Gary wrote-
> The local news station crossed over the line into "irresponsible
journalism"
> yesterday.
>
> I work on a military base in a Department of Defense facility as a
> contractor in Columbus. Yesterday, the local news did a story on the base
> and it's function. In this story they outlined our horribly insufficient
> increased security procedures, in detail, showed live images of the
entrance
> complete with the street address, disclosed that we are a "critical supply
> and maintenance depot" and then go on to specify EXACTLY what we supply.
>
> Certainly every bit of the information that they broadcast is available
> publicly, with a little research. But why draw unnecessary attention to the
> base when we are (potentially) in a war situation?
While I generally agree with your thoughts, maybe I can soften some of
your perspective. I live outside a large military base that has not been a
"closed base" (where you have to show ID to get in). Although the base
has talked about discouraging terrorists etc, public highways/roads
crossing the base have always been mitigating factors. No one needed
to tell this base the costs of public access, the world saw part of our
last major troop movement from publicly accessible roads on base.
Recent introduction of security check points have given way to base
closure "tighter than a drum" in less than 24-48 hours after last tuesday.
A week later (and 20-30 minute commutes that have turned into 2-3 hour
commutes), our local stations are covering how they are hoping to "ease"
the problems and not compromise what they have started. Just a bit of
contrast.
Although you are incensed, I doubt this base has never considered
security or they could not mobilize some innovative measures if they
wanted to. I would be interested to see how long after the local news
report things started to change.
> And if public broadcast of this information was not enough, they published
> it on the internet on their website:
> http://www.10tv.com/news/archive/091801local911.php?story=091801local911
>
> I am still trying to figure out what public service the TV station
performed
> by broadcasting that information or even how that falls under the category
> of "The Peoples Right To Know".
>
> The bottom line is, even if our base was identified and considered as a
> target before the news story was broadcast, the ONLY thing the story
> accomplished was to add to the stress and fear of 6000+ people that have to
> work on that base every day.
I am currently in Minnesota at a conference, I thought this might be a pretty
tame place in light of all the excitement of my military area........ until
a cab driver helped my perspective. Seems the major source of ore for
missiles comes from this area, and they have their own fears/anxieties for
natural resource considerations. I really doubt any community is
different right now. As we all evaluate ourselves in the scope of a
world that is different from last week we will find new anxieties and
coping mechanisms.
> Back to my original rant, I think that there should be a federal moratorium
> on the press disclosing any specific information about any military base,
> location or movements - including videotaping. I realize that the free
> speech advocates would scream about that, but under the circumstances,
lives
> DO hand in the balance.
>
If Fort Bragg is any indication, the world will not be seeing troops on/
leaving the runways like they did for the Gulf War. I don't know exactly
what the military group is that controls what the public sees (psych
operations, etc), but I think they are getting smarter at manipulating
coverage (kind of like any major company/country).
Dee
