SwiftVets.com

[fortdixlover]

From Bob Dole's former Press Secretary:

http://nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/36151.htm

PRESS PILE-ON

BY DOUGLAS MACKINNON

December 11, 2004 -- WITH each passing day, the role of the media in Iraq becomes more confusing and much more controversial.

The latest example: the "question" asked of Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during his "town hall" meeting this week with U.S. soldiers in Kuwait.

One soldier asked, "Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal . . . to up-armor our vehicles, and why don't we have those resources readily available to us?"

That question and the video of that question led almost every newscast or front page in this country. What does the question have to do with the media and its ever growing controversial role in Iraq? A reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press fed the question to the soldier so he could set up Donald Rumsfeld.

While there is no doubt our soldiers need more armor and protection, the question remains: Is it right or ethical for a member of the media to spoon-feed a question to a soldier and manufacture a news story that he and others would then cover?

Which begs a larger question: At what point does irresponsible and sensationalist reporting become dangerous, or even acts of betrayal? All involved in prosecuting and covering this war need to ask themselves that.

Political correctness dictates that we do not speak about this, but I have yet to talk with a member of our military who does not strongly believe that the Abu Ghraib prison scandal wasn't blown out of all proportion. Worse, they feel that the ensuing media feeding frenzy had a direct result in fueling the insurgents attacking our troops and innocent civilians in Iraq.

Do they feel the mistreatment of the Iraqi and insurgent prisoners was wrong and disgusting? To a person. Do they think some in the media have used the inappropriate behavior of seven ignorant soldiers to tar and feather the other 140,000 on the ground? To a person. Just as they feel that many in the press are purposely twisting the definition of "torture" to play "gotcha" journalism with a military they not so secretly look down upon.

As recently as this week, in a lead editorial, The Washington Post referred to the Abu Ghraib situation as "torture" and "extreme." If the Post thinks that the reprehensible, but juvenile humiliation we saw in the Abu Ghraib photos rises to the level of "torture," then I would ask them to define what innocent Iraqi police endured before being shot in the head, or the brutal beatings endured by U.S. military POWs during the first Gulf War.

The anti-military piling-on by some in the media took a dangerous turn last week when the Associated Press released photos of Navy SEALs possibly "abusing" Iraqi prisoners. Those I have spoken with in the military are outraged that the press would not only try to make this into something it is not, but in the process, expose the identities of elite Navy SEAL operatives who many times need to work under cover.

Is such conduct by the media an act of betrayal? Again, a question the press, the Pentagon, the administration and even the American people must ask themselves. Some in the media seem to have no problem calling for an investigation of the Bush White House for allegedly exposing a CIA operative, but seem not the least bit bothered in acting as the vessel that delivers the faces and identifying patches of Navy SEALs right to the doorstep of al Qaeda.

Since the beginning of this war, some have used "freedom of the press" as an instrument to systematically denigrate the military while purposely ignoring hundreds of success stories that would shed a positive light on our troops, their mission and our nation. Now, they are planting questions. Enough is enough.

Douglas MacKinnon was press secretary to former Sen. Bob Dole. He is also a former White House and Pentagon official and an author.


-- FDL
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"Millions For Defense, Not One Cent For Tribute" - Thomas Jefferson on paying ransom to Muslim corsairs (pirates).

[happyday]

When was the last time we tried someone for treason in the US? I think it's time we at least considered it, as the MSM and some politicians don't seem to understand that there is a line there that should never, ever be crossed.

One or two sentances carried out by firing squad should get the point across, I think.

Just my opinion, respectfully submitted.
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God Bless America, and God Bless the Swiftees!

[GIaunt]

Better yet, put em in prison anywhere else in the world.....

they want to see torture.... guess what....

Freedom of speech doesn't include yelling fire in a crowded theatre

Freedom of the press, does not include endangering our troops....