60 Minutes reporter suffers brutal sexual assault during Egypt protests

[Sainters7]

I don't see how she could've avoided this when its her job. Ya no-one specifically told her to go down there, but as a good reporter, she knows its her job. Sure you could say she understood the risks going in, rolled the dice, and lost. In her field though, it isn't optional, that's just what you do. As a reporter in that situation, if you don't do it, there's many people who happily will, and you can come back here and cover traffic court.

Kudos to her courage for going into that situation, especially as an attractive woman in a volatile situation. And especially to her seemingly good spirits in the aftermath. She's not blaming anyone, she knew the risks of her job. She's got a lot of guts.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by peter12

Yeah, b**** deserved it! *rollseyes

The job of journalists is to report the news, even if it puts them in harm's way. It's ridiculous to say "oh well, it sucks" when someone gets raped. Pretty sad story.

Just for clarification (at this point), the allegations are sexual assault - not necessarily rape.

If it turns out that some loser guard just groped a boob (not condoning it), the news story will change quickly and be replaced by people asking why the heck she went back in country in the first place.

Two ways this pans out (as I see it right now anyways):

1. She was raped, ends up becoming a pseudo-celebrity, and is honored for her courage and dedication.

2. She got "patted on the butt", the public feels she cried wolf, and her name/career gets tarnished.

She's screwed either way, I suppose. Should be interesting to see what happens as more details come out.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by MJM

My timing isn't skewed. Her team was pulled from the country for safety coincerns and than ran back after the fall of the government to likely be one of the first on scene given most had already backed out.

Clearly they underestimated the resistance they would encounter and didn't take the appropriate precausions, or they just didn't care in an effort to get the story.

Journalists left the country over a week ago when things were coming to a head. Anderson Cooper, who you mention earlier, left on February 6th amid attacked on journalists by Mubarek supporters.

A full week later, after a regime change (the regime whose supporters were responsible for attacks against journalists) and widespread celebrations, of course journalists are going to go back and cover the story. At this point, it isn't even clear from what I have read that the attackers were pro-Mubarek. It sounds like a mob of 200 or so people turned violent and sexually assaulted her.

What I am saying is, the threat that caused/forced journalists to leave the country a week ago doesn't appear to be related to the attacks on her upon her return.

Again, it wasn't without risks, and I'm sure that she was well aware of them. But to say that journalists shouldn't return to cover the celebrations of a regime change and the emergence of democracy in a country after 30 years of Mubarek rule goes against the very reason that journalists exist in the first place.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by PIMking

I feel so horrible for this woman. Yet another reason to go in with armed guards.

Yeah, lets arm a couple guys in a crowd of a million. Sounds like a great idea.

Instead of a rape this thread would probably be about how her and her gaurds got murdered.

Are guns the answer to everything in the United States?

[MJM]

I'm not saying that what happened to her wasn't deplorable regardless of the fact set, all I said is that I would hardly consider anything around this scenario or anyone involved in as "smart". It was completely avoidable and unnecessary.

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Just for clarification (at this point), the allegations are sexual assault - not necessarily rape.

If it turns out that some loser guard just groped a boob (not condoning it), the news story will change quickly and be replaced by people asking why the heck she went back in country in the first place.

Two ways this pans out (as I see it right now anyways):

1. She was raped, ends up becoming a pseudo-celebrity, and is honored for her courage and dedication.

2. She got "patted on the butt", the public feels she cried wolf, and her name/career gets tarnished.

She's screwed either way, I suppose. Should be interesting to see what happens as more details come out.

Not sure a "groping" or a "pat on the butt" qualifies as a brutal sexual assault. But we wait for the details...

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by MJM

I'm not saying that what happened to her wasn't deplorable regardless of the fact set, all I said is that I would hardly consider anything around this scenario or anyone involved in as "smart". It was completely avoidable and unnecessary.

I don't disagree with this post, but I will add that her actions are not without consequence.

These "Mubarek supporters" were likely hired goons intent on silencing the international media. The bold and brave actions of every member of the media that was over there reflects the Egyptian's push for progress.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Gozer

I didn't say that.

Let me know which words are too big for you.

edit: I'm guessing "there" and "seasoned" for starters.

Wow, you have been such an ass over the last few days. Might be time to step away from the keyboard.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

If it turns out that some loser guard just groped a boob (not condoning it), the news story will change quickly and be replaced by people asking why the heck she went back in country in the first place.

Don't project your distaste for western political correctness on this situation.
It's highly inappropriate, and possibly misogynistic considering your "outcomes" both lack the trauma/consequences of a gang raping.

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

She's screwed either way, I suppose.

[Traditional_Ale]

nm

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Wow, you have been such an ass over the last few days. Might be time to step away from the keyboard.

No YOU were alone on valentines day!

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Gozer

No YOU were alone on valentines day!

Why would anyone be alone on Valentine's Day when there's always a Boston Pizza just a short walk away?

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Gozer

Don't project your distaste for western political correctness on this situation.
It's highly inappropriate, and possibly misogynistic considering your "outcomes" both lack the trauma/consequences of a gang raping.

OK. Thanks!

[mikey_the_redneck]

Maybe they shouldn't be sending attractive female reporters into dangerous situations like this?

You think someone would have sexually assaulted a male reporter, or a gargoyle like Helen Thomas?





Silly women, danger is a mans game....

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

Not sure a "groping" or a "pat on the butt" qualifies as a brutal sexual assault. But we wait for the details...

For sure. At this point, we don't really know anything at this point. CBS' statement was:

"She was surrounded and suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before being saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers"

The statement is informative but lacks details - intentionally I'm sure. There are a ton of different scenarios (none of them good, obviously) that could have happened. Some immediately assume she was gang raped, while others (I for one) hope that it was something far less vicious. My point is that we shouldn't be making conclusions (and attacking other people) until we actually have some idea what happened.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

There are a ton of different scenarios (none of them good, obviously) that could have happened.

No. There is one scenario. There is one thing that happens when a group of people surround a woman and a 'brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating' are the result. What the hell do you think happened? A sustained beating and forced cunnilingus?

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by driveway

No. There is one scenario. There is one thing that happens when a group of people surround a woman and a 'brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating' are the result. What the hell do you think happened? A sustained beating and forced cunnilingus?

"Sexual assault" is a very vague term.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

"Sexual assault" is a very vague term.

Ben Roethlisberger, is that you?

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Gozer

No YOU were alone on valentines day!

What? How does that make any sense? What are you saying?

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by MJM

It's terrible it happened, but it was certainly avoidable with a little commom sense. An attractive western girl going to a middle-east country amidst a huge riot where some of the most veteran reporters are fleeing the country...... Kind of like taking a row boat and going into the middle of Atlantic before a hurricane.

Yes, because celebrating Egyptians are similar to rapists.