Author Topic: 'Idiot Cards' for the US military... (Read 2136 times)

Dowding · « **on:** September 29, 2002, 04:09:08 PM »

I was listening to an interesting report from a BBC correspondant at Bagram Airport in Afghanistan. He'd just got into the camp there and started talking to a clean-cut group of US Army personnel fresh from the States.

He asked them:

"How do you feel about being out here?"

To which they replied:

"We're committed to succeeding in accomplishing our objectives, and are unified in our determination to see the job through."

"How long are you going to be here?"

"As long as it takes to get the job done, sir."

Watching all this were a pair of experienced veterans, sitting in a humvee. As the correspondant walked past they called him over and basically said "Do we really have to go through this roadkill?" They then showed him a small card, with a series of questions and answers, detailing how to tackle the media. A couple of the answers matched nearly word for word what he had been told by the first group of soldiers...

What are they afraid of and is this common in the US armed forces or just Afghanistan?

Thrawn · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2002, 04:30:58 PM »

Jeebus, news isn't news anymore and information isn't information. It's all just PR and spin.

War is peace, POWs aren't POWs. American citizens are foreighn combatants. One precautionary landing is serval forced landings. Nike IS sports.

john9001 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2002, 04:32:33 PM »

after viet-nam all military treat all media as hostile, and rightly so.

just look at the reporter's question"how do you feel about being here?" he was looking for some one to whine 'i wana go home" so he could get a sound bite.

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2002, 04:40:19 PM »

Welcome to the machine.

SC-Sp00k · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2002, 05:00:25 PM »

When the media can learn to report the truth and avoid its own spin for the purposes of whatever agenda it may seek, then the military may allow its soldiers to drop the cards.

That will never happen.

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2002, 05:08:08 PM »

Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan...

Q: How do you feel about being out here?

A: I wanna kill the bastards who murdered my brother at WTC!

BBC newsroom room later on...

Leftist news amazinhunk #1:

Oh no we cant have them saying that old boy. That would be showing bias towards the US side, lets go interview Hafez bin Hassad el Talibani the Al Qaeda recruiter in London for an unbiased opinion of the war.

Leftist news amazinhunk #2:

Right on! Good show old chap get to it.

Would this be better Dowding? Damn what the hell is your diddlying problem. Look if you hate the USA or our armed forces so much why not get your hateful little bellybutton down to the Finsbury Mosque and sign up for good like all the other Jihadis....

Thrawn · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2002, 05:26:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SC-Sp00k
When the media can learn to report the truth and avoid its own spin for the purposes of whatever agenda it may seek, then the military may allow its soldiers to drop the cards.

That will never happen.

You mean when all of the media reports eactly what the government wants then to.

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #7 on:** September 29, 2002, 05:51:05 PM »

Why are these being refered to as "idiot cards" and when are we finnally going to invade Canada?

Mr. Blonde · « **Reply #8 on:** September 29, 2002, 05:52:16 PM »

lol two twits from canada and the united euro telling us how it ought to be.

take your skirts off and join up so we can see what you have to say when the media asks you questions. Oh wait I've yet to see your government allow the media ask any of the troops where ya'll are from questions yet.

Thrawn · « **Reply #9 on:** September 29, 2002, 06:18:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mr. Blonde
lol two twits from canada and the united euro telling us how it ought to be.

Who is the other Canadian?

Quote

take your skirts off and join up so we can see what you have to say when the media asks you questions. Oh wait I've yet to see your government allow the media ask any of the troops where ya'll are from questions yet.

What?

john9001 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 29, 2002, 06:24:58 PM »

there should have been a comma after the word twits

Thrawn · « **Reply #11 on:** September 29, 2002, 06:28:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by john9001
there should have been a comma after the word twits

Ah!

Would like to point out that the UK and Canada have been the US's closest supporter's since 9/11.

Eagler · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2002, 06:36:01 PM »

what GRUNHERZ said

Dowding
are you calling the US soldiers idiots? Or just the US Armed Services in general?

fdiron · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2002, 06:45:25 PM »

Media doesn't play quite as big a part in war as you might think.

SC-Sp00k · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2002, 08:17:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Thrawn

Ah!

Would like to point out that the UK and Canada have been the US's closest supporter's since 9/11.

Thats UK, Canada and...........Australia.

Our little island is still bigger than you

Not sure who these "twits" are either. Im ex-Regular Australian Army having served in 2 Corps.

Since Vietnam, the media have played an enormous role in reporting War. There are many ways in which they are involved.
One includes the Public perception at home, (Government alliance or opposition for Thrawn

) and effectively a soldiers will to fight.

Can a Soldier serving in a dangerous region afford to question the right and wrong of what he/she is doing there? Of course, all soldiers do. The media tho through biased reporting to sell rather than support could cost that soldier their life, an army a battle, a country a war. Our combined countries have already seen that happen.

Does the Media have a positive aspect?

Yes. When controlled (more anti government propaganda influence Thrawn lol) such as the Gulf war.