News Negativity During Wartime

We really should review this.

One thing that we do not seem to be paying enough attention to, or any attention to, is that enemies, or potential enemies, are reading and watching our news. This doesn't mean spying or hacking, just reading ordinary news. If the news reports that soldiers are short of supplies, ammunition, manpower or, morale, you can be sure that they are watching.

During the Tet Offensive, in the Vietnam War, America's best-known reporter, Walter Cronkite, expressed the opinion that "The war is now unwinnable". Can you imagine how much confidence that must have given the enemy? 

After 9-11 I didn't know what to make of those color-coded alerts about the level of possibility of an attack. All the potential terrorists had to do is wait until the possibility was low, and then attack. We act as though our enemies are not watching. There must be a careful balance. A news cannot lie or, omit things that should be reported, or people will lose confidence in it. Honest reporting shows that the country is a democracy. But it must be remembered that potential enemies are watching.