Volume I No. 66
 04-08-03
 Dead Journalists
 { War Is Not A Spectator Sport }
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2003

 Michael Kelly. David Bloom. Tareq Aryoub. Taras Protsyuk.
 Jose Couso. 

 These are but a few of the names of journalists who have died 
 whilst covering the war in Iraq. David Bloom died because of 
 a medical condition that may, or may not, have been a result of
 his time "embedded" with an American military unit. But the 
 other four perished as a direct result of their presense on the 
 War Front. And in harm's way.

 The last phrase in the above paragraph cannot be emphasized
 enough. In harm's way. 

 This was a war that was supposed to be covered like no other 
 in all of history. And in many ways it has been. The U.S. military 
 "embedded" journalists in combat units, so that the world would 
 get a first-hand "live" view of the humane way U.S. forces were
 going to defang the Iraq military, while at the same time limiting
 collateral damage and inconvenience to the Iraqi people. This
 was going to be a militarily-precise campaign for the liberation 
 of Iraq

 The images were remarkable during the first days of the conflict.
 Through the use of satellite links and video-phones, journalists
 on an adrenaline rush, breathlessly detailed the American march
 toward  Baghdad. There were battles at night. Firefights during 
 the day. The rumble of artillery in the distance. All reported upon
 "live" for the benefit of the home viewer. Armchair soldiers in 
 their living rooms, experiencing the battles, but without the personal 
 danger of war. 

 Enraptured spectators, all.

 And from Baghdad itself, the story was as much alive. Abu Dhabi
 Television and Al Jazeera reported on the same conflict with more
 of a sense of dread and resentment of American military prowess. 
 As the Iraqi military was demonstrated to be feeble and not a match 
 on any account to what the coalition forces presented.

 The Iraq War became a battle of news organizations. As much 
 an intense campaign for the hearts and minds of the entire world, 
 as the conflict itself. CNN, Fox, and MSNBC. All more or less 
 pro-American in tone. The BBC relentlessly neutral. -- And as 
 disbelieving of the upbeat American perspective, as some of 
 the Middle-Eastern networks. 

 And alas, Al Jazeera. Determined that the Middle-Eastern viewer 
 should never doubt that this was an unjust war, and that the 
 American invasion was causing untold harm to the Iraqi people. 
 And each civilian causualty. Every injury. Every death was an 
 insult to all who called that part of the world home. 

 The cradle of human civilization.

 But it is in death that so often human beings are united. Check 
 the names of the dead journalists. American. Eastern European. 
 Latin. All who gave up their lives so that the home viewer could 
 watch this war -- live. Right now. In living color.

 Some networks outrageously accused the U.S. military of targeting
 their offices. Of being indiscriminate and irresponsible. As if the 
 journalists in Iraq have a right to be there. On the front. In harm's
 way. 

 For these accusers, it matters not if the soldiers on the battlefield 
 are tired and extremely nervous. Quick to fire a weapon. A result 
 of fatigue and near exhaustion from sleepness nights. The journalists 
 have a right to be there. In harm's way.

 But, in this, the news organizations are so very wrong. The battlefield 
 is a place for the combatants. It belongs to the warriors who willingly 
 accept the ultimate risk. -- So that others do not have to.

 War correspondents are a humanitarian indulgence. Critical eyes
 that sometimes mislead the public into believing that war really 
 can become clinical and precise. And that any civilian deaths are 
 criminal.

 Human conflict is inevitably brutal and unjust. -- To someone. 
 And, if the coverage of this war should change that perception, 
 then a grave disservice has been done to the military.

 War is not a game to be "called" real-time. It is not a spectator 
 sport. The heavy analysis is best done after the conflict is over. 
 Not during. For even a correspondent who is right there, close 
 on the battlefront, may be ignorant of many important facts.

 And when news organizations and reporters become a part of 
 the story. -- Even if through the death of their correspondents.

 Then perhaps they are in a bit too far.
 

 ReadingPost.Com
 © Copyright 2003

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