U.S. Military Defends Erasing Journalists' Footage of Afghanistan Attack [Fauxtography Fall-Out]

MyFox / WGHP (North Carolina) ^ | March 10, 2007 | The Perfidious Associated Press

[Lion Den Dan]

Should have erased the propagandists.

[lilycicero]

The Amish forbid photographs of them being taken based on the Biblical instruction that Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth (Exodus 20:4).

Ok, I am reaching with this, but just for fun I would say, "sorry I have to destroy the photos you took of my troops, they are all Amish."

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Speaking as a former Vietnam journalist, I know for a fact that some of our guys wanted to wipe out CBS tv reporters for lying and betraying them. Names like Dan Rather, Don Webster and Morley Safer were mentioned as those the troops hated the most, and this came from other national newspaper correspondents I used to have lunch with in So. Vietnam and Cambodia.

The enemy within - CBS, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, Reuters and some AP people. Nothing like thinning the herd to ensure that a better crop of journalists come out of journalist cesspool schools such as Columbia and Missouri, and NWestern.

[Chgogal]

"The AP also raised concerns about the military's efforts to restrict its coverage of the Feb. 15 crash of a U.S. helicopter in southern Zabul province in which eight soldiers were killed and 14 wounded. Two AP journalists and their vehicle were searched extensively in an effort to prevent footage of the wreckage getting out.

Petrenko justified that action on the grounds of "operational security" exercised when "equipment, aircraft or component parts are classified."

Darn good reason for that search. We lost some good Military Men that day, RIP dear Soldiers/Air Force Tactician. FYI, the reporter got the date wrong. Typical lousy, half-Angle Side Side reporting.

[sgnbrad]

In democratic societies, legitimate journalists are allowed to work without having their equipment seized and their images deleted."

In war torn territories, democratic societies are hard to come by. In democratic socities, so are legitimate journalists...

[caveat emptor]

The [AP] journalists had met requests from the military to not move any closer [than 100 yards] to the bomb site.

MSM employees/contractors shouldn't be allowed within 100 miles of a war zone.

[antiunion person]

We are completely committed to a free and independent press, and we hope that we can help encourage this tradition in places where new and free governments are taking root," Petrenko said.

Hey, isn't that unconstitutional?? Oh, wait a minute, Afghanistan has not constitution, freedom of the press or any other freedom. We should just tell the reporters from AP to cry s river somewhere else. By the way AP, here's a quarter, go call someone who gives a flying sh*t about your problems.

[caveat emptor]

Also shouldn't any journalist worth their salt know that it should be "AN homicide bombing"?

The use of "an" needs a silent "h". Sounds a bit too henglish to me.

Also shouldn't any journalist worth their salt know that it should be "AN 'omicide bombing"?

[Dave Elias]

"The use of "an" needs a silent "h". Sounds a bit too henglish to me."

Maybe it sounds to "henglish" to you. Nevertheless it is correct.

[Beckwith]

The Associated Press are actively supporting the enemy. They shouldn't be allowed in a combat zone.

[R. Scott]

In democratic societies, legitimate journalists are allowed to work without having their equipment seized and their images deleted."

Democracy is a form of government. Censorship is a result of law. They are not mutually exclusive. The “legitimacy” of a journalist is determined by the society, not by the employer. In this case the society is US and NATO military and the Afghanistan government, not AP.
I tried to keep this simple enough that even an AP journalist can understand.

[R. Scott]

[RedRover]

"sorry I have to destroy the photos you took of my troops, they are all Amish."

ROFL!

[RedRover]

Well thought and well expressed. On the other hand, most journalism these days springs from childish, confused, emotionalism.

[Little Ray]

Are you SURE? One less journalist = one less enemy publicist.

[Little Ray]

We just need to implement war-time censorship laws. The media gets to help fight the war, or they get a nice long vacation...

[Little Ray]

In any case, neither the military, nor a battlefield, is a "democratic society."

And "legitimate journalist" is an oxymoron.

[caveat emptor]

Nevertheless it is correct.

Hmm. There was a time, 100 years or so ago, when it was considered acceptable to use an "an" before the consonant "h" if the first syllable is unaccented, as in "an historic event", but not otherwise, for example, "a history lesson".

I have heard that the first usage is still current in some academic circles, and among members of the Democrat party in the Senate.

[caveat emptor]

Nevertheless it is correct.

Hmm. There was a time, 100 years or so ago, when it was considered acceptable to use an "an" before the consonant "h" if the first syllable is unaccented, as in "an historic event", but not otherwise, for example, "a history lesson".

I have heard that the first usage is still current in some academic circles, and among members of the Democrat party in the Senate.

[R. Scott]

On the other hand, most journalism these days springs from childish, confused, emotionalism.

Many also seem to suffer from the lack of a well rounded education.