The recent incident concerning the shooting of an Iraqi by a Marine in Fallujah incites in me nothing but contempt for the folks at NBC. Certainly they had to be aware that broadcasting this tape would be used as propaganda for the enemies of freedom in Iraq.
There is no doubt in my mind that the reporter had every right to do his job. But this tape should have been handed over to Marine authorites for investigation not to al Jazeera.
What was the benefit in airing this tape? There was none.
There is no evidence that this is a widespread problem the the US military is not addressing, yet al Jazeera will make it seem that this is so.
There is no evidence that it is US policy to take no prisoners, yet al Jazeera will make it seem that this is so.
There is no evidence that the US is being disrespectful to Islam (while there is every evidence that the Islamo-fascists are), yet al Jazeera will make it seem that this is so.
No matter how you slice it, NBC had no good reason to air this tape and by doing so, is either completely clueless regarding how the world works, or is so obsessed with ratings that they are willing to put at risk the well being of millions of Iraqis and thousands of US soldiers for profit.
There simply is no justification in my mind for acting so irresponsibly. The reporter and NBC knowing they turned the tape over to authorites could have followed up on the investigation and if no action was taken, they would then have been justified in brodcasting its contents.
If NBC had found that it had become US policy to kill prisoners unbeknownst to the American public, then they would have been justified in broacasting that story.
But this is a non story for many, many, many, reasons.
And broadcasting this was simply unconscionable.
I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don’t have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em all around
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you ’bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
It’s interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
You don’t really need to find out what’s going on
You don’t really want to know just how far it’s gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re stiff
Kick ’em all around
Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody’s pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When it’s said and done we haven’t told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!-Don Henley
