You said — “They’re not minders of trivia involving individual soldiers - they’re commanders of war efforts. The press can want what they want. But the military’s job is not to hunt up information for the media. It is to defeat the enemy.”
They’re very well aware of public perception and news and reporters being there in Iraq. This is *part of* the war effort. You can’t tell me that the “press” is not a *big part* of the war. It’s an essential part, because (and they are *very* aware of this) — it also sets public opinion. And since we have a civilian government running the military institution, they’re aware that they can be *shut down* by civilians...
Thus, that’s why they put so much effort into the press and what is said to the public. So, this is *very much* a part of the war...
I don't think the Press has any business being involved in Military Operations. They destroy Operations Security, sometimes intentionally. Reporters should be held under detention at Brigade HQ and thrown scraps just as the dogs outside of the mess tents. Reporters in battle are flotsam and jetsam on a turbulent sea. All Public Opinion needs to know is, "is it over", and "did we Win?"
While I'm thinking about it, don't bother asking me what I think of Congress and the Military.