journalists in the combat zone
tim_wand
Posts: 2,552
In light of the tragic death of Marie Colvin, should there really be Journalists in the combat zone?
I know technically that Syria isnt a combat zone for us, and thats part of the problem, we could have once argued that media prescence raised public awareness to atrocities, but lets be honest.
Our foreign office will only intervene when there are concerns over Oil or we can bring about a regime change that is more cooperative about supplying us with Oil.
There seems little connection to stopping atrocities against citizens from dictatorships unless it suits our political and economic needs.
As a niave 21 year old I served in Op Granby, the first Gulf War and can remember our O.C chasing Kate Aide out of a briefing calling her a F*cking PONTI ( Person of No tactical Importance)
Does media prescence add anything to these situations or do they just propulgate the propoganda which supports the foreign policies of this Government.
Will Marie Colvin's death prompt action by the Uk Government in Syria?
I know technically that Syria isnt a combat zone for us, and thats part of the problem, we could have once argued that media prescence raised public awareness to atrocities, but lets be honest.
Our foreign office will only intervene when there are concerns over Oil or we can bring about a regime change that is more cooperative about supplying us with Oil.
There seems little connection to stopping atrocities against citizens from dictatorships unless it suits our political and economic needs.
As a niave 21 year old I served in Op Granby, the first Gulf War and can remember our O.C chasing Kate Aide out of a briefing calling her a F*cking PONTI ( Person of No tactical Importance)
Does media prescence add anything to these situations or do they just propulgate the propoganda which supports the foreign policies of this Government.
Will Marie Colvin's death prompt action by the Uk Government in Syria?
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They are vitally important, especially the independent ones, not the mi6 controlled staffers who work for the beeb. Its such a shame she died, she was a fine and true independent mind.
My thoughts when I heard that gobshite cameron offer his cobblers condolences today was that if governments didnt instigate 'up risings' if they were open and honest about their support or disdain for certain regimes, and not try to manipulate the news, that is if they put the truth out there and trusted the 'mob', journalists would be less likely to put themselves in the firing line.The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.0 -
Sorry, I should have pointed out I wish to disassociate Marie Colvin from any PONTI like comments, having read many of her dispatches I had nothing but admiration for the woman and respect for her work,
I have however become very concerned how role of media reporting of "War Zones" seems to have morphed into nothing more than a Medal of honour style of video game or political mouthpiece.
I suppose its nothing new from the days of Pathe newsreel and Colonel Ha Ha , the media as always played a role.0 -
R.I.P
A sad ending to a fine woman.....
thing is if no one was in the middle of it how would anyone know just how dyer it is ? their government are trying to cover it all up as it is...only hard as nails journalists are telling it as it is...I know its all politics with China and Russia but its un-ethical the UN just sit around watching the massica...right I;m getting off my soap box !0 -
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The death of Colvin and Syrian web based reporter Rami Ahman Sayed cannot be seen as totally colateral, Hopefully its a sign that Assad's regime are beginning to get concerned about international opinion and fearing action.
Lets hope some good comes from this tragedy. William Hague, David Cameroon do something.0 -
Unfortunately for once we as well as the rest of the UN want to intervean...the issue is with Russia and China who are happy to turn a blind eye as they trade hundreds of thousands of arms and amunition with Assad each year....UN doesn't want to p^ss them off...dodgy dodgy ground but lets hope something is done pronto and no more lives are neadlessly wasted !0
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With war correspondence these journo's tend to move hell and high water to get to the battle zone, it's more of a "calling" rather than an assignment. They want to be there.
I feel, looking at the news that from a British perspective her death has moved Syria up the political agenda.
I don't think it's our job to act as international policemen though, the UN has to be the only way.Tail end Charlie
The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Sure they should be there, as long as it's of their own free will.
This. It is essential to have an independent eye in these areas - it is how we have found out about some war crimes that would have otherwise been kept buried.0 -
I had a quick look to see how Iranian governmant PressTV reported her death. They implied (by omission and careful phrasing) that the shell that killed her had nothing to do the the Syrian Army and that rebels were firing in the area. I went to check the item and it had been pulled from their website headlines (they do that with news that needs to be forgotton). It is there, accessible via search engine.
There are plenty of loons around the world who regard PressTV as an authentic, alternative voice. Scary world.0 -
tim wand wrote:William Hague, David Cameroon do something.
William Hague interviewed on BBC radio 4 Today, today! http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/ne ... 698888.stm
We can't intervene alone, it would be illegal as well as logistically impossible without somewhere to base our strike from, and that would need to be a base in a neighbouring Arab nation, with implications left, right & centre. Assad will understand all this in addition to the international political stalemate, which is why he feels so able to behave openly in this way. Just because he is a harsh and merciless man does not mean he can also be a clever political operator.0 -
slowlanejane wrote:tim wand wrote:William Hague, David Cameroon do something.
William Hague interviewed on BBC radio 4 Today, today! http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/ne ... 698888.stm
We can't intervene alone, it would be illegal as well as logistically impossible without somewhere to base our strike from, and that would need to be a base in a neighbouring Arab nation, with implications left, right & centre. Assad will understand all this in addition to the international political stalemate, which is why he feels so able to behave openly in this way. Just because he is a harsh and merciless man does not mean he can also be a clever political operator.
As I've already posted, we are not the worlds policeman and we should not act unilaterally. We're already entrenched in one whole pile of sh1t inAfghanistan. Yes, I feel sorry for those brave Syrians standing up for their human rights but I think the only way to intervene is as part of a UN initiative.Tail end Charlie
The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.0 -
China and Russia (Both permanent UN security council members) both vetoed a UN resoloution on Syria in October last year .
9 of the other 15 member states sanctioned action. It only takes a veto from one permanent member to overide any action.
How the hell did China get on as a pemanent member? is there ever going to be a situation were the five permenant members UK , USA, FRANCE, RUSSIA and CHINA agree on what is right or wrong, let alone the other 10 countries involved.0 -
tim wand wrote:In light of the tragic death of Marie Colvin, should there really be Journalists in the combat zone?
Yes and no! In certain situations their presence is good for showing the world what's going on and keeping a check on "activities" (read atrocities etc.).
No becuase they often have no idea on operational security and will be quite underhand in searching for a "scoop" - for example BBC World Service reporting the time and location of the landings during the Liberation of the Falklands :evil:
Nowdays, when they are embedded (I friggin hate that phrase) with military unist in Afghanistan/Iraq they have very clear rules on what they can and can't do. Personally the idea of being in a combat zone with no weapon fills me with dread!0 -
Why should we intervene?
We can't cope with the level of military intervention needed in Afghanistan, we're skint, the armed forces can't afford the ropey old kit they've got, let alone new stuff, so another engagement will soak up both airframe life & weapons. Let the arab states do the work, it's in their backyard.
As to the OP's question, it's a free world (well, bits of it) so the journalists are free to go. They take greater risks now, as their satellite phone transmissions can be targetted, as happened in this case.
Without independant witnesses, we'll have no real idea of what's going on in a warzone.Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.0 -
i had no understanding of war journalism till last year ( or any kind of journalism )
then by chance i visited the war museum in salford manchester, they had a huge hall with a complete history of said detail.
There is no way on this earth would you get me doing what they do, they are sitting ducks imo. It was obvious that the ladies transmissions were tracked and she should have been advised on this.
Now i do not in any way shape or form condone what has happened but they do know the risks. It is a tragic storey but what do you do? Like a local said there is no british/american interest to get involve because there is no oil ( like other recent hostilitys )
It is a crying shame that the government is bombing its own civilians. Such a sad story0
