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CBS anchor Dan Rather says he has some doubts about embedding troops
Associated Press ^ | 2-13-03 | DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

Posted on 02/13/2003 2:02:41 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

Edited on 04/13/2004 2:41:49 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

NEW YORK (AP) -- CBS News anchor Dan Rather says he hopes that embedding journalists among U.S. troops if there's a war with Iraq will help coverage, but he has doubts.

Rather is cautious because of experiences during the Gulf War, when much of the material gathered by journalists traveling with the military was not allowed to be printed or aired until long after the war was over.


(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cbs; danrather; kenneth
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1 posted on 02/13/2003 2:02:42 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
"Journalists first, Americans second."

How will they react if caught in a firefight?

-PJ

2 posted on 02/13/2003 2:04:59 PM PST by Political Junkie Too
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Blather has never cared for our troops or this country. He was the one that announced our movements against Noriega and his PDF before the operation could even start. This guy is a first class jerk.
3 posted on 02/13/2003 2:09:50 PM PST by grimalkin
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To: Political Junkie Too
"Fellow Travelers first, democrats second, journalists third (but I repeat myself), America last"
4 posted on 02/13/2003 2:11:56 PM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: Political Junkie Too


Journalists run for cover during a mock battle at Fort Dix army base in central New Jersey January 23, 2003. For the first time, the
Pentagon is training groups of journalists that intend to work alongside them in the future, in skills such as weapons awareness, first aid
and self-defence from chemical/biological weapon attack, as a massive buildup of allied forces continues in the Gulf. Picture taken
January 23. REUTERS/Jason Reed FOR USE WITH FEATURE IRAQ-MEDIA-WAR

5 posted on 02/13/2003 2:13:27 PM PST by michigander
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Dan Rather wouldn't be happy with anything the Bush war staff experts decide to do. Not even if they hang him with a new rope.

I'd rather see the reporters embedded with the troops rather than stumbling off on the battlefields on their own seeking "scoops" for their respective media. We don't need hostages taken by the enemy, either.

On the other hand, in Rather's case.......

Leni

6 posted on 02/13/2003 2:14:17 PM PST by MinuteGal (Escape to FReeper Island on "FReeps Ahoy" cruise. Register today or weep later!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Dan Rather says he hopes that embedding journalists among U.S. troops if there's a war with Iraq will help coverage, but he has doubts.

Don't worry, Dan, you don't sleep on a bed when you're out in the field.

7 posted on 02/13/2003 2:14:36 PM PST by colorado tanker (Moderators are our friends)
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To: michigander
I wonder what will happen if the situation ever occurs where a squad is wiped out except for the journalist who was with them.

-PJ

8 posted on 02/13/2003 2:14:45 PM PST by Political Junkie Too
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I'd laugh if someone fragged Rather.
9 posted on 02/13/2003 2:15:09 PM PST by TomServo
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To: grimalkin
This guy is a first class jerk.

Rather aint' "first class" nothing.

He's a NO class, leftist hack.

10 posted on 02/13/2003 2:15:42 PM PST by Bullish
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To: Political Junkie Too
I think the instructors from france handle that portion of the training.
11 posted on 02/13/2003 2:19:04 PM PST by michigander
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To: grimalkin
This guy is a first class jerk.

Does anyone have a screenshot of the (in)famous Dan Rather broadcast from Kosovo, I think it was, where he was standing there in a heavy flak jacket and made a point of talking about how he needed it because the area was known to be so incredibly dangerous -- while his teenaged native guide stood next to him clad in a T-shirt.

Either Rather was lying about the danger to make himself look macho, or he felt that he deserved the flak jacket more than the kid did...

12 posted on 02/13/2003 2:19:21 PM PST by Ichneumon
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To: TomServo
click
13 posted on 02/13/2003 2:20:52 PM PST by Howie
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I have serious doubts that he has a brain..........
14 posted on 02/13/2003 2:21:02 PM PST by Doc Savage
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To: Howie
lol - thanks, you've brightened my day.
15 posted on 02/13/2003 2:25:16 PM PST by TomServo
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To: TomServo
I'd laugh if someone fragged Rather.

Heck, i'd have a party - free beer too!

16 posted on 02/13/2003 2:25:33 PM PST by AngryJawa (Warning! Grumpy Gen-X Capitalist Pig With Firearms)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
"I have trepidations," Rather said of America, as he dreamt awake
about his past snuggling with Dictator Fidel, on whose frequency Rather is closely tuned.


17 posted on 02/13/2003 2:26:38 PM PST by Diogenesis
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To: Political Junkie Too
My dad spent the battle of Kasserine Pass sharing a foxhole with Ernie Pyle. Ernie didn't have any trouble at all being embedded with United States soldiers during the war and I suspect when the last soldier from the First Infantry Division has pitched his tent on Eternity's campground, Ernie will be with them and not with the hair sprayed talking heads of Dan Rather's ilk.
18 posted on 02/13/2003 2:28:10 PM PST by Mr. Lucky
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Rather recalled how vital it was to CNN to have pictures from Baghdad the night that bombs began dropping during the Gulf War.

All I want to remember of that footage was Bernie crying for his momma and asking what bed to hide under. I am so thankful for FNC...

19 posted on 02/13/2003 2:35:52 PM PST by tubebender (?)
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To: Political Junkie Too
How will they react if caught in a firefight?

It probably depends on the journalist.

Journalist Joe Galloway, co-author of the book "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young" (basis of the recent Mel Gibson movie) was a combat reporter in Viet Nam. He carried a rifle through most of his coverage, and freely admits to having helped manned the guns during the epic battle at LZ X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley.

In May 1998, the U.S. Army awarded Galloway the only medal for valor it gave to a civilian in Vietnam: the Bronze Star with V for helping rescue a wounded soldier during that battle. From the award citation:

During the afternoon of 14 November 1965 a furious battle had been fought between the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and the 66th Regiment of the Peoples Army of Vietnam. Mr. Galloway voluntarily boarded a helicopter which landed at night on a hazardous resupply run into an active combat situation where he was determined to report to the world details of the first major battle of the Vietnam War. Early on 15 November 1965 in the fury of the action, an American fighter bomber dropped two napalm bombs on the Battalion Command Post and Aid Station area gravely wounding two soldiers. Mr. Galloway and a medical aid man rose, braving enemy fire, and ran to the aid of the injured soldiers. The medical aid man was immediately shot and killed. With assistance from another man, Mr. Galloway carried one of the injured soldiers to the medical aid station. He remained on the ground throughout the grueling three-day battle, frequently under fire, until the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry was replaced by other forces of the 1st Cavalry Division.
But then, they don't often make 'em like Galloway anymore. He's a Texan, maybe that had something to do with it.


20 posted on 02/13/2003 2:36:09 PM PST by Ichneumon
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