ABC Anchor, Cameraman at German Hospital

Yahoo! News ^ | January 30, 2006 | DAVID BAUDER

[hurly]

I disagree! We do not owe "them" (I said civilians, not journalists although they are usually the same) care in the military system. Once you evac them out of Iraq they can go to a civilian hospital in Germany(they have good trauma surgeons there) or ship them on to the states. Once they are stable they are supposed to be transfered to a civilian hospital per federal law!@!!

[hurly]

The way the article read these guys were with an Iraqi unit not "inbeds" with an American unit!!

[Blessed]

>Once they are stable they are supposed to be transfered to a civilian hospital per federal law!@!!<

Their is a long history of War correspondents being attached to military units and being given all the respect and protection of regular soldiers.Ernie Pyle is buried in the National Cemetary at Punch Bowl Crator.

Inspite of your bluster their is no such Federal Law.

[Blessed]

They had just been transferred from one of our units to an Iraqui unit being advised by our troops.

[MikefromOhio]

The only bias is the amount of ink these guys get for scratches received because they CHOSE to go along.

Ummm actually BOTH the cameraman and the anchor are in serious condition. That's more than "scratches".

[from occupied ga]

Combat photography is a high risk profession. They were lucky not to have been killed

[MikefromOhio]

I disagree! We do not owe "them" (I said civilians, not journalists although they are usually the same) care in the military system. Once you evac them out of Iraq they can go to a civilian hospital in Germany(they have good trauma surgeons there) or ship them on to the states. Once they are stable they are supposed to be transfered to a civilian hospital per federal law!@!!

You're absolutely 100% incorrect here and you are letting your personal feelings get in the way of their lives. I hope you like that little tidbit there......

When I went to Iraq out of CENTCOM as a contractor, it was made very plain to me that if I were to be injured by the enemy, I was to receive military care until the MILITARY released me to a civilian doctor. NOT the other way around. I had to sign a form acknowledging that.

[MikefromOhio]

The way the article read these guys were with an Iraqi unit not "inbeds" with an American unit!!

Are you so upset that you must end each sentence with Exclamation Points?!??!??!!!!!!!

[Eagle Eye]

As for bias in the statement, I don't see it

Yeah, it's only newsworthy when it is a civilian journalist, not a civilain contractor. No bias at all.

[SlowBoat407]

Yeah, it's only newsworthy when it is a civilian journalist, not a civilain contractor. No bias at all.

I only said that I didn't see bias in that one statement. I take it for granted that media, especially network anchors, are given extra martyr status whenever they get hurt. Woodruff wanted to get the Iraqi army point of view, and he got just that. I really hope he and Vogt survive this, as I hope that everyone injured under our flag survives.

[hurly]

Yes, I am upset ( my wife with a tumor was turned away from a military hospital due to a lack of providers/money at the local MTF)( We are retirees)So it upsets me to see people Not authorized care receiving it when we can't.

As far as it being the law The Defense Authorization Act of 1996(Public LAW)104-106 sets the categories of people authorized care in MTF's. Civilians are not in there>

As far as war correspondents being authorized care in a war zone I have no problem with that. (I understood that these guys were not inbedded with an American unit, but were over there on their own dime going with the Iraqis
If in fact we are taking care of civilian contractors over there and I have no reason to doubt that we are, then it becomes a matter for my congressman/IG to look into. Especially since they're making a LOT of money doing it. Enough to pay a contract Doc to be there for them. Bottom line is if you want the "best trauma surgeons" to take care of you then join the military.

[MikefromOhio]

So it upsets me to see people Not authorized care receiving it when we can't.

As far as war correspondents being authorized care in a war zone I have no problem with that.

Tell you what. Come back to me when you have made your mind up. Those anchors ARE authorized, AS I SAID, until the military releases them. Not before. They probably signed the same form or a similiar one that I did before I went.

On another note, I hope your wife receives the care she needs and gets better quickly.....

[MikefromOhio]

go ahead, write your congressman.

He will get shot down. A lot of the contractors over there do so voluntarily to help the military out. I would know. I was one of them. They won't contract a doctor to be there.

Guess what? Even if they did, they would use the military facility.

Where else would they go? To an Iraqi doctor? LOL. That's a riot.

[television is just wrong]

I heard on the radio, they are removing some schrapnel from his neck. Really sad. Pray for their recovery.

[Eagle Eye]

Most of the civilian contractors you mention have military ID cards and will be cared for by the military because they are ENTITLED.

Yeah, it is a marvleous priveledge to get military medical treatment and evacuation if wounded in a combat zone working for the military. Such a marvleous privledge that many are dying to take advantage of. /sarcasm

[pageonetoo]

I know they are in serious condition, and have been wounded. I have lifted them in prayer. BUT, I resent the amount of press given to these guys, when HEROes are being ignored, and castigated!

They are Americans, but they chose to go into harms way. I do not believe they have any HIGHER honor due them, and they should NOT be taken to military hospitals. ABC has good insurance...

[Eagle Eye]

I do not believe they have any HIGHER honor due them, and they should NOT be taken to military hospitals.

If the military can treat enemy combatatnts, and they do, then they can treat US Journalists. At least stabilize them and evacuate back to the US.

[hurly]

Thank you for concern and I mean that. I am not doubting that they signed a statement. What I'm saying is, I think it is wrong. Stabilize them, evac them, then they go to a civilian hospital. If they fly over there on their own then I don't think the military owes them.

[MikefromOhio]

I understand and mostly agree too.

but then again, I didn't expect anything more from the MSM.

But beyond that, I see them as couple humans who need prayer to be healed.

I'll just leave it at that.

[hurly]

Most of the civilian contractors you mention have military ID cards and will be cared for by the military because they are ENTITLED.
Yes those people are entitled as they have the ID card. No problem. You don't have it. Problem.