Cliff Stearns: “Recent media interviews, both print and television, have subjected our young troops to questions which in my mind have…”

“Recent media interviews, both print and television, have subjected our young troops to questions which in my mind have no business being posed days before possible military action. These interviews are asking questions regarding fratricide, combat deaths, chemical or biological weapons, 'personal demons,' and 'bloody urban fighting.' As many of us in the House are veterans, we know the sacrifices that come with service, including the loss of life. Our troops and their commanders know they must focus on the task assigned and the mission objective that must be completed. I believe that focus can be hindered when certain media personalities continue to dredge up these feelings purely for national coverage. We must be mindful that reporting facts is quite different from generating an emotional story for rating purposes. Today's media has a tremendous amount of access, much more so than they did in Desert Storm. There are 600 journalists embedded in our military operations. I ask that the media let our troops focus on the mission at hand and let them do their job and return home safely.”