Tuesday, November 23, 2004
More from Kevin Sites
Sites blogs his response to the controversy surrounding his taping of the Marine in Fallujah and the subsequent handling of the tape. He states that his only concern is for the opinions of those Marines with whom he was embedded -- which was not the squad whom he taped that day. He describes himself as "shocked to see myself painted as some kind of anti-war activist." His account is worth reading. After giving details of the incident, he comments;Sites' Blog: But observing all of this as an experienced war reporter who always bore in mind the dark perils of this conflict, even knowing the possibilities of mitigating circumstances -- it appeared to me very plainly that something was not right.
I still disagree with his decision to air the tape. Particularly in light of his statement above. If he knew "something was not right," he also knew that the Marine command would investigate and that that particular footage would be evidence. To air it was prejudicial to the investigation -- especially knowing full well that "other foreign networks" would "make different decisions" than that made by NBC -- who he felt were completely responsible in their treatment of the footage. *eye roll* The footage, along with the full story of the follow up investigation and disposition by the Marine chain of command could be aired after completion. What's the benefit in rushing? What's the potential harm in holding until all the facts are in? Sites' blog entry attempts to paint a portrait of careful consideration and a decision based on strong principles. Though this statement -- among others -- raised Red Flags for me:
...I have become the conflicted conduit who has brought this to the world.
uhm, Kevvy -- this ain't about youuuuuu. Take the back of your hand off your fevered brow.
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Willy Buhl, before the battle for Falluja began: "We're the good guys. We are Americans. We are fighting a gentleman's war here -- because we don't behead people, we don't come down to the same level of the people we're combating. That's a very difficult thing for a young 18-year-old Marine who's been trained to locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and close combat. That's a very difficult thing for a 42-year-old lieutenant colonel with 23 years experience in the service who was trained to do the same thing once upon a time, and who now has a thousand-plus men to lead, guide, coach, mentor -- and ensure we remain the good guys and keep the moral high ground."
Sites, "I listened carefully when he said those words. I believed them." The hell you say. A "gentleman's war" reporter would have made a different choice -- the one not labeled "If It Bleeds It Leads." [/armchair quarterbacking]
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