tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post3757220001547508131..comments2024-02-09T00:13:51.906-06:00Comments on Army of Dude: First Cav and MND-N show their ass in MosulAlex Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-12890118876092789312009-06-25T14:46:59.362-05:002009-06-25T14:46:59.362-05:00Having read both of Drzin's articles thanks to...Having read both of Drzin's articles thanks to LL,it really does seem like a stupid move to deny his embed.membrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01527550651850993396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-90083344121690841142009-06-25T08:56:15.569-05:002009-06-25T08:56:15.569-05:00That shouldn't mean the military is free of sc...That shouldn't mean the military is free of scrutiny if their secondary job is to keep him safe. I kept my eye on a fair share of reporters in Iraq, and if I had refused to give them water, or told them what pictures to take or not take, I wouldn't be able to use the "I was keeping him safe, sue me!" defense, and rightfully so. The soldiers have a job to do, but so does the reporter. Unless he violates OPSEC or becomes a safety risk, let that man work!<br /><br />I really doubt the command would go out of their way to shield his credibility, but if they were trying to protect it, not too good of a job so far.Alex Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-41799535202266494922009-06-24T23:08:52.723-05:002009-06-24T23:08:52.723-05:00You seem ready to blame the guys who would be resp...You seem ready to blame the guys who would be responsible for this peron's life. Maybe the reporter did something that was out of bounds or caused a hazardous situation but the command didn't wish to destroy the embed's credibiltiy and was trying to be nice about it? Just my 2c.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-82347644093710592332009-06-24T21:19:43.145-05:002009-06-24T21:19:43.145-05:00A sad day when the military can't stand the si...A sad day when the military can't stand the sight of it's own BS press coverage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-69621626841734557522009-06-24T18:09:37.612-05:002009-06-24T18:09:37.612-05:00Alex (found you from Fark), as a former Army PA NC...Alex (found you from Fark), as a former Army PA NCO and current PA civilian, I understand both sides of this argument. I'm of the impression that Druzin did something more than include text that the Army didn't like. Like you said, normally the Army only restricts people from embedding if they violate the ground rules. But there can be other reasons. If the commanders on the ground don't want the journalist, the PAOs often have to listen to what those commanders are saying. Ultimately it's the commander in the field, not the REMF PAO who is responsible for that journalist.<br /><br />But yeah, given what we know now, I don't think it was right for the Army to reject his embed request. However, Stripes won't win any litigation. Looking at the history of legal battles fought over similar events, courts (especially the SCOTUS) invariably sides with the military.Cullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11668947039713922916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-82986245531387937692009-06-24T15:06:10.172-05:002009-06-24T15:06:10.172-05:00I suppose that would be his call. I doubt his repu...I suppose that would be his call. I doubt his reputation precedes him on the ground, so I think he'd be safe. I don't think he'd want to drive around with any field grades, though. There aren't many outlets that have an overflowing amount of reporters wanting to cover Mosul, especially with Afghanistan and Iran on the front page. Phasing out one guy is pretty big considering the small amount of embeds in the country. They need to keep him aboard. If any future filings come out that raise questions about his objectivity, that's when it's time to talk about barring him. But he still hasn't done anything wrong, and there's no evidence to support he'd dump his credibility to make 1st Cav look bad. They're already doing a fine job themselves.<br /><br />Thanks for digging up the links. I agree, he's pretty evenhanded.Alex Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-20348386344059770942009-06-24T14:54:00.715-05:002009-06-24T14:54:00.715-05:00I read two articles by Druzin on March 8, 2009. T...I read two articles by Druzin on March 8, 2009. They seem very even handed. <a href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61187" rel="nofollow">One</a> focuses more on how the residents of Mosul don't want the troops there, but it is what it is. The <a href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61188" rel="nofollow">other</a> was positive towards US efforts to change standards of living.<br /><br />But in the end, even if 1st Cav says yes, would Druzin want to go, knowing now that in Mosul, a still-dangerous city, he may be left with no one at his back but his photographer? And would ANYTHING coming from Druzin at this point be fair to the 1st Cav? According to the foxnews article, "The relationship that Druzin established with the command during a previous embed did not facilitate being invited back." (PAO or some such said that) We don't know what happened there, but if the 1st Cav doesn't want him, he needs to go elsewhere.LLhttp://chromedcurses.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-71561052273586432922009-06-24T13:40:17.334-05:002009-06-24T13:40:17.334-05:00I know what you mean LL, but they might be setting...I know what you mean LL, but they might be setting a precedent of kicking out the "problem children." Will this alter the filing of other reporters? If they feel they might be in danger of losing their embed too, you bet. A PAO shouldn't be messing with the editorial process unless violations in OPSEC or gross journalistic violations occur. None of that happened in this case, at least not from what the Army has released.Alex Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-50504568785476834202009-06-24T13:34:35.869-05:002009-06-24T13:34:35.869-05:00I'm of the philosophy that if they offered oth...I'm of the philosophy that if they offered other Stripes reporters the slots and offered to embed this guy with another unit, it's fair. Really, does the reporter want to be around a bunch of guys who don't like him and may leave his ass hanging in the wind? Personally, I think the Stripes are being a bunch of whiners. From what I understand, units can give the yea or nay to reporters and if THIS unit has an issue with THIS reporter, the Stripes needs to just send a different one. Same story, different writer.LLhttp://chromedcurses.comnoreply@blogger.com