I am disgusted whilst watching the news. Not only does CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS all give nearly exact locations of our troops, but they also tell us about troop morale, how much the sand storms are affecting our troops, and the military tactics we use to flush out republican guard units from heavily fortified bunkers.
Is there anything else the news stations would like to tell our enemy in Iraq? How about how the POW’s parents feel about their child who was recently caught by the Iraqis and paraded infront of the camera? OOPS, sorry we are doing that as well. Body counts? Nope we’re doing that as well?
Damn I could run his war with a cell phone, and a map from my living room.
Does anyone else think there is WAY too much media covering this war? How emabarrassed / Horrified would we be if the exact wording in the OP flashed across the bottom of your T.V screen at home?
My husband and I were talking about this just last night. I worry sometimes that we’ll see a reporter doing his story and we’ll see a bullet go right through his head on the air, live. I also don’t really understand the logic in have the reporters telling everyone “We’re 63 miles south of Baghdad now” I know it’s not a surprise that the military is going to Baghdad, but I’d think a little surprise would be nice.
On the other hand, maybe in a way it’s good for us to all know what’s going on.
You think Iraq doesn’t know exactly where the US forces are? They’ve been skirmishing with Iraqi forces the entire time. Plus, I’m sure Iraqi field recon is going to notice armor divisions rumbling through the desert kicking up dust clouds. The squads that need secrecy - special ops, etc., are getting it. I mean, really, what information do you think that CNN is giving out on troop movements that Iraq doesn’t already know?
As long as they aren’t revealing classified info, they’re OK by me.
I don’t understand what the whole Vietnam-like casualties is, Phlosphr.
Neurotik - I should rephrase that to: Imagine if we had casualties like we did in Vietnam as in the numbers. If we had 50K+ casualties now, do you think it would be as televised as it is?
no. I know this is nothing new, but I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. I was a teenager in the 80’s. The onlything we were worried about was that sex became dangerous, and if Rush and Cinderella were going to tour again.
I am 33 years old, and am wondering what my kids are going to be doing reports on in 15 years. How media driven will they be?
I simply wish the media played less a role in this campaign. Simple.
I wonder just how accurate the reports are and if we might indeed be feeding them at least some disinformation on certain subjects. Anybody recall if that happened the last time?
First of all, an armored division on the move proably stretches 20 miles in every direction.
Second of all (as pointed out in a press conference) all it takes is for an Iraqi with a phone to say “there are lots of tanks outside”.
It occured to me as well that the military may wish to telegraph their position somewhat in order to draw the enemy to them while encourageing civilians to get out of the way. Remember that we want the Iraqis to come to us so we can hit them with our air and longer ranged weapons…
If we had 50K casualties after 5 days, that would be a big problem.
All I can say is, thank God the First Amendment is not subject to a popularity vote. Apparently, it would lose.
Frankly, the government doesn’t have the legal authority to tell CNN or anybody else what they can or can’t broadcast, even if it’s classified. They can refuse to allow reporters access, but that’s a different matter. It seems to escape everyone’s notice that the media has far more access in this war than they did in the Gulf War of 1990-91. This is a direct result of the sensitive political nature of this conflict versus the last one.
Last time, we had tons of allies, the U.N. had approved it, everyone was on board, etc. It didn’t matter what the media said or did. Now, we need all the friends we can get. And voila! The media gets access!
So given the cynical, manipulative nature of the U.S. government, it doesn’t bother me a bit WHAT CNN broadcasts. As several others have pointed out, what could we tell the Iraqis that they couldn’t see by looking out the window?
I think it’s a tremendously good idea to have this type of coverage. This is a way to tell the rest of the world we’re not hiding or covering up what we’re doing. Will we give some info away? Sure. The stuff we want the world to see. And the stuff we want Saddam to see. This is as much about winning the hearts and minds of a lot of people in the rest of the world as it is about journalistic freedom.
I had to laugh when it was mentioned that the special ops guys who need secrecy are getting it. Exactly.
Hey, watch my right hand wiggling wildly over here in the desert! Don’t pay any attention to my left hand, which is actually in the basement of your building!
What the FUCK are you doing putting up a thread title like that?
Do you have ANY evidence at all this happened? Has the US military complained at all to CNN about revealing sensitive information that led to American deaths, or an Iraqi assault? Even a suggestion? From any source whatsoever?
That is a completely inapropriate and shitty thing to do.
