Why I told the editor: just get me out of this hell...

Irish Independent ^ | April 12 2003 | Chris Ayres

[M Kehoe]

I thanked the God I didn't believe in that I wasn't with the infantry.

Foxholes and incoming can do that to a person (especially cowards).

5.56mm

[Redcloak]

How old is this guy anyway[?]

He's not exactly a babe-in-the-woods...

While it is easy to fault him for cowardice, I'm not sure how comfortable any of us would feel wanding around Iraq armed with nothing more than a pencil. Personally, I don't think that a mere sidearm would jeopardize one's objectivity. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that more than one newsie is packing heat.

[FBD]

"By this time, reports of dead journalists were coming through on the World Service. The biggest blow to my own morale was hearing about ITN's Terry Lloyd, who died amid fighting in Basra."
Yes, all the world was tuned in to reports of dead journalists...you were our #1 concern, soldiers were second, as they obviously were in your eyes, pal. The mere fact that this guy was/is a big BBC fan says it all.

"I wondered if my own death would even make a headline."
In the middle of battle, only a self absorbed jackass would think this..

"I discovered my commanding officer had a booklet with a section entitled 'How to deal with a dead media representative'."
Or maybe it was "How to deal with self absorbed media coward."

"My second - and final - act of cowardice came about 10 days into the war, as we prepared for yet another night bombardment.

"I had had enough. I asked my commanding officer if he could find me a way back. A few hours later, orders came through that all journalists were to stop using their Thuraya satellite phones, because the French had sold the codes to the Iraqis.

"It was a ludicrous explanation, but it at least meant I couldn't have stayed anyway. Or at least I could have stayed, but I couldn't have filed any more stories."
Why would that be ludicrous? Given this guys POV, I would bet many of the soldiers wanted to put a bullet into his SAT phone, out of concern he might betray their position.
I'm quite sure the soldiers were more than happy to be rid of this guy. he obviously didn't belong there. In the end, all his ethical questions to himself appear to have gone unanswered.

[Sloth]

Somehow I DOUBT the Marines said they wish they could have left.

Actually, it says they 'would have done the same' -- i.e., IF they were nitwit journalists of no practical benefit on the battlefield, they'd have gone home, too. I commend them for that.

[HardStarboard]

This little pizzant needs to be stepped on!!

[kAcknor]

'How to deal with a dead media representative'.

Step 1. Nail him to his perch.
Step 2. Explain to other embedded reporters that he is just "pining for the fiords."

kAcknor Sez:

ROTFLMAO!!

"batlh bIHeghjaj." (May you die well)

Have you checked the *bang_list today?

[Aria]

Yes, especially the comment about how the marines sadly went from being "sensitive men" to combat brutes.

[wtc911]

It's just more proof that the quality, those with the strength, imagination and faith, left Ireland for these or Australian shores a long long time ago.

[meyer]

"We looked like Marines. To the Iraqis, we were Marines. It seemed like yet another blow to our objectivity. I came to the conclusion, however, that I would rather lose what little chance of objectivity I had left than die from an Iraqi blister agent attack."

Interesting - was the author worried about losing objectivity or losing the ability to spin the news in favor of the Iraqi government? Considering the duress with which other non-imbedded press members spoke while in Baghdad, I would think that imbedded reporters would provide at least a neutral point of view rather than a coerced point of view. They were and are a necessary balance to the leftist tripe from the likes of Peter Arnet.

[El Cid]

Re Post 10

In fact from his writing I thought it was a girl writing.

That's funny, until the claim that he had a girlfriend at the end of the article I was sure this was written by some young woman in her early 20s ...
I'd re-read the article to find out what it was that made me reach this (apparently incorrect) conclusion - but I don't have the time to waste.

[HardStarboard]

>>> Incidents of friendly fire did not help. I was as likely to die at the hands of my protectors, I thought, as I was at the hands of Iraqi soldiers. <<<

The Marines generally don't miss an opportunity as ripe as this one. Someone ought to get reprimanded.

[FreedomPoster]

A few pings. This is a LOL-must-read, but also shows how we may have gotten through even to this guy, who's obviously thinking about it more ("absolutely probably not").

Personnally, I sorta like the smell of cordite.

[Herodotus]

It does take courage to say you're not up to it.

That's what boot camp is for, though...

[Happygal]

It's just more proof that the quality, those with the strength, imagination and faith, left Ireland for these or Australian shores a long long time ago.

The article was only printed in the Irish independent. I don't think guy is Irish.

[honeygrl]

In a way I feel worse for the Journalists that are over there than for the soldiers.. the soldiers are prepared and knew what to expect.. the journalists had no idea what they were in for... the soldiers have trained for this for quite some time.. the journalists probably had never slept anywhere that didn't have a real bed other than maybe a quiet little camping trip on occation.. it makes me really admire Greg Kelly, Oliver North, and Rick Leventhal. Are they the only ones who stuck it out on the front lines? Do any of the other news stations have front line reporters still there?

[Leatherneck_MT]

"I thanked the God I didn't believe in that I wasn't with the infantry."

There are no Atheists in a Foxhole

Semper Fi

[Leatherneck_MT]

More likely than not his boyfriend

/sarcasm

[FreedomPoster]

Given what we know of Iraqi POW treatment (really Arab/Muslim in general), there's no way I'd be wandering around over there with less than a 1911.

[Vision Thing]

Yes indeed. I'm glad he wrote the piece precisely because it made me laugh at his latte-sipping weakness. I have no sympathy for him at all.

[general_re]

I thought the article was hilarious: unintentionally hilarious, but hilarious nonetheless.

Oh, good - I'm not alone on that then ;)