CBS Scores a Poisonous " Gotcha " - AMERICA PAYS the Price

05/02/04 | vanity

[genefromjersey]

PRISONERS MISTREATED - Film at 11

In January,an American soldier,who had taken part in the mistreatment of Iraqi POW's,decided enough was enough,and reported the situation to his superiors.

A horrified military launched an immediate investigation,suspended all identifiable culprits,and drew up charges.

Enter CBS,which did not merely see a problem the Army had addressed and solved: It saw an opportunity !

Here was a new My Lai incident ! Here was an opportunity to re-build its sagging ratings.Here was an opportunity to sensationalize the conduct of a few,and, by so doing,to smear the Bush administration,Operation Iraqi Freedom,and the men and women of the Armed Forces.

In a word , a "Gotcha" !

So far, a modest investment on the part of CBS has paid off handsomely. Their expose was picked up immediately by al-Arabiya, al-Jazeera , and the rest of the Arab media: igniting a world-wide firestorm.

Although President Bush and Prime Minister Blair offered immediate condemnation of the offenses,there is little either man can do to close the lid of this "Pandora's Box"-let alone put back the evil that has been released into the world.

CBS has tacitly announced that American troops are "fair game" again. No more pious"I support the troops but not the war" statements.Look for movies (made for TV,naturally) showing good ( liberal, UN-worshipping,racially,sexually,ethnically balanced ) troops being victimized by vicious,intolerant officers and non-coms-backed up my smarmy (ugh!) Republican politicians.(You know the plot already.)

Look for "Peace Marchers" to spit on our troops-openly-sometime real soon.

America's ultra-liberals will jump on the bandwagon,screaming abuse. They never had any use for our military anyway,and have always privately regarded people who volunteer to go into harm's way as losers,who can't do anything better with their lives : social non-entities,like the grease monkeys one occasionally has to be nice to when the Beemer is in the shop.

I don't even want to think about the long-term effects on international relations. CBS, I'm sure doesn't worry about that. They'd prefer we were a much smaller voice in the world: just one of many "united" nations...assuming such a demotion would not seriously impact their bottom line.

Thanks, CBS ! You really got us this time !

[gcruse]

So, supporting the troops means supporting that kind of crap?
Not in this house. And suppressing something nationally that is circulating worldwide is too much like suppressing the pictures of bodies falling from the Towers because it might upset some people.

Ignorance is only bliss until you find out you've been living in Neverland.

[Sun]

President Bush said that he was extremely disgusted by this, as all Americans should be.

But, of course, let's not forget the more than 99% of our military personnel are terrific, moral people, putting their lives on the line for our freedom.

[evolved_rage]

Here's hoping Dan Blather visits Iraq soon.

[clintonh8r]

This was a perfect opportunity to paint the entire military with the same brush. Combine this with the insane-left's reaction to Pat Tillman's death, and it's easy to see that the left's support "for the troops" was just a big lie. They hate the military as much now as they ever did. The mask is off.

[Arpege92]

"So, supporting the troops means supporting that kind of crap?"

Absolutely not! The soldiers involved in this need to be held accountable. The soldiers who are doing wonderful things in Iraq still need our support and we shouldn't cast them aside for the criminally stupid mistakes of a few.

[CitizenUSA]

CBS's obvious joy in releasing the information notwithstanding, would you rather have the information suppressed? It would eventually surface anyway. After all, that's what a free society is supposed to be about in the first place--the reporting of truth. Should we lie simply because others lie? I think not!

[ride the whirlwind]

This is such an unfortunate turn of events because as you say, most of our military would never condone such acts. It compromises our standing in the eyes of the world. Well, our president was right to denounce it.

[Bluntpoint]

Neverland is now run by the same types that took the pictures in Iraq:

[Dick Vomer]

CBS should rest well now, knowing that our prisoners will be mistreated even more than before with the justification that America does this to our people.... screw you CBS... I'd pray to see Rather someday in Iraq going along, singing a song and discovers an IED.

[Old Sarge]

let's not forget the more than 99% of our military personnel are terrific, moral people, putting their lives on the line for our freedom.

Not any more we're not. It's Open Season on a U.S uniform, just like those good old days of the 60's.

CBS just showed that we of the Profession of Arms are ALL to be tarred with the same brush - and feathered, too. And The Sheep will believe, because they saw it on TV.

Damn them to Hell.

[gcruse]

...and all I got was this hemorrhoid. LOL

[an amused spectator]

So, supporting the troops means supporting that kind of crap?

Nobody said anything about "supporting that kind of crap".

Today's CBS would have leaked the date and place of the Normandy invasion, and the fact of the Allies' possession of the Enigma machine. It's that simple.

[Marine Inspector]

So, supporting the troops means supporting that kind of crap? Not in this house.

Agreed.

[BJungNan]

So, supporting the troops means supporting that kind of crap?

Not in this house. And suppressing something nationally that is circulating worldwide is too much like suppressing the pictures of bodies falling from the Towers because it might upset some people.

Well put. Although, it should be added, from what I have seen, these stunts were more akin to college hazing pranks than anything approaching serious abuse. CBS could have balanced its report by pointing out the types of mistreatment Iraqis received at the hands of others in these very same prisons. This would have put the matter in proper perspective. We were not cutting off their tongues, etc.

[gcruse]

I agree completely. Even on FR, the slide from 'abuse' to 'torture' has already taken place with some posters.

[auggy]

"Here's hoping Dan Blather visits Iraq soon."

If, he does, you can bet he will pay his pal Sadaam a visit. I am sure he will ask, if the enemy has been treating him good.

[MHGinTN]

Nobody is asking you to support such crap. You and CBS personify the 'gotcha' mindset, with your glee at the 'gotcha' effect. CBS chose to make a big worldwide deal out of this wrong committed by a few because it serves their desire to 'oust this administration' ... never mind that it will get more of Soldiers killed because it inflames and inspires the jihadis, never mind that it is being revived beyond the essential relevance to get things changed so such doesn't happen again, never mind that the effort to keep this smelly crap 'on the table' works directly to aid and abet the enemies of this nation and of the democratization of Iraq, never mind all that 'stuff' because the game is gotcha and the 'winning players' think that pissing on America will gain them empowerment points to be used for 'regime change in America'. Pathetic

[gcruse]

You and CBS personify the 'gotcha' mindset

Running from reality doesn't bother you at all, does it?  How long do you think this could have been kept secret?

[Mother Mary]

>Should we lie simply because others lie? I think not!<

No one is talking about "lying." But how about presenting the story in its full context. Our military discovered this abuse, condemned it, shut it down, and is now vigorously prosecuting the criminals. That tells the whole truth. No lying involved.

[gcruse]

Nobody said anything about "supporting that kind of crap".

CBS has tacitly announced that American troops are "fair game" again. No more pious" I support the troops but not the war" statements.

I don't know how else you could read the above.

[FreedomCalls]

And suppressing something nationally that is circulating worldwide is too much like suppressing the pictures of bodies falling from the Towers because it might upset some people.

Umm, dude. They did just that. CBS, CNN, ABC, NBC and FOX did not show the the full group of jumpers live the day it was happening. I tuned over to the Spanish news channels and they were showing them.

[FreedomCalls]

Also the pictures of the burned bodies of the Desert One crew were suppressed nationally even though they were being shown internationally (but that was Jimmy Carter and they had to protect him, whereas they feel they need to attack Bush).

[an amused spectator]

I don't know how else you could read the above.

**shrug** I guess FreedomCalls and I have similar reading issues?

[CitizenUSA]

Good point, Mother Mary, about telling the full truth! Too bad we can't force the mainstream media to take an oath to tell the truth, the FULL truth, and nothing but the truth. In other words, it's dishonest to report only part of a story, even if the reported part is true.

[gcruse]

I know they suppressed the falling bodies and jumpers. It is preferred that we mourn and hang yellow ribbons rather than be outraged. We might do something domestically, otherwise.

[Sun]

"Fox News Sunday" at 9 a.m. Eastern time next Sunday will show all the great things our troops have done.

Chris Wallace said: "We think the point is not just that those hundreds of troops died, but what they died for. And we hope you watch next week."

Although this is to counter the "Nightline" capitalization of our troops dying, it should also serve to counter the liberal news media bias about only six troops that went wrong out of tens of thousands that our heros.

BTW, I wonder if the news media talks as much about Saddam's military (including women military) putting people in paper shredders????

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

My Lai was justified, and this "torture" may prove to have been justified as well.

[Stellar Dendrite]

i've discovered it's not the politicians who are the most serious enemy of america. it's the media. if the pinko press really did their job, instead of spreading their agenda laden propaganda-- people could make the right decisions. and the politicians would become more accountable-- but the press is always cleaning up after the dems (like when that boston globe reporter said he made an "error" regarding the foreign leaders [later said kerry stated "more" leaders]).

this is why the internet is gaining popularity every day. i laughed when ABC news site stated that they were going to compete with the Drudge Report!!!

[Mother Mary]

>In other words, it's dishonest to report only part of a story, even if the reported part is true.<

Agreed! And welcome to FR.

[Boxsford]

I heard it was airing today-- at 4:00pm Central.

[lepton]

bookmark bump

[genefromjersey]

gcruse,this was NOT circulating internationally. CBS put it out there-knowingly and deliberately.

Who said ANY sane American SUPPORTS abuse of prisoners ?
Did you read the opening paragraphs at all ?

The Army,back in January,became aware of the abuse,pulled these people off duty, and recommended them for court martial: EXACTLY as they should have done.

CBS wasn't too interested in THAT part,and CNN (in its written texts) ignored it altogether.