And the media wonders why most US service members that aren't wet behind the ears doesn't like them or trust them.
[urlhttp://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/07/media_double_standard_on_captu.asp[/url]

Media Double Standard on Captured US Soldier Predictable
Remember how the media conspired to hide the capture of New York Times reported David Rohde by the Taliban? We were told the media did the right thing to deliberately not report on his capture in order to ensure the reporter's safety and not allow the Taliban to use the media to manipulate the narrative.

Today, it has been reported that an American soldier has gone missing in eastern Afghanistan. Unsurprisingly, just about every media outlet has run a major story on the capture, and if they haven't, they will do so shortly. You can bet that when the soldier's name is revealed, we'll be bombarded with interviews of his family and any images or videos released by the Taliban.

The obvious question is why is it prudent to hide Rohde's kidnapping yet splash the headlines with the capture of a U.S. soldier? The answer is that the media views itself as being above the fray in America's wars. In their eyes, they're a neutral party, not part of the story, so they can remove themselves from the story when they wish. And the funny thing is they re-insert themselves back in the story when it makes them look good, like this feel-good piece on David Rohde's triumphant return to the New York Times newsroom.



De Oppresso Liber

Did the U.S. military request media silence on the capture of this soldier?


"A man never drinks anything that a plant lives in" --DBone (A Real Man).
http://vimeo.com/4938173

How can they when they are required to inform next of kin?

De Oppresso Liber

Well, Rohde's next of kin was notified of his capture. They just kept quiet about it and so did the media (at their request). Similarly, I think the military could have advised the family of this soldier about his capture while informing the media but asking the media to keep it under cover.

It appears that while it was announced that a soldier was captured that the name of the soldier was not released.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533808,00.html

That is until the Taliban put him up on YouTube today. But that's not our "media."



"A man never drinks anything that a plant lives in" --DBone (A Real Man).
http://vimeo.com/4938173

Sounds more and more analogous to the Rohde's situation. The military acknowledged a soldier had been captured, but did not say who. Even his family kept it secret. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534020,00.html