Latest from Mal James, reporting from Gori Georgia
Fox News International Cameraman Mal James
Gori Georgia Law today on the outskirts of Gori involved a crazed Ossestian wielding a pistol firing a journalists — this directly in front of a Russian tank flanked by Armored Personal Carriers.
The fact that the Russian soldiers did nothing is not surprising as reports of all sides in this conflict are committing atrocities. In the spirit of the Olympics car jacking and robbery are now national sports, and as journalists, we are being targeted to new heights.
You can get that sense of calm and normality sitting around an army only to have it destroyed in seconds. We managed to get through all the road blocks and arrived on the outskirts of Gori, to find the Russians taking up positions and for the first time a tank barrel was pointing down the road. The soldiers seemed calm enough and after 30 minutes of media mayhem, most of us along with the Russian soldiers were sitting under trees chatting as they asked us to make calls home for them, and let their families know that they are OK. Unlike the U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, few have cell phones and the concept of Internet cafes and AT&T phone centers, these guys have nothing.
A young Kazach soldier lay on the ground playing with a puppy. After the melee of the first half hour, we had let our guard down, doubting that any trouble could happen surrounded by the Army. It was the crack of a single round that made me look up as Steve and I walked back up the road towards the tank and up ahead our car. Anya, our Producer was still getting besieged by soldiers giving her numbers of families to call.
I thought it was strange to hear a small arm sound. But the smell of cordite drifted down to us and I commented to Steve. “Smells like cordite!” Another ten steps and it was revealed, the entire media pack was running away back up the road, cars with tires squealing were bearing away, and between us and our car was “the law.” A middle aged man with a pistol was screaming as he wrestled with a cameraman trying to get his camera. The pistol was swinging wildly and he was between us and our car.
More shots sounded, a gun swinging around in the air. Steve and i were running to the side as he continued to wrestle with the cameraman yelling in Russian, “Give me your camera, you jerk or I will shoot you.” You do not stop or try to establish eye contact, you simply run, as fast as you can in a flak jacket. Each step seems to get slower. The distance to safety seems to become an eternity. Now with 50 yards between us and the gunman I yelled for Steve to start talking, the drama and tension as I ran on with the camera pointing back at Steve, at this moment in time framing and lighting even exposure takes second place. It is a matter of capturing the impact.
With a few hundred yards between us and the crazed militiaman, we slowed to a walk and for the first time I stopped and turned back, wondering where our Producer Anya was in this mayhem. I could not see her so I started walking back towards the scene. It seemed to have cooled down. Back 50 yards, and all of a sudden everyone is running back past me at full speed away. It was going to hell again. Cars with doors open full of media hanging out screamed off, shouts were drowned out by the sound of engines reving and horns blaring.
And I could not find my car, I could not even see it. So I ran around cars as they took off wondering if I should just jump into a half open door. This was not one of the times when life flashes past your eyes or everything goes into slow motion. This was full body contact effort, only my own effort was going to get me out and safe. It seemed an eternity and the sound of cars became less as they were just about all gone, when I saw our car ahead. The mere sight of perceived safety gave me a boost. This is no armored car, but as we call them “soft skins” but it is “sanctuary.” I remember my arm finally touching the handle and opening the door to scramble in and I turned the camera still rolling to my face, my eyes shot with blood, my breathing and heart rate pulsing to the maximum. Lifting the camera I turned to Steve and said go, rolling … “it’s a good thing Mal James is a triathlete, he just had to run about a mile in a vest.”
That’s how quickly things change here. One minute you are sitting down with Russian forces, next minute – car loads of Georgian forces drive up, they are furious, and they seem to take out that fury and humiliation on the people they can, which is the journalists. We saw one Georgian, irregular force, pointing a gun and then another fired. I don’t know the result, but I saw a pistol fat guy pointed our way and we just had to run by that pistol and keep running. This is an irregular, undisciplined, chaotic, angry, humiliated Georgian force. They don’t listen to orders, they fire on civilians from what we’ve just seen.” It is called Law and Un Order.
Mal James is a FOX News Channel international cameraman, based out of London. He most recently reported on the Russia-Georgia conflict with FNC reporter Steve Harrigan. In the past, Mal has traveled across the globe to cover the war in Iraq; to North Korea to visit the N.Y. Philharmonic during its historic trip; and Jerusalem to visit the purported King Herod's tomb. 
They shot also a georgian tv reporter a few minutes before a live report. She was wounded in a hand by a sniper.
I hope you folks are staying safe. It can be really dangerous out there
I heard they shot also a georgian tv reporter a few minutes before a live report. She was wounded in a hand by a sniper.
I hope you folks are staying safe. It can be really dangerous out there
I heard that they shot also a georgian tv reporter a few minutes before a live report. She was wounded in a hand by a sniper.
I hope you folks are staying safe. It can be really dangerous out there
I am glad that the Fox reporter and the camera crew made it safe out of that area. I am also a bit troubled with the message we are sending the world, by not acting forcefully to stop the Russians from getting control of Georgia. It is a matter of time before the Russians will have full control of that country and all we can do is send them supplies. That is not acceptable at all.
The blog made us feel like we were there…only we are glad that we weren’t. It should, however, inspire the young to take up war corresponding by droves, right after they are judged clinically insane!!!! Perhaps we were too quick to judge you too old for this work. I doubt many young men could do better. Too many Big Macs now days. Which is probably no problem to you and your intrepid and brave correspondent as I saw no MacDonald signs along the road in Georgia. In fact they wasn’t much of anything along that road besides military vehicles. We are grateful that all of your team got back to the comparative safety of the Capitol. Please be safe as you are doing a fantastic, for lack of a better word, job. Let’s hope this madness doesn’t go on much longer. Thanks for all you and Harrigan are doing.
a&n
Thanks to men and women like these, the world knows what is really happening. Everyone please keep these journalists in your thought and prayers!!!
Jason
I think we don’t have much room to talk tough with Russia. We just did the same thing and nobody stopped us. I just don’t think we need to be hypocritical about anything these days. I’m embarrassed by my country’s fat and lazy and procrastinating and morallessness. What happened to the days when we meant something to ourselves and others. Something has got to give.
Wow, seeing that report last night gave me the willies, thank goodness you guys made it out ok and I hope that you continue to make it out ok and that hopefully this conflict will end soon so you guys and no one else will be put into harm’s way.
I am not surprised at the Russian actions. It seems that the world learned nothing from Hitler when he started out with the same type of actions and with the world standing idly by until eventually the whole world suffered in World War II. Puttin is no different from Hitler, filled with determination to rebuild the Soviet Union as a military might and rattle missles. The west cannot stand by and just issue idle talk. Puttin and his madness must be stopped.
Bill – South Carolina.
Russians have the superior fire power in the world! They have the most number of nukes!
Before I was all for Germany but then Hitler’s army was defeated by the world. It’s Nazi Germany against the whole world. Unsurprisingly the Allies won however I still believe that if the Germans had made Russia an ally in World War 2, they would have enslaved billions of people! Go RUSSIA!!!
Achtung Russo!
It’s just shock and awe all over again.
I am trying to find my friend, Ted Jonas, who is an American attorney living in Tbilisi with his wife and son- he works for DLA Piper… if anyone has heard of his whereabouts since all this has started, please post… Thanks for your help…
Thank God for Fox News and the fine people who are willing to put there lives in harms way to bring the truth of this tragedy so the rest of the world can see the Russians and Putin for the evil they truly are.
A “Georgian militia-man” sure he wasn’t South Ossetian? I doubt the Russians would have allowed a bunch of Georgian irregulars so close to them without blowing them away.
So it was an Ossetian paramilitary thug who was part of an irregular, undisciplined, chaotic, angry and humiliated South Ossetian force, not Georgian.
You guys better learn how to tell Georgians, Russians, Ossetes, Chechens and Cossacks apart if you want to stay alive.
Why did Steve blame the incident on the Georgians?
Who cares about the “journalists?” It is our soldiers and the defenders of Georgia I care about. They are focused on helping others, this reporter was concerned himself.
Spread the word of the Russian madness:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/14/lkl.01.html
Another Putin apologist, who thinks Russia can do whatever it wants. We in the West must stand up today, for tomorrow it will be all of Eastern Europe. Know we stand with you Georgia.
I am a little confused. Were these Georgian irregulars, or the camp follower types Russia has introduced, Chechens, Ossetians, Cossacks? It was not clear to me watching the video; perhaps it was not clear to you? The media is Georgia’s friend and Russia’s enemy in this conflict.
GOD almighty what really brave people from FOX NEWS, (not NBC,CBs, ABC or even CNN ) we have in Georgia, hey you guys stay safe,and please do not I repeat DO NOT expect any help from the Russians.
The stupid people who were shooting at you should have realized the world would be better off if they had tried to help you, rather than intimidate you JERKS FIRST CLASS
The best to you at FOX for this Video,what a jolt to us sitting at home , we can now fully appreciate your Station, your journalist for what is really going on in Georgia
PoppaGus
Not that it matters, but I don’t believe anyone uses cordite any more. It is theoretically possible that these guys are firing off WWII-vintage ammunition, but cordite is as obsolete as guncotton, IIRC.
I know it sounds catchy but it’s more important to be correct, no?
I have been watching the Fox Georgia fighting coverage with great interest and revulsion. I am also very upset by the bias shown by Mr Harrigan who is more than eager to forgive and explain away the actions of the Russians. I think you have done a poor job showing the public who is doing what to whom.
I appreciate the stress and danger that you have encountered and pray that you all come through safely.
I mean, it’s OK to just say “gunpowder.”
Dear Mal,I enjoyed seeing your “report” on the Live Desk. That was one scary looking incident and I was truly amazed that you stayed so calm and got the footage. Steve better watch out….it looks like he may have some competition in front of the camera there. You sounded and looked great. Did you actually let Steve run the camera? Be careful out there Mal and I will hope there are no more fat guys with guns. Your fan,Neatie
How was the decision made to put the reporting team with the Russians. Stay safe.
[...] Click here for Mal’s last blog >> [...]
From the words in your aired clip and the end of your blog entry, it seemed that the crazed, angry, “humiliated” one was a Georgian Irregular.
Reading your blog it seems much more likely that it was a crazed, angry Ossetian.
Would the Russians really let a whacked-out Georgian dance around in front of them, letting loose with a pistol?…
I humbly suggest that you owe your audiance, and Georgians, an aired correction, if not an apology.
There is nothing like accuracy in media. I’d expect more from FOX.
I really appreciate Steve Harrigan and his crew. They are awesome! They deserve a raise!
evil wins when good men do nothing .god speed stay safe and the world is watching and unfortunately waiting .christians &jews are always being attacked.freedom &democracy is always under attack .russia iran sadam hitler putin ackmuuudinejihad.there all the same.evil.
all it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing.the world is watching and unfotunately wating u would think we would have learned from our past but history is not as important as it once was so our youth is blind to what this might lead to freedom & democracy is under attack .stay safe God speed all of us who are truly the free world are with you.
evil wins when good men do nothing .the world is watching and unfotunately waiting history has shown us what idely standing by could bring just go to the holacost memorial ,normandyin france or london during the blitz.this generation dosent even beleive it happend or didnt have history class.teach them freedom and democracy has a cost and we must stand up for the ones who need us .or we will all fall .thank you and fox news for being there to show the world the real evil empire.god speed the free world is with you and the Georgians!
It is funny, it is really funny videos. How can you be so coward? Ooooo they crasy Russinas eat you on the breakfast, it’s funny. I sobbed violently, when I read this.
it wasn’t georgian soldier.it was south ossetian militia or volunteer,cause he was speaking russian.also georgian soldiers wear nato standard uniform unlike russian and ossetian forces that wear 20th century made uniforms.so journalist just made a mistake.probably he was so scared he couldn’t get who that guy really was
Dear Mal and Steve. Did you mean this man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyYfSTbThbE&eurl=http://www.livejournal.com/stc/fck/editor/fckeditor.html?InstanceName=draft&Toolbar=Update) was a member of georgian irregular forces/ossetian separatist?
This video was made the same day you’ve made your report.
Of course that was South Ossetian and the journalist just made a mistake!!
We guys always know better than journalists what is happening there, in Georgia and South Ossetia!!
glad you guys are safe. but the story is the conflict, not
what happens to you guys. you guys are reporters,
you’re not the news. i iknows its titilatting video and the
bosses in ny probably love that kinda crap, but its not the real news.
the real news is what’s happening to georgians, russians and ossetians, not
american reporters flown in from afar. be safe.