Good News In Iraq

[Tony]

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0903/22international.html?urac=n&urvf=10642377116960.8839345774896111 ..full article

On Sept. 14, I flew from Baghdad to Kuwait with Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg from Dearborn, Mich. He was in a body bag. He'd been ambushed and killed that afternoon. Sitting in the cargo bay of a C 130E, I found myself wondering whether the news media were somehow complicit in his death.


So much for "quagmire".

[The Fool]

Originally posted by Tony
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0903/22international.html?urac=n&urvf=10642377116960.8839345774896111 ..full article



So much for "quagmire".
Boo Hoo, the media refusing to broadcast the correct story? Maybe The US should just ban all independant media and broadcast their own "true story"...

[Tony]

Originally posted by The Fool

Boo Hoo, the media refusing to broadcast the correct story? Maybe The US should just ban all independant media and broadcast their own "true story"...

That's the kind of simplistic dribble I'd expect from a person who can't tell the difference between race and religion. Anyone with an IQ greater than Forrest Gump's want to add an opinion?

[Malachi151]

The problem is that without going there yourself you have no idea what is the most accurate description of the situation.

[Ziggurat]

This isn't really about the particular story posted, but when you read stories about Iraq, and what Iraqis think, you need to be very sceptical. One problem I haven't seen much discussion of is translators. While Saddam was in power, translators were all Saddam-supplied, so naturally they're largely sympathetic to the former regime. News reporters haven't all switched to independent translators, many of them are still using the same translators as before, people who are probably not going to be so happy about the US invasion even if the populace is. That puts a spin on things that the journalists themselves may not even always be concious of.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Malachi151
The problem is that without going there yourself you have no idea what is the most accurate description of the situation.

True dat.

[The Fool]

Originally posted by Tony


That's the kind of simplistic dribble I'd expect from a person who can't tell the difference between race and religion. Anyone with an IQ greater than Forrest Gump's want to add an opinion?
Lol....Arabs...Muslims...Arabs....Muslims.... your never really sure which ones are to blame for all the worlds problems are you? oops, hang on, I forgot the biased media....they are always a good bet too....

[a_unique_person]

I don't understand this



We may need a few credible Baghdad Bobs to undo the harm done by our media. I'm afraid it is killing our troops.



How is 'our' media killing US troops. The Iraqis don't read it. No policy changes have been made due to the media reports. No one is giving troop locations, (except for Rivera, but he was forgiven). What is the basis for his claim except that he feels it is true?

[Jon_in_london]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


We may need a few credible Baghdad Bobs to undo the harm done by our media. I'm afraid it is killing our troops.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Last time I check it was US troops killing the media.

[Crossbow]

So Tony, how is this story good news?

Somehow, I doubt that the family of Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg will think that it is such good news.

[Tony]

Originally posted by The Fool

Lol....Arabs...Muslims...Arabs....Muslims.... your never really sure which ones are to blame for all the worlds problems are you? oops, hang on, I forgot the biased media....they are always a good bet too....


Not only are you stupid, but you're also a liar.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Crossbow
So Tony, how is this story good news?


Well, its good news for us who actually care about the Iraqi people. I should have more specific.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Tony


Well, its good news for us who actually care about the Iraqi people. I should have more specific.

So, we had to lie, alienate long-time allies, spend billions of dollars, kill thousands, destroy, invade, and occupy Iraq because some of us actually care about Iraqi people.

Is this right?

[Tony]

Originally posted by Crossbow


So, we had to lie, alienate long-time allies, spend billions of dollars, kill thousands, destroy, invade, and occupy Iraq because some of us actually care about Iraqi people.



I supported the war for my own reasons. I'm not so blinded by my hatred of Bush that I am unable to recognize that, ultimately, what he did was a good thing. You seriously need to drop the baggage.

[BillyTK]

Originally posted by a_unique_person
I don't understand this



How is 'our' media killing US troops. The Iraqis don't read it. No policy changes have been made due to the media reports. No one is giving troop locations, (except for Rivera, but he was forgiven). What is the basis for his claim except that he feels it is true?

Not only is the media a clear and imminent threat to our troops but there is evidence that the media have the capability to mount and launch an attack on any politician in the western hemisphere within 45 minutes.

[Tony]

Originally posted by a_unique_person
I don't understand this



How is 'our' media killing US troops. The Iraqis don't read it. No policy changes have been made due to the media reports. No one is giving troop locations, (except for Rivera, but he was forgiven). What is the basis for his claim except that he feels it is true?

From the article:

And we do, but I'm afraid the news media are hurting our chances. They are dwelling upon the mistakes, the ambushes, the soldiers killed, the wounded, the Blumbergs. Fair enough. But it is not balancing this bad news with "the rest of the story," the progress made daily, the good news. The falsely bleak picture weakens our national resolve, discourages Iraqi cooperation and emboldens our enemy.

During the conventional part of this conflict, embedded journalists reported the good, the bad and the ugly. Where are the embeds now that we are in the difficult part of the war, now that fair and balanced reporting is critically important to our chances of success? At the height of the conventional conflict, Fox News alone had 27 journalists embedded with U.S. troops (out of a total of 774 from all Western media). Today there are only 27 embedded journalists from all media combined.

Throughout Iraq, American soldiers with their typical "can do" attitude and ingenuity are engaging in thousands upon thousands of small reconstruction projects, working with Iraqi contractors and citizens. Through decentralized decision-making by unit commanders, the 101st Airborne Division alone has spent nearly $23 million in just the past few months. This sum goes a very long way in Iraq. Hundreds upon hundreds of schools are being renovated, repainted, replumbed and reroofed. Imagine the effect that has on children and their parents.


You obviously didn’t read the article, if you did you wouldn’t have such a hasty and rather ignorant remark. I wasn’t going to say anything, but since your ignorance has proved contagious, I feel that I should.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Tony



I supported the war for my own reasons. I'm not so blinded by my hatred of Bush that I am unable to recognize that, ultimately, what he did was a good thing. You seriously need to drop the baggage.

Drop the baggage you say?

No, I do not think so.

Right now, George W. is speaking before the same organization that he spurned when it did not do what he wanted it to do to ask them to support the consequences of the action he took on his own.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Crossbow


Drop the baggage you say?

No, I do not think so.



I figured as much, peons like you thrive off hate and enmity, with-out it, you have nothing.

[KelvinG]

Originally posted by Crossbow

Right now, George W. is speaking before the same organization that he spurned when it did not do what he wanted it to do to ask them to support the consequences of the action he took on his own.

I wonder if dubya will be having a side order of "freedom fries" with the plate of crow he is now being forced to eat.

Oh, that's right, they're called "french fries" again!

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Tony


I figured as much, peons like you thrive off hate and enmity, with-out it, you have nothing.

You are the one who supported the killing of thousands, you are unable to articulate your own points, and yet you say that I am filled with hatred.

I say that you do not know what you are talking about which clearly shows me the type of person you really are.

[Lothian]

Originally posted by Tony
[url]
So much for "quagmire". Tony thanks for this. You are quite right I had misunderstood the situation.

I am glad that the entire population people of Iraq are all ecstatic with the progress being made since they were invaded. All killing has stopped in Iraq or utopia as I believe it is to be renamed. That the Iraqis now govern themselves with their own freely elected government, and that they have full control over the countries resources is refreshing news. I am pleased that there is a secular government, but am surprised it is compulsory ! Did the Iraqis want that ? At least there will be no silly commandments in their courtrooms.
I am also pleased that the UK and America no longer has to pay for the economic consequences of the war.
You are right to celebrate all this good news.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Crossbow


You are the one who supported the killing of thousands, you are unable to articulate your own points, and yet you say that I am filled with hatred.




You are the one who was supporting Hussein’s regime, and you are the one who supported the oppression and murder of millions of Iraqis. I have articulated my points perfectly; I can’t help it if you are unable or unwilling to understand

[Tony]

Originally posted by Lothian
Tony thanks for this. You are quite right I had misunderstood the situation.

I am glad that the entire population people of Iraq are all ecstatic with the progress being made since they were invaded. All killing has stopped in Iraq or utopia as I believe it is to be renamed. That the Iraqis now govern themselves with their own freely elected government, and that they have full control over the countries resources is refreshing news. I am pleased that there is a secular government, but am surprised it is compulsory ! Did the Iraqis want that ? At least there will be no silly commandments in their courtrooms.
I am also pleased that the UK and America no longer has to pay for the economic consequences of the war.
You are right to celebrate all this good news.


Simplistic.

[BillyTK]

Originally posted by Tony
You obviously didn’t read the article, if you did you wouldn’t have such a hasty and rather ignorant remark. I wasn’t going to say anything, but since your ignorance has proved contagious, I feel that I should.
Suffering, death and destruction sells newspapers; refurbished schools don't. So of course the media will focus on the gneral state of lawlessness, attacks on US troops, rise of muslim militias and lack of basic infrastructure and amenities rather than the US military's good works in school refurbishment. And it's not exactly the greatest propaganda coup when kids have to pick their way carefully passed pools of sewage and unexploded cluster bombs to get to these schools.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Tony



You are the one who was supporting Hussein’s regime, and you are the one who supported the oppression and murder of millions of Iraqis. I have articulated my points perfectly; I can’t help it if you are unable or unwilling to understand

Bullsh*t!
Bullsh*t!
Bullsh*t!

I never supported Hussein's regime.

You are a just an worthless e-warrior who never say such a things to a person's face, so instead you hide behind a computer.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Crossbow


Bullsh*t!
Bullsh*t!
Bullsh*t!

I never supported Hussein's regime.


Well, by that same token, I never supported the killing of thousands.

You are a just an worthless e-warrior who never say such a things to a person's face, so instead you hide behind a computer.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

If that thought makes you feel like a big man, so be it.

[The Fool]

Originally posted by Tony



Not only are you stupid, but you're also a liar.

Lol.....any evidence to support this claim?? Are they the sort of lies that cause my pants to catch fire? Maybe you could quote my lies, just one will do..... And quotes where I call you a doofus or something similar don't count...If they are lies or not is always going to be a matter of opinion....

Don't ever stop tony...you crack me up. I'll miss you when you get bored and wander off.... :roll:

[ImpyTimpy]

People, if someone you're arguing with is only capable of spouting two-sentence replies laced with ad-hominem's, no amount of evidence or rationality is going to convince them.

To Tony,

The article is an opinion of one person. You're nothing but a believer who's grasped onto one scientist who says, you know, maybe telepathy is real. Shame that all the other people are reporting something entirely different...

[Lothian]

Originally posted by Tony



Simplistic. But not nearly as simplistic as suggesting that if the US media only publish happy stories then all the troubles in Iraq will go away.

[Tony]

Originally posted by The Fool


Lol.....any evidence to support this claim??


You made the claim (falsly) that I said things about arabs. Thats a lie.

Don't ever stop tony...you crack me up. I'll miss you when you get bored and wander off

When that happens, Ill guess you'll have to masterbate over someone else.

[Tony]

Originally posted by ImpyTimpy


To Tony,

The article is an opinion of one person. You're nothing but a believer who's grasped onto one scientist who says, you know, maybe telepathy is real. Shame that all the other people are reporting something entirely different...


:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Tony]

Originally posted by Lothian
But not nearly as simplistic as suggesting that if the US media only publish happy stories then all the troubles in Iraq will go away.

This is a strawman. I never made such a claim.

[Chaos]

Originally posted by Tony


This is a strawman. I never made such a claim.

You posted a link to a story that claimed the media are complicit to the deaths of U.S. soldiers.

That implies that if the media stopped their "unfair" reporting of only the "bad things", less or no U.S. soldiers would die.

Since these soldiers are killed by those who cause these "troubles", that in turn implies that "less unfair" media coverage would lessen or stop the troubles.

Which means the story indeed says that "if the US media only publish happy stories then all the troubles in Iraq will go away."

Since you posted the link to the story and made no statement that you disagree with the story, you did make such a claim, although implicitly, not explicitly.
Either admit it, or be careful what you´re posting next time.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Chaos


You posted a link to a story that claimed the media are complicit to the deaths of U.S. soldiers.



Show me where it says that in the article.

[Chaos]

Originally posted by Tony



Show me where it says that in the article.


Right where you quoted it.quote:
On Sept. 14, I flew from Baghdad to Kuwait with Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg from Dearborn, Mich. He was in a body bag. He'd been ambushed and killed that afternoon. Sitting in the cargo bay of a C 130E, I found myself wondering whether the news media were somehow complicit in his death.


Like I said: think first, post later. It saves face.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Chaos



Right where you quoted it.

Like I said: think first, post later. It saves face.


I found myself wondering whether the news media were somehow complicit in his death.


Notice he does not say the media was complicit, the claim was never made.

[clk]

Originally posted by Tony



I'm not so blinded by my hatred of Bush that I am unable to recognize that, ultimately, what he did was a good thing.

Are you saying that the end justify the means?

[Tony]

Originally posted by clk


Are you saying that the end justify the means?


To quote Gary Coleman when he was a guest star on The Simpsons, "That’s a glib interpretation". :D

But to answer your question, in this case, yes.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Tony


Notice he does not say the media was complicit, the claim was never made.

Tony, do you even read the articles you post?

Obliviously not, that would be asking too much for a stupid liar like you. But do not worry, I will save you the trouble of reading the whole thing yourself and put in the last two lines of that editorial written by the good congressman:


We may need a few credible Baghdad Bobs to undo the harm done by our media. I'm afraid it is killing our troops.

[rikzilla]

This whole thread breaks Rule 8.

You guys are all being jerks, left and right. Sad, because media bias as pertains to Iraq could be both relevant and important.

...alas, schoolyard behavior reigns.... :rolleyes:

-z

[clk]

Originally posted by rikzilla
This whole thread breaks Rule 8.

Sad, because media bias as pertains to Iraq could be both relevant and important.

-z

You guys on the right have your political bias represented by Fox "News". So what's the problem?