Posted on 11/15/2004 6:04:00 PM PST by Trippin
Subject says it all. I believe that there are pro's to the embedding process, but if so many reporters are practically praying for atrocities to be committed by US troops, or hoping the Iraq war will fail, I think it is a DANGER to the troops to send the reporters with them on their missions.
As we have seen, a Marine is now being accused of a war crime for shooting an unarmed insurgent. However, it is pretty clear that the Marine was not aware of the fact that the man was injured, and given the fact that insurgents routinely fake death or injury to lure soldiers into a booby trap, I think it is a complete outrage the way the US media is handling this. This only insites more hatred and violence towrds our troops, even as they are fighting tooth and nail in Iraq.
In my opinion, the embedding process only affors the media more opportunities to villify the troops, since it is clear that practically none of the reporters embedded with the troops are prepared to report on acts of heroism.
I say we demand the embedding process to be ended, NOW!
It made me sick watching this report. It was worded that the Marine acted inappropriately and that the reporter himself determined the terrorist wasn't armed or a threat.
Not to worry..unless there was some blatant execution the marine will be treated justly.
I hope this ratfink imbed got his microphone shoved where the sun never shines by these Marines.
Nonetheless, the Marine is, in my opinion, unjustly being accused of a crime he may not have committed, all in the name of what? Ratings? This type of reporting only endangers the lives of all the soldiers over there because it makes them appear as heartless brutes. That's my biggest concern.
I say we all donate to Free Republic in order to hire a full time FReeper reporter to embed with the troops instead.
I think that we all need to proceed calmly on this story. Every time our country takes decisive military action the MSM finds one unfavorable incident (real or falsified) and uses it in an attempt to discredit our forces. Wedding parties massacred, precious relics looted, women's underwear misapplied, etc. After three solid years of this the American people voted solidly to stay the course behind our brave warriors and their Commander in Chief. This little kerfuffle will be no different. Steady on, FReepers!
CNN, NBC kept on playing this story. Why didn’t they show the beheading videos? What about the 4 US contractors stung up in Falluja? What about the terrorists playing dead and then trying to shoot US troops? IMHO this Marine considers this terrorist as a threat and shot him. End of story. This is war. Call your Senator to voice your support for this Marine.
This reporter better keep his head down....I mean the fog of war and all.
I am believing that the young marine believed fully that the "insurgents" were all confirmed dead. Logically that was the only reason they would have been left unguarded.
When he saw one of the confirmed dead move, he believed the mover had been faking being dead and was going to do the marines (or the embedded photog) immediate severe, lethal harm.
That's the way I saw it.
..and your concern is understandable and well justified.
ON balance though, the imbeds have been far more advantageous to telling the truth than disadvantageous.
Remember the saying "the ticks have gone injun".
This infuriates me! Should he have waited to see if he had a hand grenade hidden under him and have some of our guys blown up? I hope that reporter doesn't need a Marine to save his sorry ass! Why are there so many out there trying to dishonor our troops? Always looking for anything to bring them and the U.S. down. I am so mad I can't hardly type. Phooey!
I agree, sometimes we are provided with too much information, pull the reporters out of the war zone, let the troops do what is necessary without the steely eyes of the bleeding heart libs peering over their shoulder watching and questioning their every move. I bet if we do that the war will be fought as it should, ended more quickly and Victory will be ours.
The dude kept saying he wasn't dead...but you know how those Iraqis lie. No problemo!
Ollie North is fixing to give his assessement on Hannity and that other guy. (FOX)
And that is exactly what happened. It is obvious the Marine thought the wounded man was a threat, and under the circumstances reacted normally.
Maybe he was pulling the pin on a grenade.
Who knows?
Certainly we'd like to see the video of the >10 minutes leading up to this event, this Jihadi's record, and the other situational details.
I agree, Kevin Sites is a disgrace. He should probably leave Iraq for his own good.
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