What is the deal with our "embedded" media and Iraq? Are they even

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

OVER there in significant numbers? Are the military keeping them completely underfoot? Or do they just not care about getting the stories and pictures anymore?

Why does it often feel as if Iraq doesn't exist except talking about it in the past tense on the campaign trail?

[Catt03]

1. I think we are back to the Bush doctrine

they are not allowed in or too close and pictures are against the law.
At least pictures of the wounded or dead Americans.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. I don't think that there is much to see

Bunches of guys hiding in isolated forts, venturing out only out of necessity, and when they do, booooom.

[SeekingTruth]

3. It's not safe enough for them....

Rolling Stone has a woman reporter, her name escapes me, who is doing some very good writing about Iraq. And actually, Time and Newseek have had some really good articles the last few weeks about how bad it is over there. I really, really encourage people to go to their sites and see if they are still there. Time had two that really makes you feel for our soldiers.

But much of the reporters are writing that it is not safe to venture out of the Green Zone over there. That is why there are no embedded reports coming out.

And think about this for a moment - there are cities in Iraq that are too dangerous for our soldiers to go into - think about that - it is too dangerous for the most powerful military. That is something.

[troubleinwinter]

4. Heard a reporter on scene the other day say

that "NOBODY is safe here anymore."

[camby]

5. You're right

I read an article in RS a month or so back - the reporters there only have access to a very small "safe" area (seemingly getting smaller all the time). they have no idea what is going on

[dreadneck]

6. Maybe their heads are embedded

you know where. Which can only mean one thing...here comes Geraldo.

Ignorance is bliss. Happy war!

[DeepModem Mom]

7. kick

[girl gone mad]

8. Most of them came home..

after Mission Accomplished.

i think most of the reports out now come from Arab journalists. Very few Western journalists remain in Iraq, and the Americans still there all have phony passports which say they are Canadian or Irish, etc.

Operation Truth is trying to get some footage taken by soldiers out, as well as letters about their day to day experiences. They've still got a long way to go, though (not much there, but it's a start).

http://optruth.org/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpVideo&lnav=1

[Leilani]

9. The situation is so dangerous, that they are very limited

as to where the can go.

NBC/MSNBC has a group of reporters that transfer in & out; Tom Aspall is among the best war correspondents anywhere. Preston Mendenhall has been there since the beginning.

CNN has reporters constantly, as does the NY Times.

If you look for the reports, you will find them.

And in the past week or two, because of the increased violence, coverage has increased.

[slinkerwink]

10. I think they left Iraq as soon as the Green Zone was breached