Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 9, 1991                   TAG: 9102110250
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LAZY REPORTERS ARE MISLEADING PUBLIC

I, like all military families recently, have been riveted to the news broadcasts. Based on our knowledge, several of us wives have noticed several important details about the broadcasts, which I would like to mention in response to Mr. Abbott's Jan. 26 letter.

First, the reporters have been appallingly lazy in their basic research, and they are misleading the public dreadfully by broadcasting their misconceptions as facts. They consistently misquote the information they are given, and they supply us with a continual flow of outright technical mistakes about the capabilities of the aircraft and other weapons systems. (Remember, this is all unclassified information that any wife can know.)

The reporters also lack any knowledge of the most basic military principles, such as the necessities of both ground and air power, and the role of air power in any campaign. Instead of finding out why battle damage is difficult to assess, they invent accusations to fling at the generals. This is ignorant, irresponsible journalism; and the public, unable to know better, has the reporters' unfounded viewpoints shoved down its throat.

I have listened long and hard to the generals, government spokesmen and German broadcasts, and I have been very impressed with our generals' and spokesmen's honesty and openness. I know that Europe watches CNN, and we know that Saddam does also. It is a fact that exact details of our campaign are details Saddam needs, and we in the public do not (in spite of our curiosity).

I think it is unforgivable that the press would rather exercise poor judgment in the use of its right of free speech than show some discretion with sensitive information to protect my husband's life. The reporters forget the debt they owe other soldiers who bought that right for them.

I do not believe for an instant that the press is being "censored." In this modern day, though, the instant, exact coverage has an unprecedented potential to endanger our troops, and if the press cannot handle that power responsibly, then it must be kept on a leash. JOANNE Y. WIMMER BLACKSBURG