Another blow to the "Smile for Iraq" PR - troop dissatisfaction

[the_real_38]

That's what I call Bush's little marketing campaign. Don't forget - we've already seen fake soldier form letters run in newspapers, a general say that we were in a "war with Satan," and now this really may blow the lid off of it: (see also the other thread about the officer interview)

From here:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/washpost/20031016/ts_washpost/a32521_2003oct15

<snip>

A broad survey of U.S. troops in Iraq (news - web sites) by a Pentagon (news - web sites)-funded newspaper found that half of those questioned described their unit's morale as low and their training as insufficient, and said they do not plan to reenlist.

The survey, conducted by the Stars and Stripes newspaper, also recorded about a third of the respondents complaining that their mission lacks clear definition and characterizing the war in Iraq as of little or no value. Fully 40 percent said the jobs they were doing had little or nothing to do with their training.

In the survey, 34 percent described their morale as low, compared with 27 percent who described it as high and 37 percent who said it was average; 49 percent described their unit's morale as low, while 16 percent called it high.

</snip>

<snip>

In recent days, the Bush administration has launched a campaign to blame the news media for portraying the situation in Iraq in a negative light. Last week, Bush described the military spirit as high and said that life in Iraq is "a lot better than you probably think. Just ask people who have been there."

But Stars and Stripes raised questions about what those visiting dignitaries saw in Iraq. "Many soldiers -- including several officers -- allege that VIP visits from the Pentagon and Capitol Hill are only given hand-picked troops to meet with during their tours of Iraq," the newspaper said in its interview with Sanchez. "The phrase 'Dog and Pony Show' is usually used. Some troops even go so far as to say they've been ordered not to talk to VIPs because leaders are afraid of what they might say."

</snip>

[John_Shadows_1]

1. Geez, Bush and his ilk...

... they're just a bunch of hustlers. God forgive us for ever letting that joker get anywhere near power.

[jbfam4]

3. God forgive

the Supremes for appointing him.

[alfredo]

2. Kick

I knew the truth would come out, now we need to make sure people see and hear it.

edited because I just cracked open a beer.

[jbfam4]

4. I voted it a five

[John_Shadows_1]

5. kick

n/t