Was Death of Ex-Embed Linked to Iraq Experience?

Editor & Publisher ^ | Feb. 3, 04 | Joe Strupp

[churchillbuff]

NEW YORK Dennis O'Brien, a military reporter with The Virginian-Pilot and a former Iraq war embed who died over the weekend, apparently committed suicide, according to sources in and outside the paper -- sparking speculation that his war experience might have contributed to his death.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Sunday that O'Brien, 35, had died Saturday, without revealing a cause. [snip]

...Several sources, however, said the reporter had taken his life, and suggested his time in Iraq may have played a role.

"I think it was a contributing factor," said one colleague, who requested anonymity. "He saw some awful things while he was over there. I saw things get worse when he got back. He did tell people it was an awful experience."

Coming just seven months after O'Brien returned from a nearly six-month reporting stint with a U.S. Marine unit in Iraq, his tragic death sparked concern among journalists about the potential deadly effects of war reporting.

"That is very distressing news," Sig Christenson, a military reporter for the San Antonio (Texas) Express-News and vice president of Military Reporters & Editors, said upon hearing about O'Brien. "People should try to know why it happened and if it had anything to do with the war." ...[snip]...

O'Brien, who joined the paper in July 2000, was one of the first embedded journalists in Iraq, joining Charlie Company of the U.S. Marines' 2nd Light Armor Reconnaissance Batallion in January 2003, traveling with the group until June 2003, according to the paper. The story also mentioned that he had been involved in an ambush while in Iraq, but was not injured.

O'Brien wrote about his war experiences in a July 27, 2003, story in the Virginian-Pilot: "I lost 30 pounds, and 4 inches off my waist. I also probably lost a little of my mind, but it's coming back -- I hope. I'm just glad that's all I lost.

"I can't tell you how many times the sailors and Marines told me I was crazy. They couldn't believe I volunteered for this. Never mind that they also had volunteered -- and for much longer tours of duty.

"They were just doing their job, they said. And I was doing mine." ...[snip]

Addis would not speculate on whether O'Brien's death was related to his time in Iraq, adding that "It would be wrong for people to leap to assumptions. I don't think it is appropriate for anyone to talk about what was his state of mind."

[sarasota]

I don't know how soldiers are "prepared" for the horrors of war, but one wonders what kind of preparation this journalist got.

[churchillbuff]

Well, the war-hawks who said this war was going to be a cakewalk, didn't prepare anybody -- soldiers or journalists - - for the mess it has turned out to be. AND WHERE ARE THOSE WMDs? THAT's WHY WE WENT IN, OR SO WE WERE TOLD.

[theFIRMbss]

>Dennis O'Brien, a military reporter with The Virginian-Pilot and a former Iraq war embed who died over the weekend, apparently committed suicide ... "I think it was a contributing factor," said one colleague, who requested anonymity. "He saw some awful things while he was over there. I saw things get worse when he got back. He did tell people it was an awful experience."

I spent all Sunday
in a hospital's ER.
The staff doctors there

see horrible things
every day. Professionals
are supposed to deal

with the stuff they see.
Too bad for this guy, but why
did he go there if

he couldn't take it?
Did this professional think
he'd see dance routines?!

[theFIRMbss]

>Well, the war-hawks who said this war was going to be a cakewalk, didn't prepare anybody -- soldiers or journalists - - for the mess it has turned out to be. AND WHERE ARE THOSE WMDs? THAT's WHY WE WENT IN, OR SO WE WERE TOLD.

Um, are you prepared
for the scorching blast of ZOT
that may come your way?

[Principled]

I was told we went in for many reasons, one of which was the imminent threat of the use of WMD.

The UN, the French, the US, UK, and even Iraqis knew there were WMD in Iraq- hell even Clinton said so multiple times.

Your post connoted that the only reason we went into Iraq was to find WMD.

[Gunslingr3]

The UN, the French, the US, UK, and even Iraqis knew there were WMD in Iraq- hell even Clinton said so multiple times.

Well, billy-be-frigged, you have the UN, France and Clinton on your side - I can't argue with you...

[churchillbuff]

Your post connoted that the only reason we went into Iraq was to find WMD.

Right, because that's what Bush and Powell talked about -- WMDs -- when they were selling this war. They didn't use other arguments except as throwaway lines. Powell admitted as much yesterday when he told reporters he would have thought differently about going to war if he had known there were no WMDs. France - the "weasels" -- merely wanted to give Blix more time to see if there really were WMDs. In retrospect, that wasn't an unreasonable position. (All the freepers who called Blix "blind" for not finding WMDs should be eating crow now!)

[cweese]

...who said it was going to be a cakewalk? additionally, did you really think finding the WMD's was going to take a day or 2? get real!!!...

[churchillbuff]

The UN, the French, the US, UK, and even Iraqis knew there were WMD in Iraq

They couldn't have "known" that, because - as we now learn - there weren't.

[Miss Marple]

I will refer you to the President's speech to the UN, in which he detailed all the reasons that we should do something.

And we still don't have a definitive answer about the WMD's.

[Miss Marple]

I will refer you to the President's speech to the UN, in which he detailed all the reasons that we should do something.

And we still don't have a definitive answer about the WMD's.

[okie01]

"Right, because that's what Bush and Powell talked about -- WMDs -- when they were selling this war."

You weren't paying much attention, then, were you?

[sarasota]

Thank you for nailing it.

[cweese]

...i guess you've been on the ground over there, judging by your expert comments, searching for these weapons. how in the world do you know there are no WMD's? do you HONESTLY think saddam got rid of them all after gassing the kurds and iranians? please, do share more of your enlightening insight...

[r9etb]

They couldn't have "known" that, because - as we now learn - there weren't.

We also don't know that they weren't there. They could have been moved to Syria (as some intel suggests). They could have been (and still are) hidden.

Or perhaps Saddam and his top folks were the victims of fraud.

However, the established fact that Iraq not only had, but used WMDs in the past is justification enough for going in on WMD grounds.

Of course, the conquest of Iraq also serves higher strategic goals as well: if you're looking to fight the salamikazes, there's nothing like having a large, capable armed force in the very heart of the salamikaze homeland.

[driftless]

So then what is your reaction to Kay's statement that we were right to depose Hussein because of a number of reasons including Husseins willingness to resume his WMDs program of which Kay had found plenty of evidence?

[dwd1]

This reminds me a little of the woman who called in to Larry King during the War Resolution debate in 1991. She stated that she had been in Kuwait and that she had witnessed the Iraqi Soldiers taking children out of incubators. This statement was a deciding point for many congressman... In a "sell it to the public" style of doing things, it closed the deal... Of course, we found out later that it was the Kuwaiti Ambassador's daughter calling in from across town... What can you do?

Many would argue that the "forty five minutes" until they can launch and the WMD arguments closed the deal on public support...

This creates what many presidents have experienced...

I did not have sex with that woman...

No new taxes....

The United States does not negotiate with terrorists...

I am not a crook...

Peace is at hand....

We are only in Vietnam in an advisory role...

The expression is "credibility gap"...

[metesky]

The media IS the story!

[metesky]

Contrarians will be contrary no matter how many times they are slapped with facts.

They think it's their duty.