Pentagon plan to broadcast from war zones

Associated Press have reported that the Pentagon are planning to use two-way satellite videophones from combat zones to provide the media with on-the-spot visuals.
The scheme is designed to "counter enemy propaganda."
Lt. Col. David Lamp, a spokesman for the US Joint Forces Command, said that the system will allow military field commanders to hold "near real-time" videoconferences with journalists.
The €27,000 Austrian-made system consists of a rugged briefcase which cradles a laptop computer with video-editing and recording capacity, and includes a built-in camera, keyboard and a pair of external collapsible satellite dish antennas.
The Pentagon reportedly plans to have four frontline public affairs teams share two of the portable broadcast devices.
Television networks have begun using such equipment extensively over the past year.
(GB)