You said — “I don’t think the Press has any business being involved in Military Operations.”
Well, that’s the wrong way around from the way I was meaning it. For one thing, the Pentagon knows that in our society you can’t remove the press from the equation, since they’re considered the eyes and ears of the public (and the press would include all the forms of media). So, instead of fighting against it, they’ve decided to co-opt it and use it to send disinformation through those channels — for all sorts of reasons — one of which would be for “morale”. And thus, that’s why it’s very understandable how this situation came about.
And in regards to your opinions about the press, you know that what you’re saying will never happen. And as far as what the public needs to know — well, of course for operational security in certain discrete missions, you’re not going to tell the public stuff that will compromise that. Aside from those sorts of things the public *must know it all* — at all times. Remember, the military operates at the behest of the public — it’s not the other way around. So, that’s the way it’s going to remain, civilian control of the military and full information to the public (aside from the proviso noted), so the public can make determinations what the military should do and for the public to exercise *their control* over the military...
Actually the Military does not act at the behest of the public. Since day one the President has been Commander-in-Chief. The only control the public has over the Military is in electing who will be C-in-C. After that it is up to the President to lead as he sees fit.
I believe it is a grave mistake embedding reporters in combat units or even allowing them into hot combat zones. I know the intent is to win hearts and minds back home, but it will always have the opposite effect. The ugliness of battle is not palatable to civilians at home. They will never understand it and we are fools if we think otherwise. I would at least like to bring back the pooled journalists or designated reporters and approved stories of past conflicts.
War happens whether it is reported on or not. The success or failure of battle should be determined by watching for the enemy at the city gates. The details should not be for public consumption until old men write their memoirs.