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From: plunkett@rlgvax.UUCP (S. Plunkett)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.tv
Subject: Re: MURDER of CBS News crew in Lebanon
Message-ID: <590@rlgvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Mar-85 13:06:47 EST
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.590
Posted: Mon Mar 25 13:06:47 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Mar-85 04:16:21 EST
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Xref: watmath net.politics:8236 net.tv:2701

An interesting piece from someone of the media:

> This past week, while conducting its "Iron Fist" policy of withdrawal in 
> Southern Lebanon, two freelance employees of CBS News were killed by a 
> shell fired from an Israeli tank crew.
>  ...
> Please understand that I am NOT supporting either the Israelis or the other
> factions.  A journalist can not take sides when covering an issue or conflict. 
>  ...
> What I am looking for is someone who can possibly make me understand what gives
> the IDF forces the right to take the lives of two innocent, impartial journal
> ists who are simply doing their job.  

Their right comes from their primary duty to complete a military mission.
What right do journalists have in wandering about--on enemy lines--and
not expect a very low probability of survival?

> I would hope that someone can supply these answers.  Because at this moment, I 
> harbor some very hostile feelings toward the Israeli government.  They have 
> killed two co-workers of mine, brothers of the cloth so to speak.  

I'm under the impression, given the nature of your article, not
to mention the subject line accusation of MURDER, that you are not so much
after answers as a confirmation of your hostility not only against the
IDF (they did it deliberately, knowing they were meddling journalists),
but also the Israeli Govt. (their whole Lebanese policy is immoral).

This is a fair example of the bias which the net has argued about recently.
One may well have passionate resentment against the particular commanding
officer that directed the fatal shell fire, but to immediately extrapolate
this to a broadside attack on the Israeli government hints at an unspoken
bias.

The allusion to a religious order, "brothers of the cloth," is not well
taken.  It suggests an entirely inflated sense of importance, and some
strange implication that journalists hold a sanctified status.  It is
ludicrous that military operations that can be lost in a matter of
moments must somehow accomodate reporters dashing about along enemy
lines.

In summary:  Your profession would be better served by giving a little
less of the rage and more of admiration for these newsmen who in all
likelihood understood what they were doing, knew what they had to do,
but lost out.

..{ihnp4,seismo}!rlgvax!plunkett