St Dept should ban international recreational journalism a la Curtis, Foley, etc.

College Running Other Divisions

9 years ago 08/26/2014 8:42am EDT

The US State Department should issue a ban on American Citizens and Green Card Holders, from performing journalism outside of the borders United States.

Curtis and Foley were amateur freelancers captured by terrorists in Syria/Iraq.

Thrill seekers, adventurers, do-gooders, born agains, and warmongers, unnecessarily put the lives of US Government military personnel in danger when they foul up and have to be rescued.

Only certified, accredited journalists, approved by the Associated Press, Washington Post, etc. should be allowed to perform journalist duties outside of the United States.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 8:45am EDT

re: This is getting out of hand

5/10

Convincing enough that some readers might think you're serious.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 8:57am EDT

re: This is getting out of hand

Options at the airport, point of departure from the US:

1) Sign a legal waiver absolving US taxpayers from rescue, corpse recovery.

2) Buy a $100 Million insurance policy to cover the costs.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 9:11am EDT

re: This is getting out of hand

Freedom of movement and association.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 9:15am EDT

re: This is getting out of hand

The US should ban anyone from entering or leaving the country. It's a dangerous world out there.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 9:25am EDT

re: Sadman

Let's just ban the press all together.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 10:09am EDT

re: No Way

While the OP is just baiting, there is an important issue raised by the risk of kidnapping. People who go into these areas whether as humanitarian workers, journalists, other NGOs or just private workers become soft targets for terrorists to kidnap and ransom. At some point, the benefit of having a journalist, aid worker etc. on the ground is outweighed by the burden of the bad guys getting millions in ransom payments to further fuel conflict and tighten the bad guys grip on power. One worker may save five children by being in a war zone, but may end up dooming five hundred by getting captured and freed for a million dollar ransom that is used to buy more weapons. Perhaps the UN or some other international body should at least declare an area to be off limits due to the risk of kidnapping ultimately making it worse for the inhabitants people are trying to help.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 10:25am EDT

re: Precious Roy

In a war zone only US gov't personnel or 1st Amendment approved media should be present and God Forbid, a rescue order issued to the CIA. Others should not be rescued, bodies dug out of the ground, decomposing DNA scanned for ID.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 10:44am EDT

re: Precious Roy

How many Americans are kidnapped or killed every year out of the 6.3 million working overseas?

You've more chance of being killed by a cop (50 deaths a month according to Wikipedia).

9 years ago 08/26/2014 10:46am EDT

re: This is getting out of hand

Go away Randy Miyazaki from Track and Field Photo and notorious Letsrun troll.

9 years ago 08/26/2014 11:20am EDT

re: This is getting out of hand

Why not sell CIA security insurance for $10K apiece to American NGO and church organizations who deploy dangerous areas?

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St Dept should ban international recreational journalism a la Curtis, Foley, etc.

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