# Did Geraldo actually do this really stupid thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591 "2003-04-01T00:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/41 "2003-04-01T12:39:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*Hey, Lucy, what’s your cite for Geraldo not having any sensitive information regarding troop positions? > > Note that a cite doesn’t include “I don’t like the war, so I can say whatever I want!” \*\* Well, how about experience? Sensitive information is given out on a need to know basis. If he don’t need to know, he don’t know. If he were giving out sensitive information on the air, there wouldn’t be a question - he’d be out. Actually, more likely, he’d be arrested. At least, that’s what my experience tells me. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/42 "2003-04-01T13:11:29Z")
**December** : > [@](#): > > P.S. I thought Geraldo was one of mine. C’mon…everbody knows that Geraldo is a _Palestinian_!!! ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/43 "2003-04-01T13:14:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > \*\ ***WAR!** \*\* huh, what is it good for? [sub]sorry, I couldn’t resist[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/44 "2003-04-01T13:30:41Z")
Geraldo was just on _Fox and Friends_, reporting live from the forward HQ of the 101st, rather far inside Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/45 "2003-04-01T13:34:48Z")
> [@](#): > > And you can stick your insinuation where the sun shineth not. And the horse upon in which you rode. Insinuation? What insinuation? I am not insinuating anything. I am trying to be as clear as I can manage - Geraldo behaved like a near-traitorous moron, if the allegations are true, and richly deserves to be booted out of the Middle East and pushed down hard onto a fire hydrant somewhere. Pantless. And anyone who defends a journalist who publishes “And here is where we are headed next, so get your firing coordinates ready!” is being equally stupid. And those who don’t see the problem with communicating with the world where the troops are now and where they are headed next are acting like simple-minded snot-brains. Cripies, I have to be so darn obvious with you. Try to keep up. Loose lips sink ships, but loose cannons are worse. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/46 "2003-04-01T13:57:02Z")
As for Geraldo revealing troop positions via maps in the sand, that one had my bullshit detectors going off like klaxon horns. What kind of useful detail can you get from that? However, if Geraldo said, “from here we are proceeding north to take up a positions near Salamidad” that would be a no-no and should get him bounced. Knowing where the enemy is isn’t NEARLY as useful as knowing where the enemy is planning to go. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/47 "2003-04-01T14:38:29Z")
Poor old Geraldo seems to be the last to get the news. According to CNN, Fox and the military have agreed on a face-saving maneuver: _"After early reports indicated that Rivera would be expelled from the Army unit he was traveling with, Fox and the Pentagon agreed that he would leave on his own, without being officially sanctioned._" It sounded like he would be (voluntarily, sort of) leaving Iraq as well. **Shodan** , you’re being unnecessarily harsh with **elucidator** , who’s very consistent in cases such as these. If someone who is against the war says or does anything [incredibly stupid](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?&threadid=173442), it is necessary to defend him, minimize his actions or point out something bad the other side did, whether or not it is relevant. If the Pentagon or Administration say something, it must be attacked or derided, regardless of the circumstances. _“Pentagon sources report the sky is blue over Iraq today.”_ "Yeah, like we’re gonna believe that! Where’s thier proof? And what about Halliburton??? " See, you just have to understand where the boy is coming from. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/48 "2003-04-01T15:14:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Evil Captor \* > As for Geraldo revealing troop positions via maps in the sand, that one had my bullshit detectors going off like klaxon horns. What kind of useful detail can you get from that? > > However, if Geraldo said, “from here we are proceeding north to take up a positions near Salamidad” that would be a no-no and should get him bounced. Knowing where the enemy is isn’t NEARLY as useful as knowing where the enemy is planning to go. From the earlier CNN cite (my emphasis). > [@](#): > > “He gave away the big picture stuff,” one stunned senior military official told CNN. “He went down in the sand and **drew where the forces are going**.” And this is great from today’s story [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/01/sprj.irq.geraldo/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/01/sprj.irq.geraldo/index.html) > [@](#): > > MSNBC is so pathetic a cable news network that they have to do anything they can to attract attention," he said. "You can rest assured that whatever they’re saying is a pack of lies. :rolleyes: And finally I love how FOX went to such efforts to put a better spin on the fiasco. > [@](#): > > Fox News executives pleaded with Pentagon officials to not expel Rivera. Pentagon officials stood their ground and insisted that Rivera go, and a deal was eventually reached, the Pentagon sources said. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/49 "2003-04-01T15:18:58Z")
Forgot to add that now FOX can deny that one of its reporters was expelled for revealing operational secrets. I can hear them now, “Geraldo just decided to leave so he could cover the really important stories in Qatar.” ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/50 "2003-04-01T15:20:56Z")
did he put GPS cordinates in the sand as well? For feck sake people, it was a map in the sand. It wasn’t even accurate. this is way OTT. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/51 "2003-04-01T15:26:19Z")
So, Arnett tells some uncomfortable truths and is sacked and vilified here and elsewhere. Geraldo betrays troop positions and future actions and hardly anyone bats an eyelid and he keeps his job with Fox. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/52 "2003-04-01T15:36:11Z")
he didn’t betray troop positions! Its not even as if his map was all that accurate. how is what he did any different than one of the generals saying they were 60 miles from Bagdhad several days ago? ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/53 "2003-04-01T15:39:37Z")
**TwistofFate** , please listen very carefully. "The reporter then continued with his diagram to illustrate \*\*where the 101st would be going next. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/54 "2003-04-01T15:40:46Z")
yes, but how is it anyway accurate? and why would be be given that information? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/55 "2003-04-01T15:41:00Z")
Is this the same Geraldo Rivera who’s a talk show host? What’s a talk show host doing covering the war? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/56 "2003-04-01T15:41:01Z")
Because he not only gave their current position, he said where they were headed next. Incidentally, he has agreed to leave Iraq voluntarily rather than be expelled.[Cite.](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/01/sprj.irq.geraldo/index.html) Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/57 "2003-04-01T15:45:15Z")
rsa, so Fox is spinning it, but CNN and MSNBC aren’t? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/58 "2003-04-01T15:45:19Z")
but thats the thing, he gave a rough estimation of of where the troops are, and where they are going to. Not exact coordinates of either position. He gave away nothing that Iraqi spotters and intelligence wouldn’t be able to gather for themselves. Why not get all the reporters who filmed outside removed because of the danger of landmarks being identified in the background and the troop position determined? Its as possible as determining accurate positions based on a freaking map in the sand. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/59 "2003-04-01T16:16:00Z")
**SmackFu** , huh? What spin is CNN and MSNBC putting on the story? Seems like reportage of facts with actual quotes from military officials and everything. Please clarify. And just to make my position clear. Even if what Geraldo did didn’t provide any useful information to the Iraqis, he violated the rules he was working under. I think it is reasonable when your butt is on the line to have a “one-strike and out” policy. I didn’t see Geralso’s report, but I’m assuming that he had some commentary to go with his “freaking map in the sand”. I doubt he just stood there mute while he drew a pretty picture. And yes, I have seen embed reports where the only background was a truck so that the terrain could not be identified. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/60 "2003-04-01T16:17:38Z")
After getting the news of the 101st’s location from Geraldo, the Iraqis immediatly set the coordinates, double checked their calculations, carefully checked and double checked their settings, and launched a scud. The scud was said to have killed an infadel cow deep inside Syria. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591.md?page=4)