US Soldiers Trade Iraqi Dead Photos for Porn (This can't be true, can it?)

[Gemini Cricket]

US Soldiers Allegedly Trading Iraqi Dead Pictures for Porn

I was thinking that this was weird, possibly extreme blog weirdness.

But...

The AP Covered it

and then...

The NY Times Covered It.

The Army is investigating complaints that soldiers posted photographs of Iraqi corpses on an Internet site in exchange for access to pornographic images on the site, officials said Tuesday.

[sleepyjeff]

Just goes to show that if you dig hard enough you are bound to find some kind of disgusting behavior among a population of 100,000+.

What is truly disgusting is the reporting of this story.....it can't possibly help the troops on the ground in harms way---so much for the left* saying they "really support he troops but not the war".




*left media, not you gd...I know you're a good guy

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yeah, damned freedom of the press. Those bastards should really just keep their mouth shut.

[innerSpaceman]

sleepyjeff, we do not live (yet) in a police state. Propaganda is the job of the government, but not the press. Their job is to report matters of import and interest, no matter the consequences.

It doesn't matter if it's two grunts or two hundred, it's a story. And how it affects troop morale is not a matter for the press to be concerned with.



Widespread, systemic prisoner abuse can't be good for morale either. Should those stories be squelched? How 'bout the story of how the army is going after the people who've blown the whistle on systemic prisoner abuse, but not the abusers themselves? Bad for morale, huh?

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

sleepyjeff, we do not live (yet) in a police state. Propaganda is the job of the government, but not the press. Their job is to report matters of import and interest, no matter the consequences.

It doesn't matter if it's two grunts or two hundred, it's a story. And how it affects troop morale is not a matter for the press to be concerned with.



Widespread, systemic prisoner abuse can't be good for morale either. Should those stories be squelched? How 'bout the story of how the army is going after the people who've blown the whistle on systemic prisoner abuse, but not the abusers themselves? Bad for morale, huh?

Never said that the press should be banned or barred from reporting this....said it was disgusting that they did. There are lots of stories out there that are not reported that are of much more "import and interest" then this. This is clearly just another attempt to make the American Military look evil......which will imho indirectly cause the deaths of our men and women

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

This is clearly just another attempt to make the American Military look evil......which will imho indirectly cause the deaths of our men and women

In my opinion, the actions are what damages the military image, not the reporting of them. No improper actions, no story. If a certain segment of the military doesn't want to be perceived in the way they are, they need to clean up their act. They can't be taking pictures of their prisoners on leashes, naked, and stacked up to the ceiling... or dead and trading them for porn.

You are shooting the messenger.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

In my opinion, the actions are what damages the military image, not the reporting of them. No improper actions, no story. If a certain segment of the military doesn't want to be perceived in the way they are, they need to clean up their act. They can't be taking pictures of their prisoners on leashes, naked, and stacked up to the ceiling... or dead and trading them for porn.

You are shooting the messenger.

I agree but find me a group of 100,000+ individuals who act as saintly as would be required to escpape a agenda driven media?

If the messenger has a malicious agenda he deserves to be shot!

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

I agree but find me a group of 100,000+ individuals who act as saintly as would be required to escpape a agenda driven media?

You don't think that the photos described, presented in that context go beyond individuals not acting "saintly"? I don't consider it my place to micromanage the military. However, some actions are sufficiently egregious that I consider it my right and duty to object.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

If the messenger has a malicious agenda he deserves to be shot!

I agree, I'll even help put the blindfold on.

We are talking about Pat Robertson, right?

[Gemini Cricket]

CNN and Wolf Blitzer just discussed this issue on TV. They also talked about the blogs that this story was appearing on. This is awesome. People need to know about all this.