Five Embeds Booted Out of Iraq in Recent Months

Editor and Publisher ^ | 01/07/05 | Joe Strupp

[Pikamax]

Five Embeds Booted Out of Iraq in Recent Months credit: Aya Kawano

By Joe Strupp

Published: January 07, 2005 11:20 AM ET

NEW YORK As Iraq moves closer to its first democratic elections later this month, the number of news organizations requesting embedded slots with military units there is on the rise, according to officials. But those new embeds better watch their step. E&P has learned that five journalists have been kicked out of embed slots in the past three months for reporting secure information.

"They were all for operational security reasons, (revealing) something that would have been of use to the enemy," Maj. Kris Meyle, who runs the embed program, told E&P from Baghdad this morning. "Generally, it gets done very quickly. Usually it was something that was not done intentionally by the reporter."

Meyle would not disclose the identities of those who were "disembedded" or the news organizations for which they worked. But she did not recall any from newspapers. "I remember them being broadcast," she said.

She also warned that those seeking slots in an effort to get close coverage of the Iraqi elections later this month may be wasting their time. "We are telling people who request an embed during elections that they will not necessarily be near a polling place," Major Meyle said. "That is not our role."

Meyle also stressed that all embeds remain under restrictions against releasing information that is deemed sensitive or a threat to military security.

As of the last count, on New Year's Day, 54 journalists were embedded in Iraq, Meyle said, adding that the number can change daily. At that time, the largest group was embedded with the Multinational Division (MND) in Baghdad, which had 19 journalists.

Among the others: Eleven were in MND West; 10 in MND North, which includes Mosul; seven in MND South; and six in North Central Iraq, near Tikrit and Sumara.

Embedded journalists in Iraq topped 800 at the height of combat in 2003, but their number has since dwindled to the double digits in the past year or so. The tally increased briefly in October when the first Marine Expeditionary Force prepared for its Fallujah assault, drawing 70 journalists to its ranks alone.

"They just couldn't support all of the media who wanted to go," Meyle said about the Fallujah operation.

Meyle said she had not kept tabs on how many requests for embed slots during the elections had come in, but she said it was more than usual. "We are getting quite a number of them," she said. "The units will decide how many folks they can take and it is up to the units who they can support and when."

[angkor]

Kevin Sites stopped updating his blog, and is now reporting from Indonesia for MSNBC.

[MplsSteve]

I would like to know the names of those who were dis-embedded and the reasons why.


Anyone else feel the same way?

[HMFIC]

The ONLY embeds should be VETS/RETIREES who can see the war from the WARRIOR's eyes not the eyes of a deskbound libturd editor!

[rockrr]

Yep.

I'm hard-pressed to come up with a good reason NOT to just tell it like it is.

[womcg]

Hot Damn, another good idea from FR. Hows about old recon grunts/military historians as Embeds? Just hope they wouldn't ask me why my "laptop" is the same length as my M-21.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

My tagline expresses my sentiments.

[Beckwith]

Meyle would not disclose the identities of those who were "disembedded"

I would have preferred to see these traitors "disembowled".

[Big Digger]

I would like to know the names of those who were dis-embedded and the reasons why.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Sure do. They should be blacklisted, shunned, drummed out of the news business. Leaking classified information in wartime should be punished. Kisking them out of Iraq is just for starters.

[monday]

"I would like to know the names of those who were dis-embedded and the reasons why"

The names sure, but the reasons are classified. Weren't you paying attention?

[btcusn]

I would have preferred to see these traitors "disembowled".
Beat me to it!!
Jack

[ClearCase_guy]

While I would not want to "crush" free speech, I do agree with you. The Constitution defines treason as Aid and Comfort to the enemy.

A reporter leaks classified information in a war zone? It's treason, he should be prosecuted.
John Kerry demoralizes the troops in Baghdad? It's treason, he should be prosecuted.
Nancy Pelosi donates to a group which funds Al-Quaeda? It's treason, she should be prosecuted.

The old story about the British Admiral who was hanged "to encourage the others" has relevance here. Some senators should be in jail because of their war-time activities -- such judgement would "encourage the others" to watch their dang step.

[beaelysium]

E&P has learned that five journalists have been kicked out of embed slots in the past three months for reporting secure information.
" They were all for operational security reasons, (revealing) something that would have been of use to the enemy," Maj. Kris Meyle, who runs the embed program, told E&P from Baghdad this morning.

And just as the giving away of 'secure information' is against the law, so it is as important for us to attain 'secure information' from the enemy, for the cessation of hostilities, the winning of the war,and the saving of innocent lives.

	Maybe Teddy , aka 'The Swimmer' became so apoplectic about a wet towel being placed over a terrorist's face because it reminded him of Mary Jo Kopechne.
Inquest Exhibit #6 - The Senator's car is removed from Poucha Pond

 

[Ciexyz]

What the hell is John Kerry doing in Baghdad anyway?

[MplsSteve]

F*** you, too.

I think that it's important for the public to be given some idea of why these reporters were dis-embedded...as long as it doesn't violate security rules.

[Sacajaweau]

Tell the imbeds to join the army for a couple of years so we won't have to do double-time covering their butts.

[caisson71]

I don't care who they are or why they were kicked out. I want more imbeds kicked out. The liberal news media has screwed up a good thing and are using the imbeds to promote their self interests, our troops and America be damned.

[handy old one]

It only fair to know who's trying to get our troops killed. On purpose or by accident.

[OldFriend]

I'm hard pressed to know why the whole lot of them weren't sent packing.

They like to further their own agenda, make up bullship, etc. They can do that from home.

[processing please hold]

Damned good point.

[fastattacksailor]

Yes, I'd like to know who and why as well.....

[fastattacksailor]

I think they can say "they were tossed because they breached security"

They need not go into specifics, but if they did breach security, it would be nice to know.

[monday]

"I think they can say "they were tossed because they breached security"


Did you read the article?

"E&P has learned that five journalists have been kicked out of embed slots in the past three months for reporting secure information.

"They were all for operational security reasons, (revealing) something that would have been of use to the enemy," Maj. Kris Meyle, who runs the embed program, told E&P from Baghdad this morning."

In other words, they have already said just that. What else do you want?

[Marine_Uncle]

At last we finally hear a bit on the embedded reporter scenario. For those that suggest only military reporters
should be permitted to practice their craft. If that was
the case, then you would hear the outcry from many that
it is not fair. The DoD has gone out of it's way to be
fair. Many of the ER's do honor the concept of SECOPS.
And for those like the pretty boy in Indonesia, he will
never be invited to participate in another US ran conflict.
He cut his own balls off. Now he can watch those would
be monies fly out the door.
And least we forget, remember in 1942-45 as our fledging
Army Press Corps. tried many times and often with success
to snag General Patton. One often bites the hands that feed
them.

[fastattacksailor]

What I would love to see is more of them tossed for the same reason.


This is not the first time this has happened---ans will not be the last. I, for one, would have booted Whorealdo Rivera right back to NYC where he belongs.

I wouldn't even allow the BBC anywhere near a USA unit.

[fastattacksailor]

Another thing:

As for security, that usually covers the gamut from troop movements and strength to the Genneral's lunch menu.

I'd love to have it known that reporter fill-in-the-blank reported troop movements (without giving the details). I'd also like to see a name attached.

We used to have the reporters surround us asking the idiotic questions when we returned from a deployment.

They could ever seem to understand the term "I'm sorry, but I'm not at liberty to discuss that"

One reporter that got under my skin (by asking the same question eight different way got this reply:

"Will you PLEASE STFU and leave me the hell alone!"

Needless to say the reporter got the point---and an escort off the base.

[ASA Vet]

The ONLY embeds should be VETS/RETIREES

Yep, I agree, Is the FreeRepublic News Service (FNS) hiring?

[prairiebreeze]

ping

[hershey]

Sites has quietly moved on. Wonder how he sleeps nights.

[JDoutrider]

"Hows about old recon grunts/military historians as Embeds?"

I'd go...but I doubt they would take me and my cane...

[Peach]

Thanks for that ping; I haven't kept up on the news very well the last few days.

So the reporters who were kicked out weren't from newspapers but from networks. I'd pay cash money to know which networks. Since I don't watch anything but FNC, I will not notice a change in any personnel reporting from Iraq on the alphabets.

[Billthedrill]

"We are telling people who request an embed during elections that they will not necessarily be near a polling place," Major Meyle said. "That is not our role."

They don't need to be embedded in anything to report on the election. In fact, they'll get closer to the news if they aren't.

But if it were me I'd want as many armed-to-the-teeth Marines around me as the law allowed. Ma Drill didn't raise any stupid children.

[Mo1]

Meyle would not disclose the identities of those who were "disembedded" or the news organizations for which they worked. But she did not recall any from newspapers. "I remember them being broadcast," she said.

Gee .. I seem to remember EVERY dang News Organzation in print AND media (cough MSNBC cough) reporting on Geraldo and attacking him for releasing sensative information

But yet .. I have heard SQUAT about these guys/gals/whatever being kicked out

HELLO!!

[onyx]

Only five?
Let the fumigating continue.

[prairiebreeze]

The media has a very similar approach like the UN does to the Congo sex exploitation scandal.

He declined to "name and shame" countries whose troops have committed sex abuse, saying that would lead to less cooperation from the member states in cracking down on the exploitation. "If you do it in an adversial way you are going to have the Secretariat against the Member States and it is not going to work," he said. From this thread Report Confirms U.N. Congo Sex Abuse

We're all just up to our eyeballs in our little secret protection societies aren't we?

[prairiebreeze]

Ping.

Meyle would not disclose the identities of those who were "disembedded" or the news organizations for which they worked. But she did not recall any from newspapers. "I remember them being broadcast," she said.

It seems the media likes to keep mum about their less than stellar representatives too. Just like the UN.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Last time I saw Kevin Sites he was in Banda Aceh.

[mediabruiser]

i do know that one of the correspondents asked to leave before the fallujah operation was karl penhaul of cnn.

[Ranger]

Embedded reporters are critical to the american public's understanding of what is going on in iraq.