By: Ari Berman At least one reporter has carried the "embedded" notion too far, but
The Fayetteville (N.C.)
Observer hopes to send a replacement to Kuwait by Tuesday.
The
Observer called home its reporter and photographer from Kuwait this week after writer Tanya Biank became engaged to a major in the Army unit she was assigned to cover. The newspaper's team had been "embedded" with the troops preparing for a possible invasion of Iraq. Alhough Biank and Maj. Mike Marti of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division had been dating prior to their deployment to the Gulf, military officials told Biank that as a fiancee she could not cover combat missions.
Managing Editor Michael Arnholt said Biank's move came as an unhappy surprise. "We've been sending reporters out to cover troops for 15 years and this is the first time anything like this has happened," he said.
The
Observer hasn't yet decided how to discipline Biank.
Since training is provided by the military, the cost of airfare was the only regrettable expense.
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See
E&P's complete coverage of
Iraq and the Press.
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