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| Fifth Column |
| One Fed Up Army Commander Writes from Iraq |
| 2005-01-18 |
| Hat Tip: World Tribune Editors' Note: LTC Tim Ryan is Commander, Task Force 2-12 Cavalry, First Cavalry Division in Iraq. He led troops into battle in Fallujah late last year and is now involved in security operations for the upcoming elections. He wrote the following during "down time" after the Fallujah operation. His views are his own. All right, I've had enough. I am tired of reading distorted and grossly exaggerated stories from major news organizations about the "failures" in the war in Iraq. "The most trusted name in news" and a long list of others continue to misrepresent the scale of events in Iraq. Print and video journalists are covering only a fraction of the events in Iraq and, more often than not, the events they cover are only negative. The inaccurate picture they paint has distorted the world view of the daily realities in Iraq. The result is a further erosion of international support for the United States' efforts there, and a strengthening of the insurgents' resolve and recruiting efforts while weakening our own. Through their incomplete, uninformed and unbalanced reporting, many members of the media covering the war in Iraq are aiding and abetting the enemy. The fact is the Coalition is making steady progress in Iraq, but not without ups and downs. So why is it that no matter what events unfold, good or bad, the media highlights mostly the negative aspects of the event? The journalistic adage, "If it bleeds, it leads," still applies in Iraq, but why only when it's American blood? |
| Posted by:Captain America |
| #39 #19 ahhhh good! I was worried it might be wasted on you, pendejo Posted by: Frank vjeco putto y marricon 2005-01-18 4:44:43 PM tua moglie mi suchia il cazzo e tua figlia mi lecca le palle |
| Posted by: poliglot 2005-01-18 4:52:08 PM |
| #38 hey Fred did your sibling are in the army yet or you are just a buffon talking taft #11 y tu chingada mama, Sibilla Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-18 4:19:08 PM is also off-topic or abusive comment minning is: your fucking mother ...your |
| Posted by: pem 2005-01-18 4:36:20 PM |
| #37 LTC Tim Ryan Is full off shit REALITY is: the iraqi are kickin corn and turky american raised asses like the viets 40 yers ago so stick your jew influenced media proud in your arses and go fuck yours mothers |
| Posted by: sibilla 2005-01-18 4:16:06 PM |
| #36 HEY FRANK ABLANDO THE MAMMAS TO HERMANA MAMA MY BIEN |
| Posted by: bill 2005-01-18 4:25:21 PM |
| #35 hey coward but taffy on computers pussies why don't you literates Jew farts join the army or send your wifes to intratein the army as patriotic duty |
| Posted by: bill 2005-01-18 4:24:03 PM |
| #34 LTC Tim Ryan Is full off shit REALITY is: the iraqi are kickin corn and turky american raised asses like the viets 40 yers ago so stick your jew influenced media proud in your arses and go fuck yours mothers |
| Posted by: sibilla ecumenica 2005-01-18 4:15:42 PM |
| #33 the funny thing is...in the past, it was the journalists who wrote about the soldiers. The MSM is so discredited and so out of touch that after this war - it will be the soldiers writing about the journalists - and it won't be flattering....but it will be fun for the rest of us. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-01-18 10:05:50 PM |
| #32 taft talk? Idjit |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-18 9:47:25 PM |
| #31 hey poster #30, I can shout, don't hear you. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-01-18 9:41:34 PM |
| #30 hey poster # 27 I remind you that military families are also aware of republican party exploits and big and taft talk but not personal participation |
| Posted by: republicans are the crap of america 2005-01-18 9:37:17 PM |
| #29 Capt. America- send this to more than the media's that you have tried to reach. Lot's of work, but do not give up. As we all know...sex sells, and so do these one sided military stories- And YES, the parties, stories and memories for those who do get to come home! Andrea Jackson |
| Posted by: Andrea 2005-01-18 8:40:22 PM |
| #28 I've been mulling lex's post, too. There's a possible political earthquake in those people. I would welcome it with open arms, I am certain. Even where they had a more hearts 'n minds take, I'd STFU and listen. And the best part is the entire working-age spectrum is represented. I'm "getting it", I think. And I think I like it, heh. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-01-18 8:23:10 PM |
| #27 I was in the Army from '70-'73, as the Vietnam war was winding down. And I don't remember there was much of an awareness among GIs back then of just how deliberately and calculatingly their efforts were being undermined by politicians and the MSM at home. Back then, many people still believed the media were unbiased, honest, and loyal to the country. But today's soldiers sure as hell are conscious of that bias-- and of the media's dishonesty and disloyalty. They are also aware of the Democratic Party's attempts at exploiting every setback, every surprise, and every mistake for cheap political gain. And they are NOT pleased. Add that to the political ferment, the blogosphere's shattering of the MSM's long-held monopoly on published opinion, and the continuing urgencies of the WoT, and we're in for some very interesting politics. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-01-18 8:09:28 PM |
| #26 im was always wanter to try that. :) |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2005-01-18 7:59:39 PM |
| #25 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: muck4doo TROLL 2005-01-18 7:55:56 PM |
| #24 Unfortunately, bloggers generally can't be there on the ground with a camera or microphone when Col. Ryan calls with a potential story Will certainly be able to soon. Not so far off either. |
| Posted by: TomAnon 2005-01-18 7:45:01 PM |
| #23 well said, RM. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-01-18 5:28:52 PM |
| #22 Lex is absolutely correct about the forthcoming impact of the returning soldiers on our society. These men and women are truly incredible. Every time that I get to work with them, which is often, I am stunned at their capabilities. The MSM is no longer in sole control anymore. Their power is getting chipped away each and every day by the blogosphere and talk radio. Unfortunately, bloggers generally can't be there on the ground with a camera or microphone when Col. Ryan calls with a potential story. Nevertheless, I think that many Americans know that what they are seeing is terribly one-sided. I love how a posting like this draws the trolls like hot butter. You know it is the last kind of information that they want to get out. |
| Posted by: Remoteman 2005-01-18 5:26:08 PM |
| #21 I tried to forward this to CNN and NBC and ABC on their web sites....none of them would accept it..the error msg was "The correct amount of data was not sent" I guess they only want short sound bites. I didnt try to send it to CBS, figured they dont care anyway. |
| Posted by: Live to Ride 2005-01-18 5:06:16 PM |
| #20 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: poliglot TROLL 2005-01-18 4:52:08 PM |
| #19 ahhhh good! I was worried it might be wasted on you, pendejo |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-18 4:44:43 PM |
| #18 why dont' you just do this ...(*&(*&*(&KLKJ)(#U)U...it's as meaningful as your english. Go back to school. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-01-18 4:37:39 PM |
| #17 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: pem TROLL 2005-01-18 4:36:20 PM |
| #16 ST..interesting! |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-01-18 4:35:56 PM |
| #15 I think it's arabic inspired. I remember that most of their swear words are about their mothers or sisters. |
| Posted by: SwissTex 2005-01-18 4:35:14 PM |
| #14 San Jose, Cal., over COVAD. |
| Posted by: Fred 2005-01-18 4:27:44 PM |
| #13 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: bill TROLL 2005-01-18 4:25:21 PM |
| #12 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: bill TROLL 2005-01-18 4:24:03 PM |
| #11 y tu chingada mama, Sibilla |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-18 4:19:08 PM |
| #10 learn english. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-01-18 4:18:04 PM |
| #9 ROFL!!! IP Check, Plz. Kanada or just a run-of-the-mill Fuckwit From Manhatten or Frisco? |
| Posted by: .com 2005-01-18 4:18:02 PM |
| #8 Cleanup on aisle seven, s'il vous plait. |
| Posted by: badanov 2005-01-18 4:17:58 PM |
| #7 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: sibilla TROLL 2005-01-18 4:16:06 PM |
| #6 It will be fascinating to see the impact on our domestic politics of this generation of veterans when they return home. First, these are probably among the most talented, resourceful, and of course courageous Americans we have. Many are very well-educated and perfectly capable of smacking down rivals in debating forums. If they choose to enter politics, we will have some extremely interesting candidates for national office soon. Second, once they return home they will have far more time to set straight the MSM spinners and doom-mongers, in a media and cultural environment that, unlike that of 1968, gives ordinary citizens a real voice and fighting chance against the Cronkites of the MSM. Third, they will have very valuable expertise in not just military operations but also diplomacy, intel-gathering and of course politics in the arab world. This will make them a very useful counter to the arabist foreign policy madarins at State and in academia. Fourth, their positions on domestic issues is not easily predicted. It's doubtful that soldiers who have sacrificed so much for what has been, all in all, fairly shabby treatment, both by the MSM's distortions and Washington's imposed hardships on their families, will be as corporate- and gazillionaire-friendly as our two plutocrat-driven parties. I imagine we will have the makings of a truly populist, largely sunbelt-based party that can knock one of the two parties off its perch-- almost certainly the Dems. Or at least pull the parties and the debate into new directions. Stay tuned. |
| Posted by: lex 2005-01-18 3:52:22 PM |
| #5 I have said it before and I will saying again: Liberals love dead Americans, especially dead American military. |
| Posted by: badanov 2005-01-18 3:46:14 PM |
| #4 The irony is that the media have been treacherous swine for a long time. Gen WT Sherman, when reporters were caught in his camp, had them put backwards on a mule and ridden around with a sign reading "Traitor" around their necks before kicking them out--much to the amusement of his soldiers. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-01-18 3:43:46 PM |
| #3 Naw...it will get swept under the rug. Ordinary folks will just want to get on with their lives. That's an ok thing. The MSM and lefties in general will just quietly drop the subject rather than look stupid and look for another reason to hate. That's not so ok, but there it is. |
| Posted by: Michael 2005-01-18 3:42:47 PM |
| #2 When ops start winding down and these troops finally begin to come home...there's going to be a true accounting of what the MSM has done. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2005-01-18 3:35:31 PM |
| #1 I'm sure Dan Rather will lead with this story tonight... :-( |
| Posted by: Raj 2005-01-18 3:27:43 PM |