Posted on 05/29/2006 10:20:27 PM PDT by naturalman1975
AN Australian military commander has tried to ensure truth does not become a casualty of conflict in East Timor, but has embarrassed Today show co-host Jessica Rowe in the process.
Australian commander in East Timor Brigadier Michael Slater appeared this morning in a live cross from Dili to Channel 9's Today show, with helmeted and heavily armed Australian soldiers standing behind him.
He was pressed by Today host Jessica Rowe about whether Dili really was as safe as the Australian military claimed, given the presence of armed soldiers at his shoulder.
Pausing briefly, Brig Slater replied: "Jessica I feel quite safe, yes, but not because I've got these armed soldiers behind me that were put there by your stage manager here to make it look good.
"I don't need these guys here.
"It is not safe on the streets, as it is back home in Sydney or Brisbane – no it's not, if it was we wouldn't be here. But things are getting better every day."
Rowe apologised, saying she didn't realise the guards had been placed specifically for the interview.
But Rowe ran into more trouble when she persisted with her line of questioning, and referred to footage of looting and violence.
Brig Slater told her the pictures were a "couple of days old".
TV rival Channel 7 gleefully circulated grabs of the interview this morning, enjoying an element of revenge after Nine's taunting over its exclusive interview with the Beaconsfield mine survivors.
people have to get the truth out one way or another these days, the media won't do it
Is it true your state of Victoria now persecutes Christians who 'blaspheme' Islam? Because I think every Christian in Victoria should go out and do it if they are.
I check in on Brookes News from time to time. Thats why I was asking.
Video clip
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/files/todayshow.wmv
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,19304804-5001026,00.html
Sure - and it is a reasonably big issue. It's just this is one issue the Constitution is pretty clear on, so it's hard to see that the High Court or Supreme Court won't overturn it. So far, it's only been through courts that are not supposed to rule on Constitutional issues - these issues are reserved to the highest courts.
It's a sad day when the Australian military is taking orders from the stage manager of Channel 9.
stage manager: Now put the underwear on the guys head.. perfect! roll'em
It's not taking orders - just a normal courtesy on the assumption he knows what he is doing and the ADF doesn't mind co-operating with the media if it produces a better story - as long as that doesn't involve distorting the truth. You want to see soldiers in the background - fine. Just don't try and make out there's any reason that they are there, except that you asked to put them there.
The Australian television media has absolutely no interest in anything other than getting a better ratings figure than their opposition and enhancing the "celebrity" status of their presenters.
I am of the view that the ADF would be better off if it did not participate in their little games by doing things like providing an artificial, but suitably dramatic, backdrop for one of their pathetic morning shows.
I'll trade you a perky Katie Couric for your Jessica Rowe.
"I'll trade you a perky Katie Couric for your Jessica Rowe."
Heck I'd trade katie for a promise they'd keep her.
Except that the ADF needs to recruit people, and that requires them to have a media presence. It also means that the ADF can present it's own view of what is happening, in contrast to others.
The Reverend Timothy Costello has no hesitation in telling the Australian people that the Army isn't doing its job properly - and the ADF needs to address that.
I never suggested that the ADF should not deal with the media. I just don't think they need to be involved with the accompanying theatrics.
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