Kerik Takes Aim at Media Coverage of Iraq

NewsMax ^ | Oct. 16, 2003 | Stewart Stogel

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Kerik Takes Aim at Media Coverage of Iraq

Stewart Stogel
Thursday, October 16, 2003

New York -- "The political criticism (on Iraq) in this country is becoming our enemy's best friend," Bernard Kerik told his audience at the Harvard Club in midtown Manhattan Wednesday evening.

The former NYPD commissioner and police advisor to Coalition chief L. Paul Bremer, continued: "They only know and see the criticisms...for our people on the ground in Iraq it is not a good thing and hopefully at some point in time someone is going to see it and realize it and stop it..."

Kerik, back in NYC after a four month tour in Iraq to help create a civilian police academy system, was critical of the continuing debate over the direction of Bush administration strategy, especially in the mass media.

Through the explosion of home satellite dishes throughout the nation, many Iraqis now have a front row seat to reports seen on CNN, MSNBC, Fox and the BBC, says Kerik. That, he says has given some Iraqis, especially those hostile to the U.S., a misperception of America's resolve:

"They (the Iraqis) are watching the criticisms, they are watching the frustrations. They believe that the more they attack and the more they pound, the more they hurt the Coalition, there's a better chance they (the Coalition) will pull out."

Kerik went to state that such media coverage has led many anti-U.S. elements in the country to "underestimate" the "resolve" of President Bush to "stay the course."

The former police chief says the efforts to create a civilian police academy are actually proceeding fairly smoothly. Kerik estimated that within "18 months" he expects the levels of Iraq's civilian police to reach a point where they can take over most of the duties now shared with Coalition troops.

One major problem yet to be resolved is the "tremendous" amount of arms and munitions still at-large in the country. "I had never seen anything like this. The country (Iraq) is litterally nothing more than a big munitions dump."

Kerik believes that one way to address the problem is for Washington to concentrate on rebuilding Iraq's intelligence service. "We need intelligence, that's the key. We need more intelligence from Iraqis, we need to rebuild an intelligence service."

Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq's intelligence service, the Mukhabarat, was one of the leader's major instruments to subdue domestic dissent. It was gutted by Coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Published reports claim that the White House has entrusted CIA Director George Tenet with formulating a plan to rebuild Iraq's intelligence structure.

Kerik went on to claim that despite press reports of mercenaries invading Iraq to fight U.S. forces, he saw the exact opposite: "Based on the numbers of people we captured or killed ... less than 10% of the attacks (in Iraq) come from individuals outside the country."

The key for success is "resolve" says the former police commissioner.

Kerik says he knows the administration has such resolve, the question is whether that determination exists throughout the U.S.

He described what Iraq was like when he first got there:

"When I arrived it was not the combat zone I thought would be ... I was also a little taken aback that there was nobody in the streets ... there were no stores open, no shops, no markets ... the only people on the streets of Iraq were those looking for gas ... I had never seen anything like that in my life."

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 Thanks, Tonkin!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

"The political criticism (on Iraq) in this country is becoming our enemy's best friend," Bernard Kerik told his audience at the Harvard Club in midtown Manhattan Wednesday evening.

We have our spokesman.

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[blackie]

We have our spokesman ~ Bump!

A powerful indictment of our left-wing media!

[Agitate]

"When I arrived it was not the combat zone I thought would be ... I was also a little taken aback that there was nobody in the streets ... there were no stores open, no shops, no markets ... the only people on the streets of Iraq were those looking for gas ... I had never seen anything like that in my life."

Amazing what doesn't pass for news in our liberal propagandist "news" organizations!

Isn't there a Freeper thread someplace on Freeping the liberal news outlets? Anyone know where it is? My poor search skills can't find it.

[mrustow]

So, now we know what Rudy Giuliani wants heard -- Bernie Kerik is Giuliani's sock puppet and employee.

What I'd like to know is, is troop morale good or bad? Only minutes ago, I read an article that said that morale is actually good, but the leftwing media olny lies and says it's low. So, I did the obligatory "Boo! Hiss! Evil socialist media!"

Now I am told that troop morale REALLY IS low, because of the leftwing media, so I guess I now have to do the obligatory "Boo! Hiss! Evil socialist media!"

I'm tired of getting jerked around by socialist AND Republican propagandists.

[appeal2]

Bernie Kerik is nobody's socket puppet. The man was by far the best Police Commissioner NYC ever had. He doesn't take crap from anyone. The guy never went to college and still managed to rise to the top. When he was corrections commissioner, violence on Rikers Island, the city's mega jail/prison decreased by more than 95%. And his reputation is that of a straight shooter regardless. Have you facts straight before you unload on Bernie.

[JulieRNR21]

"The political criticism (on Iraq) in this country is becoming our enemy's best friend," Bernard Kerik told his audience at the Harvard Club in midtown Manhattan Wednesday evening.

We have our spokesman.

Exactly right....Kerik is correct.

FREEPERS: Please call your Senators & tell them that Kennedy needs to be censured....he's aiding & abetting our enemies. What he's doing is hurting our combat forces & weakening our position.

CALL The Capitol switchboard FREE: 1-800-648-3516

[Ann Archy]

The Democrats and Media want the US to FAIL in IRAQ!!! What does that make them??? It makes them friends of our enemies....treat them as such.

[sarasota]

"They" are doing the jerking. Don't be "jerked".

[oceanview]

Kerik was good. But it was Bill Bratton who turned NYC around regarding crime and policing.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[mrustow]

Bernie Kerik is nobody's socket puppet. The man was by far the best Police Commissioner NYC ever had.

BWAHAHAHA! He was commissioner for what, about a year?

He doesn't take crap from anyone. The guy never went to college and still managed to rise to the top.

I'm glad to hear that. I've also heard the devotional way he way he speaks aboput Rudy Giuliani.

When he was corrections commissioner, violence on Rikers Island, the city's mega jail/prison decreased by more than 95%. And his reputation is that of a straight shooter regardless. Have you facts straight before you unload on Bernie.

If you really believe that in a few years violence at Rikers went down by 95%, then you surely believe all the doctored crime stats Giuliani and his PCs, including Kerik, released for eight years, and which have since become an NYPD tradition.

Hey, I've got a great for you on a slightly used bridge! Handyman's special -- it just needs a little paint.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Thank you LIBERAL media.

Our DEAD Soldiers thank you. Their FAMILIES thank you.

And if by your RHETORIC you manage to OVERTHROW this President and elect a Democratic President it will come too late. You will have managed to LOSE the biggest chance for STABILITY in the MIDDLE EAST all for POLITICAL POWER. ALL because you wanted DEMOCRATIC power..and all because YOU could not put AMERICA FIRST.

This President got it all absolutely Correct in Afgahnistan and Iraq. Had the media and the Democrats backed him, so would have the rest of the world and we would already have our troops home.

His worst enemy was the enemy WITH IN America. The media and the Democrats.

[PhilDragoo]

"The political criticism (on Iraq) in this country is becoming our enemy's best friend," Bernard Kerik told his audience

Fourth estate as fifth column bump.

[windchime]

Bump!!

[dennisw]

Kerik is a major good guy .... former police commissioner of NYC

[boxerblues]

What I'd like to know is, is troop morale good or bad?

As with any organization you will find a difference in opinion on morale. Stars and Stripes has a copy of the survey. Take this survey as it applies to your working conditions, and give to your co workers and Im sure will come up with some very suprising results. http://www.stripes.com/morale/survey.pdf

[windchime]

Thanks, Julie. Sent email yesterday to Senator McConnell regarding censure of Senator Kennedy. If you think it would be beneficial, I will send to Graham and Nelson. I have my doubts since they, especially Graham, have been almost as strident as Kennedy.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You have to choose who to trust. I can tell you who has been proven right time and again from day one of the war (CENTCOM, DoD, troops). I can tell you who's careful about facts and words (military / administration) - and who's reckless and wrong daily (mainstream (inter)national press, Dems - pols on both sides who are choosing to believe the NY Times instead of the military leaders).

If you want sources, briefings, ammo - click on my Freepname. Check the early OIF threads, links near the bottom of the page. We kept track of the daily press coverage. Spend a little time. Our press is a major scandal.

[mrustow]

Thanks for the link and the perspective.