Comments on: Congressman: Pull CNN From Iraq Embeds

Rep. Duncan Hunter Chastises Cable Network For Showing Video Of Snipers Firing At U.S. Troops

[radiob-2009]

The U.S. media has fallen from 35th. in being able to report the news to 53rd.,this is do to the adminstration claiming everthing is classifeid and that reporters do not have the right to conceal their sources with the exception of 33 states.Electricity is barely on in Iraq even today when they were trumpeting the plan of Iraqi reconcillation and control in the Green Zone they lost power.By the way that news about Iraq setting timetables is old news,they said it nov. of last year,jan. and april of this year.It is propaganda for our elections.If the press were really allowed to cover Iraq we would see the civil war that is raging.And as far as someone else comments about CNN in the 90ties covering Iraq.They were the first on the scene when the Gulf War broke and continued to follow Iraq throughout the nineties including the multiple times that Iraq flew into designated no fly zones and we shot them down.

[pakaal]

The snipers "won a psychological battle"? I doubt the snipers are really worried about psychological battles, they're too busy fighting physical ones with our troops. Anyone who thinks the CNN story encouraged enemies overseas has probably forgotten that in Iraq there's less than two hours of electricity a day - the TVs aren't on, so where's the encouragement coming from?

The real encouragement these guys get is by hearing the Bush Administration say we're in it for the long run - the one thing sure to make the people of Iraq hate us even more.

[basilkatz]

Airing the video was just another example of corporate greed - nothing else. Be real. The terrorists - and I call anyone whose aim is to kill civilians as well as military to be terrorists - have won a great coup. They have won a psychological battle - that they can shoot and kill any American at any time or place because they are that good. CNN should be ashamed of themselves. Will they next decide to air the beheadings? They have manipulated the news long enough. Doctored photographs from Lebanon. Whatever happened to common sense?

If the American Press had been allowed to cover this war; the way they covered VietNam, it would have been over inside a year.

[docadams3]

Is there any pro-Bush news to report?

[firststate]

I agree with roach, the enlightened Republican. In Russia, Secretary of State Rice recently urged increased freedom for the press there. Do Congressmen Hunter, Issa and Bilbray think that we deserve less? Our brave members of the military deserve to have us know the truth about what they face in Iraq. Without independent, objective reporting, we lack the information we need to understand the world and our place in it. CNN decided that they are on the side of truth, even if it is unpleasant and/or unpopular. They are in the news business not the propaganda business.

[huskerarmy]

Although I don't really see CNN as all that "pro-Bush," at least nothing like Fox, I otherwise totally agree with you Roach. But I've got to say, "timid press," "duty to report," you sure don't sound like any of the Republicans I hear from these days.

[roach9703]

As a Republican, I am surprised that Duncan Hunter took the position about CNN reporting about insurgent activity. Since there were no national security issues involved that could clearly endanger troops, CNN has the right and indeed the duty to report what insurgents are doing to our troops and the the Iraq security forces. Frankly the press is too timid about these matters. CNN is the most pro-bush out there except maybe FOX news. Let the facts speak for themselves so that maybe as a nation we can figure a responsible way of this Iraq mess.

[huskerarmy]

"Gotta go. Thanks for the civil debate. Doesn't happen much here."

But of course there's no place for it at all over at Fox.

[edjohn66]

Why do Republicans hate the truth so much?

Oh yeah, because it makes them look like morons.

[meboard]

Well I'm glad you had fun...

[meboard]

Can you imagen what the counry is going to be like when W and company get done in 2008? I feel the late '60s coming back.

[lestb35]

RonnieHM, just read two pages of comments. You're absolutely right, dude. Hope you catch this.

[ronniehm]

Gotta go. Thanks for the civil debate. Doesn't happen much here.

[ronniehm]

"These are quite different missions with very different Constitutional roles. "
Same answer for the taxes thing.

[ronniehm]

"Now everyone stop picking on Ronnie"
Almost no one's picking on me. I've only seen one personal slam in the whole thread.

[ronniehm]

"Didn't say that this particular case is settled. What I said is that freedom to collect and report the information must be accomodated one way or the other."
Must be according to who? Not the same judges who remove cameras from their court rooms. They seem to think unlimited access is not a right. Perhaps it's because they feel it would interfere with their jobs.

[huskerarmy]

"I don't understand. No soldier can demand to go along on a mission. Why should a reporter get more?"

These are quite different missions with very different Constitutional roles. Long story...

[ronniehm]

"I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE CIA HAS NOT JUST MY NAME ADDRESS AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BUT THAT OF EVERY POSTER ON THIS FORUM."

Yeah, so does Equifax.

[garego43a]

It is difficult to get your head around the republican line. Rep. Hunter is an example of the hipocracy that binds the republicans to a failed military endeavour. His words are self-serving and says nothing about the tradgey that is IRAQ. and says nothing about CNN's reporting. Instead of shooting the messenger, Hunter needs to face the facts: it is time to do something more than "stay the course".