A week ago, my local paper, The Virginian-Pilot, printed a front page article entitled "Scouring the skeletons of war", written by reporters embedded with the Navy in Kuwait. They took photos and described bombed and blown up vehicles that have come back from Iraq, and the gruesome job workers must do to "wipe them clean" of the remains of American soldiers once in them. Here is the link to the original story:
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=96...Well, now the reporter and photographer got their badges revoked by the military and sent home packing for their story:
http://epilot2.hamptonroads.com/Default/Scripting/Artic... Saturday, the newspaper published the story and photos under the headline “Scouring the skeletons of war.” Both also appeared on the Pilot’s Web site.
Monday, a senior Navy officer told both journalists they had broken the rules and could not continue reporting in Kuwait. Kim’s and Hansen’s badges that had allowed them to interview and photograph service members were confiscated.
The reporter and photographer returned to Norfolk on Wednesday.
snip
“It is in violation of operational security and puts future troops in harm’s way by showing the vulnerabilities of vehicles which the insurgents can use against them,” Army Lt. Col. Debbie Haston-Hilger wrote in an e-mail to Hansen’s editor Monday from Camp Arifjan.
snip
That policy is unique to Kuwait. Neither Central Command nor Multi-National Force Iraq forbid journalists from depicting such damage. The Marines have photos of vehicles hit by bombs, mortars and grenades on their Web site; the Army’s Web site has at least two such photos.
snip
Christenson (Texas journalist), who has reported from Iraq, said he understands some information could put U.S. troops in danger and should be off limits. Yet, he’s concerned that the military’s rules may have broadened as the war has become more politically sensitive.
“It is a violation of our ethics and core values as journalists to be a party to any rule that is designed to suppress legitimate information and/or spin news about conflicts involving U.S. forces.”
The newspaper editors have backed up the reporters, and have filed a complaint with the military. The editor said he will always choose telling the truth before anything else.
We have all been so frustrated with the MSM, and how they have done whatever the * administration tells them to do. But this is an example of when journalists act independently -- they pay a heavy price, starting with being deprived of access and, of course, being accused of treason, i.e. "endangering our troops". I am just outraged all over again!
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