By: Joe Strupp
The New York Times is putting all of its correspondents who are scheduled to cover the possible war with Iraq through war-survival training provided by Centurion Risk Assessment Services Ltd. in Great Britain, according to
Times Executive Editor Howell Raines.
He said between 15 and 20 photographers and reporters are slated to be in the Middle East during the likely U.S. military campaign, about the same number that went to Afghanistan during the U.S. involvement there in late 2001.
"Our rule is that the only acceptable casualty rate is zero," Raines told
E&P.
Raines said one reporter had been in Iraq and recently returned, but is expected to be deployed again to the region with a second correspondent within a few weeks.
The editor also said recent Pentagon promises of openness and access to troops are good, but should be taken with a grain of salt until they are proven to be true. "We approach this story with the full knowledge that the military is not always forthcoming," he said. "I'm trying to direct our coverage of the preparation of this war in light of what we have learned from previous conflicts."
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