B1 B Bomber Skipper and Crew on FoxNews Phone Link???

[Arizwx]

Good Morning,
This,to me is outrageous!How on earth can a News Media outlet ask questions to the Flt Deck Lt Col(They used his real name,as well as the Captain).:such as :Where were You?What was your target?What were your orders?What ordinance was used?Why was the B 1B used?Is GPS used?How long were you airborn?What was your assesment of the target damage?Do you have 'feeling' in your gut that you got Saddam?
What the hell is going on?Is this what we can expect from the Media?This was a PRIMARY RICH Target.AWACS gave the coords after Ground Intel relayed supposed CIA sensitive info.Why didnt they ask about thier altitude and airspeed?How about Comm Frequencies while they were at it?
Now,I suppose we debrief on Foxnews?Unacceptable.This is the Media.Worldwide.The enemy can access this as well.Geraldo was chastised by simply drawing a line in the sand...but this is OK?
Not that any,pardon the pun 'earth shattering' secrets were shared...however.It does expose our C&C to some extent.It can put POWs in danger of reprisal.It can infact endanger the Crew of the B1 B if any furhter missions render them captive.What Nimrod from Centcom gave the OK for this?
For the lay person,this may appear harmless...possibly interesting.
However,for those of us that have flown missions or been in Combat Zones,it is very very foreign territory and I suppose the new wave Protocols have changed dramatically.IF the Pentagon or CENTCOM wished to parade the crew or issue statements,fine.But to have the crew,fresh off a VERY important mission giving a phone interview with FoXNews direct,is beyond my conception of proper procedure.
Good for Fox I suppose..
What say you Streetsoldier?You have been there,done that.Weigh in Airman.

[Arizwx]

Bump

[Guest]

Foxnews went overboard on this ..... military personnel need turn their heads and walk off when asked questions like this. Only ones they need to justify - report to and etc is their commanding officiers.

Probably a great ratings coup for FOX - our military needs to get hardnosed with the news media - they
jeopardized our servicemen and women's lives.

PMH

[Stephanie]

Well, I'm not an airman/woman, but to me it's no different than what Geraldo did or Arnett. Anything for a story and ratings!

[Arizwx]

Well, I'm not an airman/woman, but to me it's no different than what Geraldo did or Arnett. Anything for a story and ratings!

This goes beyond ratings.Foxnews is supposed to be a news reporting Media outlet..Fair and Balanced.Yes,analysis is included,and I find it refreshing and entertaining.HOWEVER.This is WAR,not Nintendo.I see far too much Rah Rah going on within the voice texture of some news anchors,of which now number several hundred thousand and a Military Staff on contract larger than that of Italy's.
It's gotten to the point,where the Pentagon is using FoxNews as thier personal info vehicle.Brilliant!Coupled with thier sister station,Brit SkyNews,they control the information hwy.
There is a concerted effort to cram the 'Saddam is Dead' mantra down our throats..along with 3/4s of the World's TV viewing audience.This is again,brilliant,as admittedly the Pentagon needs to quell any uprisings.
The conception of swift 'covert/overt' strike on Saddam is crucial to this end.But,it raises questions as to the face of TV Journalism as a vehicle for News or something quite different.

[mf_dolphin]

This crew would not have given the interview if CentCom didn't want them doing it. I don't see anything wrong with the interview as there was nothing of a sensitive nature revealed. The plane and weapons used have been common topics throughout the war. ArizWx, hy do you see a difference in the aircrew being interviewed and the embedded repporters reporting from the front lines. Personally I don't see a difference. The fact that we live in a public relations world is nothing new. The fact that CentCom is using the eagerness of the media to get their message out is just another avenue of information warfare.

[wx247]

I tend to agree Azwx.

[southerngale]

It's gotten to the point,where the Pentagon is using FoxNews as thier personal info vehicle.Brilliant!Coupled with thier sister station,Brit SkyNews,they control the information hwy.

Ok, I think you're going overboard.


Anyway, I didn't see anything wrong with the interview. I am constantly hearing Fox News saying "we don't want to jeopardize national security, so...(blah blah)" in various situations.

[Arizwx]

This crew would not have given the interview if CentCom didn't want them doing it. I don't see anything wrong with the interview as there was nothing of a sensitive nature revealed. The plane and weapons used have been common topics throughout the war. ArizWx, hy do you see a difference in the aircrew being interviewed and the embedded repporters reporting from the front lines. Personally I don't see a difference. The fact that we live in a public relations world is nothing new. The fact that CentCom is using the eagerness of the media to get their message out is just another avenue of information warfare.

Granted,Centcom wants the message out.I agree.However,how do you not see a difference between a B1 B Bomber Crew and imbedded journalists?There is a huge difference.Military vs Journalists.They are not in anyway the same.

[mf_dolphin]

I disagree, The only difference between an embeded journalist interviewing a platoon commander or soldier and the Aircrew being interviewed over the phone is the distance between the interviewer and interviewee. Personally I think you're making a big deal out of nothing. Our command structure has made a decision to make military members available to the media. I'm sure thay have a reason. I might not always agree but that's the decision they've made.

[Arizwx]

It's gotten to the point,where the Pentagon is using FoxNews as thier personal info vehicle.Brilliant!Coupled with thier sister station,Brit SkyNews,they control the information hwy.

Ok, I think you're going overboard.


Anyway, I didn't see anything wrong with the interview. I am constantly hearing Fox News saying "we don't want to jeopardize national security, so...(blah blah)" in various situations.

Maybe so Gale,
However,as a former Naval Pilot that has been in Combat,this is not the norm for me.Yes,times have changed.I still aspouse to my training and procedures.I stand by them.

[Guest]

We definitely have differing views on this matter - each has his own pros and cons - lets just remember there is no right or wrong in this dicussion.

PMH

[mf_dolphin]

I'm sure that the air crew involved is also going by their training. The changes have been pretty dramatic since the Vietnam War not only in our capabilities but in the availability of front line troops to the media. Aircrews were made available in the 91 war for questions from reporters. I remember vividly watching the initial strike reports from the A-10 pilots as they returned from tank-plinking.

[Arizwx]

I disagree, The only difference between an embeded journalist interviewing a platoon commander or soldier and the Aircrew being interviewed over the phone is the distance between the interviewer and interviewee. Personally I think you're making a big deal out of nothing. Our command structure has made a decision to make military members available to the media. I'm sure thay have a reason. I might not always agree but that's the decision they've made.

I am not making a big deal..nor going overboard.Possibly you dislike the fact that I disagree with you respectfully.I expected a good debate..not being berrated.
Again,my training was specific.I admit,times have changed.However,if as you say,we make known information on the Media,I support it and the crews.
Nice discussion,I enjoyed it.

[mf_dolphin]

I haven't berated you just disagreed. I was just commenting on your characterization of this as being "outrageous" and "unacceptable". I happen to disagree with those tags applied to what has become common place in the last 12 years. I too enjoy a good discussion and hope to have plenty more!