FREEP Drudge, ask him to remove Disgraceful Al Jazeera pix

me ^ | March 23, 2003 | FO

[FairOpinion]

I apologize for this vanity post, my first.

But I think Drudge overstepped the boundaries of decency by publishing on his front page a picture from Al Jazeera, showing what is purported to be a picture of an American POW.

The Washington Post has an article on it, in case anyone is not familiar with what happened. So far all American Media has refrained from showing pictures of the Al Jazeera video. For Drudge to put up a picture reduces him to well, I rather not say.

Drudge's EMAIL: DRUDGE@DRUDGEREPORT.COM

Arab TV Shows Captured American Troops http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14406-2003Mar23.html

To Moderator: If you think my post is inappropriate, I apologize and obviously please remove it.

[rintense]

Vehemently disagree. The families come first, then the public. To say this is censorship is just ludicrous.

[FreeReign]

No Al Jazeera, no Drudge, then maybe no POW's shot in the head for propaganda purposes.

You could just as reasonably argue that an open media gives them more of a incentive to keep them alive, to parade prisoners before the cameras with false confessions and the like.

You can argue that an open media gives them more incentive to keep the POW's alive, but that's not the point The point is that the Iraqi's appearently by releasing these photos believe that this is propaganda that will help their cause.

This now puts our other POW"S at risk of being executed and displayed or just simply tortured.

That is the reason why the Geneva Accords forbids such displays.

[carl in alaska]

I just blasted Drudge with a searing flame email. He is such an irresponsible idiot sometimes.

[dep]

Showing these pictures only helps Saddam.

how?

let's have a quick show of hands: how many here think more kindly toward the iraqi regime because of the picture on drudge's page?

dep

[P-Marlowe]

For some tactical or strategic reason the US wants Iraqi TV on the air. I think it is stupid. We should shut down all communications. But then, I'm not general Franks. It's his call.

[rintense]

100% correct, CC.

[wizzler]

let's have a quick show of hands: how many here think more kindly toward the iraqi regime because of the picture on drudge's page?

Excellent way to make the point, dep.

[dep]

revictimize

that word is a registered trademerk of DU. now you owe them a royalty payment.

dep

[RAT Patrol]

I know that some of them are soldiers but I wondered if at least one journalist was in the video because all of a sudden ITN is certain of the death of one of their journalists (I forget his name).

[RobFromGa]

it just makes me sick to think of my loved one or myself being put on display that way.

It makes me sick too, but at a different target than you.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Wizzler, I would not waste my time trying to debate this issue with you. If that were my son's picture plastered on that site, I would be furious if it happened before it was confirmed I was notified. I would be even more hurt if I came across it on this site, or any other before I could be notified. I expect the ME stations to show it, they are animals. But not sites that claim to be conservatives.

But after I am notified, I would have no problem with the use of the information to prove the point that these people are animals, and, as I said on another thread, put it on posters to shove in the faces of the "un"peace"ful" protestors.

Also, now on Fox News, Mike Tobin is reporting how even the soldiers are just sickened by these pictures because they know families are going to come across them. All I have requested is that we wait for a confirmation that the affected families are notified. Not friends, but families.

[RAT Patrol]

LOL.

If your child were murdered would you want the picture of his dead body posted on Drudge's website?

[wizzler]

I wasn't asking you to mail me for further debate on the issue of war picutres. I was asking you to mail me to support your contention that "as usual" I have gone around "assuming" things. I was asking you for evidence of this purported tendency of mine. You have failed to provide it.

[litany_of_lies]

OK, so your beef is with Al Jezeera and Iraq, NOT Drudge.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Yeah, shoot the messenger, make sense. NOT!!!

[bluecollarman]

"However, this close-up of someone's loved one is completely inappropriate at this time"

If it is mostly a matter of the timing you are objecting to, I can understand that argument. I do not agree, but I do understand and respect it.

[RAT Patrol]

The families come first, then the public. To say this is censorship is just ludicrous. AMEN!

[P-Marlowe]

I think the Iraqis want to show these pictures to Americans because they think we will lose our resolve and shrink from our mission. They think we are all a bunch of softies who can't stomach the fact that some of our troops are going to get killed in this war.

I hope to God they are wrong. The picture on Drudge made me even more resolute that we must finish this war and nothing short of Total victory will be acceptable.

Drudge can do what Drudge wants to do. He's reporting the truth and the truth ought not to be suppressed. That is what the Iraqis do.

Drudge may well be providing a valuable service. Then again maybe not. Time will tell. But the truth needs to be told.

[The Shootist]

Just as "peace protesters" refuse to recognize that the RESULT of their actions is not peace, but supporting Saddam, well, publishing these pictures does NOT have the ultimate effect of outrage against Saddam, but demoralizing our troops and giving fodder for ammunition to the anti-war crowd.

I cannot speak for you but if photos such as these had been shown to my division it would have done nothing but increase our desire to destroy the enemy. During the Bulge, when the SS murdered ~100 of American soldiers the "morale" of the troops was raised to a level not ever seen before.

With all respect your argument does not ring true.

[dep]

If your child were murdered would you want the picture of his dead body posted on Drudge's website?

presuming that the question is honestly asked, i shall honestly answer it: for entertainment value, no. if, however, it made it more likely that his murderers would be caught, or that people would become so enraged that the murders of other people's children bacame less likely, you're damn straight i would.

dep