Here's what the grunts in Iraq think of the media.

Context, please? It's a telling portrait, but I'd love to hear the when and whys. Is there more on US News' website somewhere?

Caption:
A U.S. soldier gestures to arriving media as he stands guard with his MK-19 grenade launcher outside of a children's hospital Saturday, July 26, 2003, in the city of Baqouba, 70 kms. north of Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites). Earlier in the day three U.S. troops were killed and four injured after a grenade was tossed by a passing car into the front squre of the hospital. (AP Photo /Sergei Grits)

Good for him! :-)

LOVE IT!

Seeing that M136 AT4 laying in front of him there reminds of a story a Ex-Airborn Ranger I used to work with told me one time. He was in Mogadishu Somalia and it was before the big engagement that got all the media attention. At the time he was watching over one of the Food Banks and making sure that no one stole any food nor kept other people from getting food. They had strict orders to not have there weapons loaded at all. Not even a magazine in the weapon unless they were taking fire. And even then they had to have direct orders to be able to lock and load and then have direct orders to return fire. Well, one day a skinny decided to get up in a 2nd story window and start shooting at people. He was in charge of a squad and reported that he was receiving fire. He was ordered to hang tight while they went up the chain of command and find the best way of dealing with the sniper. He and the other squad mates around him stayed hunkered down for over 30 minutes while bullets where thwacking all around and several near misses. Finally they got the word that they could lock and load and take the sniper out. By this time he was so stressed out from the situation that enough was enough. He turned to a rifleman next to him and ordered him to use his M136AT4 and put a round straight through that window. With well trained accuracy the rifleman lobbed the 84mm recoilless rifle round straight into the window and the High Explosive warhead turned the window and the room to fire and smoke. They breached into the building and cleared the room to discover no body, but a big spray of blood across the floor and walls and a AK-47 smashed into two peices. One less gun to worry about and most likely one less skinny as well. Later when a CO was being debriefed he asked my ex-workmate if he thought that he might have ordered the use of excessive force. He looked at him and said, "No, Sir." The CO then asked him if he thought any media had witnessed any of what happened and he replied, "No, Sir." and the CO said, "Well then, Good Job!"

Sounds like newsies can't handle peacekeeping/nationbuilding kinda stuff guess they don't have the discipline and mental toughness to handle the stress.

It was a long day. Perhaps a long month with no time off. Its not directed at the media. Just frustration in General. Keep up the good reporting