U.S. Military moves reporter Geraldo Rivera from Iraq

Reuters | Monday, March 31, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Veteran reporter Geraldo Rivera, a correspondent for Fox News, is being removed from Iraq by the U.S. military for reporting Western troop movements in the war, the Pentagon said Monday. "He was with a (U.S.) military unit in the field and the commander felt that he had compromised operational information by reporting the position and movements of troops," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told Reuters. "The commander thought it best to get the reporter out of his battle space and we understand he is being removed from Iraq," Whitman said. Fox News in New York had no immediate comment, and Whitman said he did not have details of the incident. But media reports said Rivera, a former talk show host and veteran correspondent who has also reported the war in Afghanistan and high-profile stories such as the O.J. Simpson murder trial, had been with a unit of the 101st Airborne Division when the incident occurred. Whitman said Rivera was not officially "embedded," or assigned to the unit by the military, but was covering the troops at the time. Hundreds of reporters from around the world are currently assigned to U.S. and British military units to report the war in Iraq under ground rules that allow them freedom to report without compromising the security of the troops.

[Cuttnhorse]

Amazing statistic!! LOL!!

I'm not a big Rivera fan, but I have to admit he has done a good job in Iraq and I find myself looking forward to seeing his reports.

[JulieRNR21]

FYI....ping.

Looks like Jerry has been removed.

[Lauratealeaf]

"Marking the first departure from the military's new program of 'imbedding' journalists with its units, an army unit has demanded that veteran newsman Geraldo Rivera be 'unimbedded' from their troops, effective immediately."--Borowitz Report, March 25 "Celebrity television journalist Geraldo Rivera, who has been on assignment covering the US-led war in Iraq, has been told by US military officials that he is no longer welcome to accompany US troops there."--Agence France-Presse, March 31

Good grief! Well, Shep Smith just reported that Geraldo is still there. I hope he stays and so does my husband. His reports are good. I think CNN and MSNBC applied some pressure on Centcom to take away the stink of Baghdad Peter.

[rstevens]

Well, I saw his line in the sand drawings last night and I too thought he crossed the line

How do you feel about all of those retired Generals/Colonels who every hour show you where all of the troops all on a visual prompter?

I saw the little sand map myself and I could not tell where they were any more than what I'd just seen on the General expert visual descriptions. Lighten up on Geraldo, he is doing a great job..

[StarFan]

I've had my hopes go down the tubes with different variations on the same theme -- was he expelled? MNSBC and CNN reported he was expelled. Reuters and AP reported two different military sources who claim he would be removed but moments later but there he was in all his glory accusing the "rats" at NBC for fabricating it all. Reuters has quoted Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman who said "I would say that he is going to be leaving Iraq. Fox has talked to us, and they have indicated to us that they are going to remove him from the area of operations." Yet, both Britt Hume and O'Reilly could not confirm but O'Reilly promises to keep us posted. Fred Barnes said it succinctly -- "if he's proven to be a pain in the ass, than he must go!" Love that Fred.

[Liberals are Evil Socialists!]

Sorry, I deal with only the truth. I give no break to those who broke the rules. Geraldo is gone for a reason. Your point is not correct. Mine is proven. It is ok to be wrong when you are. Next.

[GYPSY286]

Leave it to Geraldo to give a whole new meaning to the threat of "drawing a line in the sand".

[whadizit]

"How do you feel about all of those retired Generals/Colonels who every hour show you where all of the troops are on a visual prompter?"

I think it is reprehensible! To me, the Wesley Clark's of this world have an ego that is unrestrained. Not too long ago, he was outside of some building and a reporter approached to ask him some inane question. Before he would even acknowledge reporter's question, he called his publicist, or press agent, and asked permission to talk.

[Faith-Hope]

Don't believe everything you hear from him. He may well have a purpose for giving out this information.