VIDEO - ABC's 'Good News in Iraq' Story Turns Violent

[dzika]

broadcast on March 22, 2006

VIDEO - ABC's 'Good News in Iraq' Story Turns Violent

Responding to the President's criticism of the media coverage of Iraq, ABC's Nightline, airs the story of an attempt to report on good news in Iraq.

After a day of covering the horrible violence in Iraq, ABC reporter Jake Tapper tried to find some lighter news. The ABC News team decided to cover a new Iraqi sitcom and the challenges of creating comedy for Iraqi television viewers.

The story quickly turned from good news to tragedy and fear as Jake's contact, who was also the head of the entertainment division for Iraqi TV, was murdered during filming.

Jake Tapper concludes the story with these words: "And there went our effort to show comedians trying to make Iraqis smile again. It ended with the funeral of the man who helped us put the story together. A horrible, gruesome, perfect metaphor for daily life in Iraq."

http://www.ameratsu.com/media/vid/abc/abc_nl_iraq_good_news_060323a_320x240.flv&width=320&height=240&OrigWidth=320&OrigHeight=240">
http://www.ameratsu.com/media/vid/abc/abc_nl_iraq_good_news_060323a_320x240.flv&width=320&height=240&OrigWidth=320&OrigHeight=240">Video in Streaming Flash format...
Video in Windows Media format...

http://veredictum.com/node/150

[Bozita]

1. ABC attempt at happy news story turns into more death

Recommended

[LibDemAlways]

2. I saw that the other night.

Try as they might our media whores simply cannot report the "good news" from Iraq - because there isn't any.

[central scrutinizer]

3. they should interview some of the happy mercenaries

http://www.redrat.net/BUSH_WAR/mercenaries/

According to figures current during the active war a year ago, the salary of a soldier in the lowest rank who has one year's service was $15,480 a year - only a thousand dollars more than the average pay for an usher in a movie theatre in the USA. The pay for an experienced corporal of three years of service was $19,980 a year.

For this, US soldiers are on the frontlines in Iraq, risking their lives; with over 700 dead, and many more returning home amputees and permanently impaired, they have much at risk, yet their nation recompenses them with minimal pay.

Meanwhile, the government pays private firms between $500 and $1,500 a day for the experienced military personnel they supply in Iraq. That works out to mercenaries who often earn between $150,000 and $250,000 a year.

In stark terms, a mercenary works in a less risky position, providing support to fighting men or guarding oil wells instead of going on patrols in hostile territory under enemy fire and assault - and makes 10 or 20 times as much money as a soldier who serves his country instead of a corporation.

[wordpix2]

4. this is deplorable & there should be a Congress'l INVESTIGATION into it

[annabanana]

20. That would be a good idea..

If we had a Congress. They are without power.

[Bozita]

24. A lot of those mercenaries are employed by an Amway relative

Blackwater USA is owned by a brother of Betsy DeVos. Remember those charred bodies hanging from a bridge in Iraq? That's Blackwater USA.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/mojo_400/12_devos.html

DeVos and his wife also donate millions to charities -- especially those that promote conservative causes. The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation handed out $95.1 million between 1990 and 1997, with nearly a third of the money going to support organizations that espouse Christian values. But the couple doesn't give to homeless shelters and food banks, saying the poor should raise themselves out of poverty. "I don't want to make 'em too comfortable there," DeVos told the Grand Rapids Press. "I want them to get a little desperate to go out and find their way out of it."

The Amway founder certainly knows what it's like to be a little desperate. When his new book, Hope From My Heart: 10 Lessons for Life, was published last year, his agent was accused of trying to create the appearance of popularity by purchasing 18,000 copies. Alerted to the self-promotion, The New York Times excluded the sales, and DeVos failed to make the bestseller list.

[Nightflurry]

27. And guess who's running for governor in Michigan..

Dick DeVos :puke:

[baby_mouse]

5. In some sicko alternative universe this would be funny. NT.

[dzika]

6. ...

[Renew Deal]

7. That's a tremendous story.

And a terrible one. How sad.

[buddysmellgood]

8. That is a profoundly telling story.

[Justice Is Comin]

9. It's almost shameful

how they think they have to respond to these desperation attempts to divert attention from reality. If you look close you can almost see the strings on their hands and legs.

[bigtree]

10. .

[mzmolly]

11. OH my goodness, so so sad.

:(

[Peter Frank]

12. R... n/t

[UpInArms]

13. War! huh What is it good for?

War! huh-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh

War! huh-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all

War! huh good God
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

Ohhh? War! I despise
Because it means destruction?
Of innocent lives

War means tears
to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
and lose their lives

I said - War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War! Whoa, Lord ...
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
War! It's an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind

War has caused unrest in the younger generation
Induction then destruction-
Who wants to die?

Ohhh? War Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, Say it, Say it

War! Uh-huh Yeah - Huh!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! It's got one friend, that's the undertaker
War has shattered many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled bitter and mean
Life is much to precious to spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life, it can only take it away

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War! Whoa, Lord ...
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
Peace Love and Understanding;
tell me, is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
You tell me
Say it, Say it, Say it

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it.
Nothing!

[gordianot]

14. Fox News needs to canvas Iraq looking for good news.

I hereby nominate Hannity and O'Reilly for this task.

[understandinglife]

15. "A horrible, gruesome, perfect metaphor for daily life in Iraq."

And, the truth.


Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[DemReadingDU]

16. K&R

[fooj]

17. Truth is our most powerful weapon.

Peace.

[Career Prole]

18. Quite striking. K&R

And kiss my ass, bush. :grr:

[Lisa]

19. I guess this would be what Jon Stewart termed "Brechtian" ...

... while discussing the Cheney incident a few weeks back. (Ironic but also horrible ...)

[helderheid]

21. wow... just wow

[ClayZ]

22. K and R

:kick:

[autorank]

23. Thank you dzika. K&R n/t

[rman]

25. "It is our goal to make Iraqis forget about the misery and violence

of daily life."

That would not be necessary if there'd not be a lot of misery and violence.

[whatelseisnew]

26. Photos on Hameed's coffin

Searching for Comedy Amid Iraq's Tragedies
Photographs of Amjad Hameed, a senior Iraqi state television editor, and of his driver are pasted on Hameed's coffin during his funeral in Baghdad on March 11, 2006. Gunmen assassinated both of them as they headed to work in Baghdad. (Ali Jasim/ Reuters)

[tom_paine]

28. Tragic.

[MGKrebs]

29. And the RNC is using this story as "good news".

Check it out:
http://www.rnc.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=6196

[Beware the Beast Man]

30. Wow. Ironic.

The media's attempt at an obligatory puff-piece for the "what about all the good news" crowd falls flat.