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.

[JustPiper]

Something seems to have worked, I don't even see mention of it on the site...Excellent Job!

[TLBSHOW]

You are a hoot!

My email to drudge is keep it up all day the more that see what the Iraq enemy is like the better off.

[Smogger]

"...but demoralizing our troops and giving fodder for ammunition to the anti-war crowd."

I strongly disagree that this is demoralizing to our troops. They are highly trained professional soldiers. I doubt the images (which its unlikely that they would see) would do anything, but motivate them and harden their resolve.

That picture of the anonymous soldier who has made the ultimate sacrafice for the freedoms that we enjoy should be shown to the world. Peoples reactions to it have nothing to do with the picture. Their reactions are based on how they view the conflict. Those Americans that find it discouraging and demoralizing do not have the stomach for what needs to be done and need to step aside and I am ashamed of them.

[RobFromGa]

I highly doubt the family was notified before this appeared and seeing it on Drudge would be an extremely upsetting way to find out.

If you were wrong, and the family had been notified, would you change your mind about the appropriateness?

[TLBSHOW]

it is front and center

[Dante3]

I agree.

[dep]

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.

unfortunately, several people on this thread suggest that they are right, alas.

dep

[RobFromGa]

IT'S AMERICAN COURTESY TO NOTIFY NEXT OF KIN BEFORE RELEASING NAMES MUCH LESS PHOTOES

If they had been notified, would you feel different?

[Dr.Deth]

Exposing pictures of POW's for propaganda purposes is a violation of the Geneva Convention.

Just to play devil's advocate for a moment... what is it that is so different from the dozens of pictures we see of surrendering Iraqi's? Is that not also propaganda?

Certainly the footage of the dead, and grinning camelhumpers posing them is way beyond the pale, but just asking.

[JDGreen123]

Very good point! I think he could have put a link for those who wanted to see the picture. I do agree that such pictures will strengthen the resolve of Americans. Iraq has awakened a sleeping giant and they are going to feel the same wrath that Japan felt.

These pictures will cause the same type of resolve as descriptions of the Mexcican executions at the Alamo & Goliad, the masacre of Custer's men at the Little Big Horn, the Japanese atroscities at Pearl Harbor & Batan, and the Nazi death camps. Horrible events to view or read about but they fire up the Americans to finish off evil opponents.

[CDHart]

If the families have not been notified, Drudge's posting is inappropriate. Once the families have been notified, I think Americans and the world should see the video. Maybe it will bring some of these anti-war people back to reality.

Carolyn

[FairOpinion]

The way to FREEP Drudge about the PIC is the 404 Not Found messaging.

Type in this web address:
http://drudgereport.com/TAKEDOWNTHATPIC!!!
Then hit ENTER.

------

Thanks. I hope people will follow your suggestion. I just did.

[PhiKapMom]

There is a big difference between live coverage of 9-11 when it happening before our eyes and posting pictures and playing video's that have not been cleared by DoD or CENTCOM. Sorry you don't see the difference!

Why don't you and others on here check out this thread since you have all stated that family members are not on the Internet!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/873149/posts

I know the Iraqi's are animals and don't need to see it before the DoD has released it! I wouldn't want any pictures of families or friends on Drudge!

[Mister Baredog]

"These pictures demoralize our troops too. Just think about it."

Perhaps your right, but I'm willing to bet that beyond demoralization it will add to the motivation to bring down these tyrants. I'll bet coalition forces are really PISSED OFF right about now!

[RobFromGa]

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.

If you believe this, then you and I just think different.

At least I understand the Family notification argument, this argument of yours is senseless.

[FairOpinion]

"If propaganda weakens our resolve to the point that we withdraw from this war we don't deserve to win."

-----

One word for you: VIETNAM.

Propaganda matters.
These pictures do not generate outrage against Saddam, they give ammunition to the anti-war, pro-Saddam movement.

[RAT Patrol]

No, no...we share the same target. Saddam is the monster and I am in no way comparing Drudge to that. But I am accusing Drudge of putting greed over decency in this case. I know and do not plan on forgetting that we need Drudge. He offers an important balance out in liberal media land. But when he's wrong I'll say so. On this one I think he is very wrong.

[goodnesswins]

"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?

95%+ of the people here are already PRO-IRAQI liberation...the idiots who are not will use ANY thing they can to DERIDE our actions there.

[rs79bm]

Done. It now appears that Drudge has become a propaganda machine for the Iraqi Gov't. What a shameful disgrace.

[wizzler]

Maybe it will bring some of these anti-war people back to reality.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Remember, much of the antiwar rhetoric is juvenile and intellectually stunted, its basis largely rooted in the simplistic idea that war is "bad, bad, bad." Many antiwar people will simply use these images to confirm their notions that war sucks, and not think it through much more than that.