According to Scott Kesterton, a fearless war reporter back in Afghanistan for his second major tour, CNN is dictating terms to the U.S. military in the war-torn country:
Yesterday, I was told that CNN had established a new news bureau here in Kabul, relocating from Iraq as that war has begun tapering off. According to an unidentified source here in Kabul, the CNN bureau has notified the Army that it will only cover kinetic, or direct action operations; that it will not provide any coverage for humanitarian or reconstruction efforts. It was added that their position is what CNN’s viewers demand. … Or is it a case of the giant imposing its will?
(Photo: CNN)
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Good news? BAH! HUMBUG!
Progress? What, are you *insane*?
Balanced reporting? You have obviously mistaken me for someone who careth.
No no no, we’re only here to report when you screw the pooch … and we’re going to do it in the most lurid detail possible to try and gain rubberneckerz … er, I mean, viewers/ratings.
So hurry up and loan us a helicopter so we can film a high speed (25mph) chase of a white van through the Hindu Kush and fill an afternoon’s slow news day! That’ll beat Faux Newts for one day! Boo Awwww!
Its kinda sad, but thats the way news services get ratings, I dont agree with it but I dont see a change in how they will operate anytime soon. It defiantly wont help public opinion of us rebuilding Afghanistan.
Scott Kesterton? A terrible writer; just offal.
[...] CNN Wants To Show Only Kinetic Operations In Afghanistan [...]
‘If it bleeds it leads’
Seriously though I think the military (or any public organization) should make all its dealings with media public information. That way unethical behavior on all sides will be curtailed. Nice catch David.
“According to an unidentified source here in Kabul”
This pretty much says it all about “fearless” Kesterton. More like “feckless”. Guy needs an editor.
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[...] CNN Wants To Show Only Kinetic Operations In Afghanistan Yesterday, I was told that CNN had established a new news bureau here in Kabul, relocating from Iraq as that war has begun tapering off. According to an unidentified source here in Kabul, the CNN bureau has notified the Army that it will only cover kinetic, or direct action operations; that it will not provide any coverage for humanitarian or reconstruction efforts. It was added that their position is what CNN’s viewers demand. … Or is it a case of the giant imposing its will? [...]
Sickening if you ask me, but it’s what you can expect from both the people and the media.