THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506160012
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
Regarding reports of the recent downing of our plane over Bosnia and the rescue mission.
The news media should not have been so free with the information they received about the plane's downing. I feel they should not have reported that a signal was received from within enemy territory. Why didn't they just tell the enemy where he was, for goodness sakes! They also should not have reported that the pilot survived by traveling only at night, staying in high terrains where the enemy may not travel and that he would be close to an open space for helicopter pickup. Why do the media feel they have to tell our survival techniques?
For the safety of our men and women in the armed forces in enemy territory, I feel the media should PUT A LID ON IT until the person or people are rescued. Then they can report a signal was received (not saying what equipment was used or the code) and the rescue party responded.
There is no need to let the world know the survival techniques.
SUSAN C. STARNES
Virginia Beach, June 9, 1995 by CNB