"Our" Media Coverage

[crabbait]

Anybody getting a little upset with "our" media guys constantly pointing out possible weaknesses in our advance (long supply lines, too few troups) and expounding on what we do and do not want to see (we want them to come out in the open....we don't want to fight them in the city).

If I were an Iraqi leader, I would be watching our news constantly for up-to-the-minute tactics for making life hell for our troups. Seems like we have no ability to understand that we might want to keep some things quiet.

Another thing that torques me is the constant barrage of stupid questions:

How long will it take? (As long as it takes...stupid.)

How many troups might we lose? (We might lose all of them...but it is highly unlikely...duh.)

How much will it cost? (More than you can possibly imagine...and hopefully mostly just money.)

Off topic but the latest: The French are concerned that they may be cut out of contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq. DUH!

[Gus Orviston]

Yep, I diagree with it big time, but the military leaders seem okay with these embedded journalist transferring out so much info. I just don't get it, unless it is to allow the irai people to know when we are getting there ??

I wasn't asked to consult,,,,I just bite my nails and rely on the fact that Bush, and the Generals know better than I.

I also disagree with our press showing ways terrorists can get to us, and what we are doing to block it...again seems like we offer up to much analysis on our weak spots?

gus

[ 03-26-2003, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Gus Orviston ]

[Degner]

I agree, though used correctly it would be a great source for misinformation.

[Pete]

Coverage of pre-battle stuff is really unnecessary. All I really need to know, and all I'd care to share with the Iraqi military, is that we have a significant tactical force poised to respond. It's way unnecessary to pinpoint the location of soft armored fuel trucks.

I really enjoy the retired, retread Generals hired as experts. Some, eg. Gen. Wesley Clark, seem to have good perspectives and a broad understanding of world events. Others, eg. Gen. Don Shepherd , seem to be stuck in schoolbook approaches that don't anticipate guerrila tactics or show a human concern for the risk to American lives.

What I like least is the news commentators called into action to "host" coverage of the action. I don't care if Paula Zahn is "very happy to talk" with Bill Hemmer! I, frankly don't need to see her face or hear her feelings. And I will be the judge of whether "CNN is the most trusted name in news"; and I won't believe it just cuz they keep telling me it's so!

My favorite coverage has come from Kevin Sites. He's stationary in Chumchumala, not embedded. He went there expecting it to be a pivotal location and he reports what he has seen, rather than anticipating what will happen.

[ 03-26-2003, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: Pete ]

CB,
Yes. I also don't like it being treated like a football game People are being killed and injured :depressed:

I am shocked to find that ABC has what I feel the best coverage.

[ 03-26-2003, 02:34 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[Born to be Wild]

I think the Iraqi leaders are watching our news media. Too bad the Iraqi civilians and military can't watch it and see what is really happening. I think the hawks are pretty much sensoring the media and not allowing them info that would jepordize our troops.

As you said, there are some stupid questions that keep getting asked over and over. Maybe they just have to find some filler material to fill some space?

I just wish with the tecnology we have, we could take out Iraqi television (we might have already done so) and broadcast to the Iraqi people the truth showing mass surendering and that we are not poisoning our prisoners and show them the consequences of fighting the best military the world has ever known. Then I think you would see more Iraqi's laying down there arms. They are getting nothing but destructive propaganda from there side.

[GutshotApe]

Originally posted by Gus Orviston:
I also disagree with our press showing ways terrorists can get to us, and what we are doing to block it...again seems like we offer up to much analysis on our weak spots?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Speaking of that, did you happen to see Nova last night on PBS? All you ever wanted to know about "dirty" radiological bombs that you were afraid to ask about...and then some. And the terrs were watching, too.

Tonight at 10PM there will be a documentary by Thomas Friedman, the syndicated columnist, about how we got here...fighting in Iraq...and what he forsees in the future.

[WaterDog]

At first I was watching quite a bit of coverage. Now I don’t even turn the tv on now.

It must have been CNN one night I was watching and they had a reporter on the videophone riding along with the 7th Cavalry. They were cruising across the desert showing pics of Bradly’s and M1A’s. The report was yacking back to the guy in the studio.

The guy in the studio said,” Without giving us your location, how are you progressing?”

Reporter,” I really don’t know where we are since we left (some boarder City in Kuwait). We’ve been traveling for about 4 hours now at about 30 to 40mph.”

Good job dumb@$$, Even I can go look at a map and figure out about where you are! [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

Great journalism. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[Otolith]

If you don't like it, I suggest you don't watch it.

[The Fishing Geek]

It's weird, but I almost expect to see product endorsements during the video feeds, like the other night when they were talking about the military folks having to stay up hours at a time, so the drink a lot of coffee. I really expected either a Starbucks (which would finally justify the ransackings at protests) or maybe a Maxwell House mention.

Of course, I think that Fox would have the coverage sewn up if they still had the Madden/Summerall team together.

[Born to be Wild]

Of course, I think that Fox would have the coverage sewn up if they still had the Madden/Summerall team together.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">As long as they don't get Howard Cosell.

[The Fishing Geek]

He's kinda unavailable at the moment.

[Born to be Wild]

Geek,

I kind of wondered when I posted that. Did he pass away? Sadly in this high paced society, I can hardly keep up with my own family.

Dan