The US media and the War

[spoogenet]

This problem with the press isn't exactly a new one. I remember reading articles and hearing things on the news back in the good ole days of the public first getting a whif of the F117, not to mention all the hubub about Area 51.

They were all saying the same ole crap: "the public has a right to know what the government is doing" yadda yadda yadda

While that may be true in some cases, I really don't think the general public has a firm appreciation for interests of national security. Whatever airs on our media stations is watched throughout the world for any helpful information. The Army has a group called OPSEC (Operational Securities) that deals with the simple concept that one can construct a classified picture with enough unclassified information.

Everything the American public knows is known by our enemies. Although our enemies tend to know more than the general public on many things, it doesn't mean we should just go telling all.

The news media are, however, in the entertainment industry. Sometimes it's rather entertaining to watch how stupid they can be. It's equally disgusting at times, though.

b

[Joel]

http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2001/11/1/103534

Joel

[Wombat]

Our press wasn't always like this, but then again, our government wasn't either. A lot changed after Watergate. Hell, Lyndon Johnson was (literally, I understand) caught in bed with his secretary, and it wasn't printed. Watergate destroyed the "professional courtesy" between press and government.

[KRSESQ]

Prior to 'Nam and Watergate, reporters delighted in attacking individual politicians for political or moral corruption. Post Watergate, the favorite target has been institutions as a whole, with the White House and Military favored targets.

It will probably take at least a generation for those reporters who came of age in the '60's and '70's to retire and be replaced by people of a more pragmatic bent. (We can only hope!)

Kevin

[The PIT]

I've got to admit the press reporting in Britian has got worse over the years with mass frenzies of political correctness irrospective of the of the truth. Anyone commiting a crime was tried and found guilty at times before they got to court.
Anyone remember the news of the world campiagn against perverts. True perverts shouldn't ever be let out but it just created mobs who went round attacking anyone they thought was a pervert or just happened to look like someone in the paper. I remember one incident of an immgrant fleeing persecution got out of a railway station and asked a child for directions and was instantly set upon and ended up in Hospital.

[The Rock]

What I find disturbing is that American news agencies seem to be quoting "an unnamed senior pentagon official" time and time again. These officials should have their scrotum cut off. I really don't like the way American news agencies are handling the whole terrorism thing. If the current pattern continues, you'll see things on CNN like "the USAs next target will be a munitions dump 1.5km East of Kabul; they will strike at 03:00EST tomorrow; here's a map showing the strike site". You'd think that after the farce that was the O.J. Simpson trial that they'd learn. I think the American government should be a LOT more strict on journalists, in the interests of national security.

Bart

[The PIT]

The problem with being sterner is where do you draw the line. If you gag the press it gives the politicians the chance to loose their heads and you won't know anything about it. It's a very difficult balance to strike.

[isochar]

Originally posted by The Rock
What I find disturbing is that American news agencies seem to be quoting "an unnamed senior pentagon official" time and time again. These officials should have their scrotum cut off. I really don't like the way American news agencies are handling the whole terrorism thing. If the current pattern continues, you'll see things on CNN like "the USAs next target will be a munitions dump 1.5km East of Kabul; they will strike at 03:00EST tomorrow; here's a map showing the strike site". You'd think that after the farce that was the O.J. Simpson trial that they'd learn. I think the American government should be a LOT more strict on journalists, in the interests of national security.

Bart

You forgot to mention that they'll also provide the aircraft type, the weapon yield, and the flight plan; along with the pilot's name and his family's address.

[Wombat]

I don't know if everyone understands this, but these "leaks" are intentional, as often as not. It's a routine way the American government releases information or policy, without having to mark it as official.

This is about the same as expecting nVidia to crack down on whomever is "leaking" drivers.