TV caught out in Timor interview

kyro_02 · 30-05-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

AN Australian military commander has tried to ensure truth does not become a casualty of conflict in East Timor, but has embarrassed a TV network in the process.

Australian commander in East Timor Brigadier Michael Slater appeared this morning in a live cross from Dili to Channel 9's Today show, with helmeted and heavily armed Australian soldiers standing behind him.
He was pressed by Today host Jessica Rowe about whether Dili really was as safe as the Australian military claimed, given the presence of armed soldiers at his shoulder.

Pausing briefly, Brig Slater replied: "Jessica I feel quite safe, yes, but not because I've got these armed soldiers behind me that were put there by your stage manager here to make it look good.

"I don't need these guys here.

"It is not safe on the streets, as it is back home in Sydney or Brisbane – no it's not, if it was we wouldn't be here. But things are getting better every day."

Webpage: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117...-29277,00.html

Video: http://www.crikey.com.au/sealed/imag...1E1A9M8N00.wmv

Hehe, well I think it's safe to say, things like in this situation are some-times setup

I don't think we should be over there, I believe our resources are running low, or atleast buffer-low... same opinion with iraq etc...

Black XR6 · 30-05-2006, 07:24 PM

hahaha, classic.

owned.

**Full Noise** · 30-05-2006, 08:13 PM

Very amusing.

Cheers, Danny

RavenLS1 · 30-05-2006, 08:24 PM

busted

ronwest · 30-05-2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyro_02

Hehe, well I think it's safe to say, things like in this situation are some-times setup

It's safe to say that most of the on the spot "soft news" reporting is set up.

Never ceases to amuse me how the camera "just happens" to be there when the local populace (from wherever) are "spontaneously" cheering and waving Oz or US flags, lol.

clontarf_x · 30-05-2006, 08:35 PM

Gave me a giggle, typical media hyping things up.

Plus Channel 9 are about as honest as a politician (hmm, politicians, media... dot dot dot)

HOON69 · 30-05-2006, 08:37 PM

lol owned

Scott · 30-05-2006, 08:38 PM

pwned

Bucknaked · 31-05-2006, 06:04 AM

Talk it up Jessica. I can't stand her or the Today show, so its great to serr her get caught out.

NAK302 · 31-05-2006, 07:54 AM

this has been going on for years............vietnam, anyone?

XRated · 31-05-2006, 11:19 AM

Classic! What did she say after all that?

Simmo · 31-05-2006, 12:09 PM

ahaha thats great. nothing makes me smile from ear to ear when the media get caught out thanks to live tv. everything else they can edit to make themselves look good, but all you need is one honest person in front of the camera to detroy some credibility.

PH47 · 31-05-2006, 12:18 PM

Hehe rocked hard.

Should happen more often, put them in their place. All the media these days is just laughable.. so much distorted facts, and just plain lies. Our news is like britains tabloids.

XR6WGN · 31-05-2006, 01:05 PM

I'm ex defence (20 yrs Navy) and that's one of the only times I've seen a senior officer tell it the way it is.

Brilliant

Paul B
XR6WGN

brenx · 31-05-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRated

Classic! What did she say after all that?

back pedalled and stated she wasn't aware of the setup ;)

**Polyal** · 31-05-2006, 01:42 PM

HAHAHA saw that on Rove, television GOLD!

gtfpv · 31-05-2006, 02:43 PM

WHY ARE WE WITH 20 000 000 PEOPLE GOING ALL OVER THE WORLD with our soldiers in all these other countries . i seriosly dont know wether it's good or bad , (humane or not) but china has more people in the army than we have people in outr country . where are they????
i hope our big wig fat arsed politicians dont start conscripting our kids . i'll die fighting the government before our kids get conscripted to envade other countries .
i may be jumping the gun . but it seems we have become a military country.

rob_liss_lms10 · 31-05-2006, 03:00 PM

***This is not a dig at ANYONES post! just a point of view*****Lets just all remember that they are 'our' troops I think that it is important if you have anger to remember that its the Pollies in their infinate wisdom that sent them there..I for one am full of pride for 'our' boys, they are there representing our country doing what they have been ordered to do, be it right or wrong..Lets not have another Vietnam, I am proud to say that a member of my family fought in Vietnam, to bad some others dont give him the same respect, he was just a man doing what his country asked of him, and he did it with pride as I'm sure are a majority of the troops in ET.... All in all although the decision to send 'our' boys there may not lie well with some I think it is important that we all remember that they are human beings with families and lives and they deserve our undivided support no matter the situation...My 2c Lissa

falcon91 · 31-05-2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob_liss_lms10

***This is not a dig at ANYONES post! just a point of view*****Lets just all remember that they are 'our' troops I think that it is important if you have anger to remember that its the Pollies in their infinate wisdom that sent them there..I for one am full of pride for 'our' boys, they are there representing our country doing what they have been ordered to do, be it right or wrong..Lets not have another Vietnam, I am proud to say that a member of my family fought in Vietnam, to bad some others dont give him the same respect, he was just a man doing what his country asked of him, and he did it with pride as I'm sure are a majority of the troops in ET.... All in all although the decision to send 'our' boys there may not lie well with some I think it is important that we all remember that they are human beings with families and lives and they deserve our undivided support no matter the situation...My 2c Lissa

Hear, Hear!
And Lissa, you tell that Vietnam vet in your family that I, for one, respect his contribution to our nation.

SB076 · 31-05-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcon91

Hear, Hear!
And Lissa, you tell that Vietnam vet in your family that I, for one, respect his contribution to our nation.

Same, anyone that serves for this country deserves this countries appreciation

SB076 · 31-05-2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtfpv

WHY ARE WE WITH 20 000 000 PEOPLE GOING ALL OVER THE WORLD with our soldiers in all these other countries . i seriosly dont know wether it's good or bad , (humane or not) but china has more people in the army than we have people in outr country . where are they????
i hope our big wig fat arsed politicians dont start conscripting our kids . i'll die fighting the government before our kids get conscripted to envade other countries .
i may be jumping the gun . but it seems we have become a military country.

I dont have a problem with our troops being in Dili, as we were asked to help. I think the mentality is that if East Timor is a fully functioning secure country it benefits Australia (ie less refugees, greater peace throughout the region) I think Australain troops do an incredible job, firstly East Timor during the independece, then Samoa (?) recently. Our troops have bought peace with minimal force and casualties. But I agree, i dont agree with consription and don't know whether our troops should be elsewhere around the world (Iraq and Afganistan)

gtfpv · 31-05-2006, 04:33 PM

i must agree with posts above . i think our troups would have to be the most courageous , dignified people among our country , and deserve nothing less than support for them and their families for the rest of thier lives. thank god that we have people like this in our country . i just hope that we look after them and dont send them to places without utmost necessity ,and not lightheartadly. soldiers are the ultimate in human decency i think on a personal level.

RPO83 · 31-05-2006, 06:27 PM

Good to see the Today show and Channel 9 the apparent 'News Breakers' shown for what they really are...

GreenMachine · 01-06-2006, 08:49 AM

Did anyone see him give them another rev this morning?

EF, What else? · 01-06-2006, 09:11 AM

Does anyone else think that the media have really hyped up this East Timor threat. I mean, fair enough there was gun battles, but they all have seemingly disappered. Heard a report yesterday that two "gangs" were throwing rocks at each other, I mean give me a a break. A few rock throwers, a few clowns with machetes.

Gimmers55 · 01-06-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

Did anyone see him give them another rev this morning?

I noticed that there weren't any soldiers standing around 'protecting' him this time.

Keepleft · 01-06-2006, 06:15 PM

[QUOTE=XR6WGN]I'm ex defence (20 yrs Navy) and that's one of the only times I've seen a senior officer tell it the way it is.

Brilliant

Yes, unlike Tampa:-)