Is the media Sabotaging the war effort?

[Mike Ellis]

I for one am very pleased that the Bush administration chose to put the media on site (embedded reporters) with our military so that we will know what is going on. They could easily have imposed a news blackout like we have seen for the past several years. But apparently they feel the American people have the right to see what our troops are doing in Iraq, and trust us to have the wisdom to sort out media spin.



That is one of the things that is so unique about our country - our population is trusted with so many things due to our Constitutional form of government. We get to make up our own minds without someone with power "helping us reach a conclusion" at the point of the sword.



With the privileges though come duty. We have an obligation to hold our media accountable in the same way that we hold our armed forces accountable. If they report info harmful to the troops, we need to publicize this fact as aggressively as possible. If they are "spinning", we need to slam them just as hard. If a reporter deliberately gives information that could disclose locations and endanger our troops, we need to raise such a clamor that he is fired and never holds a position in journalism again.

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by FATCAT

Am I the only one who thinks the national and international media are doing everything to sabotage the war effort?

Seems like they are trying to stir up the protestors more and more so it would be on the same scale as the Vietnam War.

Or at the very least a "wayward" missle hits that Bagdad hotel where all those "reporters" are staying at ... that would be a major victory! [/B]

We'll never be that lucky.

 

[46mech]

Re: Re: MOAB Time

Originally posted by illflem

I agree everyone in this <strike>kingdom</strike> country who doesn't agree with Little George should be rounded up and executed. The only media permitted should be KGWB. If our government would just get off their butts and instill more fear in the population we wouldn't have this protester and media problem. If only we could talk Saddam into coming over here and running the show it would so much better, we would all have the opinion or else.

This is really getting pathetic! Moderators are editing posts that might slander another member, but let slander like this B. S. against my Commander-in-Chief go unedited.



All the whiny, crybaby liberals need to get over the fact that Pres. Bush (dream on about him only being Gov. ) won the election by the very system ALL our lawmakers agreed upon many moons ago. Like him or not, he is OUR President elected by the very system that all our Presidents were elected through.



This claim that there's no connection between Saddam and Al Qaeda... ... I guess the fact that the Brits have P. O. W. s claiming there is a cell that is fighting out of Basrah means nothing. Must be stuff made up by that KGWB media.



I agree that having the ability to protest is what makes the U. S. what it is. What I don't agree with is the lawless attitude displayed by the protesters. All the "peace-lovers" want to believe that their right to protest gives them the right to impede daily life of other Americans by crowding streets, bridges, etc. That's bull! They got a beef against this war, don't take it out on other Americans who are trying to carry out their lives as normal as can be.



In my opinion, when the protesters are consuming the resources of our police, fire dept's, and emergency medical services, THEY are the terrorists. Not because they are voicing their opinions, but because of their actions!



And as far as the negative effects of the media on this war... . you bet it exists. I'm sure there are enough of us who saw the news clip of a protest in NY in which there was more media there than protesters. That's just a small example of the importance the media places on displaying anti-war sentiment.

 

[Champane Flight]

I guess

I guess the real question is that is Bush sabatoging this war? I was bashing Bush long before he was CC or started a war. It will take years to pull this country out of the mess he has put it in. We are not attacking a fellow member, we are not using profanity, and we are not slandering him. We just don't like his decision making. Is this against the law? Sorry, not the last time I checked. Freedom is hollow unless used. I earned it and I am using it.



As far as Al Queda in Iraq, yeh they are there and they may be fighting with Iraq forces. I am betting you could find members of Al Queda in any country throughout the middle east! Probably in any country in the world, including our own! Are you supprized? You shouldn't be. Are 20 or 30 Al Queda members worth invading a country for? Are twenty or thirty Al Queda worth ten to twenty years of ocupation by our forces, not to mention the lives of our men and women, and billions and billions of dollars ? NO I don't think so. Bad move Bush.



Protesters should cool it, they are now putting themselves and others in danger. To protest is fine, do it peacefully and do not disrupt anyones elses lives. They would have more of a chance of being listened to if they wern't acting like little kids (Bush).

 

[Sled Puller]

If this war is anyones mess, it is Clintons.

After 8 years of slashing military spending, but using those very forces all over the world that he was weakening, bombing empty tents in the middle of the desert with 100's of cruise missiles, getting special forces killed, then pulling out in a hurry, etc etc etc.

Speaking loud, and dropping the stick when the little dogs yap.



We won't even go to giving Korea and China Nuke secrets. That was good foreign policy there.





Clintons policys brought on the recession that we were into 2 years before he left office, and emboldened terrorists to pick up their attacks, becuase they weren't getting enough attention.



I knew what was coming, I almost had hoped Gore would have got in, because it was such a mess already.



Bush as been on clean up from day one, and is doing a good job dealing with the mess Clinton left him.



Al Queda needs killed whereever they are, period. You cannot negotiate peace with them.

Whatever it takes.

 

[46mech]

To ask if Pres. Bush is the one who is sabotaging the war one would have to presume you're a war planner and could make that judgement. Oh that's right, you're not even in the military anymore... . silly me. And even though I'm going on 23 yrs in the Marine Corps, I'm not a war planner so I wouldn't suggest any of the generals, and especially the CinC, are sabotaging the war. I wouldn't even say the media is sabotaging the war.



Surely CF, you can't believe that there's only 20-30 Al Qaeda members in Iraq? You guys claim to support the military troops... ... Our generals would plan a war based on 20-30 Al Qaeda?! Pull your head out of the sand! You guys want peace so bad, why doesn't it matter that innocent Iraqi people who have escaped, have made statements to the gross, evil treatment/ killing that Saddam has done?



If this nation's military wasn't in there doing what we're doing, we could have the peace you and the others are crying about... ... ... right up to the point where Saddam-supplied Al Qaeda came over and shoved one of those 55 gal drums of chemicals up your rear. What all the appeasers fail to accept is that if we continued to keep our heads in the ground so we don't have to deal with the evil around us, this war WILL be on our own soil; 9-11-01 is proof.



Your (and anyone elses) personal attacks against Pres. Bush are not against the law, CF. But let one member on this Board write the personal attacks against another that you guys enjoy doing to the Pres. , it gets edited. I guess that's the hollow freedom you're talking about?



CF, I agreed with your last few lines there, but again you turned to childish Bush-bashing... ... not anti-war propaganda.

 

[Champane Flight]

Evil ones

Evil ones around every corner, which one first? Its not me whos head is in the sand, someone on this site once told me that THIS military and administration had its poop together. So here we are 50 miles out of Bagdad with our troops eating one meal a day and low on ammo. What is wrong with this picture?



How many Al queda in Iraq? Well northern Iraq has a small number on the border of Iran, who when interviewed told the press that Saddam was a bigger enemy than the USA was. First you don't believe anything the Iraqi say and now you believe everything a POW says. These are part of the same that just suicide bombed four GIs. (I fortold this happening) Now here we are, it is too late to protest the war (it wouldn't matter anyway Bush was going into Iraq as soon as the hanging chads were thrown away) we are in the war. All we can do is pray that it goes better than it has already.



Why do you conservatives always blame every hang nail in the world on Clinton? Because the leader you chose is worse? Lets see Clinton had N. Korea ready to open the gates to trade with the S. . Bad stuff there, that peace thing could catch on. Now Bush has them all riled up again, to the point of aiming missles at our west coast! GOOD diplomacy. And the line "You have 48 hours to get out of Bagdad Saddam" isn't childish?

 

[Champane Flight]

Neat story.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...=10&u=/afp/20030329/ts_afp/iraq_war_civilians

 

[merryman]

CF, If you would quit watching those dis-information-alphabet channels, your "facts" wouldn't be so screwed up (talking about the front line guys being short of ammo and down to one meal aday.

Last night on a live interview with Heraldo Rivera who is with one of the most forward units----he could only say somewhere about 50 miles from Bagdad, he was asked about these claims that they were short of supplies.

He said that is not true. He said they they were well supplied in all areas. This from a real strong liberal----a loud supporter of Clinton. Your "facts" are just part of the negative view the major media is trying to put on this as well as every other thing that President Bush is associated with. Those guys are just still just being sore losers because their guy Gore failed to win; they don't let a little thing like twisted reporting get in their way of trying to lessen Bush's standing.

Vaughn

 

[Champane Flight]

What group?

Geraldo was with ALL the forces on the front?

 

[JTBMC]

I can see some of the Leathernecks being hungry, when I was a young boy in Vietnam there was many times that I thought that I would starve to death before we could stop and eat. I was used to Moma corn feeding us 3 to 4 times a day. WW2 K-Rats and C-Rats where good for the times and and we had plenty but often we were down to 1 meal a day until we were re-supplied or brought back in. Man I ate more peaches than you could carry in my Ram.

The new MRE's are really good and very satisfing and filling, before I retired in 97 many time on week end drills we would be issued 2 MRE's per day and I could only down 1, man had times changed. Not only that 2 or 3 MRE's will power pack you and look out when you do use the Head.

But as we all know some of our troops and young folks, like me could eat and 1 hour later feel hungry again no mater how much you have eaten.

TJ

 

[Champane Flight]

Now

I am sure the troops are being resupplied as we speak. However to have ANY shortage to our boys on the frontlines, should be looked at. They deserve the best. I hated MREs, liked the old Cs better, the MREs tasted like cardboard!

 

[WTBurke]

Re: Scared?

Originally posted by Champane Flight

It is OK to be afraid, everyone in America is.



CF, I'm not afraid and never have been. I sense you are afraid.



For those of you who might be "afraid" don't worry it's going to be alright. I and many like me will prevent the "bad guys" from coming over here and doing things to your family members in spite of your "political" stance or "dove-like" propensity.



You can sleep soundly, I and my fellow brothers will provide the assurance that you need so you may carry on with your life. I'm proud to be an American and I'll fight to provide safety for any American regardless of "who" or "what" they may be.



What an outstanding country to have so many who would fight for the "rights" and safety of others.



William

 

[illflem]

Geraldo was with ALL the forces on the front?

Was is right. Geraldo was expelled from Iraq by the US military yesterday for including too much detail in his reporting.



Rumsfield also reinterated in an interview yesterday that the forward troops were short on food but not for long, the link from yahoo is true.



For good reporting go to www.google.com and click on news, you will have the choice of sometimes over 100 different news agencies reports on the same subject, each report different. Choose which one you want to believe.

Screw American TV reports, all are biased one way or the other, not worth wasting your time watching.



Anyone else tired of the footage of downtown Baghdad getting blown up? Once was enough, they may as well just show the first film over and over.

If Saddam was smart he would have sold advertising space on the side of his government buildings- DRINK COKE-, get free exposure worldwide from CNN .

Maybe next time we'll wise up and have US drone aircraft pull ad banners around to help pay for the war. How about Marlboro stickers on the troop carriers? Make them look like NASCAR racers. Heck maybe we can pay for the whole war with ad dollars. We're really missing out on a money making enterprise here.

 

[me4osu]

The Liberals need to quit listening to Peter Arnett. His views have become so socalistic he may be eligible for employment with National Public Radio. Seeing that ABC and National Geographic cut him loose for his stupid statements this weekend, he is looking for a job.

 

[Champane Flight]

Cannot believe it!!!!!

How many of you guys think I am liberal, leftsided? You made me believe it, so I went and joined a leftsided democratic website . I lasted ONE day and got kicked off for calling a newspaper that had 15 out of 20 headliners with anti-war or anti- American slants a rag and that it couldn't be relied on for fair reporting! So, where and whom do I belong? I have always said I was middle of the road, I guess there are not too many of us left... ..... I still say look at the far left and then the far right, then go down the middle!

 

[Champane Flight]

Oh

Oh by the way WT, I am not scared at this time. I will let you know though. The only thing I am afraid of is my own president at this time. I can handle him next election.

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by tjlaffite

WW2 K-Rats and C-Rats where good for the times

Yep- you just ain't lived until you've eaten food that was packed before you were born! And nothing quite like those non-filtered Camels! Semper Fi!