"Should USA Target Iraq TV Crews/Reporters For Destruction Due to Graphic POWs Video?

AmericanInTokyo ^ | 24 March 2003 | AmericanInTokyo

[AmericanInTokyo]

As a recipient of various Arab real-time satellite TV channels, such as al-Jazeera, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, Egypt Satellite, etc., I have been watching these programs perhaps more than CNN and the others recently, only if for the sole reason I want to find items that are provocative and are not making it into the Western media.

If I was looking for 'provocative', I certainly found it by viewing, yesterday morning US time, a live satellite broadcast from LBC which was relaying the IRAQ TV broadcast of frightened US POWs from Texas, and humiliated/disrepected bodies of American heroes that had been shot in the head.

My two immediate thoughts after seeing the horrifying, close-up color video from IRAQ TV via LBC, were: 1) GENEVA CONVENTION VIOLATIONS and 2) PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE (TERRORISM) BY THE ENEMY OF THE UNITED STATES

IRAQ TV is now attempting to cause psychological terror in the West by showing such horrendous, close-up color photos and videos, and humiliating the bodies and memories of the deceased in some building in al Nasiriya.

Add to these the other thought I had just this day.

In the cases of these videos, and other videos I have been seeing, the reporters for Iraqi TV are in MILITARY UNIFORM. Further, as we all know, Iraqi TV is dictatorship state-run T.V., i.e. it is firmly run by the Saddam Ba'athist Party and is part and parcel of the enemy's information infrastructure.

My conclusion to this is, NO MORE PROTECTION.

Who out there believes the USA/Allies should embark on a program of locating and eliminating, as our national policy, the reporters and camera crews of the Enemy, IRAQ TV? It is not a difficult stretch to say that Iraq TV will further videotape and show these kinds of scenes in the future, particularly if more American/British POWs are likewise captured and shot. Live POWs are interrogated roughly by the 'TV questioner' who is off camera. These reporters are enemy combatants. Further, since Iraq TV must know the location of Western human shields in Baghdad, they are liable to execute them at an opportune time, and then parade the bodies, broadcasting worldwide, to further effect public opinion in the 'shields' home countries. This must be stopped.

We have significant technology including Predators w/Hellfire, smart bombs, cruise missiles, etc. to obliterate IRAQ-TV and their reporting teams as they make there way to-and-fro, and take out this vital 'psy war' component of the enemy. Live remotes can be located through frequency tracking technology and obliterated.

What would other Freepers say? The US need not announce this as a general military policy in the open; the US just needs to start taking action against the enemy's potent and immoral infrastructure in this regard.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I think demonstrations in front of al-Jazeera Western offices at this point are relatively meaningless. They will NOT change their policy of airing Iraq TV to the world. We should strike at the head of the propaganda snake which is providing these objectionable video feeds to al-Jazeera, LBC, and others.

I post this vanity, only after now spending the last 24 hours contemplating what I witnessed yesterday on TV (now shown censored/edited in the US).

[1Old Pro]

I would not be saddened if a stray missle hit the al-Jazeera transmitters.

[taxed2death]

...from a country that professes free speech, this would seem odd.

[Orlando]

YES, YES...

We need to knock out Iraqi Tv and Jam there state-gov't run
Radio.

The Sooner it's done the faster the War will end !

[NavyCaptain]

Heard a military pundent say today that probably Iraqi TV was noe headquartered in a day-care center or senior home to avoid being targeted. So much for using our "Rules of Engagement" to their benefit!

[wimpycat]

There is no free speech in Iraq, or anywhere in the Muslim world.

[KingPin]

Since this is a war crime, I think the Justice Department should get involved. They should go after Al Jazerra on two fronts, 1) Civil 2) Criminal.

Civilly, they have broadcase images that are against the Geneva Conventions and quite possibly violated FCC regulations in the process. I'd like to see the Dept. Justice go after them in the neighberhood of $500 million.

Criminally, they have exploited a crime against humanity. I do not think they can hide journalistic dependence. Their senior management in the U.S. and aboard should be held accountable for conspiracy and aiding in a war crime.

[Maeve]

If we had an EMP bomb, I wish we would use it on Baghdad and take out Iraqi television and radio.

[AmericanInTokyo]

The American POWs I saw sprawled on the ground with _______________ on the floor, had no 'free speech'.

Things change in War, I believe. Interesting counter point, though.

[AmericanInTokyo]

al-Jazeera can get the legal remedy.

But their video source, the enemy's propaganda "IRAQ TV", I believe, is what deserves direct action as I have suggested here, ASAP.

[Lady Heron]

If the U.S. wanted to they could stop Iraq tv. I wish they could stop Al Jazeria(sp?). Going after individual reporters, as an enemy target, they can not do. After the war on the other hand they can target them for war crimes since they have participated in breaking the Genevia conventinons (at least I hope they can). The more the Iraq tapes their own war crimes only helps us after.

[NittanyLion]

There would be no quicker way to turn American sentiment against the war than by destroying a media outlet, regardless of whether they're propagandists for the enemy. It may not be fair, but it's life.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Upon second read, excellent! What conservative congressman do we know that sits on an FCC oversight panel in the House, whom we can ask to ask the FCC to take immediate action against al-Jazeera.

Still, hoping to emphasize in this thread, that the US should take military action in the field against IRAQ TV Reporters, cameramen and other technicians. Let them know they have no guarantee of safety when they venture out for any report. This will also turn the psy war tables ON THEM.

[smith288]

Destroying IraqiTV is nothing more than govt agency over there. Destroying it is legal yet hard, I hear its located under a nursing home or something like that.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Reporters, even if in military clothes and reporting for a station that is not private, but is dictator-state owned, and therefore part of the enemy infrastructure? I'd take a differing view.

[freedomlover]

The more the Iraq tapes their own war crimes only helps us after.

FWIW many Nazis were hung based on their own video tapes. They loved to film everything.

[annyokie]

After that atrosity yesterday, IMO, Geneva Convention be damned.

Screw the rules!

[Prince Charles]

Yes, bomb them. The Bent One didn't have any scruples about bombing state-run Serbian RTS TV during the Kosovo war, so when the leftists object, you can relay this tidbit of information.

In fact, The Bent One tipped off CNN beforehand not to be anywhere near RTS TV studios.

[Andiceman]

To be technically correct, it was film, not video tape, that the Nazi's used.

[ApesForEvolution]

It's time for the embedded 'journalists' to be safely escorted back to Iraq for their own safety. The last thing we need is for them to be get wasted as the real dirty work is upon our men. I can't imagine that having a communist subversive shooting footage everywhere the soldiers go is conducive to doing what needs to be done.

[ApesForEvolution]

Back to Kuwait that is.

[boknows]

Oh no, not more lawyers involved!

[Sir Charles]

I agree, KingPin. I don't see this as a legitimate military target, which would also, I think, be detrimental to the US in terms of public opinion worldwide. The real harm is done when jerks like Peter Jennings interviews the mother of one of the POWs with apparent intent of sucking the resolve out of the American support for the war effort.

The troops in the field are seeing far more grisly reality, up close and personal, and I think their resolve to eliminate these monsters is strengthened by it. This futile attempt to break the coalition resolve is going to backfire.

I just hope that we follow up on our threats to dig out of the rubble of Baghdad those responsible for these crimes and let the American and British people see that punishment is administered.

[AmericanInTokyo]

If Americans saw (were allowed to see) as I and others did, of the uncut version of the IRAQ TV report on the dead and wounded American POWs from Texas yesterday, I venture to say that they may very well support the premise in this thread.

[swarthyguy]

Capital idea; we did it to the Serbs. IraqTV is a branch of the govt or the army;they wear uniforms and carry guns. Nail their transmitters.

[freedomlover]

To be technically correct, it was film, not video tape, that the Nazi's used.

True, but if you wanted to be technically correct in correcting me, you would have spelled it "Nazis".

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I would have hit this place in the first ten minutes. What they're doing aids the enemy.

[Lady Heron]

Reporters, even if in military clothes and reporting for a station that is not private, but is dictator-state owned, and therefore part of the enemy infrastructure? I'd take a differing view.

I understand and agree with the sentiment. They problem is how the world would use it against us. Like I said before if it was a good idea, or if we felt that we could not handle the propaganda we would take out thier capabilities. The Iraq TV is seen as what it is a joke. Al Jazeria is huge problem I wish we could take care of.

[duk]

I'm glad that the video was shown. It wakes up the American public to the horrors of war. Untill this video came out, the news was all hype. War is hell!!

As for the rules, both sides will get away with as much as possible without getting caught. Human nature. How many of us set our cruise control at 64 mph to avoid the ticket?

I understand patriotism, but I have no room for knee jerk attitudes because of a bloody nose. SUCK IT UP AND DRIVE ON!! This is WAR, and if you don't have a strong moral/ethical base to stand on (IRAQ) then anything is fair game.

[duk]

I saw a picture of the downed Apache with gunmen all around it and of course a cameraman. We should have hit the Apache with a bomb just at that momemt. Kill two birds with one stone. It would not take long before a downed bird of prey would be avoided at all costs!! Might give the crews time to E & E.

[boris]

"There would be no quicker way to turn American sentiment against the war than by destroying a media outlet"

The fact that a single molecule of Al Jazeera still exists, a year and a half after 9/11/2001, is a moral and political obscenity.

--Boris

[faithincowboys]

yes, the SOB with the camera, egging on the idiots of the world when they were shooting fish, needs to be whacked and good!!!

[NittanyLion]

The fact that a single molecule of Al Jazeera still exists, a year and a half after 9/11/2001, is a moral and political obscenity.

Don't get me wrong, I don't disagree with you. It's just that the same Americans who draw moral equivalency between IDF collateral damage and PA homicide bombers would be screaming that Al Jazeera is no different than CNN.

Actually, that's a poor example; I might agree with that...neither are legitimate news sources in my opinion.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I enjoy kicking this around. And I enjoy the good, strong comments on this thread as to why we should not do what I propose. That is the whole value of FR to me and others. Debate, polish, brainstorm. We come up with good, workable ideas in that way.

As a possible initial step, why can we not fry their entire electronic backbone. With some e bombs and jamming, that should be not too difficult. Also, hit some Iraq TV satellite ground dishes, and then al Jazeera or the others don't get a feed. They can then take three weeks getting it the world in VHS format backpacked out by camel if they would like.

I still believe that military uniforms worn by reporters, and being part of the enemy's official infrastructure is reason and justification enough to act. We did not worry about vast amounts of the world's population against us (and a number of world leaders including the Pope for Pete's sake) to go into this thing in Iraq; why now start to worry about 'international image' at this point if it is life or death for us and our troops, and we have legal/ROE justification post-facto to back it up?

[AmericanInTokyo]

??

[AmericanInTokyo]

Remember, now, this thread advocates action against IRAQ TV. Not the Qatari-based "al-Jazeera" which is not enemy-owned (even though I agree their stuff is quite objectionable and slanted against the US).

al Jazeera only carried the feed of Iraq TV. The POW's interrogators, threatening and rude, as well as the others going through the bodies and belongings, etc. were a combination of Iraqi military and Iraq TV.

[HAL9000]

We can destroy the Iraqi broadcasting facilities at any time. I assume the military planners have made an intentional decision not to do so at this time, and I'm not inclined to second-guess them.

The U.S. may be analyzing these broadcasts for intel purposes. Perhaps they will provide clues on the locations of our soldiers who are held prisoner.

The tapes will also be powerful evidence against the criminals who are abusing our troops.

[smith288]

Has the E-Bomb actually been used for anything? I would almost venture to say it was meant as a scare tactic to make Saddam rely on camels and mopeds to get message around even though its not even done with testing...

Can someone point me to some examples of this thing actually being used/tested?

[AmericanInTokyo]

You have a point for sure, and I do know they are taking the best possible action. I watch these Arabic TV channels for much the same reason. However, if the Iraq TV gets ahold of more US prisoners or executes the captured, and keeps doing this for shock or propaganda purposes to influene world opinion against us, how long before my idea (or a variation thereof) is activated?

[MizSterious]

If we used the "e-bomb" I've seen discussed, it would generally knock out everything--and it wouldn't seem particularly aimed at the television stations. No doubt there are other hazards connected with this device, though.

[OXENinFLA]

If you get WORLDLINK TV they have a show "Mosaic" it shows mid-east news in english. Totally slanted but I still here and see things that I don't see on the Alphabet channels.

[KneelBeforeZod]

leaving their broadcasts on might work to make the population a bit stunned after they are defeated... like the end of WWII in japan...their emperor god was just a regular person...

[kjam22]

I'd prefer to take the television station out with a tactical nuke. That would "stun the population" as much as anything.

[F16Fighter]

IMHO, no.

The documentation may very well be valuable as were the documented "evidence" of Nazi atrocities.

[wideawake]

This is not a question of free speech.

It is a question of being an accessory to a war crime.

[HAL9000]

We've been broadcasting clandestine radio broadcasts into Iraq for a few months now.

At first, our stations were broadcasting the standard pro-Saddam rhetoric, but over a period of time gradually shifted to anti-Saddam content.

Apparently there are some sophisticated psychological tactics in progress, and perhaps that's how it will go with Iraqi TV too.

If we can infiltrate their broadcasting system, some interesting things could be done. Iraqi TV might broadcast a speech from Saddam where he says the battle is going well, so he's going to eat some pork and have sex with a goat.

[KneelBeforeZod]

Maybe they want it intact. We can take over and show porky pig cartoons, and "Babe"

[wku man]

You must have forgotten the sarcasm tag, because surely you recognize the difference between guaranteeing the rights of our own people and trying to win a war against a government/nation/region that would love nothing more than for us to disappear from the face of the Earth.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Crusader_062002]

Destroying Al Jazeerah, or killing "reporters" from Iraqi state run television would be a major loss. With the world situation as it is, and the unrest in our own nation the fight for public opinion is a large part of the overall war. To target journalists would be a major loss in this fight for public opinion and would lend credence to what those nuts at indymedia are already saying.

[linn37]

we are here to win and prevent as much loss of life possible,bomb em.