BlackKinght I’m afraid that there are some things that are not permitted ---- even in war. What you suggest…Well, it goes beyond all contemplation.
This type of controversy dates at least back to the American Civil War. The telegraph made it possible for battlefield reporters to convey the location and intentions of troops in the field. This resulted in a great amount of ill will between the military and reporters, with the military sometimes arresting reporters accused of revealing sensitive information.
As for Geraldo:
That is definitely sensitive information. Rivera’s rush for a scoop led him to reveal information that should not have been given. I would be hard pressed to argue against a decision to order him to leave.
And, from the same article, there’s this quote from Rivera:
Sure, Geraldo, it’s always everyone else’s fault.
I think the only downside to using Geraldo as a human shield would be the technical debate on whether he falls in the category of human or ass.
Does anybody die in a football game?
Well, you can believe it then. Leno did a piece on it last night. They put a “picture” of Geraldo reporting at other wars and, for example, giving away the secret that there were Greek soldiers inside the horse at Troy, or that the Frank family was hiding in the attice of “The warehouse directly behind me”
Some things are just better left unspun: At first, Geraldo attributed the accusation to a competitor, and I quote, “spreading some lies.” Now he has ‘volunteered’ to return to Kuwait, leaving the 101st that he was never officially embedded with. The pentagon is bit more clear (imagine that) stating that Geraldo “compromised operational security.” That’s a euphemism for “the bloody fool put soldiers at risk.”
I agree with Sua on this one. Although it’s important whether he leaked sensitive information, it’s also important whether he broke his agreement with the military. In this case, it looks uncontroversial that he broke his agreement, and they’re entirely within their rights to send him home.
It would be different if, say, he’d filmed the soldiers shooting the van full of women and children and the military wanted to suppress the footage. In such a case, I’d support his freedom of the press entirely. But if there’s ever a case in which the military is justified to curtail freedom of information, movement of troops in wartime has got to be it: it’s the ultimate in information that’s useful only to an enemy, not useful to a citizen at home.
Daniel
Geraldo fired for telling the truth eh?
figures…
Yes, there is definitely some irony there. That’s for sure. The one time he tries it, it blows up in his face.
He’ll probably be on MTV next month. Well, if Murdock buys MTV he will anyway.
I just love how people keep saying “He went down in the sand”.
“Ooh, that’s right, Jerry; keep going…Oh yeah, baby, empty my vault!”