Marines limiting info on attacks

[JoFerret]

http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news04/040304_news_marines.shtml

WASHINGTON - Citing a need to protect the troops, the Marine Corps operating in Fallujah and elsewhere in the volatile Sunni Triangle of central Iraq is restricting the information it releases about insurgent attacks that kill Marines.

On Friday, for example, a statement from the Marines' base camp outside Fallujah said a Marine had been killed the day before "as a result of enemy action" in Anbar province. In a break from the practice of other U.S. forces in Iraq, the Marines gave no details.

The Army and the Pentagon, in their news releases announcing service members' deaths in Iraq, typically offer a brief characterization of the cause, such as mortar fire, roadside bomb or other type of attack. They usually cite the town where it happened; the Marines do not.

"Force protection measures preclude the release of any information that could aid enemy personnel in assessing the effectiveness or lack thereof with regard to their tactics, techniques and procedures," the Marine statement from the Fallujah base camp said. "The release of more details about the incident could place our Marines and sailors at greater risk."

[SpiralHawk]

1. We have always been at war with terror

Hate is love.

Fear is strength.

War brings peace.

Choco-rations may be increased 2 mg. next ration cycle.

Big Brother loves you, and will let you know what "good citizens" need to know.

Don't forget to take your prozac ration.

A strong pharmaceutical industry makes for a strong America.

[daleo]

2. This is bad news in a democracy

While there may be some legitimate need for discretion in these matters related to force protection, it is always a bad sign when military forces withhold information from the public. Oversight of the generals is necessary, and ultimately the public has to decide the direction of policy, through the governments it elects. When the military withholds information on the situation on the ground, it subverts this process. I believe we heard the same sorts of reasoning during the Viet Nam war.

[movonne]

3. Does this mean foreign news would be the same.

[markses]

4. I noticed this as soon as they

started with the al-Anbar province nonsense, which we didn't hear a whiff of until mid-March (my actual first notation is March 19, when the only information we had was 2 Marines (I MEF) killed in hostile activity while on patrol in al-Anbar province.

Of course, al-Anbar province makes up a large part of the so-called "Sunni Triangle," and includes Fallujah, ar-Ramadi, al-Hibbinayah, Samarra, etc. In other words, a good number of the hotspots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Anbar



I get the tactics argument, and I even think it is the real reason why the Marines are doing this kind of reporting, but it does make it difficult to distinguish between different casualties on the same day.

[realdeal22k]

5. It is a wise decision

Aside from the fact we should not be there and all that aside...this statement sums it up pretty well...

"Force protection measures preclude the release of any information that could aid enemy personnel in assessing the effectiveness or lack thereof with regard to their tactics, techniques and procedures," the Marine statement from the Fallujah base camp said. "The release of more details about the incident could place our Marines and sailors at greater risk."

[AZCat]

6. I am skeptical about that claim

Aren't the Iraqis getting a good look at what happens, since these attacks are just outside their windows? I figure that releasing accurate info might actually diminish the threat, since the word-of-mouth story probably exaggerates the casualties (as all word-of-mouth stories do). Releasing accurate info would hopefully dampen Iraqi celebrations over the deaths.

Bottom line: I don't trust people who tell me that they know what's good for me. It too often turns out to be what's good for them, instead.

[realdeal22k]

7. It too often turns out to be what's good for them

That is as it should be in this case. Since "them" are our boys and girls in the crosshairs I certainly hope that is what's good for them and it helps keep them alive and able to come home unharmed.

[AZCat]

15. Sorry- I was not clear

By "them" I meant those who tell me what is good for me, meaning the Bush* Administration.

Yes, I want our boys/men and girls/women home safe. I just don't think this is going to help.

[leftchick]

18. yeah, whatever....

It seems as though the Iraqis are not depending on any information from the US to help their cause. They seemed to have picked out those mercenaries and took their revenge the other day with no problem like the US marines getting in their way. It is just another excuse from the US to stifle the truly bad shit happening in Iraq. It does not matter though, despite the fucking liars running our country the truth will come out eventually. It always does.

[rocktivity]

8. Translation:

"Citing a need to protect Bush's election chances, the Marine Corps operating in Fallujah and elsewhere in the volatile Sunni Triangle of central Iraq are restricting their information about attacks by inferior-armed guerillas that kill Marines in order to keep the body count down."

:headbang:
rocknation

[saigon68]

9. Translation sounds accurate to me

Its SMOKE and MIRRORS

[Aidoneus]

10. information on them will still be available

just not CENTCOM's official propaganda version.

[teryang]

11. This means some troops won't get the word either

So instead of helping them, it will hurt them.

I'm fairly certain that they've begun under reporting casualties because the political price it too great for chimp. Without a reason for having gone to war, each death hurts Americans that much more. I saw video of a burning Stryker engulfed in flame several days ago, the story was reported briefly, there was no follow up on whether there were casualties. The vehicle was a total loss. There had to be some injuries. I scoured the web for the story couldn't find anything.

[leftchick]

19. I saw a Stryker on fire today...

in the the yahoo photos. I am sure it was dated from today. there was also aN army humvee on fire in Baghdad. What a fucking day...

[Malva Zebrina]

12. Oh goody

besides the corporations running the country we now have the military deciding to limit the information available to the citizens and virtually running the country or at least it's right to know and understand what is going on in our name.

Keerist--we are nothing but military, killing, conquoring and murdering of children.

We, as citizens, are the ENEMY now.

Jeeysus--this is out of control.

[Malva Zebrina]

13. oops deleted--posted same thing twice

[Voltaire99]

14. Greater secrecy = more atrocities

Telling the public less and less about what the army is doing in Iraq will result only in greater secrecy for the debaucheries being committed there.

This is bad for Iraqi civilians, and bad for our democracy. Bring the troops home now.

[anarchy1999]

16. I am sorry, I am angry, I am Pissed off.

No one is telling the truth about Fallujah.

I am sick at heart. I knew this was going to happen in this town last April when our troops fired into a crowd of protesters wanting our forces to quit occupying the school for their kids.


God help us all if we don't stop what is about to happen in this town.

For heavens sake, put your family there and then just imagine.

[saigon68]

17. The Chimp doesn't want bad news today.