I think you're right on target here. The larger media that seems to be on a witch hunt for this Marine is the problem. I haven't seen that Sites has encouraged any of this, but he may have. I knew a couple of embedded reporters who were both former military themselves. They have a grasp of what's happening and do a good job, but I think when the copy and the photos and the video get back stateside the problem starts. If Sites sold this story as a murder, then clearly he does need a severe beating, but I just haven't seen the evidence of that. I had hoped someone would link me to something suggesting he'd done something wrong. Instead, I was called a troll.
Agreed. From what I've seen this reporter as well as others have done the job they were put there to accomplish. It's a bit of a double-edged sword, in that our military benefits when embeds bring forth heroic stories yet inevitably these damaging stories will also emerge. I would submit that we either must take the good with the bad, or remove embeds from the front lines entirely (at this point I'm leaning toward the latter).
I had hoped someone would link me to something suggesting he'd done something wrong. Instead, I was called a troll.
Yes, emotions appear to be running a tad high. I haven't seen much in the way of logical discourse on these threads.