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Editor: Disclosure was needed on armor query
cnn ^ | 12-10-04

Posted on 12/10/2004 3:16:16 PM PST by LouAvul

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (AP) -- A newspaper should have told its readers promptly that an embedded reporter had helped frame a question that a serviceman asked of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld this week in Kuwait, the publisher says.

The question to Rumsfeld from Spc. Thomas "Jerry" Wilson, 31, of Nashville, Tennessee complaining that many military vehicles in Iraq are not adequately armored, has touched off a storm of new publicity about the issue.

"In hindsight, information on how the question was framed should have been included in Thursday's story in the Times Free Press. It was not," the paper's publisher and executive editor, Tom Griscom, said in a note to readers published Friday.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: armorflap; edwardleepitts; rumsfeld
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Let's guess what the journalist's political ideology might be, liberal or conservative? Hmmmmm. Cause he sure is above board, isn't he?
1 posted on 12/10/2004 3:16:16 PM PST by LouAvul
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To: LouAvul

Yes, and also his moral credentials are pretty muddied. He talked this Soldier into the end of his Career, even if he planned to get out of the guard after this deployment, he essentially cooked his own goose as far as advancements go.


2 posted on 12/10/2004 3:19:41 PM PST by konaice
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To: LouAvul
Added keyword ARMORFLAP

Lot's happening on this topic.

3 posted on 12/10/2004 3:20:15 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: LouAvul
"In hindsight, information on how the question was framed should have been included in Thursday's story in the Times Free Press. It was not," the paper's publisher and executive editor, Tom Griscom, said in a note to readers published Friday.

Gee ya think Mr. Griscom? But by you all failing to do that you have not only put the MSM against the wall again with a question of bias, and not to mention those that run you paper maybe looking for your head now that you have seriously damaged you papers credibility... Man I love to see when they squirm like that...

4 posted on 12/10/2004 3:22:03 PM PST by Americanwolf (Democratic Underground... Digital Crack for the the loony left.....Hey troll! Put the pipe down!)
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To: konaice
even if he planned to get out of the guard after this deployment, he essentially cooked his own goose as far as advancements go.

Oh, I don't know about that. You have to know that this newspaper, and its reporter, are going to follow this Specialists career very closely, looking for signs of retribution. If they find that this guy's First Sergeant "talked to him sternly" they will interpret this as "Rumsfeld's Revenge".

Rumsfeld is no dummy. I bet he puts the Word out to this soldier's chain of command, "Hands Off"!

5 posted on 12/10/2004 3:24:15 PM PST by Tallguy
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To: Tallguy
"even if he planned to get out of the guard after this deployment, he essentially cooked his own goose as far as advancements go"

Sounds like another candidate for Promotion to a Higher Level of Incompetence

6 posted on 12/10/2004 3:27:37 PM PST by spokeshave (Strategery + Schardenfreude = Stratenschardenfreudery)
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To: LouAvul

"I just had one of my best days as a journalist today," Pitts wrote.

.....................................................

I guess bashing the military is a top priority of the liberal left media. It disgusts me to know this had occurred and now I am of the opinion the soldier in question should at least have a field grade article 15. As a soldier is not your duty to question your commanders, but to bring your concerns to them in a manner they can evaluate and analyze the situation to best operate with information. That is common sense to any soldier, this one obviously does not have any.


7 posted on 12/10/2004 3:33:37 PM PST by phoenix0468 (One man with courage is a majority. (Thomas Jefferson))
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To: Brett66

ping on this


8 posted on 12/10/2004 3:34:40 PM PST by phoenix0468 (One man with courage is a majority. (Thomas Jefferson))
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To: LouAvul
I wouldn't give en embedded "journalist" the time of day. In fact, I'd probably dupe him into checking for booby-traps, cleaning latrines, and drawing enemy fire. Not to mention putting sand in his MRE's.

And as far as his ideology, odds are even that he's at least a socialist, trying to undermine the war effort, even though his hero got spanked at the polls last month.

Most so-called "journalists" these days are nothing more than mouthpieces for leftist propaganda, and MUST NOT be trusted.

In most instances I've seen recently, the embeds are traitors who treat their soldier companions with respect while the soldiers are under fire covering the journalist's a$$, but will not hesitate to turn around and stab those brave, honorable men in the back once they get back to their little reporters' world of champaigne, brie, mocha lattes, and licking the boots of their Democrat masters.

9 posted on 12/10/2004 3:35:54 PM PST by FierceDraka ("Megatons Make It Fun!")
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To: Tallguy
Rumsfeld is no dummy. I bet he puts the Word out to this soldier's chain of command, "Hands Off"!

Well in the military, hands off can mean two different things.

Nobody is suggesting anything BAD will happen to this guy, but its a Sure bet nothing GOOD will happen either. He won't be denied anything he deserves, but when a choice of candidates exist for advancement, you can bet he will be passed over.

And if he runs to the press for protection he will be drummed out.

He has to know this already, which is why I speculate he plans not to re-up, and therefore does not give a rip. All he wants it to survive this tour, and his chances are pretty good for that, because his CO probably won't let him near any live fire for fear he will get hit and bring the press down on his neck.

10 posted on 12/10/2004 3:37:40 PM PST by konaice
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To: Tallguy

The soldier will be probably get point duty for a year.


11 posted on 12/10/2004 3:37:54 PM PST by NY Attitude
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To: Tallguy
Tallguy wrote:
Rumsfeld is no dummy. I bet he puts the Word out to this soldier's chain of command, "Hands Off"!

...................................................

If I were Rumseld, I would have his command hand his butt to him for obvious "dissension". As I stated earlier, the press is not the friend of the soldier, and for him to capitulate to this reporter is awful.
12 posted on 12/10/2004 3:38:00 PM PST by phoenix0468 (One man with courage is a majority. (Thomas Jefferson))
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To: NY Attitude
NY Attitude wrote:
The soldier will be probably get point duty for a year.

...................................................

KP and Latrine would be better for this guy. Don't risk his life unnecessarily, just make it hell.
13 posted on 12/10/2004 3:39:18 PM PST by phoenix0468 (One man with courage is a majority. (Thomas Jefferson))
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To: LouAvul

In this story, a reporter interjects himself in story to make military look bad.

In a story over the summer, a reporter refuses to alert a military convoy that they are heading for a roadside bomb because he does not want to interject himself into the story.

The MSM have zero credibility anymore.


14 posted on 12/10/2004 3:41:12 PM PST by BJungNan (Stop Spam - Do NOT buy from junk email.)
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To: phoenix0468

This guy is probably feeling as alone as Kevin Sites.


15 posted on 12/10/2004 3:45:34 PM PST by NY Attitude
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To: LouAvul

As of August 2003 there were only 235 "up-armored" Hum-Vees in the theater of war in Iraq. In the last 16 months, 15,000 up-armored Hum-Vees have been produced (and, I think, shipped to Iraq).

It would have been nice if Rumsfeld had that factoid at his fingertips the other day.

/just sayin'


16 posted on 12/10/2004 3:50:51 PM PST by vbob
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To: FierceDraka
I wouldn't give en embedded "journalist" the time of day. In fact, I'd probably dupe him into checking for booby-traps, cleaning latrines, and drawing enemy fire. Not to mention putting sand in his MRE's.

Oh, I don't know, I think a Greg Palcot or Rick Leventhal (both from FOX) do a pretty good job and seem to be liked and respected by the troops. I suspect others can't get the time of day from any soldier. Geraldo is probably percieved as the jerk that he is and dolerated ONLY because he's with Fox.

I did see a commander giving what appeared to be minimal cooperation to a Fox guy (I think Leventhal) on FOXes "India Company" special the other day, but there was a lot of cooperation as well.

17 posted on 12/10/2004 3:51:16 PM PST by konaice
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To: vbob

Army just ordered another 100 per month of the armored humvee's....todaay!!!!!!


18 posted on 12/10/2004 3:55:08 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: NY Attitude

NY Attitude wrote:
This guy is probably feeling as alone as Kevin Sites.

.....................................................

I'm wondering how many of the soldiers who clapped and cheered knew about this little conspiracy?


19 posted on 12/10/2004 4:00:03 PM PST by phoenix0468 (One man with courage is a majority. (Thomas Jefferson))
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To: phoenix0468

even if this journalists intentions were meant to be helpful to the troops, he handled the whole thing is a slimey way:
-- Conspired on what the questions should be.
-- Conspired to make sure his plants were called on.
-- Wrote to co-workers bragging about his little trick.
-- Could have asked the question to Rumsfield any time in press conferences but used this tactic instead.
-- Never admitted to his conspiracy in his own article.

This reporter is a SLIME!!!!!!!


20 posted on 12/10/2004 4:04:26 PM PST by BushisTheMan
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