new long distance kill record (***new article in Macleans***)

[atr]

If a new record was set we'll probably read about it in SOF magazine long before we hear about it from a Canadian source .

Proud of taking lives , hhmmm... I just watched a special on the Battle of Britan and they interviewed a Spitfire pilot . His job was to shoot down ME-109's but after the Germans bombed his town almost killing his wife and killing neighbours his job changed from shooting down enemy aircraft to killing the enemy pilots and he scored 19 kills and was damned proud of it . I see nothing wrong with killing the enemy and keeping score or even offering soldiers bounty .

 

[Longbranch]

Folks it's like this, these situations have been a burr in my ass since that fiasco in Somalia. We (Canadians) sent our troops to a combat zone then and now. This isn't some wiseass international "peace keeping" UN Joke. This is combat. We will kill the ememy and they will try to kill us. Sometimes they will kill us, but god willing and with the best equipment, training and support we will kill more of them. Reporters in a war zone are worse than the enemy. They want to know, they tell us they "have a right to know". Bulls**t, Let our soliders do the job they were sent to do and stop telling the horror of war stories at home. Those people who have never had the personal honour of service, lived as a solider or are generally uneducated in world issues will never understand that the world is not the wonderful utopian bliss of life that we live in Canada. Our soliders should be supported without question. How, when and where lives are taken is not a story or treat for readers or some news "scoop". Put down the notebook and pick up a gun...or get out of the way. Stories of troops, locations, movements, operations and every other activity while deployment should be treated as treason in a time of war.

Okay then...RANT is over.....Thanks

The reporters represent Canadians as much as the soldiers. Not everyone can be in uniform and in action. But as the soldier represents the country, the people of the country have a right to know what's done in their name. Somalia was a perfect example.

Which brings up your point of "Our soliders should be supported without question." Nobody and nothing should be supported without question. No power or authority is above reproach or abuse. No government or part of government is above question. Treat them as so, and you can guarantee misuse of authority, law and force.

Lastly, today's news scoop was yesterday's history books. What we know of 20th Century alone from WWI, WWII, Korean conflict, Vietnam, etc., are because of the presence of reporters, photographers, filmographers, etc. The efforts of many unacknowledged recorders of history are what allow us a foundation for our opinions of military operations today.

 

[ian_in_vic]

What we know of 20th Century alone from WWI, WWII, Korean conflict, Vietnam, etc., are because of the presence of reporters, photographers, filmographers, etc. The efforts of many unacknowledged recorders of history are what allow us a foundation for our opinions of military operations today.

...and of course its great to know that the standards of impartiality and fairness in reporting have survived intact through the years, and that the quality standards and absolute dedication to truth displayed by editors continues to shine. Can I have some more Koolaid please?

 

[AlwaysPlayin]

Some people will never understand, those that have been, do.

Our troops have signed up to defend this country. They are sent on behalf of a government who made a decision, they do us proud.

I have nothing but the highest respect for those who choose to serve.

Good luck and god speed to those currently serving over seas.

+1

AP

 

[Longbranch]

...and of course its great to know that the standards of impartiality and fairness in reporting have survived intact through the years, and that the quality standards and absolute dedication to truth displayed by editors continues to shine.

The fact that there's the option of photo evidence is what allows one to sidestep the words of editors or others who wish to distort truth or simply get it wrong.

The lack of imparitality or fairness is why everything should be questioned. Everything.

 

[dan belisle]

I agree with Longbranch, while our soldiers do the bidding of our government (which by definition should be "our" bidding, but isn't always) they deserve our support, but not blind faith. Like any organisation, they have bad apples as well as good, and because they fall under the orders of people with a political agenda, a close eye should be kept. Of course, I also feel a close eye should be kept on the media, as they have thier own agenda, now don't they? Trust no one, question everything. - dan

 

[Dosing]

That Slavex fella posting a thread like this... newbies

Can someone actually give us the article, by the time I checked the store yesterday the mag was gone, and the new issue is out.

 

[Bookworm]

Someone stated that what we know of history is because of the reporters and photographers who took the shots and wrote about the battles. ---- Up until Vietnam almost all battlefield reporters and photos were Servicemen not civilians and thus tempered their coverage to show their people in the best light. It should also be remembered that history books are written by the WINNING side.

Can a civilian reporter be unbiased in a war zone ---- IMHO not a chance
Does a civilian reporter understand what is happening around him in a war zone ---- again IMHO --not a chance

Should we question the actitivities of our soldiers on the ground ------ IMHO unless you are there NO because you will not and can not understand how things happen in a firefight unless you are in it and even then, what you are doing is mostly reaction to the moment. Later after things cool down you can go back over things and decide that maybe, it should have been done differently, but in the heat of battle you do what is nessacary at the moment.

IMHO

Dave