The Media in Iraq. Good or get the hell out?

Question

It's of my opinion that this war would have been over long ago if we didn't have the press right there, trying to make sure nobody gets treated unfairly. C'mon people, it's war. Torture, unfair methods and mistreatment of prisoners has happend in every war on BOTH SIDES since the dawn of man. There is no good manners in war. It's not pretty, but it's war!
Do you think that the media should get out and let the military do their jobs or do you feel they are a necessary part of this war?

Answer 1

i'm on the "get the hell out" bandwagon... i really can't believe when everyone gets all upset when a journalist gets hurt or kidnapped over there. the soldiers don't have much choice about being in the war zone, however the journalists don't HAVE TO be there... right in harm's way.

Answer 2

The mainstream media in Iraq seems to focus primarily on the negative things that occur there. However you have ever been there or if you have ever seen media reports on military websites, Armed Forces Network and the like you get a broader picture including more of the good things that the Iraqi people, and the coalition soldiers are doing there which get over shadowed or ignored in the mainstream. The result is the average citizen never sees the good things. Also there are average citizens who would try to claim that news sources from the Pentagon and the Military are government propaganda tools. This simply is not the case however. Don't get me wrong the events you see on the news are very real and very serious, however underneath it all there are good things happing that give the people that small glimmer of hope.

Overall I think the media should be allowed to stay in Iraq, if they are willing to become less biased and give equal attention to good events that happen.

Answer 3

They are not a necessary part of war. But since they are over there they should not be allowed to go out on any patrols and made to stay in the safe zones. These reporters are there just to bring the moral down for the American at home. Most of you might remember the movie Black Hawk down when the air crewmen were drug through the streets and the media captured it on tape and sent it to the news agencies to broadcast. After the first few times they were banned from airing it because the next of kin were not notified. Could you imagine being a family member of one of those air-crewman and seeing that on TV.

Answer 4

The media is necessary to some extent.

Keep in mind that the main reason a lot of the reporting is negative, is because reporters don't have the ability to move around much. Over time, the insurgency will diminish. As a result, you'll see the rest of the picture being portrayed more accurately in the news...

Answer 5

You're correct. General Schwarzkopf did it the right way in the Gulf War (and really pissed off the media libs at the same time - Bonus!) - he limited their access and TOLD and showed them what was happening.

The liberal media genuinely wants the U.S. to fail in Iraq and Afghanistan because they see everything thru the prism of politics - what's good for the U.S. and President Bush is bad for their liberal buddies.

They don't see the war as the "Good vs. Evil" struggle that it actually is, they only see the political ramifications to the Democrat party.

Answer 6

I totally feel the media needs to leave. If you look at wars like WW 2, there was no real media over there and we got the job done pretty fast. Now, you cant shoot someone without the whole world knowin about it. Also, our soldiers have to save their asses when they get captured. Bottom line is, I think they need to get out and let our soldiers do their jobs.

Answer 7

From how my friends who have been in Iraq have reacted to the media coverage they see when they get back- the media needs to get out. They haven't helped anything. I don't think we should waste our troops time and risk their lives for some journalist who CHOSE to go there and then gets kidnapped. Letting them tag along with troops does nothing but hurt missions. So many of us today think we have to know everything, see everything- so they like the media's constant live feed. Well, I say if you really want to see what's going on, if you have to stick your nose into every mission, every attack, I have a great idea- sign up and get your butt over there yourself!! War sucks. People die- all kinds of people- young,old, women, men- you can't keep that from happening- but having the need to see it live and in color while sitting on your couch? I think that that is sick and perverted. All it does, really, is numb us to the tragedies of life and of war. It doesn't help anything. It hurts our children to see it. So, get the media out of there and don't let them back in another situation like this if it happens again.

Answer 8

I think that journalists in Iraq is a bad idea.

They aren't trained to protect themselves and so they take military resources that should be being used to end the war, not protect tourists.

And, when they are stupid enough to go out on their own and get hurt because of it, they whine about how the military is failing in its duties and how we should just come home, etc.

I definitely think it's a bad idea.

Answer 9

I think that knowledge is the key to changing humans as a whole. The media in the war reminds us, everyday, how terrible war is. Maybe one day, and I know I'm a bit idealistic, we will all see how ridiculous is it to fight and accuse and we can all start to get along.

Sigh.....OK, realism setting in......

Answer 10

Completely and totally biased, but it depends who's side your own and what country you are from. We need the media but the stories are the same ones over and over again. I think we need to be kept informed but that information will vary if its CNN or Al Jeezera.