Reuters says U.S. troops obstruct reporting of Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28327739.htm

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The conduct of U.S. troops in Iraq, including increasing detention and accidental shootings of journalists, is preventing full coverage of the war reaching the American public, Reuters said on Wednesday.

In a letter to Virginia Republican Sen. John Warner, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Reuters said U.S. forces were limiting the ability of independent journalists to operate. The letter from Reuters Global Managing Editor David Schlesinger called on Warner to raise widespread media concerns about the conduct of U.S. troops with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who is due to testify to the committee on Thursday.

Schlesinger referred to "a long parade of disturbing incidents whereby professional journalists have been killed, wrongfully detained, and/or illegally abused by U.S. forces in Iraq." snip

"By limiting the ability of the media to fully and independently cover the events in Iraq, the U.S. forces are unduly preventing U.S. citizens from receiving information...and undermining the very freedoms the U.S. says it is seeking to foster every day that it commits U.S. lives and U.S. dollars," the letter said.

[Clark2008]

1. Well, you have to control the propaganda in some way,

now don't you.

:sarcasm:

[John Q. Citizen]

2. I'm glad someone is finally saying it.

[pecwae]

3. As a photojournalist on AD with the Army

my duty was to keep information covered up and, most importantly, to misdirect media questions and attention. The PAO helped to ensure that troops viewed the media as an enemy.

[havocmom]

4. Welcome to the DU, pecwae. You may be a most interesting asset here

:toast:

[enough]

5. What era was this, pecwae? Where were you?

Welcome to DU.

[pecwae]

6. Long ago

1982-86 1st SOCOM Ft. Bragg, NC. 1st SOCOM was the first compilation of all special ops, Army type, under one command. I believe that has now morphed into SOCOM (acronym may differ) HQ'd at MacDill and may include other services SO. During my time 1st SOCOM commanded Rangers, Special Forces, PSYOPS, Delta, Civil Affairs and TF 160.

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. "accidental shootings" and snipers.

:grr: