Posted on 08/26/2015 1:19:24 AM PDT by Olog-hai
New Defense Department guidelines allow commanders to punish journalists and treat them as “unprivileged belligerents” if they believe journalists are sympathizing or cooperating with the enemy.
The Law of War manual, updated to apply for the first time to all branches of the military, contains a vaguely worded provision that military commanders could interpret broadly, experts in military law and journalism say. Commanders could ask journalists to leave military bases or detain journalists for any number of perceived offenses. […]
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. …
(Excerpt) Read more at bigstory.ap.org ...
This article needs a “Like” button.
If we nominate Jorge Ramos of Univision is that bad?
The libtards can blame Whorealdo for that...
Does the manual describe who is the “enemy?”
The “Geraldo Rivera Rule”?
The “Geraldo Rivera Rule”?
"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.
A.K.A. - "Counter Revolutionaries".
I think this goes back much, much farther than just Geraldo. There are several ‘journalists’ who have taken their impartial observer’ stance way too far.
Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes” fame and father of Fox’s Chris Wallace was one:
As an Ex-Journo, I fully support the idea of this.
“unprivileged belligerents” = Jerryaldo Riviera! (Geraldo Rivera, for those that don’t get the pun)
Nothing new. During the Civil War, Sherman wanted to hang reporters who were publishing his movements in northern newspapers, which were promptly read by Confederate generals.
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.”
I tried to read the manual the other day. It read like stereo instructions.
That said, if you have someone reporting live from an operation you should have every right to secure your plans and tactics.
The world does not have a “right to know.”
Good!
That SHOULD be the policy!
War is a dangerous, deadly and horrific matter but each death is immortalized by those that wish to degrade our military and country. Where is the daily ..."that makes ### of dead since President Bush declared and end to hostilities"?
The media and it's parent organizations are the enemy and should be treated as such. Let's see how well they travel on the ISIS side of the line.
“We fail to recognize that this was written by the Øbama Regime. “.....
Perhaps when writing it, they were concerned more about the Jade helm activities and how it was/was not being reported on.
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