Since the US led war on terror began in Afghanistan, thousands of journalists from around the world have descended on the country. For many, the most important news story in a decade may be the highlight of their career. But with real access limited, how well is this war being covered compared to previous conflicts? Former Vietnam War correspondent, now Focus Asia Executive producer Jim Laurie tried to find out.

(Battle outside Kabul)

Like lemmings to the sea or flies to a fire, more media have plunged into the dangers of Afghanistan than into any war in recent history.

(Jumping off APC)

Nearly 2000 reporters and cameras fanned out across Afghanistan and neighbouring nations in only a few months.

(Reporters on roof with satellite dishes)

Armed with the latest technology. Able to report live from nearly everywhere. Spending more money than in any recent conflict.

(SKY’s Defence Correspondent James Furlong in Kabul)

(Up sound CNN)

"Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the war in Afghanistan.”

(Fighting in Mazar-i-Sharif)

A half dozen, 24-hour news channels with lots of time to fill - vied with each other for that elusive scoop.

The BBC’s correspondent claimed he liberated Kabul on foot.

John Simpson, BBC: "Well, this is it, we’re walking into Kabul City. We didn’t seem to have any problems around us. People are friendly, chanting I’m afraid ‘kill the Taliban.”

(Kabul liberation)

Without quite the fanfare, a reporter from India was in fact right there too - in the first wave of media into the city. Just that Ajai Shukla didn’t have the money for a high tech videophone.

Ajai Shukla: “We followed the lead waves with the HQ of a local commander. There was very little resistance. Small pockets of Taliban were quickly overcome.”

Other news channels sent off to war former shock-jocks; a onetime talk show host who dramatised dangers that didn’t need dramatising.

Geraldo Rivera, Fox News Channel: "There are a minimum of 15 thousand young Muslim volunteers now in Kunduz. All of them very heavily armed– they now represent the greatest danger to public safety.”

The dangers were real enough. Killings, shrapnel wounds, kidnappings.

American bombs could go astray and did.

"There’s not much people can do. Last night when my colleague William Reeve called in a report, this happened. An American bomb had completely destroyed a home less than 50 meters from our bureau.”

And later - in November, a day after four journalists were murdered along the road to Kabul, thirty more raced across the Pakistan border as far as Jalalabad.

There was nervous laughter at the end of the Khyber Pass when a billboard greeted visitors in fractured English.

Afghanistan: "the sacrifice country, heartily welcomes you with pleases."

Ann Garrels, U-S National Public Radio: "I anticipated that it was going to be bad and chaotic but that doesn’t make me feel any better.”

U-S National Public Radio’s Ann Garrels has covered world hot spots for 20 years

Ann Garrels, U-S National Public Radio: "I’ve covered wars before and we were only in the run up to the war until the taking of Kabul. The real war has begun now. The real fighting wasn’t really between the Taliban and the northern Alliance. The fighting is going to be between Northern Alliance factions, the northern alliance against journalists seeking revenge. Northern Alliance and Taliban over time but in a guerrilla war. Now it is much more dangerous than it has been in past months.”

Much in Afghanistan is beyond your control. The drive to Jalalabad is under the protection of a local warlord family. Each reporter pays 300 dollars for armed escort.

It is Ramadan and at sunset with 30 miles to go before Jalalabad, it is time to break fast and pray. So Afghan gunmen put down their guns and reporters eye the darkening shadows on the road ahead.

For the first time since the Vietnam War –reporters from all across Asia have gone to the front.

A 30-year-old Shanghai born reporter who had never heard gunfire before – suddenly became a household name across China.

The Phoenix channel – part owned by STAR –flew Lu Chou Qiu Wei into a base north of Kabul.

Satellite phone at her side – Ms. Lu was ready for war.

Lu Chou Qiu Wei: "Hello Hong Kong. I’m wearing my bullet proof vest and we going to set out now on the four hour drive to Kabul.”

The ride - like all in Afghanistan – was precarious. If a bullet don’t get you, a road accident might.

Spurred on by the competition, Asia Television’s Peter Kwan in Hong Kong also sent young reporters into the breach and agonised about it.

Peter Kwan, News Director ATV Hong Kong:"It’s really a dilemma for us. As far as Hong Kong is concerned, I don’t think they are well prepared. Of course before their departure, we try to set up a briefing session for cameramen and reporters. Telling them what to risk and what not to risk. Tell them no story is worth a life."

(Reporters by candlelight)

But what have these reporters actually got. Under trying conditions – not much. Access to reliable information has been severely curtailed.

Many reporters have relied on scraps of information relayed by editors on the sat phone from home.

Vietnam – a war that lasted more than ten years –offered the most unrestricted news coverage in history. Journalists went into nearly every battle.

(Cannon fire)

By 1991 things had changed. Access was limited. Censorship was rife. But in the Gulf War at least, there was a pool of reporters which accompanied "Coalition Forces" on most operations.

Most American operations in Afghanistan have been kept secret. Cameras caught only glimpses of US Special Forces calling in air strikes. Only in the last phases did the Pentagon permit small teams of pool reporters.

With more media on hand than ever, access has been more limited than ever.

(Boys on the bus)

Still – why do all these reporters go off to war. Vying for scraps of information to relay to you. Each and every one volunteers.

(Battle sequence)

Action – maybe. Glory – perhaps… Excitement….. Or perhaps war to a reporter is like the mountain to a mountaineer. "I climb it, because it is there.”