Sterling Rome: Centcom Is Not Donahue

CNSNews.com ^ | March 27, 2003 | Sterling Rome

[Stand Watch Listen]

I watched with disgust as the daily Centcom briefing on the war for Iraq took place Wednesday morning. While there has been an obvious anti-American tenor from the press corps throughout Iraqi Freedom, the questions on Wednesday were so virulent that they are worth revisiting.

First and foremost, the majority of reporters did not have questions at all. The majority of reporters wanted to do nothing more than make a statement on camera, and then ask Brigadier General Vincent Brooks to address it.

One of these statements was the regurgitation of an Internet rumor that said Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter was on her way to Baghdad to be a "human shield."

One would think a reporter of the stature necessary to end up at a Centcom briefing would do a little background work before making such a statement, but here again we have another example of how the press corps need not even be professional if they are ideologically opposed to the war. I can guarantee you that neither the reporter, nor the outlet for which she works, will issue an apology.

A Canadian reporter wondered if the fact that Republican Guard troops were on the move meant that we had lost the war? Another reporter refuted the report that the port of Umm Qasr had been cleared of mines based on what he had heard from British troops. And yet another reporter asked if he could see video of all the bombs that didn't hit their intended targets.

Given the chance, almost all reporters at the briefing attempted to make General Brooks speak to their opinions, rather than answer their questions. The war has proceeded too quickly and all the Iraqi's haven't surrendered. Should we give up? Irregulars are fighting back. Were we prepared for that? Oh, and by the way, when can they get their water turned back on?

Isn't the fact that we will have to fight for Baghdad proof that the war isn't going as planned? It's Day Seven and we control half the country, isn't this a sign of failure? Will the families of Iraqi civilians be compensated by the United States? Are Iraqi POWs being treated humanely, or are we going to "violate their rights" like we did with Al Queda?

Amazingly, two of the only reporters who managed to ask a question about the actual state of the war were, believe it or not, French. It was obvious that the other reporters in the room felt that these press briefings were set up so that they could opine on camera to their misgivings about the war, whether real, imagined, concocted on the Internet, or posed by Iraqi intelligence.

While the issue of liberal bias in the press has never been in doubt for me personally, anyone willing to suggest that it does not exist should be forced to sit through a tape of this press conference. Interestingly, here are a few of the questions that were not asked:

How did the Coalition manage to save the Iraqi oil fields, and thus the future of the Iraqi people? Is there concern that Coalition POWs will not be treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention and thus must be rescued before they are executed? In 7 days, Coalition forces already threaten Baghdad - would you qualify this as a success?

Can we speak with some of the liberated Iraqi's that are now receiving U.S. aid? Does the fact that treatments for nerve gas and 3000 protective suits were found in an Iraqi hospital finally settle the issue of whether or not the regime has chemical weapons, or are we to believe these items were purchased by mistake? Does the sale of Russian technology to Iraq prior to the war cast any doubt on their motives for threatening to veto our action at the U.N.?

These and other questions were not asked, and are unlikely to be. This is because the majority of the press corps isn't in the region to cover the war, they are there to opine on it. What you are reading now falls under the category of "Commentary," which is why it is identified as such. Whether or not I write this column in my bathroom or at Centcom Headquarters, it is still commentary.

That so many press agencies and media outlets spent the money to fly their reporters to the Middle East to appear at Centcom Press Briefings is a mystery to me. By their actions and statements it is apparent that they could have written their "stories" in the comfort of their own homes since almost nothing they say or write has to do with anything other than their opposition to the war, and why the Coalition should surrender.

Members of the press have often whined about not having enough access or information during military operations. In this war their access has been unprecedented, yet many of them either refuse to see, or accept, that which is unfolding right in front of them.

Much like the antics of the smug and disrespectful Helen Thomas, their frustration stems from the fact that they are used to the privilege of redefining world events to fit their opinions. That option being lost now, all they can do is attempt to grand-stand in front of the camera like petulant teenagers while our military commanders soberly wait for them to remember the hard realities of war.

It's going to be a long wait.

(Sterling Rome is a former assistant to CBS News Special Correspondent Walter Cronkite.)

Sterling Rome

[Blueflag]

in-their-face bump!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Wasn't Cronkite recently quoted as saying he was disappointed that he wasn't reporting or anchoring anymore, because he misses influencing opinion and world events? This guy worked for Cronkite. Seems he has his head screwed on straight, though.

[AgThorn]

good piece! My sentiments exactly. I was especially dismayed about them asking about potential compensation for the victims after the war ... sheesh, I think these "teenagers" posing as news reporters need to be required to have at least one semester on history before given a job.

[Paul Atreides]

I'll never forget, the day after we learned of the violation of the Geneva Convention against our POWs, that evil pus-bag Helen Thomas asked Ari Fleischer if WE were abiding by the Geneva Convention concerning Iraqi POWs and the terrorist detainees. It was the first thing out of her vile mouth. I know that Ari kept her around for amusement in the past, but it is time to kick that old pigskin out.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

.... their frustration stems from the fact that they are used to the privilege of redefining world events to fit their opinions.

I LOVE the way he stated this.

[Spruce]

The UK briefing given early this morning(03/26) was absolutley APPALLING! One reporter accused the Air Marshall in charge of UK operations of not caring about his troops! The Al-jezeera plant didn't even ask a question, just made a statement about how 'un-biased' they were. It was un-friggin-believable!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Tommy Dazhole said today, "I am deeply saddened that the average journalist is a buffoon. They have failed miserably at their attempts to demoralize our troop and the American general public". Tommy follow his statement with some hand-wringing a wimpering noises.

[Spiff]

Obviously, most of the so-called "reporters" in these Centcom briefings are imposters. No real reporter would ask the idiotic, asinine, and juvenile questions the faux journalists are asking. I think they've had Centcom HQ in Qatar's security breached by enemies posting as journalists. I would clear the whole place out citing security issues, allow questions to be submitted in writing before the briefings, and only address the valid questions during the briefings, then allow the press to access the pool video footage of the briefing in order to broadcast it. Enough is enough!

[gaspar]

Come on Sterling! If you are going to write an article like this it isn't worth spit unless you name names.

[tiki]

Did anyone see the Brit Centcom press conference. Some idiot arabic guy spout some idiocy, much that I couldn't make out and the Gen? blasted him with just a few sentences. I'd like to see a transcript of that exchange.

[tiki]

He should have said, "Obviously, we don't torture enemies of the state. We've never tortured you have we?"

[bucephalus]

Did you watch today, Thursday, when the reporter said that ABC had sent their top reporter, Steffie, home and he wondered if he was wasting his time because the info was not forthcoming enough. And then the other fifth columnists cheered. GEN Brooks basically told the guy to go home if that was what he wanted to do. What a crock these reporters are!

[Tamzee]

Hear, hear!!!

[kevao]

A sterling commentary.

[Frank_Discussion]

I saw that this morning as well. Who was that bastige? How forthcoming do we have to be, give away what we're doing, post our positions on the map?

The media is COMPLETELY SOAKING their pants over the fact that their embedded guys can't spin nearly as much as when they're in their cubicals back home. So they attack CENTCOM's really very detailed daily overview. What a bunch of self-serving morons.

One more thing - the dumbarse referred to the "million-dollar" facility that is used as the briefing room. I started laughing - I thought it was Dr. Evil!!

[Far Right Of Left]

I saw that too, but he quickly put him in his place. Loved when he asked if there was a question somewhere in that statement & then proceeded to tell him what he thought about Al-Jezeera.

[Stand Watch Listen]

No real reporter would ask the idiotic, asinine, and juvenile questions the faux journalists are asking.

DOES Anybody....anybody?
...have a question that isn't asinine, sophomoric, foolish, callow, absurd, muddleheaded, witless, selfserving, or placing our troops at risk ....or the usual America at fault line....anybody????

Hmmmmmmmmmm....I see,
Ok.... this press conference is concluded, see you tomorrow...

[HapaxLegamenon]

Its day eight and Ted Kopper, traveling in the desert has yet to see an Iraqi civilians with American flags. Is'nt this independent proof that the Iraqi civilians see Saddam as there hero.

[RogueIsland]

Maybe CENTCOM needs to make R Lee Ermey it's spokesperson...