posted on September 22, 2003 02:50:04 PM newMedia's dark cloud a danger
Falsely bleak reports reduce our chances of success in Iraq
By JIM MARSHALL
On Sept. 14, I flew from Baghdad to Kuwait with Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg from Dearborn, Mich. He was in a body bag. He'd been ambushed and killed that afternoon. Sitting in the cargo bay of a C 130E, I found myself wondering whether the news media were somehow complicit in his death.
News media reports about our progress in Iraq have been bleak since shortly after the president's premature declaration of victory. These reports contrast sharply with reports of hope and progress presented to Congress by Department of Defense representatives -- a real disconnect, Vietnam déja vu. So I went to Iraq with six other members of Congress to see for myself.
The Iraq war has predictably evolved into a guerrilla conflict similar to Vietnam. Our currently stated objectives are to establish reasonable security and foster the creation of a secular, representative government with a stable market economy that provides broad opportunity throughout Iraqi society. Attaining these objectives in Iraq would inevitably transform the Arab world and immeasurably increase our future national security.
These are goals worthy of a fight, of sacrifice, of more lives lost now to save thousands, perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands in the future. In Mosul last Monday, a colonel in the 101st Airborne put it to me quite simply: "Sir, this is worth doing." No one I spoke with said anything different. And I spoke with all ranks.
But there will be more Blumbergs killed in action, many more. So it is worth doing only if we have a reasonable chance of success. And we do, but I'm afraid the news media are hurting our chances. They are dwelling upon the mistakes, the ambushes, the soldiers killed, the wounded, the Blumbergs. Fair enough. But it is not balancing this bad news with "the rest of the story," the progress made daily, the good news. The falsely bleak picture weakens our national resolve, discourages Iraqi cooperation and emboldens our enemy.
During the conventional part of this conflict, embedded journalists reported the good, the bad and the ugly. Where are the embeds now that we are in the difficult part of the war, now that fair and balanced reporting is critically important to our chances of success? At the height of the conventional conflict, Fox News alone had 27 journalists embedded with U.S. troops (out of a total of 774 from all Western media). Today there are only 27 embedded journalists from all media combined.
Throughout Iraq, American soldiers with their typical "can do" attitude and ingenuity are engaging in thousands upon thousands of small reconstruction projects, working with Iraqi contractors and citizens. Through decentralized decision-making by unit commanders, the 101st Airborne Division alone has spent nearly $23 million in just the past few months. This sum goes a very long way in Iraq. Hundreds upon hundreds of schools are being renovated, repainted, replumbed and reroofed. Imagine the effect that has on children and their parents.
Zogby International recently released the results of an August poll showing hope and progress. My own unscientific surveys told me the same thing. With virtually no exceptions, hundreds of Iraqis enthusiastically waved back at me as I sat in the open door of a helicopter traveling between Babylon and Baghdad. And I received a similar reception as I worked my way alone, shaking hands through a large crowd of refinery workers just to see their reaction.
We may need a few credible Baghdad Bobs to undo the harm done by our media. I'm afraid it is killing our troops.
-- U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) of Macon, a Vietnam combat veteran, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
posted on September 22, 2003 03:52:06 PM new
ebayauctionguy - This is a another report along the same line as the one I posted on other 'good news' from Colin Powell this morning. The left just can't handle reading ANY good news...they'd much rather focus on all the negatives so we'll all rush to scream 'bring our troops home'. They don't want our troops to be successful, it will help get this President re-elected.
They're going to continue to do all they can so NO ONE reads or hears about all the positive changes being brought about in Iraq.
Glad to read here, another report that brings a little 'light' into the situation....of all the 'doom and gloom' we read about and hear about from the leftist media.
posted on September 22, 2003 05:16:36 PM new
I'm reading his statement but I just don't see anything big that's exciting good news. Just trivial generalities about building schools.
Big whoop if the kids have to go home from the school on unsafe streets to a house without power and a family without work.....
Does he really think we will believe some Iraqis decided to kill Americans because the media did not report school remodelings?
That is desperate grasping to find a reason to silence the press who are already mostly mindless cheerleaders contrary to what he says.
He says - "The Iraq war has predictably evolved into a guerrilla conflict"
Who predicted? - not anyone he supports. They all painted a cheery picture of waving crowds welcoming their liberation.
Bunch of liers plain and simple.
Next step is to blame the economy on the press for reporting reality. Maybe they should make the economic indicators a state secret for national economic security!
posted on September 22, 2003 05:44:01 PM new Next step is to blame the economy on the press for reporting reality. Maybe they should make the economic indicators a state secret for national economic security!
Right!
Blame the botched war on the media reporting the dead and wounded?
