CBS and Dan Rather should be held accountable (Warning: Graphic photos down thread)

[jg0510]

I posted the following message on the CBS message board yesterday and also sent the same message to Fox News' Bill O'Reilly. If you agree with my message, I would appreciate it if you would forward this e-mail to others in your address book. I believe this is very important and a "grass roots" effort may be the only way to force Dan Rather, CBS, and others to accept the responsibility of their careless and destructive actions:

"I think all American citizens should be outraged at CBS for making the "abuse" pictures public. CBS has done serious damage to the relationship between the US and the Middle East and has endangered our soldiers in Iraq. This is a matter that the Army should have handled internally and privately. 60 Minutes II and Dan Rather should be answering why they choose to jeopardize the security of our soldiers and our relationship with foreign countries for their "big story"."

Since I wrote this yesterday, a US citizen working in Iraq was beheaded in retaliation. If this story had not been made public by CBS, it is doubtful this atrocity would have happened. It is time for CBS be held accountable and should appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee to explain why they have compromised the safety of Americans and our foreign policy.

Thank you for passing this information to other concerned citizens.

[Americanwolf]

touce` point taken, but my commentary still stands...

[onehipdad]

I have a lot of disagreements with CBS and their general slant to the news, however, the publication of the photographs appears to me to be a valid journalistic effort.

Just like the feature link to that Merry Prankster Michael Moore on today's webpage, right?

[Barlowmaker]

I'm curious, no flame intended: what "service" do you receive on the tenth viewing of the Islamist scumbag holding Nicholas Berg's severed head in his hand? What additional insight or understanding do you receive that you didn't get on his ... oh ... fifth posting of the image?

We were rightfully outraged when the Fallujahan creeps dragged the Blackwater guys' bodies behind their truck for public viewing. It was meant to elicit visceral emotion. Dragging Nick Berg's death around this forum is a similar outrage, IMO, and I consider it a desecration of his memory. I'm no shrinking violet, and I watched the video last night because I felt I needed to understand the nature of our enemy. But I don't watch it AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN. And I didn't send it to friends and family as an unsolicited attatchment to an e-mail.

This is an abuse of that young man's memory, and I think the sensibilities of some people who use this forum. That's my take. But, my take could be b.s. and this is a Free Republic, as my friend Americanwolf has reminded me. Regards.

[rwfromkansas]

Got a problem with posting the images???

There should be a warning, just like the news folks do.

But, people should be able to see them if they feel compelled to.

[Polybius]

If this story had not been made public by CBS, it is doubtful this atrocity would have happened.

It's not the "story". It the sensationalist photos.

The "story" was released to the news media in a CENTCOM press release on 16 JAN 2004 where it was stated that there was an investigation into cruelty and sexual abuse of detainees.

Back in March, the military announced that individuals would be prosecuted.

No media hysteria. No Arab hysteria. A "story" without inflammatory photos and the media yawns.

It was the publishing of sensationalist photos that allowed this turned this into a media circus.

The same media that refrains from publishing photos of Islamist crimes lest such photos "inflame passions" had absolutely no problems inflamming passions against the U.S.

[pennboricua]

As long as you remember 911 I would agree with you, however there are other people besides yourself that needs reminding, they are already of the mind that we should get on with 'life" ,and forget, who started this "war", and what their final goals are.
Freedom of speech, forget it!
Religion, forget it!
Gay Marriage, forget it!
Womans rights, forget them!
on and on and on!

[Barlowmaker]

I have a problem with serial posting the images.

[Zeroisanumber]

Hide the truth and pretend that nothing ever happened.

I thought that that sort of thing went out of style with x42. Guess not.

[Robert_Paulson2]

actually, he should be turned loose in the sunni triangle... and face the natives.

maybe they would do him, for free.

[McGavin999]

LOL, you can always watch them on CSpan repeat at night. It's frustrating that you have to sit through hours of a hearing in order to get the truth, that's the job of the media. Unfortunately, our media doesn't plan to give us the truth, only what they want us to know. I've invested hours of time I could be spending doing things I like to do just to find out what's happening. I think this entire thing is so important to the future of our country and I've learned that the media does not wish this country well.

One of the most frustrating things is watching something happen live and then listen for the media to report it. Your stomach sinks as you realize that this isn't ignorance on the part of the media, it has to be deliberate.

[pennboricua]

Completely agree with you, the other side is very fond of "in your face protest", from gay rights, to womens rights to transgender rights, to whatever other rights they deem entitled to.
I personally wish I had the wherewithall, to not have to earn a living, put food on the table, pay taxes etc.
I would be first in line with the largest placard possible of all the henious crimes committed against us, that the liberal media, feels so sanctimonius in keeping from the American public,

[Robert_Paulson2]

He wont save us H.
He gave us the ability to save ourselves.

when we go "janet reno" on the jihadis, we will be on our way to salvation. But what to do with our own press in the meanwhile? They seem to be actively undermining our attempts at survival.

dan rather should be turned loose without identification and transportation, to do an indepth report, from the sunni triangle.

maybe HE can cheer us up by showing up on a video too...

[shhrubbery!]

If this story had not been made public by CBS, it is doubtful this atrocity would have happened.

I believe you're right that Nick Berg would be alive today, but for CBS's broadcasting those prison photos.

If it's true that Berg was kidnapped before CBS went public with the photos, however, the IslamoNazis probably would have killed him at some point, anyway -- they've never needed an excuse before. (Unless, miraculously, he had been able to escape, a la Thomas Hamill.)

But CBS is second most culpable in his death. The murders of many others in the future I fear must also be laid at the feet of CBS, David Hackworth, and all others involved in leaking the classified photos.

[onehipdad]

Excellent summation, McG.

I read the entire Taguba report last night, and being a Quality professional, recognized the auditing expertise with which it was generated. It does appear to be systemic to that facility, so while these conditions should not be blamed on just a few bad apples, neither should they serve as an indictment of military operations, the DoD, or SecDef.

[Flyover Country]

No, we really,really don't need to catch that subhuman alive, cause they would take years to bring him to face the life in prison he would get. Death is not even good enough for that scum. If the srmed person who runs across him will do us all a service/favor, start at the groin and start blowig it away and work up from there. Only the head should be left to identify.

[TaxRelief]

Actually, this is the first time I have seen these pictures. We don't all have time to go into 10 threads a day. According to Alexa, the average visitor to FR views 5.6 pages.

The odds are that most FReepers have seen the pictures only once or not at all while on FR.

There is no rule against posting relevant pictures multiple times while the topic is still current.

Odd, isn't it, that in the short amount of time you've been here you've already managed to make FR look bad here.

Are you a plant, by any chance? No flame intended, just curious.

[arasina]

You've obviously been doing too much of what your screen ID says you do and think you should make a stab at Diogenesis. Dio provides pictures that keep the focus on the facts and the reason the United States military is engaged in a war. I suggest you avoid FR and find something pleasant to help you bide your time until November and stay away from the knives.

[evad]

If Rumsfeld really accepted responsibility, it would include some statement like “I authorized them to…”, “I suggested that…” or at least, “I allowed…”. What he said was political BS.

How can he say this if it isn't true? For what reason would a man of Rummy's integrity fess up to something he didn't do? Doesn't make sense.

I don’t like how this war is being half fought, like Vietnam – leashing Marines from finishing their job. This is just the latest example.

Well, that one's certainly open for debate. If it's tactics you're talking about, I think your statement falls far short of being factual. If it's strategy, I personally would have none of this city fighting that I'm seeing every day.

[arasina]

I appreciate your rant. A lot of good ones on FR these past few days.

Thank you for your service to our country.

[Barlowmaker]

Thanks for the advice.