Pentagon Threatens To Kill Independent Reporters In Iraq

Gulufuture.com ^ | 10th March, 2003 | Fintan Dunne, Editor

[YOMO]

Hey Helen,
Since you already look DEAD, why don't you pop over there and report? You see to have all theanswers.

[Billthedrill]

The above is a skein of completely unsupported claims.

It certainly is. But hey, the Pentagon was so upfront about it that I'm sure they corroborated this lady's story right away when they were called for confirmation...uhh...they were called for confirmation, weren't they?

[William McKinley]

What the heck is Gulufuture anyway?

[Ichneumon]

I'll bet $1000 that this moron "reporter" misunderstood what was actually said.

During war the miltary will go after anything that could be used as Iraq command and control communication links, and obviously that includes any satellite links.

I'm sure what the "Pentagon official" *actually* said was that using a satphone that hasn't been previously registered with the US military could be hazardous because it might be mistaken for an Iraqi unit communicating with headquarters, and we'd understandably take out the transmitter. We can't allow a field commander in charge of WMD to remain in contact with Baghdad -- he might get orders to launch the WMDs over that channel. So don't use equipment that may make you appear that way, or if you do, you do it at your own (high) risk. Thus the "they've been warned" comment.

The brain-dead notion that we would target reporter uplinks *BECAUSE* they were reporters "getting the word out" is this bubble-head's own misunderstanding.

[Ditto]

If we have it, we will use it. I have heard that we have it.

[e_engineer]

No, the two systems have totally different signatures.

However, the satellite uplinks are much more of a threat because they provide the enemy (CNN & Saddam), access to instant live video (intel) from the battlefield.

[nevergore]

Hey! I live in Atlanta.....(actually a suburb, I never venture into Atlanta)

Oh what the heck, bomb CNN....the only problem may be since their ratings keep going down, would anybody notice?

NeverGore :^)

[hgro]

Sounds about right to me. Do what you are told or suffer the consequences.

[LaGrone]

If she wants to go stand by the equipment, that is her decision. Once the bomb heads for that target, she will probably regret that decision.

[prairiebreeze]

That's just the problem---she doesn't like being told the rules and has reverted to the standard fists-clenched, foot-stamping liberal temper tantrum.

Sombody should make her sit in the corner and have a time out.

Prairie

[Revolting cat!]

It'll be no big loss, really! US journalism schools turn out plenty enough highly trained Communists, some with MS degrees, to step in Ms Adies Addidas sneakers at a moment's notice. Rest assured that the clichés will keep flowing without interruption!

[Steven W.]

the rules are:

1) The US has repeatedly & publicly warned it will be bombing the Iraqi Ministry of Information (propaganda) building and the Al Rashid hotel as soon as hostilities commence

2) The Iraqis will only allow reporters to report from the top of the Iraqi Ministry of Information building and they're only allowed to stay in the Al Rashid hotel.

3)Reporters are own their own ROFLMAO

[dennisw]

Good idea. The only way to neutralize the world press which leans commie. The USA can take a good lesson from what Israel did at Jenin to stop the slurs and lies of massacre.

Generally the world press does not respect America so why should we respect them and give them a dream venue to propagandize? To get their rocks off? Screw 'em!

[dennisw]

These people just don't get it.

They think they're gonna be the star of the show in Iraq? No way. Our military is the star of the show and the Iraqi people will also shine as they reject Saddam and his barbarian clique. Let's roll!

[dennisw]

According to Ms. Adie, who twelve years ago covered the last Gulf War, the Pentagon attitude is: "entirely hostile to the the free spread of information."

Get that BBC burqa babe outta here. We owe her and the BBC NOTHING! They are vile propagandists when it comes to Israel and the lefty slant they take in all their reporting. We owe them bupkas!

[Boundless]

> ...the Pentagon has also threatened they:
> "may find it necessary to bomb areas in which war
> correspondents are attempting to report from the
> Iraqi side."

2+2=4, folks

Running near this thread is another one about possible
Iraqi attempts to jam GPS and sat feeds.

Anything that looks like a hostile emitter will be targetted.
Unless you're 104% sure that yours doesn't,
don't turn it on.

[observer5]

""I am enormously pessimistic of the chance of decent on-the-spot reporting, as the war occurs,"

Good. We need no war whores...

[Jhoffa_]

I can see why the Pentagon can't allow live SAT feeds of their invasion.. That's obviously a no-no.

But making it public like this isn't going to bode well for us in the press.

[meema]

bump

[observer5]

Bush should give Fox News (the only actual news service) the exclusive!!!