While I was waiting to manifest on the flight to Fallujah, CNN played a news segment of President Bush announcing there would be no "graceful exit" from Iraq and that we'd stay until the mission was complete. Two sergeants in the room cheered. Loudly. They then scoffed at the reports from Baghdad, and jeered the balcony reporting.
In nearly every conversation, the soldiers, Marines and contractors expressed that they were upset with the coverage of the war in Iraq in general and the public perception of the daily situation on the ground. They felt the media was there to sensationalize the news, and several stated some reporters were only interested in "blood and guts."
Yet, they freely admitted the obstacles in front of them in Iraq.
Most recognized that while we are winning the war on the battlefield, albeit with difficulties in some areas, we are losing the information war. They felt the media had abandoned them.
During each conversation, I was left in the awkward situation of having to explain that while, yes, I am wearing a press badge--I'm not "one of them." I used descriptions like "independent journalist" or "blogger"--in an attempt to separate myself from the pack.
This isn't the first time I've encountered this sentiment from the troops. I experienced this attitude from the Marines while I was in western Iraq last year, and the soldiers in the Canadian Army in Afghanistan also expressed frustration with the media's presentation of the war.
I've always said that the hardest thing about embedding (besides leaving my family) is wearing the badge that says "PRESS." That hasn't changed. I hide the badge whenever I can get away with it.
Bill is currently embedded in Iraq and writes at billroggio.com
Source: The Raw Story Raw introduces Iraq correspondent as military, media divide grows
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