Not the press releasing the photos, but releasing the photos to the press. I'm talking about the government waiting before they release them. It's not right to influence a trial or investigation with a ton of public pressure. They need to find the truth. What if it turns out this was only linked to the 6 or 7 people involved in what went on? It might not be the case but we have to find the proof first. It seems as if the timing was done correctly.
But Taguba's report was already out or at least underway. There were numerous other reports also out there. Nothing was being done UNTIL the photos were released. In this case the public pressure helped the govt. take a look at what was going on. It's a case of the photo release actually helping keep things in check, the way it's supposed to work.
I'm addressing what might be my misconception that some posters on here wanted to know why we didn't know about this directly after it happened. Also, Gen. Myers asking 60 minutes to wait on the story seems reasonable as well, I agree 60 minutes didn't have to, but with our troops in Fallujah firefights, journalistic integrity one out for the first time in a long time.
I don't know. I think it's the media's responsiblity to not be beholden to the government's wishes. They shouldn't wait on a story because it's convenient for the army. I will admit in the long run it probably didn't make a journalistic difference as to if the story would have come out. But the fact that 60 minutes would wait because a general asked them to, is dangerous. I think that no part of govt. should expect those types of requests to be granted. It's important that the media not become a tool or part of govt.
But they didn't have to wait, they just felt it was the right thing to do. I don't think that constitutes being a tool to the govt. Certainly not based on some of the things I've seen on 60 mins.
