Pentagon makes moves to contain complaints from US troops in Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.prweek.com/news/news_story.cfm?ID=186846&site=3

After several troops made some highly publicized negative comments to the media about the war effort in Iraq, the Pentagon has taken steps to keep the frustrations of both soldiers and their families out of reports.

According to a story in the July 25 edition of Stars and Stripes, the military appears to be curtailing its much-touted embedded-journalist program, which has allowed reporters almost unfettered access to military units throughout the war and occupation.

The 3rd Infantry Division, from where many complaints have arisen, has expelled many of its embedded reporters, and its troops are no longer allowed to talk to the media outside of pre-approved news features.

Lt. Col. Michael Birmingham, 3rd ID spokesman in Baghdad, told the military paper that the division is "no longer embedding for short stays." According to the report, exceptions to the policy have been made for three journalists who were embedded during the war and have returned to Iraq.

Soldiers' families are also being advised not to complain to the media, according to news reports.

[gratuitous]

1. Pentagon addresses complaints

Expels media presence, tells soldiers to shut up.

See? Complaints all gone! It's the George W. Bush Method (TM) for dealing with negativity.

[MUAD_DIB]

6. The "Who cares what you think"

school of thought.

[ixion]

2. ah, the fetid smell of denying dissent

No dissenting allowed from the CIA, the Treasury or any other government agency. No dissent allowed from soldiers or their families. No dissent allowed from non-profit organizations. No dissent allowed from the populace. In general, no dissent at all, less you risk being branded 'unpatriotic', 'anti-amerikan' or worse.

I wonder if we'll ever have our democratic republic back some days. I can't believe that people tolerate this abuse of democracy.

[maggrwaggr]

9. the military isn't democracy

it's pretty much the exact opposite of democracy.

[damnraddem]

15. Neither, apparently, is ...

being in the family of military personnel in Iraq;
being in the family of any military personnel;
being in the U.S.

[kskiska]

3. Troop complaints

have been noted in the building. Watch what you say, watch what you do. Ain't Democracy great?

[NNN0LHI]

4. Shut up or else and get finished bringing democracy to these Iraqis n/t

[Kolesar]

5. "embedded media"

[alaine]

10. Hilarious! Thanks for posting that strip (n/t)

[jpak]

7. Once the troops come home - will they get ChimpCo "minders"

Will Rummy tap their phones or video tape their conversations with family and friends???

Just how are they going to keep them quiet back here in the US??

This will backfire Big Time.

[grytpype]

8. These troops are going to come home...

... and tell EVERYONE how fucked up Iraq is and how much they hate that incompetant ninnycon Bush. Nothing can prevent that.

[AndyTiedye]

20. That is Why They Aren't Letting Them Come Home

[Neutrino]

11. Anger turned inward will express itself in whatever way

will protect the psyche. Stifling an outlet such as Free Speech is
an almost guarantee that the result will be far more damaging to the
Ministry of Propaganda--after all, it is one of America's foundation
doctrines and what has made the United States the envy of the world.
Without it, we are nothing.

[northzax]

12. pentagon to troops:

"we don't trust you to talk to the media unless we tell you what to say. No go off and be cannon fodder already."

[Sagan]

13. that explains the lack of casualty reporting, anyway...

I know the Pentagon would not report casualties at all if they had their way, and it looks like they do.

Thanks, media whores!

[hang a left]

19. I was just think the same thing

no wonder it has been so quiet.

[tom_paine]

21. Yep, the whole thing reeks to high heaven, Sagan

We're gettin' quite a few "accidental" deaths, aren't we?

I seem to recall reading that number is crazily high compared with other Wars.

(go figure :silly: )

No reports of wounded nor shots of the poor limbless bastards who joined to defend the Old American Republic, but find themselves fighting for NOTHING but Bushevik Imperial Profits.

Yep, it's a Bushevik Op from the very start, so immersed in lies, deception and fruad, that to mine the occasional germ of "truth" (insofar as that term has any meaning in Orwellian Bushevik Amerika) is a victory indeed.

You know, while the presence of your namesake and my hero Carl Sagan is missed sorely, a part of me is glad that he isn't alive to see this. He was always an optimist, until the last as his eyes slowly opened and he wrote "The Demon Haunted World", just before his death.

He would not want to see how much prophesy his book indicating, regarding tremendous failures in democracy resulting from an apathetic, critical-thinking-deprived populace with no real ability to even distinguish between lies and truth.

On the other hand, I would have loved to see what book he would have written about today's pathetic 21st Century Imperial Amerika and it's subjects, so much more pathetic than back wehn he wrote "Demon Haunted World".

[damnraddem]

14. I guess the next thing will be:

families of troops will be asked to report complaining by family members to either the Pentagon or the Homeland Gestapo.

[kathee]

16. This burns me up

I used to be an AF wife. I understand all the rank and file stuff. I ALSO feel like it is one thing to control the thoughts and minds of soldiers, quite another to hush the civilian families who love them. So the Pentagon guys are going to what..threaten the families that their soldier loved one will meet retribution if they speak?

What about hurting families who have DEAD loved ones with nothing to lose..many have already spoken up?

The internet will most likely continue to be very important in the voices of dissent.

Taken steps? More like STOMPS...Oh PLEASE backfire! I SO hate this regime.

[0007]

17. They got some real stupid assholes

running the pentagon. The boys will come home men. Then watch things get out of hand.

tick tick tick tick.....just a matter of time now.

[goforit]

18. Then don't expect them to fight for you......Treading a fine line!!!!

This is the worst leadership the military has ever had!!!

:thumbsdown:

[Karenina]

22. America has the WORST "*leadership"

it has had in its short history. What did this "enlightened" concept of our interpendence and equality embodied in the Constitution do to deserve such a violent backlash from those who "think" they control?

It gave the reins of real power to "We the People." Leider, too many of those given the gift have been fed on the breast of consumerism, and weaned onto I-got-mine-fuck-you, or you're-taking-something-from-me-you're-not-as-good-as-me-I-hate-you
And Americans certainly are fed a daily diet of that stanky doo-dah.

Insert Mopaul reference, Americans eating shit bitte, bitte mit Sahne und Kirschlikör!

How can any sensitive soul who has seen the *dauphin's sneer when "speaking" about life and death continue to support him? With the Iraq debacle it is OUR LIVES on the line. Everyone is affected. S/he who cannot smell the elephant dung has olfactory nerve and/or brain damage. Uncounted numbers are dying daily as a result of "*leadership" policies and THEIR bottom line. There will be many who wished they HAD died. This movie SUCKS.

Get those writers back in here NOW.

[BelgianMadCow]

23. i also see this as a film :-( (eom)

a scary one