Infantryman in Ramadi Tells The Real Story of Iraq

[stewert]

Recently there has been much debate on the talk shows about whether or not the media is slanting the news out of Iraq. The President and others have been blasting the media (except for Fox) for only showing the bad news.

But too negative? I don't think so. If you are looking for good news stories in a war zone, you are looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. It is like looking for virgins at the Playboy mansion--you might find a few, but they're certainly not the majority. If you want good news stories, go to Disneyland. Not Iraq.

NBC's Richard Engel offered his take from Iraq, saying "The situation on the ground is worse than the images we project on television."

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/03/22.html#a7615

Conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham had a heated exchange with David Gregory on "The Today Show" about the topic.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/03/21.html#a7608

Later, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann fired back at Ingraham on "Countdown" with this segment.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/03/22.html#a7625

So who is right?

I thought I'd try something new: I asked a soldier on the ground what he thinks about this debate. The guy I asked is a very trusted old friend of mine--an infantryman serving in Ramadi right now who supported the initial invasion of Iraq 100%. To protect him, I will call him "The Cardinal."

So, I asked "The Cardinal" one simple question: "What do you say when people say the media doesn't tell enough good news stories out of Iraq?"

His response:

"I never hear that because we all here know the good news stories are bullshit and do not really affect the mission in any way. It's like this thing we keep saying here about all the new people we've recruited for the iraqi police. It leaves out the fact that my platoon was in a 40 minute gun fight with the iraqi police. So you recruited more of them ... awesome! I am sure that will make everything better.

Also, they don't do ANYTHING. They don't even leave their building, and that is not an exaggeration. They don't. So what good is a billion-man police force that doesn't do anything? Also, they get almost no training. They tried to stand up some kind of mentoring initiative here using the guardsmen that are civilian cops, but it so far has fallen through. They will get set up to be killed, as is already suspected of the THREE SVBIEDs that have hit their station. Inside jobs, all.

<snip>

What are the good news stories? I would love to hear them. Spare me the heart warming tales of a single family or school or neighborhood that was helped. Operation Iraqi Freedom is, at this point, an abject failure. This is the most dangerous place on earth and it's getting worse, not better.

More...........

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-rieckhoff/is-the-media-only-showing_b_17778.html

[Ezlivin]

1. That's simply a troop who is not supporting the troops

When will he learn that the only things he needs to say come from the collective wisdom of our administration?

It sucks for those of us in the reality-based world, however.

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. A heartbreaking waste!

eom

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Telling the truth has become "treason"

[jedr]

4. As I told a man this week;

"I'm sure that there are many good things happening in Iraq, but the war isn't one of them"

[Solly Mack]

5. My husband, who served in Iraq from 2003-2004, said

"Iraq is a war zone. It's not a Peace Corp mission. 'Good news' doesn't exist in a war zone unless it's orders to redeploy back to the states. It doesn't matter how many schools we rebuild if tomorrow those same schools are blown to bits in an air raid. You can't hold one hand out to help when the other hand is holding a gun. You can't invade, occupy and kill a people while at the same time claiming you're there to help.How do you rebuild a nation you're constantly bombing?"

but that's just his opinion...

[npincus]

6. "good news" in war time = PROPAGANDA

I'm glad your hubby is home and safe.