Karen Selwyn wrote:
> Badger wrote:
>
>>
>> Karen, while I support our troops whole heartedly, and having a
>> relative and several friends in the midst of this now. I must say you
>> really don't know what you're talking about. The news on tv is a farce
>> as to what's actually going on, and I have information directly from
>> the troops that are there.
>
>
> I really don't understand what you're saying. That some segment of the
> soldiers really isn't distressed by images of their bases on Google
> Earth? That the news organization planted the distress in the minds of
> the soldiers who were interviewed?
No, I'm saying only SOME segments ARE distressed about Google earth, and
they are the ones the news media were looking for. I contend most are
not worried about Google earth as much as they are about random
Terrorist car bombs on the road ways.
>
>> As far as the Google stuff, anyone who wants the data, has been able
>> to get it for years. If they didn't know it existed, then you can
>> blame the news for spilling the beans and putting the troops in harms
>> way. Your argument to not show the bases is silly. If they didn't show
>> what was in certain areas the terrorist would know what was there any
>> way.
>
>
> Now, you've really lost me. Google Earth puts the images on the
> internet, but the fault belongs to the news media?
>
I apologize for confusing you. Google has software which DISPLAYS the
information that is already on the Internet. As have many others before
Google. Google is only ONE source of this data, and they are new at it.
This data has been available on THE INTERNET for many years. The people
that were smart enough to use it, already were, and the ones that
weren't were notified of it's availability by the media.
> The soldiers' quarrel has less to do with the existence of their base at
> specific latitude and longitude coordinates than the high res images
> showing the exact location of tents, mess halls, runways, etc. -- little
> of which has changed since the photos were taken.
I think the quarrel was instigated. I suspect most of the soldiers
didn't even know this information was available anyway. And it's been
available for a long time. Most people such as yourself probably didn't
know about it either, until they saw it on the news.
>
>
> But I'm not analyzing anything. I'm accepting the reality of soldiers'
> perception and responding to their distress. The interviewed soldiers
> are in combat, and their perception of safety and security is colored by
> that fact. From the safety of my living room, I'm unwilling to dismiss
> the soldiers'distress so blithely.
>
You can't form any type of opinion on any subject without analyzing at
some level, which was my point. I any case, I take with a grain of salt
anything the news media shows, as they mostly biased.
I dismissed nothing, however, I will say that I believe there are more
soldiers in combat situations that are not concerned about this than
there are that are worried/concerned/distressed about it. This opinion
comes from actually speaking personally to some of them.
I am glad that you have concern for the troops though. I do know they
appreciate people like yourself.
Clay |