"In 1981, Weather and Reporters Stymied a ..." Topic

… Complicated Air Ambush in Sudan.

"In reaction to Libya claiming all of the Gulf of Syrte as its territorial waters, in January 1981 U.S. president Ronald Reagan ordered the U.S. Navy to conduct a "freedom of navigation exercise" in that part of the Mediterranean Sea.

During the exercise, there were dozens of tense encounters between Navy fighters and warplanes from the Libyan Arab Air Force. On Aug. 19, 1981, two Su-22s from the LAAF's No. 1032 Squadron opened fire on a pair of F-14s from Navy squadron VF-41. The Tomcats evaded the Libyans' fire and then promptly shot down both Sukhois.

Undeterred, Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi plotted to assassinate members of the Libyan opposition living in the United States, as well as the leaders of neighboring countries. Libyan machinations provoked the United States and its allies to concoct an elaborate counter-scheme — one that fell afoul of weather and the media…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Yeps…because US reporters have no clue about OPSEC….they just want "ratings" and to "be first"…

You got that right ! And it continues unabated almost daily it seems.

Murphy, I have to say it just for you:

"The American public has a right to know!" (with sleeves rolled up and a "Press" not sticking in my hat, pen and notepad at the ready.

The public does .. but the enemy does not. After it's over than the public "needs" to know. Anything that could result in friendly losses and mission failure than the public needs to know nothing until sometime afterwards. As long as it does not jeopardize anything. Again … Like friendly lives, etc.

Besides most US citizens know next to nothing about military and intel ops, etc. But the enemy watching the media does … And they don't need to know anything until it's too late. E.g. when they are dead or dying, etc.

E.g. the UBL Raid is a great example.

Things like times and dates of troop deployments including arrivals, departures, rotations, units OOBs, etc., are on a need to know basis. Unless it's part of a larger deception plan, etc.

E.g. during GW1, telling the media that there was a large USMC force off the coast of Iraq ready to deploy. The Iraqis watch the news. They kept 2-3 Divisions of troops along the coast awaiting the USMC landing. That never came. But tied down those Divs so they could not be used elsewhere. In this case the actual mission of the USMC off the coast was not released until after the war. That is a good demonstration of Deception Planning …