Iraq war leads to increase in journalists killed

Washington Times ^ | 3/11/04 | Megan McCloskey

[kattracks]

The Iraq war pushed the number of journalists killed on the job last year to 36, up sharply from the 19 killed in 2002, according to a report by an organization that monitors international press freedom.

"It was quite a discouraging year," said Ann Cooper, the director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. But 2003 was considerably better than 1994, the worst in the past decade, when 66 newsmen and women were killed.

[RWR8189]

I don't mean to sound disingenuous to the journalists who died over there, but an increase of only 17 people in a year that we had a major war going on does not seem like a huge leap, nor does it seem that unexpected.

[weegee]

...up sharply from the 19 killed in 2002

Let's consider how one of those 19 was killed:

And here Big Media places the blame of journalist deaths on President Bush's war in Iraq.

[tbeatty]

36?? Once again proving that Journalism, even in war times, is one of the safest occupation.

Now, protecting the Bill of Rights and specifically the right that journalists enjoy in the form of the first ammendment, is an extremely dangerous job.

Journalists should just thank GW Bush and our military for making their job so safe.

[EGPWS]

"The most dramatic story in terms of press freedom and journalist security is obviously Iraq," where 13 journalists were killed in the past year, Mrs. Cooper said. These included four killed by U.S. fire.

D@mn! If we would have followed the Clinton Doctrine and depended solely on "cruise missile" strategy the press would never, ever have been "forced" into going to Iraq and risking their lives.

Sorry, no lack of compassion for the deceased reporters OR our gallant troops, performing their duties above and beyond, intended at all.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"Iraq war leads to increase in journalists killed"

And the problem is?

War is breaking things and killing people. If they are stupid enough to go around pointing shoulder mounted rocket looking thingys at people being shot at? Guess what, you are going to get your arse blown off.

Close quarter combat is instant, (pose an apparent threat, you will be summarily dealt with) not coffee break ethics.

[america-rules]

2003 was considerably better than 1994, the worst in the past decade, when 66 newsmen and women were killed.