why cant the media stay out of iraq and let us do are jobs?

Question

democracy, your right freedom of speech is a right in america but the war is fought in iraq not america .

Answer 1

This is history it needs to be recorded.

The soldiers, the heroes, the enemies, the mistakes the bravery and all stories must be told.

Answer 2

Veralascivious has provided the most through answer and one which I can agree.

Having done the combat tour in a war best buried and forgotten I can empathize with your frustrations.

We are perhaps forgetting that the Arab media has an entirely different agenda. Web sites and blogs are also playing a role in media.

You are aware that news is spun to suit the owners and advertisers of the media. The military has their own news outlets. May be you have heard of the 5 o'clock follies from that ancient war of the '60's.

Some info must be released. You have access to the "Stars and Stripes" and get their slant.

If no news is released then only rumors will exist. Which way would you have it?

Good Hunting GI.

Answer 3

Good point. I think war is hell and we should have a greater ability to just do what we need to and the civilians should just backup and let the military get the job done. Soldiers should be able to just go bananas in my humble opinion. When congress passes a war powers act it is no small thing.

However, the whole war is a matter of public debate so the media does have a right to report on what is happening in the war. It's important for the people to be able to provide an informed consent through correct judgment of the situation.

In other words, less Americans and good guys should be dieing, in my humble opinion, by any means necessary.

Answer 4

I gotta say I agree with you 100%. No good seems to come from the media's involvment in war zones. I often hear those in the media, usually of the more liberal persuasion, that this war is another Vietnam. The only similarity to this war and the Vietnam War is the media's treatment of it and if we continue to let the media and politicians thousands of miles away from Baghdad spin the war for their own agenda then if war will surely have the same tragic end

Answer 5

For better or worse, we live in a world where the media act as an objective observer of events. We depend on them to show us all the good and the bad that's happening in the world.

Having said that, the media is not entirely objective, and in recent times has had great difficulty with its ethical position and role in modern politics.

Having the media stay out of a combat zone is not the answer, specifically. Requiring the media to remain objective and to be accountable for their own ethical standards is much more realistic and useful.

Answer 6

Although there is certainly sensitive information the media should not be broadcasting because it could put our troops in greater danger, as American citizens we have a right to know what our troops are doing wherever they are stationed. The troops are defending freedom around the globe, but we're footing the bill. We have a right to know how our tax dollars are being spent. I don't think that reporters/journalists should be embedded with troops in the field. Troop movements should not be broadcast so that the enemy is aware of what is going on.

Answer 7

We are fighting for Democracy right? A democracy means that the people control the government right? In order for the people to know that is going on we need a free media, right? Right!

Otherwise the government could tell us whatever they wanted and we would be forced to accept it; rent "Wag the Dog", you'll understand.

Answer 8

What job are you having a problem doing because of the media in Iraq? Do you mean that the news is troublesome to you and you are having trouble concentrating upon your responsibilities because of it? If this is so then take a break from the news. You don't really have to listen to upsetting newcasts everyday. You can still stay informed but you don't have to inhale it.

Answer 9

Freedom of the press, they believe that they have a right to do that. And they do. It also helps us better understand whats going on at the moment. It is scary because I have people fighting in the war. Every time they say someone died I look up the names and see if it is anyone i know.

Answer 10

The media reports on the war in Iraq because WE want to know what is happening over there. Most of us know someone who is serving in Iraq or has a loved one serving there.

As for letting you do your job, I don't see how the media is stopping you...

Answer 11

What is your job anyway?

The job of the media is to report news. Fortunately, if someone breaks the law, that *is* news, and not something so commonplace as not to be worth reporting.

Without an independant media, the only news we'd hear is what the government is telling us, and I certainly don't trust the government to tell us what's going on in an unbiased manner.