SOFREP and CBS are running the helmet video from the Green Berets killed in Niger. Is the video newsworthy, or disrespectful click-bait?

Capt David Bays — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:48:36 -0500

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 2:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:52:37 -0500

good for an after action review. It will still traumatized the families though! I really felt sad going to ramp ceremonies!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 2:55 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:55:09 -0500

this is valuable and disrespectful

Response by SPC David Willis made Mar 5 at 2018 2:56 PM

SPC David Willis — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:56:17 -0500

I hope they're cutting out the parts where they're dragging the men who got hit, I never like seeing servicemen/women drug on television after being KIA. I think its probably equally click bait and newsworthy though to answer your question.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Mar 5 at 2018 3:04 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:04:40 -0500

I'm a bit on the fence. On one hand they are a business and they need viewers, clicks, etc. On the other hand they are journalists and they have a responsibility to tell people what is happening. The American public is often shielded from the dirty business that our military is engaged in and the way the rest of the world is even though they are the same ones who elect those who send us to these places. I'd like them to be informed about what happens when send our military community to far away places - the good, the bad, the ugly and even tragic.

It's newsworthy. I don't think it's disrespectful as long they are showing the raw footage and not editing it with negative context. And yes, there is likely a click-bait factor as well.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 3:16 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:16:03 -0500

I don't feel this kind of footage should be promulgated willingly outside of those who can directly benefit from it for intelligence or training purposes. Imagine being one of the family...you've literally got the last few moments of your spouse's, sibling's or child's life available to you; moments you should never have to see.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 3:18 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:18:22 -0500

click bait.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Mar 5 at 2018 3:22 PM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:22:57 -0500

If watching the videos is part of an investigation I am okay with but to turn it loose to the public is completely disrespectful. I say a big hell no on that. No, no, no!!!

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Mar 5 at 2018 3:37 PM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:37:16 -0500

AFRICOM, SOCOM, USASOC, USASFC somebody should tell them to go screw themselves. The video was never intended for any of those sacks of shit. If they wanted to know what happens in the land of SOF, I say strap it on and get all you want. The problem they have with that is that is as close as they will ever get to the real thing is watching movie or God forbid a helmet cam video. Disgusting!!! I will just say for their sake it is good I am not in charge I would tell them to get bent. If they wanted to see the life call the Group recruiter.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Mar 5 at 2018 4:01 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:01:00 -0500

GOOD QUESTION!! Personally I don't want to see it (I won't watch it anyways being I don't like looking at shit like this anymore) after how it was politicized, stories changed, and the family traumatized over months of back and forth in the media. Sometimes it's best when there is no way to fix this (only in a military sense) to put it out nationally. The flipside to this would be police bodycams and I see my post being torn apart based off that. To those who would, the military is a very lethargic entity. You could make policy, but would take years if a major one to implement where the police are also a large and slowish entity, but have layers where their performance or lack there of, can be dictated both federally and locally.

In both, there are times where accountability is needed, but that accountability doesn't always need to be shown through mass media. As much as this story has changed, and "open" accountability not seen, this is a bad look for everyone.

Response by SPC Joseph Wojcik made Mar 5 at 2018 4:05 PM

SPC Joseph Wojcik — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:05:59 -0500

It depends on how the media is spinning the story.
If they're playing it straight and reporting news (fat chance), then it's fine. If they're fearmongering and sowing division, then it's propaganda and disrespectful.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Mar 5 at 2018 4:19 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:19:58 -0500

does it add to the knowledge of the event? if not then it's clickbait. as i understand it, the videos have re-opened the puzzle palace's curiousity about the events. YMMV

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 5:26 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 17:26:00 -0500

It’s been released by ISIS originally. The news cut out all the graphic scenes.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Mar 5 at 2018 5:49 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 17:49:27 -0500

I would truly prefer that this be viewed by those who can use it in the intelligence community or unit members. It really should not be available to the public and family members should be discouraged from watching it.

Response by Capt David Bays made Mar 5 at 2018 6:35 PM

Capt David Bays — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:35:37 -0500

The New York Times has had the video for a while and rather than publish it, they wrote about it. Anyone curious about what happened in Niger can read about it. I do not see any good reason to publish the video.

https://nyti.ms/2C4ny25

‘An Endless War’: Why 4 U.S. Soldiers Died in a Remote African Desert

More than 16 years after 9/11 spurred a broad fight against terrorism, some Americans say it’s time to look at how the country is deploying its forces.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Mar 5 at 2018 6:51 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:51:50 -0500

Nothing anyone but military intelligence needs to see. Of course it might get some to stop playing their military video games for a minute or two.

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Mar 5 at 2018 7:39 PM

SSG Keith Amacher — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:39:34 -0500

I saw it and agree with Lt Col Brown our intelligence needs to work this... It is disturbing when you see the one with the camera go down for good... makes me think of Benghazi and our Spec Ops guys there. They have gotten into out network and found out how to find our guys. Be safe at home these days, I getting a concealed carry but Alabama also has Open Carry no permit just follow the law... Oh and Huntsville, AL is where FBI Cyber HQ is along with Missile and Air Command. All i need to deal with here is common criminals...

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Mar 5 at 2018 7:41 PM

SSG Keith Amacher — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:41:22 -0500

And I do think it is time our civilians see what we really do in death also... If that does not sink in with them then they are on the other side...

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Mar 5 at 2018 7:44 PM

SSG Keith Amacher — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:44:12 -0500

By the way thank you Capt Bays it is you guys when we get into a jam that come rescue us and your Para Rescue...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 7:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:49:43 -0500

I think my opinion is going to be unpopular based on some of the others that I have read. Yes, some of these news organizations are airing the footage just to get more viewers. However, I think that the footage could wake some people up to the realities of what is going on in the world, especially when it comes to terrorism. It's hard to watch, but it is newsworthy. I don't want someone else to censor what news I'm allowed to see just because their personal view is that it is disrespectful to air. Put it out there and let each individual decide whether they should watch it or not.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 7:54 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 19:54:47 -0500

To us it’s never going to be newsworthy, but once Boko Haram/ ISIS used it as propaganda for the numerous websites they have, the pentagon had no choice but to try and get in front of this.

One thing this video shows is how once the ambush started, the separation between the green berets and their mechanic. You could only assume that once the TIC started, the green berets were cut off from getting to SGT La David ultimately forcing them to fight, otherwise they probably would have jumped in their vehicles and the hell out of there.

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Mar 5 at 2018 9:30 PM

MSG Louis Alexander — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 21:30:23 -0500

CBS like its affiliate CNN is struggling to survive in the media world. Most stories are fabricated in order to draw an audience. If the helmet cam is used as an investigation tool, then by all means investigate it thoroughly, otherwise let it rest with the men who lost their lives. De Oppresso Liber!

Response by SSG Keith Amacher made Mar 5 at 2018 9:36 PM

SSG Keith Amacher — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 21:36:24 -0500

I agree with superiors the families shoud not see this... I am somewhat in disagreement with them I think Civilians should see what we deal with and the job we have to do daily...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 10:15 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 22:15:29 -0500

The video was sourced from known supporters of terrorism and also as CBS has chosen to air it in contravention to all decency, I see them as equally culpable with the Boco Haram in the deaths of our soldiers. Can you imagine something like this happening during WW II? I certainly cannot. CBS in broadcasting this video is clearly giving "aid and comfort to the enemy". They are treasonous scum whose only desire is to gain ratings and degrade this nation's will to confront and defeat these extra-national players. I am glad their fate is not up to me. They should also be equally glad that it isn't.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2018 11:29 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 23:29:33 -0500

I've always had conflicting feelings on this subject. I completely understand the concerns about family members seeing stuff in the media and how traumatic that can be. But on the other hand, I have also felt that the US government, with rules regarding the media, has so sanitized the death and destruction in war zones that most of the public has no idea what is really going on in the war zones in terms of US casualties. And in a way, the public is the one who is ultimately responsible for holding the politicians accountable about our involvement in wars. And so letting the pubic see what is really happening can be important also.

It's sort of like the way reactions to domestic violence events change so much between written descriptions vs video. Like with that football player who at first gets a minimal suspension even though the report says "he struck his wife in the face". But then the video comes out, and you see this football player take a full swing and knock out his wife and then drag her unconscious body out of the elevator, and only then does the shit hit the fan. Likewise the guy working in the Trump WH hitting his ex wife. Nothing happens at all until the photo with her with a huge black eye hits the press.

So I wonder sometimes if the policy of "protecting" the public from the horrors of war is really the best one. Who is really being protected from what? The family from a painful reminder--definitely. The public from learning what is really going on in a more impactful manner--probably. The government wanting to hide the cost of their policy behind bland, generic statements--hmmm. We seem to have no problem broadcasting video of our smart bombs blowing up a bad guy building, but we rarely see video (and it's out there) about a US vehicle hitting an IED. Are we selectively conditioning the US public that everything is going well by only showing where w blow up the bad guys but never show when the bad guys blow us up?

Response by TSgt David L. made Mar 6 at 2018 1:05 AM

TSgt David L. — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 01:05:00 -0500

Capt David Bays, is it news worthy? Probably. I won't watch it out of respect though. Is it disrespectful? It's definitely in poor taste for sure. It's a smear campaign against the military or policy, or a back-handed attack on POTUS. Slow news day so they sensationalize a tragedy.
Giving the bad guys their 15 minutes only serves the bad guys. They got a media win to go with the murders of 4 US and 4 Niger military. BS!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2018 7:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 07:53:08 -0500

Negative not news worthy and I think it’s disrespectful for them to show it when did Miltary operations especially SOCOM Ops become public smh they deserve some dignity

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2018 9:03 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:03:03 -0500

I watched the video last night. Or maybe it was just a portion of the video because it was only about 2 minutes and some change. What I saw was a lot more tame than a lot of things you can go find on youtube and liveleak.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Mar 6 at 2018 9:31 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:31:47 -0500

Is this more acceptable -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rieXqfzBLJk
or this -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh0us8c0vOg

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Response by SSG Robert Webster made Mar 6 at 2018 9:55 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:55:42 -0500

Though LTC Michael Matthews has blocked me from commenting on his statements, etc. and we definitely do not agree on very many things; he has a point and is quite correct in what he wrote in his statement.

Response by Norah Julmis made Mar 6 at 2018 10:26 AM

Norah Julmis — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 10:26:31 -0500

I think it's incredibly disrespectful to the surviving spouses and children. BTW, I haven't seen the video and I don't want to. I completely agree with the posts that say most civilians are out of touch with what the military deals with. I'm just not sure this is the correct route to deal with that. What happened to common decency?

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 6 at 2018 10:55 AM

SPC David S. — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 10:55:34 -0500

No for a number of reasons - It (will) could be used as propaganda by terrorists, it could be used to learn something about our tactics and its upsetting/disrespectful to him, his family and friends as well colleges. This is pure click bait as what's the average Joe going to take away in watching it.

Response by SSG Anthony Balkas made Mar 6 at 2018 3:12 PM

SSG Anthony Balkas — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:12:35 -0500

News worthy, no but could have training value revealing TTP’s. Shouldn’t be released to the public.

Response by SSG Adam Wyatt made Mar 7 at 2018 8:35 AM

SSG Adam Wyatt — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 08:35:39 -0500

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it lets the public know that there is still things that are happening and on the other, I couldn't imagine watching the video if it were my son.

Response by SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez made Mar 7 at 2018 9:48 AM

SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 09:48:46 -0500

Having served for SOF before with 5th SFG as a combat cameramen, we came up to situations like that a lot, for example, ambushes, or rolled up onto what happened to be a "safe house" or "compound". With that said the SOF community are really strict about releasing anything sensitive to the major public like this clip. Everything we shot, video or still photography went to their archives. So, I'm just wondering how the major news outlets got a hold of something like this, let alone, helmet cam footage. And I also heard that ISIS were the ones who posted the footage and claimed the ambush. Is that correct?

Response by SSG Jeffrey Leake made Mar 8 at 2018 4:32 AM

SSG Jeffrey Leake — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 04:32:51 -0500

Disrespectful douche bags. There is no reason to have this video released for the public to see.

Response by SSG Tommy Thompson made Mar 8 at 2018 7:39 PM

SSG Tommy Thompson — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 19:39:27 -0500

The footage is viewed outside of the context of the overall battle. It’s too easy to be a “Monday morning quarterback” when we view clips and snippets out of context. There is no legitimate reason to release or assist in the posting of such footage for public viewing. Only after thorough investigation could the training value be determined. Due to the involvement of SOF units the footage would necessarily be of training value to SOF personnel and not to non SOF personnel. Here again the value to general public other than a curiosity would be negligible.

Response by Cpl Billy Nichols made Mar 25 at 2018 9:40 AM

Cpl Billy Nichols — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 09:40:52 -0400

It’s just plain disrespectful. I fully believe in a free press and the first amendment but that has to be tempered with a sense of morals, values and ethics that the current news media is absolutely devoid of now a days. Quite simply put there are things that the general public dos not need to know or see.

Response by SGT Kyle Bickley made Mar 25 at 2018 8:38 PM

SGT Kyle Bickley — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 20:38:29 -0400

That family went threw enough! Seen by special ops to ID the bastards yes, for your viewing pleasure? NO!

Response by PO1 Ernie Johnson made Mar 31 at 2018 8:55 PM

PO1 Ernie Johnson — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 20:55:37 -0400

One thing I miss from the past is when social media is not what it is today. There are something’s that should be kept to the military and allow the military to disperse it. The public thjnks a military operation is no different than a cop pulling over a speeder. Sometimes information to the ignorant can be more damaging than keeping them in the dark.

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Apr 13 at 2018 11:01 AM

SFC Marcus Belt — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 11:01:05 -0400

The question implies that it disrespectful and newsworthy are mutually exclusive. In our republic our citizens have the right to know and our OPSEC laws reflect that the right of the public to know supersedes OPSEC, that is, information is released unless secrecy is justified.

We now know that those operators took some short cuts, and those short cuts had grave consequences.

Have you ever noticed how things don't change until either somebody dies, or we get seriously embarrassed? Or both?

Measures have already been taken to make it less likely that this situation will ever occur again, in part because people died and we were embarrassed.

We don't have the liberty of being offended when we make mistakes, people die, and the mistake is made public.

Response by SFC Niccademus Colin made May 6 at 2018 7:55 PM

SFC Niccademus Colin — Sun, 06 May 2018 19:55:58 -0400

More Media sensationalism, let's put the editor family's horrific death on the news for all to watch. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should! Have some respect!

Response by PO1 Ron Clark made May 10 at 2018 11:35 AM

PO1 Ron Clark — Thu, 10 May 2018 11:35:18 -0400

To me disrespectful click-bait! If you aren't training or using this as a Green Beret film as a lesson learned, then the news report should have just been dialogue!Not pictures of our dedicated service members/brothers being killed in the performance of their duties! IJS!

Response by MSG David Densmore made May 13 at 2018 5:31 PM

MSG David Densmore — Sun, 13 May 2018 17:31:03 -0400

It seems to me that the fact that ISIS released it says all I need to know. Being retired, I don't have a training need to watch it, and I'm not going to watch it. I'm not surprised that CBS chose to run it, it's in their nature, and why so many people don't trust the national news. But SOFREP should know better. I think it speaks to their real purpose, and it sure isn't concern for the families or their fellow soldiers. Most of our national news networks have shown their true colors, and as an alleged "news agency" SOFREP shouldn't want to be in the same sentence with CBS. I know that if I was a news agency, I wouldn't want to be in the same sentence with CBS.

I found the following article interesting. Not sure if I can post a link, so do a search for "Has SOFREP Finally Dug Its Own Grave?"

Response by SSG Ray Elliott made May 15 at 2018 7:59 AM

SSG Ray Elliott — Tue, 15 May 2018 07:59:48 -0400

Out of respect for the families of the fallen (who probably don't want, or need to see how their soldier died) I don't think these videos should be made available to the public. They should only be used for intelligence gathering, training, or other purposes required by the Military to make service men safer.

Response by LTC John Bush made May 16 at 2018 8:38 PM

LTC John Bush — Wed, 16 May 2018 20:38:34 -0400

just wrong

Response by MAJ James Woods made May 18 at 2018 10:37 AM

MAJ James Woods — Fri, 18 May 2018 10:37:45 -0400

It's no different than all the other times our government and military made videos associated to an investigation that involved military deaths available to the public out of transparency.

Response by SA John M Albaladejo Sr. made May 19 at 2018 9:08 AM

SA John M Albaladejo Sr. — Sat, 19 May 2018 09:08:52 -0400

In my humble opinion Captain, I'd have to say that it would all depend upon the intentions of the reporter as to whether the report shows the deceased Service Members in a positive light versus a negative light.

Response by Col Robert Wallace made May 20 at 2018 9:42 AM

Col Robert Wallace — Sun, 20 May 2018 09:42:40 -0400

I have not seen the film clip nor do I wish to see it. Whether it is considered "news worthy" or not, how are the family members going to be shielded from seeing what happened to their loved ones? At one time, my crew and I had the honor of doing Angel Flight missions. To see family members in anguish, despair and heartbreak was not a good thing to see, but it was done with respect. Now, Democratic owned CBS wants to subject those family members to the horror all over again, claiming it is news worthy. Bull hockey, they only want to profit by showing that film clip. As one RP contributor said, "Strap on a helmet, go to the 'hot spots' and get first hand information as to what happens", and do their own filming of events. Yes, we military go through a lot and see a lot that the public never does, but by publically showing that particular film video is not the way to "inform" the public. Please, honor those who sacrificed their lives and show respect to the family members by not releasing the clip to the public.