almost makes you wonder whose side they're on... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/20/nbbc220.xml [rquoter] BBC 'risked safety of troops' By Brendan Carlin, Political Correspondent The BBC was accused last night of risking the safety of British forces in Iraq after trawling for information on troop movements in the war-torn country. Politicians reacted in disbelief to the revelation that for over two hours yesterday, the BBC News website carried a request for people in Iraq to report on troop movements. advertisement The request was removed from the website after it sparked furious protests that the corporation was endangering the lives of British servicemen and women. But according to accounts last night, a story on a major operation by US and Iraqi troops against al-Qa'eda somewhere north of Baghdad contained an extraordinary request for information about the movement of troops. Last night the BBC confirmed the wording of the request was: "Are you in Iraq? Have you seen any troop movements? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below." The BBC confirmed last night that this form of words had appeared on the website from "late morning" until early afternoon. "It was down by 2pm," The Daily Telegraph was told. A spokesman was unable to offer a detailed explanation of why anyone at the BBC should be seeking such information or whether any details on troop movements had been received. He refused to identify who put the message up but said that "the journalist" responsible had been reminded that "this is not a form of words we would use". However, in a statement, the BBC added: "BBC Online regularly asks visitors to its websites to supply information they may have relating to a specific story through a response form posted at the end of a news item. "This particular page should not have been published. The BBC never broadcasts or publishes information which may put British troops at increased risk." The Ministry of Defence was not aware of the affair yesterday until alerted by The Daily Telegraph. However, a spokesman said: "We would take this incredibly seriously if it's true. We are checking this with our guys out in Iraq." Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, 151 UK troops have lost their lives, 115 of them in hostile action. The Conservatives demanded an investigation be carried out into the information search and urged the BBC to make sure any information received had not fallen into the wrong hands. Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, voiced his shock at what he claimed was a "bizarre" request for information about army movements. "I am appalled because it shows either a wilful disregard for the safety of our Armed Forces or a shocking lack of understanding about their safety. "It makes me wonder who makes these decisions. The BBC now needs to have urgent discussions with the Armed Forces as to how this message came about," Dr Fox said. The blunder sparked a flood of protests from army insiders and servicemen's relatives, posted on the Army Rumour Service website (www.arrse.co.uk). One woman, who described herself as an "Army wife", said she was "shocked and dismayed" that the BBC was asking people "to report our troop movements on an open forum which could be read by insurgent forces and/or their allies". The BBC insisted last night that the information would not have been published, saying "this was not a blog". But the woman went on: "Surely if you want reporting done, you have staff who are able to do that for you. Otherwise why do we pay over £100 in licence fees?" Another wrote: "Did you realize that the BBC are now helping insurgents in northern Iraq with their intelligence?"[/rquoter]
Didn't you just post a series of right wing blog excerpts with exacting detail of troop movements - 11 hours ago? http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=131098 You're a joke.
actually, they did. remember geraldo and his moustache getting kicked out of iraq by the army for giving away troop positions? http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31809 Fox: Geraldo 'under investigation' Network confirms reporter in hot water with Pentagon Fox News Channel confirmed this evening that reporter Geraldo Rivera is "under investigation" by the Pentagon for allegedly compromising military security by revealing information about troop movement in a broadcast report. Despite comments today from a Pentagon spokesman that Rivera was being "removed from Iraq," Rivera angrily denied reports that he was being booted from the country, blaming the "lie" on cable news competitor MSNBC. Shepard Smith also mentioned on his show, "The Fox Report," that other news outlets reported Rivera had been expelled from Iraq. "He was not," Smith said, noting that Rivera remains on assignment with the 101st Airborne Division. The anchor said Geraldo had drawn a map in the sand that showed viewers troop locations, action that got the attention of the Pentagon. "He was with a military unit in the field and the commander felt that he had compromised operational information by reporting the position and movements of troops," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told Reuters this morning. "The commander thought it best to get the reporter out of his battle space, and we understand he is being removed from Iraq." Whitman later amended his remarks to Reuters, saying Fox News itself had agreed to remove Rivera. His previous comments suggested the military was officially expelling the reporter. "I would say that he is going to be leaving Iraq," added Whitman. "Fox has talked to us and they have indicated to us that they are going to remove him from the area of operations." Rivera addressed the issue in a report early this afternoon. "It sounds like some rats at my former network, NBC, are spreading some lies about me," Rivera told Fox anchor David Asman. "They can't compete fair and square on the battlefield, so they try to stab me in the back. It's not the first time." Continued Rivera, "I just hear that – that someone said I had been kicked out of the country. In fact, I am further inside the country than I have every been." Rivera then took aim at cable news network MSNBC, which trails in the ratings game as a distant third behind No. 1 Fox and No. 2 CNN, and which has come under fire for NBC reporter Peter Arnett's controversial interview with Iraqi TV. Arnett subsequently has been fired. "MSNBC is so pathetic a cable news network that they have to do whatever they can to attract attention, but you can rest assured that anything they are saying is a pack of lies," Rivera said on camera. Other news reports claim it was CNN that first reported the military was expelling Geraldo. Rivera, who is not officially "embedded" with the division, said he intends to march into Baghdad alongside the soldiers of the 101st Airborne. It remains to be seen, however, what the Pentagon investigation will conclude. Last week, reporter Phil Smucker with the Christian Science Monitor was expelled from Iraq after U.S. forces accused him of being too specific about troop locations in a report.
don't you realize that conservatism is the new dirty word. you should count your blessings that the majority of the country is liberal.
its not so much liberal media, its irresponsible media. which comedian does the bit about how the US spending billions on intelligence and all terrorists have to do is turn on the news
i gotta agree. the media is just irresponsible. they're like little kids who insist on seeing how much they can get away with before mommy and daddy grounds them.
...and the 2nd!...I know in a true ideal socialistic-democratic governmental processed society we can't have that right, so thus the paradox....nevermind, carry on...
i used to think you were smart enough to divine the difference between asking for specific troop movements, and reporting where fighting is occurring after the fact. forgive me, i promise never to insult you again by over-estimating your reading comprehension skills.
Now we demand a chance to do things for ourserlf We're tired of beatin' our head against the wall And workin' for someone else We're people, we're just like the birds and the bees We'd rather die on our feet Than be livin' on our knees Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud..........
Already happened? This is from one of the articles that you posted. It came right after the articles mentioned how many troops were involved, and the areas in which they were operating. Say what you will, but it is apparent that it wasn't just an "after the fact" situation as you portrayed it.
Didn't President of the Unites States repeatedly mention that he was moving more troops into Iraq? concentrating more troops in Baghdad? Can we deduce that the President is an al Qaida plant?
i think we can deduce that the world is going mad. it started at in the 20's and its gone down hill for almost a hundred years. it seems like the world gets smarter and dumber at the same time. twisted
Wow - this shameful attempt by basso to draw some sort of hyperlegalistic distinction regarding his disclosure of troop movements to our enemies makes me wonder what side he's really on.
