FREEP Drudge, ask him to remove Disgraceful Al Jazeera pix

me ^ | March 23, 2003 | FO

[FairOpinion]

I apologize for this vanity post, my first.

But I think Drudge overstepped the boundaries of decency by publishing on his front page a picture from Al Jazeera, showing what is purported to be a picture of an American POW.

The Washington Post has an article on it, in case anyone is not familiar with what happened. So far all American Media has refrained from showing pictures of the Al Jazeera video. For Drudge to put up a picture reduces him to well, I rather not say.

Drudge's EMAIL: DRUDGE@DRUDGEREPORT.COM

Arab TV Shows Captured American Troops http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14406-2003Mar23.html

To Moderator: If you think my post is inappropriate, I apologize and obviously please remove it.

[SamAdams76]

I must respectfully disagree with many here with regard to Drudge. Just as it was important to show the horrific images of Hitler's concentration camps, it is important to show the kind of monster Saddam is as well. These pictures are going to enrage this country and that's a good thing. Many of us need a wake-up call. This isn't a "war for oil" as the detractors would have us believe. It's a war against evil.

[wizzler]

Well, we all know what "assuming" gets you. Because in fact, the Pentagon informed families this morning.

[FairOpinion]

Rumsfeld, reminded Iraq about the Geneva Convention, which deals with treatment of prisoners of war. He said, "It's illegal to do things to P-O-W's that are humiliating to those prisoners."

Note that Al Jazeera has been airing those over and over.

By showing those pictures, I think, Drudge is doing the work of the Iraqi propaganda machine for them.

[RAT Patrol]

It is not about US and our fragility or lack thereof; it is about respect for our troops.

[FreeReign]

wizzler -- What, exactly, bothers you about the publication of the picture?

Rob -- Killing POWs is much more of a problem than showing pictures of their dead bodies after they are killed. They killed these people, and we should be outraged about that. Not about the killings being made public.

They may have killed these POW's specifically knowing that certain media types would display these dead POW's, advancing what they see has positive propaganda.

No Al Jazeera, no Drudge, then maybe no POW's shot in the head for propaganda purposes.

Drudge should remove this at once.

[Lauratealeaf]

I wish I had read your post before I looked at his site. I certainly am not going back until I get the "All Clear". I'm disgusted with Drudge for this. What if that was his brother, cousin, or whatever? Ba$tard.

CC

I went to Drudge's site too and was shocked and disgusted. I can't believe he did that. What if a scared and worried mother or dad of one of those soldiers got on his site and saw it. Not good at all. Not right!

[fishntex]

I think that there is more than one guilty party here. The Iraqi's that mistreated/executed US soldiers and the media that show these images. Think if it were your dead family member being shown to the world.

[TLBSHOW]

bttt

[FairOpinion]

"Tony Snow reporting that the Pentagon has "asked" Al Jazeera to stop showing the video and they have agreed."

-----

THAT should tell everyone something, that Al Jazeera will agree to stop showing, we shall see, whether Drudge will remove them.

[litany_of_lies]

I want to see the war as it is.

BINGO as long as it doesn't compromise our war effort. Drudge's Al-Jazeera picture, which is now PUBLIC DOMAIN, doesn't do that. I'm surprised at the number of people who don't get that.

[Destro]

The video in question is not of the dead but of the living POWs. It is against the Geneva convention to use POWs as propoganda fodder. You can show dead soldiers though. If I got this wrong I would love a correction, thanks in advance.

[bluecollarman]

Like the song says "If it were up to me I show it everyday"
These pictures must be seen a "Gut Check" of America is needed, and needed badly. You can't have it both ways.

Embedded reporters and censorship? I am for letting the chips fall where they may. This is no time to protect the people from the reality of war or the brutality of these people. If it were my son I would want this atrocity shown repeatedly so that his death would have consequence. Show these mainacs for what they are. Let the liberals defend them, passion and hate is not always a bad thing if it is properly directed at evil.

[estjohn]

It's not wrong to document what is going on there, however gruesome it is, as long as it isn't used for purely propaganda purposes. It's a fine line, but I don't think Drudge is in the wrong on this.

[Lunatic Fringe]

The pictures are already out... he's not going to remove them, and US media will play the video after the families are notified

[RAT Patrol]

Drudge has made some huge mistakes, imo. I try to remember that he has also been our friend many times. But this is disgusting.

[dep]

no, drudge didn't show the pearl execution. he linked to it, and i saved the video, and it has been very effective in persuading some wimpy leftists around here that we are in fact on the right side of things.

dep

[RobFromGa]

I understand the outrage of some Freepers, but feel your outrage is badly misdirected.

If this Real War is so offensive, you can always wait till its over to watch the PG-13 that Hollywood will put out with a love story sideline.

The Evil People are at fault here, not those that expose their EVIL. Don't forget that.

Should the networks have refrained from showing 9-11 WTC Live coverage because of all the MANY AMERICANS who knew people that worked in and around the area?

War is not pretty and outrage is a positive emotion if channeled properly.

[wizzler]

By asking the question I assumed you didn't know the answer.

That's an interesting assumption to make, considering that I clearly prefaced my question by noting that it wasn't a challenge, but rather a request for elaboration by the original poster about his or her stance.

As is clear from the variety of responses on this thread, this is a tricky topic with all sorts of varying opinions. That's why I was interested to hear the original poster elaborate on that particular opinion.

[PhiKapMom]

That is terrible out of Drudge. Sick and tired of some trying to be first with the news at the expense of families and Drudge sure goes to the top of that list.

If any Freeper post those pictures, they should be banned IMHO!