Frontline reporters have second thoughts

Marine Corps News ^ | Nov. 07, 2004 | 1st Lt. Robert Shuford

[netmilsmom]

>>I'd hate for a Marine to risk his life to protect a reporter in combat. Let the reporters stay home.<<

The only reporter who should be allowed anywhere near these brave Marines is Ollie North.

[tubebender]

Ping...

[Artemis Webb]

I'm hardly a fan of the media. But these guys (women too I guess) have a right to be scared. I'm sure not going to criticize them from the comfort of my living room.

[Dick Vomer]

I have to disagree. Anyone who isn't nervous/scared/worried before going into combat isn't normal. Ther Marines have the training, and the hands on combat experience....

My pop said the same thing... all men that face battle are afraid... or liars. They may be at peace with what will come, but fear and apprehension is normal.

[Carolinamom]

I understand their fears. What I don't understand is that they do not write more accounts of the bravery and accomplishments of our troops.

[ken5050]

Thanks for the vote of agreement...."Cowboys and Aggies, huh?"..been a tough weekend for you, my friend..

[mlocher]

More importantly, the Marines have big brass balls and the media do not.

i think the idea of embedded media is great, but i am not sure i would volunteer to go into a battle representing the media. i do not argue with your comment on the marines -- they are great and are doing the world a great service. the marines have been trained, inherently know that they can trust their fellow soldier and have justice on their side. the media folks have not gone through boot camp, so to speak. let's save our attack on the media until we see how their reports come out. if fair reporting, give 'em credit. if not, sick the marines on 'em (smile).

[King Prout]

“What if I get separated, what if I think I’m in a safe place and all of a sudden an insurgent walks in with a gun,” he said.

you kill him, or you will end up wishing you had. duh.

[BoBToMatoE]

I hope they stay clear. The last thing our boys need is someone looking over their shoulder. It is going to be a fight to the end as-is. I hope they all stay out.

[mlocher]

"For some, the embed program seemed like a good idea and a good way to be able to stir anti-war protests, report on the body count, disparage the military men's aggression and be on the forefront of a historical event, but now some aren't so sure.

for those media folks who continue with the assignment they volunteered for, i am sure that seeing the attrocities of the other side will be "enlightening" so to speak. we kicked butt so easily against saddam that the embedded media was mostly seeing a great force at work and not seeing the true colors of the terrorists and their tactics. i think there will be less spin when some of these guys have close experiences with death.

[Tallguy]

Pyle died on April 18, 1945. A sniper's bullet killed him on the island of Ie Shima, just off the coast of Okinawa, where island-hopping American forces were making a push toward mainland Japan.

Reminds me of the quote that goes something like this: "Generals are killed by sniper fire; privates are killed by random fire." A bullet is a bullet.

[SteveH]

Which are the most conservative news agencies who have embedded reporters?

[LibertarianInExile]

"With what seems an immenent assault on Fallujah coming in the next few days, media embedded with the Marines are rethinking their rolls."

CBS would prefer Pillsbury.

NBC wants an EggMcMuffin instead.

CNN? Why, they'd like scones!

The word is ROLES. With all that money spent on spin, how about hiring a proofreader, instead of merely running the spellchecker and looking silly?

[rstevens]

the women in our military are great Americans - the American media (and especially the international media) is largely a bunch of pussies - (can I say that???)

During the initial Iraq invasion and the taking of Bagdad, I saw many many imbeded reporters of FNC, which included LTC Oliver North USMC(Ret).

A few received minor injuries, but still stayed on. No matter what you say these reporters are brave people and doing a great job.

Be careful who you paint with your wide brush.

One more thing, where did you serve?

[LibertarianInExile]

And it's obvious they didn't even use a spellchecker, either, with "immenent" still in there.

[GretchenM]

Translation:

"I, Mr. Media, don't want to be beheaded."

[slimer]

“What if I get separated, what if I think I’m in a safe place and all of a sudden an insurgent walks in with a gun, what if I crap in my pants?"

[cricket]

"I'd hate for a Marine to risk his life to protect a reporter in combat. Let the reporters stay home."

Agree. . .

I am also wondering how many of the MSM reporters might be saying a prayer themselves before this battle.

[skr]

What kind of man would allow or send his wife into harm's way?

A liberal reporter kind of man

[cricket]

(Editor’s note – the names of the media representatives were left out of this article as a courtesy because they are doing the Marines, the United States and the world a great service by accurately reporting on the rebuilding of Iraq.)

. . .bump for media spin. . .