What got me was when it was reported that the news from Iraq was there was no news from Iraq....

More incompetence from the incompetent press.  You don't even have to pay attention to see it anymore.

 

Reply By: ParaTed2kPosted: Thursday, November 15, 2007 What got me was when it was reported that the news from Iraq was there was no news from Iraq.... More incompetence from the incompetent press. You don't even have to pay attention to see it anymore.

I must have missed that particular slap in the face.

I was thinking about Iraq the other day when I had seen yet another misleading and screamin' headline from the inferior officer on the subject.  I was reminded a bit of a few movies and shows I've seen over my lifetime.

The Longest Day - made at a time when Hollywood somewhat glorified military service and the heroes of our Wars.  Seems to me, if I recall correctly, that movie included quite a bit of FUBAR-edness to it.  Paratroopers were dropped miles off target, completely disoriented, away from their commanders, and in many cases away from other members of their outfits.  Many men died from mistakes made along the way there.  Far too many men.

Flags of Our Fathers - made recently, made by Clint Eastwood (director).  Showed much of the mistakes that were made on Iwo Jima.  Paired with Letters from Iwo Jima.  Both showed mistakes made during the fighting at Iwo Jima.

Saving Private Ryan.  How many mistakes were made along the way in the events depicted there-in?

The Green Berets. Oh yeah, life in 'nam was a piece of cake, wasn't it??!

Ken Burns' (no right winger himself) The War.  Watch the FUBAR episode of same and then talk about how life in the military back during WWII was better than now.  How our leaders did such a great job back then.  How FDR made such great use of the military.

Point being anyone that has ever paid attention should recognize that war is not easy, and not an easy thing to win.  Mistakes get made along the way, and a good Commander and Commander-in-Chief learns and adapts.  Bush has learned, and he has let his leaders do their jobs.

It could be argued (probably pretty well) that Rumsfeld did a poor job, and that Cheney has as well, but Bush tried to do the right thing and have them do their jobs.  If he fired either or demanded resignations from either too quickly he'd have signaled that he had no confidence at all in those men, and their plans.  He'd have possibly picked up morale among some troops, but at the same time he'd have been signaling that the leadership didn't know what it was doing and providing a boost to the morale of the people we are fighting.

He was slow, patient, and methodical and he took his time finding a new Defense Secretary who has slowly but surely changed the course we are taking and is working towards bringing real security and stability to the situation in Iraq.

they focus on much more important matters like what color dress Britney Spears is wearing or will O.J. Simpson go to trial

You forgot the horror story of Lindsay Lohan spending 84 minutes in jail.

But I know what the responses will be if any one from the left does answer your question. "Dying is news. Not dying is not news."

That is why you never hear about how traffic deaths going down, or murder rates going down.

Never, right?

That is assuming journalism has any idea what is news and what isn't.

Reply By: terpfan1980Posted: Thursday, November 15, 2007 I was thinking about Iraq the other day when I had seen yet another misleading and screamin' headline from the inferior officer on the subject. I was reminded a bit of a few movies and shows I've seen over my lifetime. The Longest Day - made at a time when Hollywood somewhat glorified military service and the heroes of our Wars. Seems to me, if I recall correctly, that movie included quite a bit of FUBAR-edness to it. Paratroopers were dropped miles off target, completely disoriented, away from their commanders, and in many cases away from other members of their outfits. Many men died from mistakes made along the way there. Far too many men. Flags of Our Fathers - made recently, made by Clint Eastwood (director). Showed much of the mistakes that were made on Iwo Jima. Paired with Letters from Iwo Jima. Both showed mistakes made during the fighting at Iwo Jima. Saving Private Ryan. How many mistakes were made along the way in the events depicted there-in? The Green Berets. Oh yeah, life in 'nam was a piece of cake, wasn't it??! Ken Burns' (no right winger himself) The War. Watch the FUBAR episode of same and then talk about how life in the military back during WWII was better than now. How our leaders did such a great job back then. How FDR made such great use of the military. Point being anyone that has ever paid attention should recognize that war is not easy, and not an easy thing to win. Mistakes get made along the way, and a good Commander and Commander-in-Chief learns and adapts. Bush has learned, and he has let his leaders do their jobs. It could be argued (probably pretty well) that Rumsfeld did a poor job, and that Cheney has as well, but Bush tried to do the right thing and have them do their jobs. If he fired either or demanded resignations from either too quickly he'd have signaled that he had no confidence at all in those men, and their plans. He'd have possibly picked up morale among some troops, but at the same time he'd have been signaling that the leadership didn't know what it was doing and providing a boost to the morale of the people we are fighting. He was slow, patient, and methodical and he took his time finding a new Defense Secretary who has slowly but surely changed the course we are taking and is working towards bringing real security and stability to the situation in Iraq.

I engaged in more than one cluster fuck operation, I figured mistakes are made, people die, in the end that is what war is about anyways, one big mistake to start with, the first mistake of this recent war was saddam not telling the truth about WMD, when he saw the build up happening in Kuwait, what did he think that was a hollow threat?

Reply By: Dr GuyPosted: Friday, November 16, 2007 they focus on much more important matters like what color dress Britney Spears is wearing or will O.J. Simpson go to trial You forgot the horror story of Lindsay Lohan spending 84 minutes in jail. But I know what the responses will be if any one from the left does answer your question. "Dying is news. Not dying is not news." That is why you never hear about how traffic deaths going down, or murder rates going down. Never, right?

One word docG.. exactly!

I wonder if any of us could pinpoint when the reporters started drifting away from reporting the news to the obvious bias they now have?

Walter Chronkite is my poster child for biased reporting, but it probably started long before him.

Reply By: ParaTed2kPosted: Friday, November 16, 2007 I wonder if any of us could pinpoint when the reporters started drifting away from reporting the news to the obvious bias they now have? Walter Chronkite is my poster child for biased reporting, but it probably started long before him.

Yes< I remember when the name Cronkite was the standard for news reporting till he fell into the abyss of slanted hatred for Nixon.

  

The Job is DONE. Time to bring our troops home!!!!!

Hmmm. I think this is a little rosy, and Col Gene, you might just fall into the "Mission Accomplished" trap.

Why not dust off that banner? The problem is, there is a huge mess still in Iraq. Things are better, thank God, but who wants to take a stroll outside the Green Zone? And, one reason things are better is the Sunnis are coming on board, something that's been a real problem. It's the coming together, finally, of disparant groups in Iraq that is the real victory here, (and also the fragile trap) not necessarily the surge -- though I will give Bush credit for the surge. Further, I supported in when most liberal leaning people did not.

Me and Joe Liberman. Sigh. Those were the good old days.
M

Me and Joe Liberman. Sigh. Those were the good old days.

You just won a convert from MM!

And you response validates you are center.  Albeit one that is endangered.

I know, I know. Peope think when you say center, you're either saying "pussy", raving crazy liberal, or indecisive nut job. Now, don't get me wrong. My mom and I had real fun one day when trapped sitting in back of Ralph Reed (head of the Christian Coalition) on an airplane. Man, he was stuck listening to us rant and rave for almost three hours. And he received no help from the steward, who kept rolling his eyes and flirting with me. You would have thought I was on Kennedy's staff. Poor Ralph. He sat staring straight ahead, never once glancing our way. Man, that was fun! Limbaugh, watch out. Stay on the private jet popping "hors d'oeuvres".

So you are acknowledging that Iraq has been a success?