So far I have only seen one statement from the reporter: Sites said: "I have witnessed the Marines behaving as a disciplined and professional force throughout this offensive. In this particular case, it certainly was a confusing situation to say the least."
That doesn't sound to me like he's trying to make the Marine look as bad as possible. All the reporter did was run his camera. It's not his fault what images the camera captured.
I fail to understand the venom people have for someone who was invited to tag along with the Marines and was doing his job. His job isn't to take only pretty pictures of smiling Marines after it's all over. His job is dangerous and it's a service - don't you appreciate the battle images we've seen? Don't you appreciate being able to see our Marines in action and see the level of competency that hard work and hard training promote? I certainly do. Many here (myself included) defend the actions of the Marine. How can you defend the Marine and condemn the reporter who did nothing more than run his camera. It would be one thing if he were out running his mouth and saying the Marines are blood thirsty animals and killing innocents left and right - that's what Kerry did, right? But that's not what Sites is saying. I've gone to his blog and I don't like some of the phrases he uses that in my mind glorify the struggle of the insurgents, but I fail to see what he's done to bring so many calls for his death or a severe beating.
Did you see me say anything about killing him or beating him? My remedy is to send him packing and never allow him into so much as a dog pound press briefing again. Put him on the society page beat where he belongs.
The statement you quoted is but one of his many statements on this affair, and none of them were anywhere near as kind as that one. Sorry I can't provide a quote, but they were statements I heard, and I don't have transcripts.
Here you are, sticking up for the reporter. Me, I'm sticking up for the Marine who most probably saved the reporter's miserable life. Next time, send the reporter over to find out if a body is dead yet, or if he's boobytrapped. Maybe then he can get an appreciation for what happened that day.
People are upset with the Marine being investigated, and the obvious outlet is the reporter. People have, understandably, developed a huge distrust of media.
I agree with the embedding of reporters. I think its a good way to see the military at work, doing what they do so well. I think the reporter should have turned a copy of the tape over to military authorities if he had qualms about what happened, as opposed to thinking he had the next "Abu Ghraib" scandal and releasing it to NBC (or whoever he released it to) He seems to have handled it badly.
I think what you are reading is the frustration of many FReepers. Besides, they may not personally know reporters, and the hard work they do.
Then you agree with the release of video, world-wide, accusing a man of murder, without benefit of an investigation first?
Mr. Sites' primary responsibility should be to his country first, his career second. As for his job being a service, his service is one that this nation at war could well do without.