Certain units among US forces fighting in Iraq have forbidden journalists travelling with them to use Thuraya satellite telephones for reasons of operational security, a senior US commander said. "There are times on the battlefield when you need to ensure that no communications go out in order to shield your movement and your attack," Air Force Major General Victor Renuart told incredulous reporters at the US military's forward command headquarters.
| The reporters might want to take that seriously, since the punishment might be an al-Samoud dropped in the vicinity... |
US signal interceptors have sought to use satellite phone transmissions to locate Iraqi army commanders, and some analysts say that civilian phone calls could be used to guide bombs. Major General Renuart said he did not consider the ban on Thuraya phones, which use global positioning technology, as restricting the ability of the media to cover events. "I really see this more as a requirement for the operational commander to ensure that his movements are appropriately secured until such time as he's completed or begun that operation."
Don't worry, some 'Yurp-peon reporter will whine about censorship.
He said that in certain instances unit leaders have asked reporters "embedded" with US troops not to use the phones in order to prevent information being communicated inadvertently to Iraqi forces. |