He may have violated some type of rule or regulation by giving the tape to NBC.
Turning the tape over to the proper authorities doesn't get you a promotion.
They just mentioned the same thing a few min ago on Fox with Ollie North.
Here is my letter to Kevin Sites:
Dear Mr. Sites,
I've watched your pieces from Afghanistan and Iraq over the last several years with interest, particularly as my son is an infantryman in the 101st AB.
I closely follow the developments in Iraq- I read as many different viewpoints as I can find so as to grasp as much of the truth as I'm able.
I've talked with veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom about the necessity of independent reporters in war. As you no doubt know, there are mixed views of your profession amongst the troops.
Your story based on the video of the marine shooting the unarmed Iraqi is extremely disturbing to me. I want to understand your intent in getting this story to air. As you know, based on your experiences as a war reporter, unplanned and unforeseen circumstances often dictate the battle plan(s). Your choice to bring this story to the American public before the Marine Corps has investigated this incident seems a vile and ugly decision.
It is important there be an investigation to determine the facts. For you to decide the public perception of this young marine before an investigation has even been completed is beyond unfair. It stinks of rotten and sensational journalism.
Not every story must be told when it happens. Your choice to tell this one, at this moment, tells more about your character than it does about this young marine.
Regards,
"If the reporter believed that a crime had been committed, wasn't he obligated to turn the tape over to the proper authorities immediately?"
This was basically the question asked this morning on Fox 'n Friends. Colonel North, E.D., et al were discussing it...once again E.D. got pretty agitated! She was incensed that this young marine was being persecuted...he had apparently just lost one of his buddies a few minutes earlier, been shot in the face himself the day before, etc. All mentioned how the reporter had been anti-military from the start, too.
These danged reporters should just stay in their cushy offices; they all seem to be mostly anti-everything these young enlisteds are trying to do. I do wonder if the reporter sent Michael Moore a copy of the tape for his future "use"!
"If the reporter believed that a crime had been committed, wasn't he obligated . . . "
if he TRULY believed a crime was BEING or about to be committed, he was obligated to try to STOP it, not put it on film . . . It is quite obnoxious to calmly film the situation, then run to the TV screens with an alleged war crime. ALL people have an obligation to not commit war crimes, himself included. This has bothered me. IF IT WAS SO CLEAR CUT, SO EASY, the reporter could have done something. Run over to the wounded guy and see how he was doing etc.