The Town Hall Archives

Jared · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 8:54 pm Post subject: Should POW Video Be Shown On TV?

I'm not going to make this into a poll thread, as I want real, thought-out responses, not just "yes" and "no" answers.

As I'm sure most, if not all, of you are aware, Iraqi forces captured at least ten members of a U.S. Mechanical Division that accidentally strayed off course. Several of these POWs were killed by shots to the head execution-style, while others are being detained and forced to speak to cameras. They are kicked, beaten, forced up and made to answer questions for the Iraqi media to their humiliation and injury.

It's an outright violation of the Geneva Convention, not that Iraq would care.

It's sickening. It's terrible.

It's very saddenning.

But... should it be shown on TV? Right now, the only network airing the gruesome video is Quatar-based Al Jazeera. All American networks have, for the moment, at least, decided against airing the video. They talk about it on the air, but don't actually roll the video.

So, debate it: should it be on the air or not? I'll try to briefly outline both sides here.

Don't Air It. It's sickening, saddening and demeaning to the families of the victims. War is not a game and watching this ghastly video is not entertainment. To show it on the air would be cruel and would only serve Saddam's propaganda purposes.

Air It. Air it because it's repulsive. Yes, it's sickening. Yes, some would say that it's something no one should ever see. But war is terrible and too many people fail to realize that. Put a warning on before the video is displayed, but then go ahead and air it. Let those who are heaping praise on Saddam see how his forces treat our troops. Let those who are still on the fence have their position solidified by one huge jolt from the jarring video. Let every American see the reality of war so they can understand the sacrifices made by these troops. Yes, embedded reporters help show the reality of life in camp, but allow the horror these soldiers face enter the living rooms of the American people. They need to understand.

Well, those are the sides. Your opinion, everyone?

For the record, I say air it, but with ample warnings. I've watched the video online via Al Jazeera feeds. It is terrible. But no one can watch it and come away still loving Saddam and hating our troops and the country for which they fight. Let it air... Let them see the reality of war and the truth about Saddam's brutal regime.

Elf of Rivendell · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 10:51 pm Post subject:

DON'T air it! You mentioned the families of the victims. How would the friends, families, etc. feel if they watched that video? I think it would be devastating. I know many people who would be really disturbed if they watched it (and believe me, most of them aren't kids). It's disgusting and cruel!

As for me, if I watched it, the images would probably stick in my head for a long time and give me nightmares.

Yes, I agree that the public should know how wicked Saddam is, but does it have to be that extreme? For example, if something like that was to be a movie, it would be rated R and will restrict some viewers, especially younger ones. If it's publicly shown on TV, who knows who is watching? What if they're kids... or the kids of the victims?

Doesn't even reading about it work?

Respectahobbit · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 11:06 pm Post subject:

Excuse me.........I think I'm going to vomit........ I WANT TO DESTROY SADDAM!!!!!!!!!!!

The Top Crusader · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 11:49 pm Post subject:

I'm going along with Jared on this.

Far, far too often the thought of war is glossed over, and glamourized, but showing this brings the cold, hard reality of war to the American people.

Obviously, they should air warnings first, and possibly blur out the faces of the soldiers or something.

But still... I'm in favor of it being aired.

hawkeye · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 12:52 am Post subject:

I think they should tell the weak hearted/stomached /kids to leave, and then black (not fuzz) out the faces and show the 'highlights' to show how wrong those who are protesting even today really are. Let those opposing the war see the soldier say "I am here because I was told to be here, and I am not here to hurt anyone unless they try to hurt me first."

Elf of Rivendell · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 2:05 am Post subject:

TTC and Hawkeye, have you watched it? I don't have the courage to...

hawkeye · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 2:18 am Post subject:

Im looking since Jared isn't on. (How can Jared not be on???)

Jared · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 7:08 am Post subject:

I'm not sure how it's possible that I wasn't on at any given point in time! :)

Okay... about the video. I viewed it via an online Al Jazeera feed that is no longer working for me. They were running it every five minutes yesterday. Of course, that network probably enjoyed the whole thing.

Sickening.

As I can no longer access the feed, I don't know if they are airing it anymore. Here, however, are a select few still frames from the feed:

http://www.drudgereport.com/md323.htm

Be advised: it's graphic. Although, not nearly as terrible as the actual video. Because this page only shows stills of times when there's no way to recognize a face in the picture, it only shows a small amount of what was on the video. Furthermore, a still frame doesn't show how these men, injured men, were slammed forward, kicked and forced to speak to the camera. Still, a look at these pictures gets the point accross. In case anyone hadn't figured it out yet, this regime is evil.

VERY evil.

hawkeye · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 7:28 am Post subject:

Yeah< i found that site, but as you said, it shows little. It seems that no one, either in the USA or England could access the site yesterday afternoon on, as most of the al Jazeera sites were (probably cencored). However, I did find (at least last night) http://www.al-jazirah.com/ worked, however the most I could find there was an article with two very kindly pics, and it was all in Aribic.... Do you have the url? Perhapse it will work on http://www.al-jazirah.com/..... (Its still available as of this post)

Jared · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 7:44 am Post subject:

The video was on a live feed from aljazeera.net -- but the site is down.

Apparently, half the internet world tried to access that site and watch the video. Bad for servers.

By the way, here's a site I've been following for the latest war news since shortly after the war began. Anyone interested in up-to-the-minute news should definitely try this page: www.command-post.org