Comments on: The front we don’t hear about http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/10/31/the-front-we-dont-hear-about/ She escaped from the belly of the liberal beast Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:06:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Jose http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/10/31/the-front-we-dont-hear-about/#comment-16187 Jose Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:40:04 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2046#comment-16187 Shortly after Desert Storm ended in 1991, I spent several months in Turkey. I learned that at some point before hostilities commenced, Turkey had expelled all foreign news media. I was told that Turkey had been a launching platform for major operations against Iraq, which were completely unknown to the media, and hence, unreported. I came away with the impression that leadership there had been perfectly content to operate in the "dark". None of the troops I dealt with felt neglected, and although facilities were primitive, I don't think they were any worse than in other areas. During Iraqi Freedom I was near Iraq, again working under a host nation controlled media blackout. Our military frequently operates in nations who do not want to advertise their close relationship with the US. I believe media attention has little affect on funding and support to different fronts. Despite congressional meddling and media hsyteria the DoD does a good job allocating resources where they are needed. In my experience, when the guys downrange asked for something, we did everything we could to get it on the next plane out. I will say that following 9/11, funding was the best since the Reagan years. The internet is probably the best morale booster ever for deployed troops. Phone service is often undependable, and mail takes awhile to establish, often entailing safety risks. Shortly after Desert Storm ended in 1991, I spent several months in Turkey. I learned that at some point before hostilities commenced, Turkey had expelled all foreign news media.

I was told that Turkey had been a launching platform for major operations against Iraq, which were completely unknown to the media, and hence, unreported. I came away with the impression that leadership there had been perfectly content to operate in the “dark”. None of the troops I dealt with felt neglected, and although facilities were primitive, I don’t think they were any worse than in other areas.

During Iraqi Freedom I was near Iraq, again working under a host nation controlled media blackout. Our military frequently operates in nations who do not want to advertise their close relationship with the US.

I believe media attention has little affect on funding and support to different fronts. Despite congressional meddling and media hsyteria the DoD does a good job allocating resources where they are needed. In my experience, when the guys downrange asked for something, we did everything we could to get it on the next plane out. I will say that following 9/11, funding was the best since the Reagan years.

The internet is probably the best morale booster ever for deployed troops. Phone service is often undependable, and mail takes awhile to establish, often entailing safety risks.

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