Reporters at war briefing racist?

[suvdrvr]

At this mornings briefing by Brig. Gen. Brooks, who happens to be a black man, a reporter for the New Yorker Magazine ask when they would be briefed by a higher ranking officer i.e. a white guy.
He said some of the reporters had left and wouldn't set in on the briefings by him. I believe Geraldo Rivera was one of them. If this had been a conservative reporter making this statement, all hell would have broke loose.

 

[swampgator]

I think the comment was made due to the fact Brooks is only a one-star, not based on his skin color.

The press have an attitude that they should be "in" at the highest possible level. So if there is someone of higher rank available, he or she should give the reporters the briefing.

Personally I think all briefings should be given by a crusty Master Sergeant or Sergeant Major.

It'd go something like this:

Reporter: "Sergeant Major, can you describe for us the action that took place."

SGM: "First we kicked them in their balls, then we kicked them in their teeth!"

 

[Blackhawk]

swampgator nailed it.

 

[10-Ring]

I would think Gen Franks has better things to worry about than reporters & morning briefings.

 

[PATH]

Press is full of prima donna's who need to have a two by embedded!

 

[Raymond VanDerLinden]

You already know that Reporters are Idiots

Only an Idiot would want to talk to the boss rather that the people that really know what the hell is going on.

Talk to the Boss you get the comapny line, talk to the secretary and you find out what is happening.

Yup Swampgator got it right. But some old Sergeant Major would scare the hell out of the press. And just might kick a reporters rear for asking too many stupid Questions.

 

[jmbg29]

I wouldn't even let the sh*tbird that digs the latrines waste time talking to those F-ing morons.



If they want to know how the war is going, I'd tell them to call Chirac, and ask him how likely it is that his traitor-rat country is going to recieve the blood-money owed them!

 

[hjrocket]

BG Brooks

Those reporters should pay attention to Brooks--he is an up-and-comer,
class of 1980 West Point, he was the FIRST CAPTAIN as a cadet. His brother West Point '79 is also a BG and is current Commandant of Cadets at USMA.

 

[XLMiguel]

Come'on jmbg, tell us how you really feel -

'gator & Path, got it. Hope all them media folks find honest work when the war's over.

It was explained early on that Franks is not inclined to waste time pandering to the media idiots (yes, they are, just listen to the questions they ask - ) His responsibility is to the task at hand. Brooks is a very capable guy doing a fine job, and the weenies aren't going to get any better answers out of someone 'higher up'. Pesonally, I'm annoyed with the amount of info getting out (i.e exposed supply lines), and all this TV real time crap is dangerous.

It ain't 'infotainment' people, it's war, and real lives are in the balance. Just watching the rumors float in the 'fog', damn, we'll tell you what we know when we know, when you need to know. Live with it.

 

[ahadams]

Not only was BG Brooks the first general officer in his year group (well the westies always make it before the rotcs but being the first still means he's a hotshot) but putting him in as the official briefer means that all the 4 stars are trusting him to know what to say. Anybody who has ever worked around even one general officer knows they don't normally trust *anybody* to speak for them. In other words BG Brooks is hot and no doubt about it.

Personally I think all of the folks who are skipping his briefings should be informed that there will be a new briefing officer just for them, and that will be the only briefing they will be allowed to attend. Then they need to find an LT with coke-bottle thick glasses who reads in a monotone and give him a direct order that he is to enter at the prescribed time, read the briefing from beginning to end without stopping, and leave without taking any questions... a week or two of that ought to knock some sense into some of them!

 

[Tim Burke]

BG Brooks is hot

This was apparent to me the first time I saw the guy. The reporters are idiots.
Is he General Franks' J2?

I think all of the folks who are skipping his briefings should be informed that there will be a new briefing officer just for them

A splendid idea. I'd lock the room after they arrive (security, you know), not unlock it until the briefing was over, and have the LT talk for 2 hours.

 

[seeker_two]

They should have a Corporal from the Mess Hall conduct the daily briefings...

CPL: Hello, "ladies" & "gentlemen". Before we begin, I have an announcement. The special today in the chow line is Steak Smothered in Savory Sauce and Toast. Well, actually it's more like steak BITS in sauce...OK, there's a lot more sauce than steak...and we're not really SURE that it's steak. We know it's MEAT--sorta. Aw, heck! We're having SOS again...

I'll now be taking your questions...

 

[Leatherneck]

I saw that on TV last evening. The two loud "thud" sounds were my wife's and my own jaws hitting the floor. I won't share the thoughts that went through my mind regarding that reporter. I was impressed with how BG Brooks handled himself. Good on ya' Sir!

TC
TFL Survivor