> > On Friday evening, Tom Brokaw took a call on air from the > > mother of one of > > the first American casualties. She'd had 24 hours to absorb > > the news of her > > son's death and _she_ called the network, not the other way around. > > > > She felt the media was doing an incredible job, but felt they > > needed to > > understand how hard it is for family members to see > > minute-by-minute updates > > on the news. She talked about how wrenching and difficult it > > is to watch, > > but also how it's impossible to tear oneself away or turn the > > TV off when > > news of a loved one in danger might appear. And she asked > > that members of > > the media keep that in mind and handle the subjects, the > > soldiers and their > > families with the respect they deserve. Brokaw's voice > > cracked as he thanked her. > > I saw that too. It was a very moving moment. I hope it stuck with the > media-types.
We got into a discussion today about the right to know and the live TV coverage of on going battles. By "we", I mean 5 retired military officers, 4 Army and 1 AF (me). The lady's comment about how "wrenching and difficult it is to watch, but also how it's impossible to tear oneself away" (it is morbidly fascinating) brought the question of the public's right to know. We pretty much decided that the public does have a right to know, but not as it is happening. Those were live Marines, very much in harm's way. We need to know about the fight and the Iraqi resistance, but we can learn of it later (with a couple or few hours). No one needs to see anyone get killed, which could easily happen. (I now how she feels, I have nephew in the Marines and we think he is most likely in Iraq right now, but aren't sure. The last we heard was he was in Kuwait.) Another topic was about Operational Security--we're certainly not the only people watching the "show". The bad guys can use the pictures as up to the minute targeting information. I would think the on-scene comanders just gotta HATE this. One final discussion was the fact that the Pentagon and Congress and White House watch it. I know the on-scene commanders neither need nor want "help" from armchair generals in the States. Just some thoughts. George A _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
