W.
Gotta disagree with you on two points. The media is embedded into the military units as a courtesy not a right.
Although I do agree that there is competition among media companies to report quickly, I do not necessarily agree that it is progress. There is no conscience or moral imperative among reporters today. Witness Geraldo Rivera who was embedded with 101st airborne, drawing a map in the sand and pinpointing for the enemy that night's battle plan. Do you not agree that he put lives in jeopardy through his eagerness to sensationalize his "report"? Personally, I believe it was treasonous.
The usual excuse is " if I don't report it someone else will.", doesn't hold water in time of war. Yes, the people have a right to know but in time of war that right must be tempered with responsibility toward those who are fighting for us. The American public in general is shielded from understanding the real everyday horror that combat brings to those who are participating. We ask our military to put aside their beliefs and act against their nature to protect our way of life. Their training is designed to remove their individuality when it is time to perform their jobs. Killing that man was not easy for that Marine. We must assume there was no malice or forethought in the action. He was doing what he was trained to do: See a threat, remove the threat. The embedded media reports the act. The results are questioned by the misunderstanding American public and inflammation of rhetoric from the enemy and their allies. Absolutely no good comes from this report (at least for those who wish to finish this war), except for the reporter who had his name mentioned a number of times. It sucks.
There is less condemnation for those who are kidnapping and committing resultant atrocities.
Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do!
Billy
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 12:47 PM
Subject: [QUAD-L] Media in Iraq-Monday Night Football Promo.
The Media has every right to be embedded with the Military. This is nothing
new. Its been around since before WW1. The only difference is that the
ability to speed the reporting/receiving process has greatly improved. Back when
Mr. Boyd was a pup, you had to see the news at the local theater before a
movie. The news was often weeks old, but available. Today, we see it as soon as
it happens. That is progress.
Media Management has changed over the years. Much of what is being shown
today would not have years ago, but today with Media competition being what it is
seems to justify it in their minds.
Whether its wrong or right will depend on others to judge.
As a feeble example of crazy tv, I'm sure that some of you saw the blip on
Desperate Housewife's before the football game the other night after 8pm. 20
seconds of nothing, but yesterday, it was re, reported over again and again and
again as though it was a nasty piece of dirt. Nothing was shown and no one
saw anything. But it was replayed during the daytime so that little kiddies
could see it and judge for themselves.
Go Figure.
W
In a message dated 11/17/04 11:01:12 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< SHOOT THE F*ING PHOTOGRAPER !
The media has no business being "embeded" with the troops. Imagine if
today's media were around in WWII. D-Day would have been lost, and we all
would be speaking German. >>
