Some Things Should Not be Reported in the News!!
By Adoniah
@Adoniah (7513)
United States
December 17, 2007 4:22pm CST
Today when I was watching the news, there was a story about how old some of our military planes were and how bad a shape they were in. The reporter did not act like it was really any big deal as he went on to say that all of our F15 have been grounded indefinitely and that the Canadian Air Force has taken over the Alaskan serveillance for us. Then he went on to talk about the grounding of our 30+ year old P3's. The P3's are used to look for subs in the Med and in the Persian Gulf and now they are not able to.
I know, that if this information had not been broadcast over the American news like this, it would still have reached the eyes and ears of those who could and would take advantage of it. But it might have taken just a little bit longer, and once again our country might not have looked quite as stupid for grandly announcing things that other countries keep secret.
Our Country used to think it noble to keep secrets from the "enemy". Now it seems they should Know it first so that they can be prepared. I am sick of this. This is why we keep failing in our foreign policies!
So what do you think?
6 people like this
12 responses
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
18 Dec 07
There was an article in Newsmax (I think, or maybe Newsweek) several months ago about this very thing. If we have problems with financing our military, something needs to be done about it, and I don't know how else people will find out about it. The military budget was cut very drastically during the Clinton years, and I think we are still paying for it. The older planes can't even get parts for them because they aren't being made anymore. And we've all heard in the news in the past year or so about our armed forces not having enough equipment to protect them. Our military spending should be a priority, I think. If we want to remain a top power, we have to pay for it.
3 people like this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Hello estherlou,
Have you been paying attention to how our astute Congress has been handling the funding of our military? I think they just passed a bill that would fund them until maybe March now. But that does not include any improvements or repairs it is just payroll etc. I work with the homeless and low income thru the Public Housing Authority and it used to be that these people could get food from the local churches and charities that came from Government surplus. Guess where all that food goes now? Yeah, it is used to make the meals that feed our troops. So the homeless and poor are getting less and less help here at home. Congress won't supply enough money to even feed our troops properly. That is really sad.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
18 Dec 07
I agree that much of the news that is shown should not be, and also that there is MUCH news not shown that should be. I would say a lot more about this, except for my personal policy of trying not to get involved in online discussions about politics or religion. I still remember the time my brother and I had to leave our Uncle's home in the middle of dinner, because a friend who was with us gave the wrong answer to one of Uncle's intolerant questions. My Aunt cried when Uncle threw us out. I still remember the tears rolling down her face.
3 people like this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
18 Dec 07
I will never throw you out of a discussion. There is never a wrong answer, just a different point of view. People can disagree without getting angry. At least I can. That is the whole point of a discussion. I have learned so much from "friendly arguments"!!! Even if I disagree, I still learn something and take something away with me from every discussion!
2 people like this
@lbinkley (1075)
• United States
19 Dec 07
It really angers me to hear stories like this that point out for the whole world to see that there is a weakness somewhere. Just like when I was a military wife it angered me when someone, just out of stupidity, would make comments or whatnot that could have given away our guys' position, and therefore got them killed. For real, freedom of the press is one thing, but National security should ALWAYS come first!
2 people like this
@keminem001 (779)
• Saint Lucia
18 Dec 07
you are right Adoniah some things just should not be reported in the news, but News reporters still go ahead and do it anyway. i sometimes look at the news and i see all the false information they sometimes broadcast all the lies they tell the people. it just frustrates me to see these things happening. and they make it sound like it's not such a big deal that this stuff is happening or climate change is affecting us etc.
2 people like this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
18 Dec 07
They will report anything that just might up their ratings. The grosser or more sensational the better. And sometimes they try to make the present Administration look bad because the network is for the other party, which may be the case here.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Dec 07
I agree this is asinine to let something like this out. Number one, it's not very reassuring for we Americans to know what decrepit conditions our military planes are in, but as you say, opens the door for anyone who wishes to harm us to know of our weaknesses. Wonder why the gov't didn't censor this...gee, might as well tell the world how one can detect the Stealth bombers
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Funny you should mention Roosevelt...don't know why this popped in my head. A lot of people might know it now about the Roosevelt family in general, but how many knew back then that the family was of Dutch Jewish heritage? Look at all the hoopla they made out of Kennedy cause he was Catholic?
2 people like this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
18 Dec 07
Hello pyewacket,
They basically have, a lot of the info is on the net.
During WWII when the rockets landed on the coast of California it was the best kept secret in the world. Today they would have it on CNN in 2 minutes. And what about Roosevelt and his Polio. There are probably still people who do not know that he could not walk. All the reporters knew, but no one told.
Could you see people today using ration coupons or being told they could not have tires for their Hummers or SUVs because we need to win this war?
2 people like this
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
24 Dec 07
I have to agree with you that way too much information is put over the airwaves that has no business being there. Everyone is out to get their next story not ever once thinking of the consequences of their stories in full until to late or ever.
2 people like this
@meeandnotyou (2548)
• United States
17 Dec 07
hmmm... Maybe this type of information is an intentional leak to show those, that want to take advantage of this situation, that there is a wekness when there really is no weekness at all.
How easy would it be to justify our continued gulf presence then to have another attack that is thwarted by the Great US Military.
It is an age old strategy to expose a false weekness then when someone tries to capitolize on that weekness we get the easy victory. Maybe this is the situation, and anyone that tries to get the weekness will get their a$$ handed to them.
The United States Government has used media of all sorts since media existed. So please do not put too much faith in these things as I am sure there is nothing there that can actually be used against us, since no true weekness ever will get released with the exception of as a comedic performance, a side note, or after it has all ready been fixed.
Thank you for the thought provoking post. HAVE A GREAT DAY!!
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
17 Dec 07
Hello meeandnotyou,
Interesting thought, but these planes really are grounded indefinitely. When wings start to shear off inflight from the metal just wearing away from years of air passing over them, the planes are truely unsafe to fly. This is happening. I have fiends in the "business" and pilots were really getting upset about the conditions.
When I was stationed overseas in the 70s, I worked with a P3 squadron. That was 30 years ago. Those planes are tired. The P3's and F15's have been flying nonstop since the Gulf thing started and now that Russia is doing its little Alaskan fly overs the F15's have been stretched to the limit.
3 people like this
@meeandnotyou (2548)
• United States
18 Dec 07
But with the advancements that the US has at it's disposial I am sure that if not before this was reported then shortly after the gap that was in the defence has been filled by that which is bigger and better.
I know full well that the US does pinch every penny so hard that it almost slips into their system, but when it comes to recovering face the US does it on a grand scale. the US cannot afford to get cought with their pants down again.
Thank you for the response and HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
17 Dec 07
Freedom of the press is our birth rite.I would rather hear about every little thing than live where there is a committee deciding what I can hear about and what I can't.The sad part is that these reports are airing on t.v. and most people still don't know anything about it. The best way to hide something important these days is to air it on the local news.if it isn't on-line, on You tube, or My Space most of us wouldn't know about it.
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
18 Dec 07
When it comes to the status of our military which is currently actively engaged, I think there are things that should not be told out. It puts our military at risk and it may put our whole country at risk. Right now Russia is pushing our buttons by flying over our air space in Alaska. If we did that to them, they would shoot our planes down. All we have been doing is keeping an eye on them. Now we have to rely on Canada to do that for us. It is good that they are there to do it, but it is a sorry situation that we have to use them and that our enemies know that we are vunerable. We are supposed to be the strongest Nation in the world and now our military is falling apart at the seams literally.
3 people like this
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
17 Dec 07
m sure that the government has other ways to take on the jobs that these planes were doing. Look at how long it took to revel the stealth bomber. There are many things in government that will never be reveled to the general public. I know as someone who knew many of these secrets but still will not revel them to the public.
1 person likes this
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
17 Dec 07
They are helping us as we help them. We try to work with Canada in matters like this. There are many other things that the USA and Canada are doing for each other. We are not at war with Canada and we do have many common enemies so it helps if we work to keep these common enemies to of our countries.
1 person likes this
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
18 Dec 07
The US is the only superpower left in the world since the Cold War, and the US Air Force and Navy have technological capabilities that are far superior compared to other countries. I'm quite sure that if there is any information disseminated that reveals about the true state of the military that is regarded state secret or highly sensitive, the US Government or military would have censured it. Air and naval technology and equipment can get old over time and need replacements, but I'm sure the US has adequate might and firepower to support its overseas military missions, otherwise she will take necessary steps to remedy the situation. For all you know, what the reporters have disclosed might not be the entire story, and it might lull aggressors into a false sense of weakness on the strength and capability of the US military. If information leaks about the real state of the US military breach security, I'm sure it would have already raised alarm bells and triggered a firm retort from those in authority.
1 person likes this
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
19 Dec 07
I can't debate on what you have related, because frankly I do not know the specific details nor am I privy to such information, unless I had read about this in some news report. You may just be right if what you know come from reliable sources or from real-life experiences. On the issue about reporters divulging information about the military, I guess like any government, any reporting about the military that is regarded as sensitive will likely be controlled, and usually clearance will be needed. What's reported may not throw a good light on the military, but on the other hand may not be deemed too sensitive for it to be swept below the carpet.
2 people like this
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
20 Dec 07
Your opinion is a valid one that evokes some concern, especially among parents who have their sons and daughters attached overseas in hostile countries. Whatever the state of the military, US troops operating in rogue nations will always be subjected to risks to their lives, because terrorists and extremist groups detest US occupation in their countries and will always be hostile to them as long as they are physically there.
2 people like this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
19 Dec 07
I think that one of the main problems here is that any signs of weakness on our part just empowers our enemies more. They just get bolder and bolder and feel that they are invincible. It puts our military in greater danger and that is where the greatest wrong is being commited!!
1 person likes this
@alamode (3071)
• United States
18 Dec 07
This sounds like a bit of 'disinformation'... we have more equipment than that, so it may be an effective way to lull our enemies into being over-confidant... which they are to begin with. And this isn't our country broadcasting this... its the news media, who would give us all away for an exclusive. I don't watch anymore...
1 person likes this
@mcjustin (82)
• United States
18 Dec 07
I remember that report and I get infuriated when I hear stories like that being broadcast around the world. A free media is crucial to a democratic society. But reports such as you have discribed, which by the are airred every day, clearly reflect on our military readiness. I think the media should adopt a real code of ethics that would place the highest priority on our national security!
