Journalists deny reports put UK troops at risk

ABC / AFP ^ | 12/11/04

[LibWhacker]

Britain's National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has rejected allegations by Britain's top military officer that media reports are partly to blame for recent fatal attacks on British soldiers in Iraq.

Chief of Defence Staff General Michael Walker has said that news reports about the redeployment of the Black Watch regiment within Iraq made it "easier" for insurgents to stage attacks

The NUJ says that claim is absurd.

"When generals turn round and start blaming reporters for their own mistakes, it is a sign they aren't doing their own jobs properly," union spokesman Tim Gopsill said.

Four soldiers from an 850-strong Black Watch battle group, which moved from southern Iraq to the insurgency-plagued Camp Dogwood near Baghdad, have been killed by bombs during their month-long mission.

The unit has also came under regular attack from roadside explosive devices, mortars, grenades and small arms.

Gen Walker told BBC TV that constant media speculation about the regiment's redeployment, which was made at the request of the United States, helped rebels plan attacks from the start of the mission.

"I think that the contribution towards the initial attacks against the Black Watch was certainly enhanced by, if you like, a media picture that was being laid across a number of channels in all sorts of places," he said.

A series of roadside bombs were planted along the route used by the regiment as it travelled from the southern city of Basra to Camp Dogwood, and the camp came under attack within hours of the troops' arrival.

"Certainly, the attacks against the Black Watch happened at that stage," Gen Walker said.

"And I'm certain, too, that the media coverage would have made it easier for anybody who wanted to conduct those attacks to do so."

Mr Gopsill says that the military has "no right" to criticise reporters, who are themselves working in conditions of extreme danger.

"The military do well out of journalism. They get coverage of our boys in action and they have a considerable degree of control on the battlefield and control over what is put out by reporters embedded with units," he said.

"They have got no right to complain."

He says the posting of the Black Watch deserved coverage.

"It wasn't the press that whipped it up. It was debated in parliament," he said.

"There was a national political debate.

"You can't blame journalists for drawing attention to it."

- AFP

[fr11]

Mr Gopsill says that the military has "no right" to criticise reporters

Ummm... YES THEY DO!!! It's the soldier, not the reporter, that gives us freedom of the press.