Posted on 01/19/2005 11:11:26 AM PST by wtc911
The lack of security at WR is widely known and has been discussed here before. You don't suppose the reporters drove to DC without knowing that they could walk right in, do you?
Not everyone knows this....I stand by my post.
How does ANYBODY get into that facility "unannounced, uninvited, and unescorted"? Sounds like a major security problem. Not everybody thinks the patients are heroes . . .
If they were unannounced, uninvited and unescorted, how the hell did they get through the front door? Somebody not doing their job?
Lt. Col Tim Ryan:
I believe one of the reasons for this shallow and subjective reporting is that many reporters never actually cover the events they report on. This is a point of growing concern within the Coalition. It appears many members of the media are hesitant to venture beyond the relative safety of the so-called "International Zone" in downtown Baghdad, or similar "safe havens" in other large cities. Because terrorists and other thugs wisely target western media members and others for kidnappings or attacks, the westerners stay close to their quarters. This has the effect of holding the media captive in cities and keeps them away from the broader truth that lies outside their view. With the press thus cornered, the terrorists easily feed their unwitting captives a thin gruel of anarchy, one spoonful each day. A car bomb at the entry point to the International Zone one day, a few mortars the next, maybe a kidnapping or two thrown in. All delivered to the doorsteps of those who will gladly accept it without having to leave their hotel rooms -- how convenient.
The scene is repeated all too often: an attack takes place in Baghdad and the morning sounds are punctuated by a large explosion and a rising cloud of smoke. Sirens wail in the distance and photographers dash to the scene a few miles away. Within the hour, stern-faced reporters confidently stare into the camera while standing on the balcony of their tenth-floor Baghdad hotel room, their back to the city and a distant smoke plume rising behind them. More mayhem in Gotham City they intone, and just in time for the morning news. There is a transparent reason why the majority of car bombings and other major events take place before noon Baghdad-time; any later and the event would miss the start of the morning news cycle on the U.S. east coast. These terrorists aren't stupid; they know just what to do to scare the masses and when to do it. An important key to their plan is manipulation of the news media. But, at least the reporters in Iraq are gathering information and filing their stories, regardless of whether or the stories are in perspective. Much worse are the "talking heads" who sit in studios or offices back home and pontificate about how badly things are going when they never have been to Iraq and only occasionally leave Manhattan.
They should have not left unarrested. "MP, arrest these men claiming to be reporters. Since they are uncredentialed, they may be terrorist infiltrators."
Cowards should not be alowed to polute a place of honor like Walter Reed.
Terrorists have eyes. They can see soft security as well as anyone else.
They're practitioners of the Jayson Blair style of journalism. No interviews, just copy another reporter's story and call it in from the local bar.
You'd be surprised how many doors a press ID will open. Soldiers, especially, are hesitant to stop a reporter.
MP: "If you wanna feel our heroes' pain, lemme break your legs before we let ya go"
Yes, they have eyes and can read...my hubby was at WR for 10 days in April, after Iraq....he knows this and would never dream of posting it on an open forum.
(These bums ought to interview the Sulzberger family idiot a/k/a their boss.
You might be right, I'll ask to remove it.
Thank you.....
Other people read this forum, too. Some of them work for the military and maybe even at Walter Reed. By posting the problem in public, it opens the possibility that someone, somewhere will do something to fix it.
It's sort of like when reporters sneak fake weapons through airport security to show the TSA's failings. Would you rather that they not expose the problem?
"How many innocent children did you slaughter for the War Pig before you spilled your blood for Haliburton ?"
To trust a newspaper guy is to practice gross negligence.
I want the problem fixed, of course....but I also don't want to futher endanger our wounded troops....a few calls to Cap Hill might get the job done.
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