Fratboy Dim and his buddies are told lies

Telegraph U.K. ^ | May 4, 2003 | Irvine Welsh

[eyespysomething]

it is probable that most Americans now believe that America has found weapons of mass destruction thanks to the pattern of each potential find receiving huge television coverage, followed by the short (if that) notice of false alarm later on: "It's a pattern of misinformation that recapitulates the way the war was sold in the first place. Each administration charge against Iraq received prominent coverage; the subsequent debunking did not".

Like the Museum Looting?

Oh, and does this elistist think he is more informed and enlightened than we Americans?

[WaterDragon]

Absolutely!

[WaterDragon]

This author is the proverbial loser claiming his opponent "cheated".

My concern is that the Telegraph, THE major conservative newspaper in Britain, is pandering to anti-Americanism there.

[WaterDragon]

When a liberal writer, such as this one, quotes history, he nearly always gets it wrong, probably deliberately, and only digs into history to try to trash conservatives.

But the liberal/socialists completely ignore their own history of ALWAYS getting EVERYTHING wrong, and in the process causing untold grief.

[WaterDragon]

How does he know the depths of courage that exist in our troops?

He knows. And it pisses him off.

[WaterDragon]

I think I'd say the Washington Times is getting to be like the New York Times, if WaPo began printing articles that mirrored the NYT's articles. WaPo wouldn't dare....its readers would be outraged.

The point here is why did the Telegraph even print such trash? Because it is pandering to anti-Americanism in Britain?

[WaterDragon]

Article: Just as you wouldn't expect Manchester United to come on all triumphalist after an FA Cup win over Kettering Town, a military victory against Iraq hardly constitutes air-punching stuff.

ArmstedFragg: Interestingly enough, Manchester United wrapped up the league championship this weekend. I wonder if he'd mind a bit of air-punching about that? He obviously has never had bullets whizzing past his head, so he can sneer at those who dealt with that in Iraq.

[miss marmelstein]

My feeling: Fratboy Dim does not exist. If this guy was really in an American bar - and I doubt it - he wouldn't talk or eavesdrop on anyone. The Brits are notoriously aloof and uncommunicative with strangers - even when in their cups.

[WaterDragon]

Gee, I wonder if the author pondered what the legion of knee-jerk, cliche popping war protesters symbolized?

He's probably one of them war protester bunnies.

[WaterDragon]

Maybe America is different.

And THAT, friend, is what has even the conservatives-in-Britain (Telegraph newspaper) knickers in a twist!

[WaterDragon]

Yet another whiner carrying on about what we shouldn't have done. Funny, they had no brilliant ideas about what should have been done before we went to war.

He does sound just like the Noam Chomskys and Sandra Sontags of America, doesn't he? So, what's a conservative newspaper in Britain giving this man space for? Who in their readership will find this delightful reading?

[WaterDragon]

I love documentaries, too, and would adore some on Fox.

[WaterDragon]

Oh, and does this elistist think he is more informed and enlightened than we Americans?

Some Brits evidently do think this, inexplicably.

[WaterDragon]

If this guy was really in an American bar - and I doubt it - he wouldn't talk or eavesdrop on anyone. The Brits are notoriously aloof and uncommunicative with strangers - even when in their cups.

At least in our military, the same newspaper, the Telegraph, says we are the aloof ones....the article head is Unlike the American troops, we look the Iraqis in the eye

[sbw123]

The author wrote that Fratboy dim had a deeper symbolic meaning. It's all wrapped up in Mtv, Nintendo, SUVs, and excesses of suburban living where all those frat boys undoubtedly come from. But more importantly, the author also wrote that the administration overstated the severity WMD. Perhaps true, but the administration, and the press, and the pundits on the morning talkshows - essentially everyone but the neocons, UNDERSTATED, what changing the regime in Iraq would do to the Arab world. The Arab street now realizes their governments and press, especially Al Jazeera, have been lying to them. They are asking for change. Hell, Syria has started closing terrorist offices. And there is no doubt Iran is closer to getting rid of the mullahs. Can the frat boys comprehend this? No, their brains are preoccupied with the thoughts of football and beer. That's why we let leaders lead. And the fratboys, well, speaking as a former infantryman, those fratboys make good cannon fodder - their patriotism should not be questioned even if they can't explain it.

[WaterDragon]

Thanks.

[TrexDogs]

Just out of curiosity, do you know of any really conservative American newspapers, such as the WashTimes, that would print an article or column that called Blair and Bush liars?

There's a bitter lack of conservative papers where I live, so I don't know the answer to your question. I guess I just assumed that most conservative papers printed the odd opposing voice. I could be wrong.

I only read the WashTimes & NYPost online occasionally, and I find it tough to get an overall sense of a paper without reading it hardcopy. The only conservative paper I get to read in hardcopy with some regularity -- once or twice a week on average -- is the National Post (Cda), during business trips to Toronto.

The NatPost has this maddening habit of reprinting a Dowd NYT column once in a while, and they also run one from some lefty NY prof-type called Mark Klingwell occasionally. But those are just two lefty columns in a sea of conservative voices ... and they so often provide entertaining fodder with which Mark Steyn eviscerates them, so it's a good trade-off IMO. :-)

The point here is why did the Telegraph even print such trash?

Beats me. I don't have a dog in this hunt; I just wanted to make the observation that this Irvine Welsh guy seems to have been hired for his outrageousness, to write a weekly culture (if you can call it that) column. He surely doesn't reflect the editorial views of the Telegraph. Check out Welsh's books Trainspotting and his sequel "Porno" on the web ... if you can stand it; he's one sick puppy.