Tim Blair has a post on the ethics of journalism in war, and how some step over the line. It got me thinking about a series I used in teaching Honor and Ethics at USAFA, Ethics in America. In particular, there are two episodes called “Under Orders, Under Fire” which address issues facing the military in war. On the panel (this is 1987) are Peter Jennings, Gen. Westmoreland, Newt Gingrich, Donald Rumsfeld, Mike Wallace, Brent Scowcroft, and Congressman Louis Stokes. These videos are available for viewing, requiring a simple registration. This is one registration I recommend heartily.
The topics are varied, and sometimes put Wallace and Jennings on the spot in a “What would you do?” situation. One sticks in my mind, and is the one that sent me on a search for these videos. It directly relates to something in Tim’s post:
A flim crew captures an American soldier shooting a prisoner. There are all kinds of caveats and circumstances involved, including the death of soldiers at the hands of this captive. Jennings says he definitely films it and forwards it home. Wallace says he puts it on the air, but only after days of discussion. After all, he says, we aren’t in the war, we’re just journalists.
Col George Connell, a Marine, speaks up. “Two days later, they’re both walking off my hill top. As they reach the bottom, 200 yards away, they are ambushed, and are lying wounded calling for us to come help them. They’re just journalists. What chaps my ass is that I will go help them, and put myself and my men at risk to do it.”
The credits list “Senator John Kerry” as being one of the panelists, but I didn’t see him in it at all. He certainly would have been an interesting part of this show.
There are other quality discussions in this series, and all are worth a look.