you're not with us, you're against us.

etc etc etc...

Repeat until saved by the 22nd Amendment.

 

It is. George Bush's claim that they've already won is bollocks.

Anyone in any country that the US is illegally occupying who fights
back?