To what extent does the media assist or limit the conduct of military operations Essay Example for Free

To what extent does the media assist or limit the conduct of military operations Essay Some form of controversy has been regularly generated between the press and the military especially the question of media access to the battlefield. Conflict between reporter and the military is not new. As war correspondents became of age in the Civil War, the military began its determination to protect its operations. The media have often called this determination â€Å"censorship. † The military/media relationship is seriously degraded because of mistrust between the two entities. Sources of this mistrust are analyzed, to include: cultural differences; the perception of biased reporting; misunderstanding and ignorance; and speculation. In any operation there are many aspects of military/media relations which include operational security, the press pool system, logistics, public opinion, etc. However, there has been animosity between journalists and the military. The military frequently views press as offering only potential harm not benefit (Carruthers, 2000). The press, on the other hand, has a history of being critical of the military. For instance, U.  S. media and professional associations insist that the military must accommodate the press in wartime situations, for three good reasons which include: the press has always been present when troops have been involved; the public has a fundamental right to know; and restrictions put violate the First Amendment. Yet on some ground between the military operational requirement for information to be made available only on a basis of needing to know, and the right of the citizens of a democracy to know about what their military is doing, lies a middle ground (Dandeker, 1995). Generally, soldiers understand fighting and journalists understand communicating, yet none of them knows that the political impact of combat depends on how the fighting is communicated. Hence both sides need one another. Key civilian and military leaders have now embraced the fact that successful inclusion of the press to ensure adequate coverage is not an optional luxury, but rather is a necessity in todays information age and the expectations of the citizens. The benefits gained from the news media coverage of military operations outweigh the drawbacks, and therefore press coverage should be permitted. There is no set solution appropriate for every situation, since every war is unique. But improvements in military planning, officer training, and press indoctrination will help solve some of the current problems in the military/media relationship. How media assist the conduct of military operations In todays technology-driven world, the media is a fourth dimension added to air, land, and sea and the operational commander must contend with this potent entity to be relevant. Moreover, the media is an accelerator of immense importance in todays world in respect to the operational factors of time, space, and force affecting the operational commander decision-making. The reason why the military should engage the media is probably best stated by General (Ret) Dennis J.  Reimer in a 1997 memorandum to his senior Army leaders. â€Å"Our success, as an institution, depends on the degree to which all senior leaders communicate clearly to the people. It is in fact part of your METL [Mission Essential Task List],† said Reimer. To begin with, the military has the need for improved defense related public relations. The media is an important force multiplier, and it must be harnessed to win the battle of the hearts and minds of the people and keep them fully abreast of developments at home and abroad. This will ensure that they are not misled by rumors, propaganda and dis-information; this could happen if they do not have access to a truthful and speedy account of the facts and the progress of events. Secondly, the media is important in projecting the operations to the remotest parts of the country and arousing nationalism and patriotic fervour in the nation. Thirdly, having a media team at each level of command down to the battalion level is of great help to project the activities of the armed forces through films and other means. The procedure evolved provide for regular operational briefings by the operational/intelligence staff at headquarters or by the concerned corps/divisional commanders. Fourthly, training selected service officers and men in media work by running suitable courses for them on a regular basis and also media personnel need to understand the organisation, role, ethos and fighting capabilities of the armed forces and the characteristics of its various units is most beneficial (that is , media-military interface). Fifthly, limiting journalists access to a war can also work against the military. Galloway pointed to the Persian Gulf War as an example. When the war was over you had no proof of the efficacy of your efforts and your soldiers efforts to take up on [Capitol] Hill at a very difficult time when troop cuts, budget cuts, drawbacks are all under way, he said. Despite the constant tension and sometimes opposing goals of the military and the media, the militarys primary role is to support and defend the Constitution of the nation, the First Amendment of which is freedom of speech and of the press. Finally, having media-military interface there is hope for prompt and timely information in an age when news is increasingly being transmitted and used instantly, with TV news being broadcast on the hour, every hour (Krishna, 2000). How media limit the conduct of military operations The longstanding conflict between the news medias need for access and the militarys need for secrecy has continued during the war on terrorism, journalists agree. If anything, the tension between th e two groups has gotten worse. For instance, during the war in Afghanistan, Pentagon senior spokesman Bryan Whitman said the military understands reporters concerns but that the top priority must be troop safety. Ensuring †¦ that what we do with the news media in the Pentagon or in the field doesnt do anything to jeopardize the success of the operation or endanger the personnel that are participating in the military operation †¦ has to be balanced all the time with †¦ how much reporting can be taking place at any given moment, he said. (Wilcox Jr, 2002) But author and former war correspondent Joe Galloway, whose book We Were Soldiers Once †¦ and Young documents the first major U. S. ground battle of the Vietnam War, said that Vietnam changed the mindset of the military because of the open and unrestricted reporting done by journalists. Most of the times, the military is willing to learn, the journalists are not; pointed out by Galloway as evidenced by the numerous invitations he has received from the military to speak about the subject. He has not received any invitations to speak to news organizations or journalism schools. The media is also believed by them reporting from the battlefield turn the people against the military and against the war. Galloway also adds that, while Vietnam remains a model for him in terms of military/media relations, U. S. led military operations in Grenada and Panama were disastrous in terms of the medias ability to cover those conflicts because of military restrictions. Also, keeping the media at a greater distance from combat operations than security requires would contribute to a bitterly adversarial military-media relationship. This, in turn, would likely hurt the war effort in the long run by inviting relentlessly negative coverage and fanning public distrust. Furthermore, the media are a fact of military operations and here to stay as well as being vital to all democratic governments seeking to discharge their duty to explain. Military control of information during war time is also a major contributing factor to propaganda, especially when the media go along with it without question. The military recognizes the values of media and information control very well. The military often manipulates the mainstream media, by restricting or managing what information is presented and hence what the public are told. For them it is paramount to control the media. This can involve all manner of activities, from organizing media sessions and daily press briefings, or through providing managed access to war zones, to even planting stories. Over time then, the way that the media covers conflicts degrades in quality, critique and objectiveness. As one military puts it,† Information is the currency of victory. † From a military’s perspective, information warfare is another front on which a battle must be fought. However, as well as needing to deceive adversaries, in order to maintain public support, information to their own public must no doubt be managed as well. That makes sense from a military perspective. Sometimes the public can be willing to sacrifice detailed knowledge. But that can also lead to unaccountability and when information that is presented has been managed, propaganda is often the result. Finally, the military have had to adapt since 1982 is the speed of reporting made possible by modern communications. Today, a reporter with a digital camera, a laptop and a satellite phone, all of which can fit in a day sack, can file stories minutes after events and even live if they have a bit more by way of equipment. Control is much more difficult if reporters dont need military’s help to file a story. Because they can act so quickly, and are expected to do so by their editors or newsrooms, military dont have the time to ponder at length our response to events, we must respond quickly whilst still, crucially, maintaining accuracy. For instance, this happened on TELIC 1 (Iraq) but, it was not a great success. Conclusion Throughout history, no matter the time or war, there has always been a conflict between the military and the media. The media’s right to a free press conflicts with the military’s concern for operational security. It serves no constructive purpose, however, to ignore this conflict nor does it serve a purpose by adding to it. Therefore, it is time for the military to accept the media as part of the battlefield of the 21st century, and to understand and prepare for the media as it does for other battlefield elements. Commanders should ensure that their troops receive not only the equipment, but also the training to survive in adverse battlefield environments. The point here is to point out that no matter whether the military likes or dislikes the media, the media will be a part of the battlefield environment just as the weather. As is the case with inclement weather, the better the commander plans and prepares his or her troops, as well as themselves for the media, the better they and their troops will do when faced with a reporter. If we are going to get this right, the military must not resort unnecessarily to secrecy or to lightly tarring independent journalists as disloyal. The media should not frivolously cry censorship. And each should work harder to understand the views and accommodate the needs of the other.

An Introduction to Windows 2000 Professional Essay -- Essays Papers

An Introduction to Windows 2000 Professional Reliability Windows 2000 Professional is up to 30 percent faster and, according to National Software Testing Labs (NSTL) tests, 13 times more reliable than Windows 98. The operating system is the most reliable version of Windows ever produced. Memory conflicts and missing or altered system files caused many of the system crashes prior to Windows 2000. To put an end to these problems, Microsoft changed Windows 2000 memory management to reduce the chance that software applications will interfere with one another. In addition, Windows 2000 includes a built-in safeguard called Windows File Protection. This feature helps prevent critical operating system files from being deleted or altered by users or applications. Industry studies show that as much as 80 percent of system failures can be traced to human errors or flawed processes. If a system file should be changed or deleted, Windows File Protection can detect the change, retrieve a correct version of the file from a cache, and restore it to the system file folder. The end user never knows the repairs have been made because Windows 2000 just keeps running ( (1)Windows). The following is a list of improvements in Windows 2000. It should be noted that this covers the entire Windows 2000 family (Server, Advanced Server, and Professional). †¢ Improved Internal Architecture: Windows 2000 includes new features designed to protect your system, such as preventing new software installations from replacing essential system files or stopping applications from writing into the kernel of the OS. This greatly reduces many sources of operating system corruption and failure. †¢ Fast Recovery from System Failure: If your system does fail, Windows 2000 includes an integrated set of features that speed recovery. †¢ Improved Code with Developer Tools: Microsoft provided third-party developers with tools and programs to improve the quality of their drivers, system level programs, and application software. These enhancements make it easier for independent software vendors to write dependable code for Windows 2000. †¢ Reduced Reboot Scenarios: Microsoft has greatly reduced the number of operations requiring a system reboot in almost every category of OS fun... ...ss/relavail Asp, Accessed 9 September 2001. 3. Mobile Computing and Windows 2000 Professional, www.mightywords.com, Accessed 15 September 2001. 4. (2) Windows 2000 Professional and Server Score an ‘A’ for Performance and Reliability, http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/evoluation/ news/external/gigaa.asp, Accessed 9 September 2001. 5. (3) Windows 2000 Professional: Built for Mobile Users, http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/evaluation/business/overview/ mobile/default.asp, Accessed 16 September 2001. 6. (1) Windows 2000 Professional: Most Reliable Windows Ever, http:// www.microsoft .com/windows2000/professional/evaluation/business overview/reliable/muchmore, Accessed 9 September 2001. 7. (4) Windows 2000 Professional: Easy to Use and Maintain, http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/evaluation/business/overview/ manage/default.asp, Accessed 21 September 2001. 8. (5) Windows 2000 Professional: Internet Ready, http://www.microsoft.com/ windows2000/professional/evaluation/business/overview/internet/default.asp, Accessed 22 September 2001.

Biography of a Race Essay

It may be hard for biographers to win prize for his work. Therefore, for this to happen, it would take an exceptional skill paired with devoted attitude towards the craft. Such award as Pulitzer Prize requires these and David Levering Lewis apparently has these as proven in his biography about the civil rights leader William Edward Burghart Du Bois. The book is called ‘Biography of a Race’ which shows a remarkable manner of tackling of the life of Du Bois. It shows with clarity the picture of the environment in which the struggles set for the purpose of an endeavor. The complexity of this civil right leader’s involvement in socio political movements was carefully drawn with a structure that is outlined according to significant key points. The life of Du Bois revolves around his contribution with the condition of the present American society. He tried to escape the stereotypical position of blacks as subject class. Du Bois strived to gain social reform and have equity among the people regardless of race and color. He pushed the belief that blacks should also have access on all essential community benefits such as education. His life story is indeed challenging for any biographer to write. The whole context of the book is particularly exquisite although there are some parts of the first five of eleven chapters that may seem a little bit confusing. The length of the passages may require some reader to go over it again to get the key points but otherwise, they are precise. It is given that the life of Du Bois is complex and that can be the reason for this. The choice of the right approach is the true mark of Lewis’s skill in telling story and history. His book is a comprehensive study of a life story and succeeded in its purpose to reflect the life that made a huge contribution in the history. Thus, an award is nothing but deserved. Reference Lewis, D. L. (1993). W. E. B. Du Bois, 1868-1919: Biography of a Race. ON: Henry Holt and Company, LLC

Essay on Psychoanalytic Criticism of A Rose for Emily

Psychoanalytic Criticism of A Rose for Emily A Rose for Emily is a sad story about a woman who struggles with being unable to cope with the death of her father and being a lonely woman. It is broken into 5 sections in which in each part the narrator shifts the point of view. In section 1 the story starts off at Miss Emily’s funeral. The funeral is taking place at her home and many people come to pay their respects and also are curious to see the inside of the house. No one had seen the inside of the house besides the manservant for 10 years. Throughout the story we see the struggles a woman has with loneliness, depression and even necrophilia. Miss Emily’s character has many mental problems. Her biggest problem that we see her†¦show more content†¦She insisted that she owed nothing to the town. The leaders of the town sent a couple of letters to her but got no return. Back and forth it went until they decided to go to her house and collect the money. After a brief discussion she forced them out of her h ome with out paying and telling them to talk to Colonel Sartoris because she has no taxes in Jefferson. Colonel Sartoris had died by this point but she was unaware because she wouldn’t leave her home. We see her deal with denial when the death of her father comes. The day after he died a group of ladies went up to the house to â€Å"offer condolences and aid† (pg. 151) and Miss Emily â€Å"met them at the door, dressed as usual and with no trace of grief on her face.† (pg. 151) She denied that her father was dead. For 3 days people went to her house trying to get her to let them dispose of the body. And right as they were about to use law and force she allowed them to take the body and burry him. This is when we first signs that she was gong crazy. However, the narrator does say that they didn’t think she was crazy at this point but â€Å"she had to do that.† (pg. 151) The third denial she faces is when she murdered Homer Barron. Her and Homer were seen together on several occasions out in town. Many people thought they would marry but then Homer was last seen entering her home. The people of Jefferson thought he had left town after that since he was never seen again. At the end we learn that she had killed him. His bodyShow MoreRelatedA Psychological Reading of A Rose for Emily Essay2883 Words   |  12 PagesFreud and Faulkner A psychoanalytic Reading of â€Å"A Rose for Emily† Abstract Undoubtedly Sigmund Freud is the father of psychoanalysis. He was an influential thinker of the early twentieth century who elaborated the theory that the mind is a complex energy-system and the structural investigation of which is the proper province of psychology. Freud articulated and refined the concepts of the unconscious, infantile sexuality and repression and he proposed tripartiteRead More Faulkners A Rose for Emily Essay2369 Words   |  10 PagesFaulkners short story is the relationship between the past and present in Emily Grierson, the protagonist. She did not accept the passage of time throughout all her life, keeping everything she loved in the past with her. The story shows Emilys past and her family story. This information explains her behaviour towards time. Firstly, her fathers lack of desire to move on into the future and his old-fashioned ways kept Emily away from the changing society and away from any kind of social relationship: Read MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesthe middle. In still other cases, the chronology of plot may shift backward and forward in time, as for example in William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily, where the author deliberately sets aside the chronological ordering of events and their cause/effect relationship in order to establish an atmosphere of unreality, build suspense and mystery, and underscore Emily Grierson’s own attempt to deny the passage of time itself. Perhaps the most frequently and conventionally used device of interrupting