Outside the Wire: Why Embeds are Important

Written by JD Johannes on Outside the WireThursday, 21 May 2009In a previous post I mentioned how embeds can enhance operations in the media battlespace by providing fact from the ground.Today's Wall Street Journal shows a classic scenario.If an embed had been with the unit in question, a lot of the back-and-forth would have ended immediately.But now we have Taliban sympathizers putting bodies on display and the military offering a 'report.'The military report is likely 100% correct, but in the media battlespace imagery wins. Gunsight imagery may help, but is no substitute for images and reporting from a third party, on the ground as the events were happening.It is only a matter of time before the Taliban starts 'arming' their cells and supporters with flip cameras to record images of 'civillian' casualties.In the media battlespace a $100 camera can be the most effective weapon.