U.S. Wages War of Words in Iraq ("success in Tal Afar")

[Barrett808]

U.S. Wages War of Words in Iraq
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is mounting a counteroffensive in a war of words with

Iraq's insurgents, firing off accusations of child murder, kidnapping, torture, brainwashing and plans to use chemical weapons.

For much of the 2 1/2 years since the U.S. invaded Iraq, Bush administration officials have complained of the insurgents' nimble use of propaganda to intimidate ordinary Iraqis and portray the Americans as anti-Islamic occupiers. U.S. officials have graded their own success in countering those charges as modest at best.

It's not just the Iraqi population that U.S. officials want to influence. They also want to convince the American public that U.S. forces are winning and that the insurgents pose a threat that goes well beyond Iraqi borders.

Whether by plan or happenstance, the latest anti-American charge — that U.S. troops used poison gas during fighting in the northern city of Tal Afar — is being answered with harsh words from U.S. commanders.

On Tuesday, Col. H.R. McMaster, commander of the main U.S. force in the Tal Afar fight, unleashed a verbal barrage.

"The enemy here did just the most horrible things you can imagine," he told reporters at the Pentagon.

"Not only were they targeting civilians, brutally murdering them, torturing them, but they were also kidnapping the youth of the city and brainwashing them and trying to turn them into hate-filled murderers," he added.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050915/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_war_of_words

[Missy M]

1. My, my Col. McMaster, if the shoe fits - as the saying goes.

[Kolesar]

2. "Rape Rooms"

They were *our* rape rooms at Abu Ghraib, but still, "Rape Rooms" sounds so chilling when the president says it.

[acmavm]

3. So that makes it all right to use poison gas? Poison gas don't

discriminate. It kills everyone.

What an asshole.

[ECH1969]

4. In war of words, U.S. mounts counterattack

The U.S. military is mounting a counteroffensive in a war of words with Iraq’s insurgents, firing off accusations of child murder, kidnapping, torture, brainwashing and plans to use chemical weapons.

For much of the 2½ years since the U.S. invaded Iraq, Bush administration officials have complained of the insurgents’ nimble use of propaganda to intimidate ordinary Iraqis and portray the Americans as anti-Islamic occupiers. U.S. officials have graded their own success in countering those charges as modest at best.

It’s not just the Iraqi population that U.S. officials want to influence. They also want to convince the American public that U.S. forces are winning and that the insurgents pose a threat that goes well beyond Iraqi borders.

Whether by plan or happenstance, the latest anti-American charge — that U.S. troops used poison gas during fighting in the northern city of Tal Afar — is being answered with harsh words from U.S. commanders.

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1104896.php

[Doctor_J]

5. Operation Cakewalk is really going well, isn't it?

Flowers, candy, hugs,... Ain't it great how this debacle swept even more Repukes into office 10 months ago?

[wtmusic]

6. Abu Ghraib is nothing more than a PR problem

just needs to be presented in the proper light, that's all.

[Theres-a]

7. Orwell rolls in his grave

Available at netflix.:-)

[hadrons]

8. story should read has such ....

On Tuesday, Col. H.R. McMaster, commander of the main U.S. force in the Tal Afar fight, unleashed a verbal barrage.

"The enemy here did just the most horrible things you can imagine," he told reporters at the Pentagon.

"Not only were they targeting civilians, brutally murdering them, torturing them, but they were also kidnapping the youth of the city and brainwashing them and trying to turn them into hate-filled murderers," he added.