"In general, journalists are civilians," the 1,180 page manual says, but it adds that "journalists may be members of the armed forces, persons authorized to accompany the armed forces, or unprivileged belligerents."
A person deemed "unprivileged belligerent" is not entitled to the rights afforded by the Geneva Convention so a commander could restrict from certain coverage areas or even hold indefinitely without charges any reporter considered an "unprivileged belligerent."
The manual adds, "Reporting on military operations can be very similar to collecting intelligence or even spying. A journalist who acts as a spy may be subject to security measures and punished if captured." It is not specific as to the punishment or under what circumstances a commander can decide to "punish" a journalist.
Now most of us think read this as if a normal government wrote this. We say to ourselves, Great, that means that reporters who give away friendly positions or friendly plans can be treated as the spies.
We fail to recognize that this was written by the Øbama Regime.
The way I read this is that bloggers who expose Obama's efforts against the American People can be disappeared indefinitely. Bloggers who whistle-blow can be disappeared.
Remember that NSA is part of the DoD.
Seems to me it’s a military policy concerning reporting on military operations. We already follow the LLSS rule here.
“Reporting on military operations can be very similar to collecting intelligence or even spying. A journalist who acts as a spy...”
Insurgent + video recorder is still an insurgent. Many Western reporters think it’s Che-Chic to support insurgents providing them with operational information.
This is long overdue.
I’m reading this a bit more broadly.
ANYONE who has a camera or is recording something on a battlefield can be “held as a belligerent.” Since battlefield tactics have often led to American jurisprudence in law enforcement, it’s only a matter of time before the person recording a police stop or an unlawful search can be “held as a belligerent.”