The American public must fight the war on perception

Santa Cruz Sentinel ^ | May 2, 2004 | ROBERT NOFSINGER

[FairOpinion]

Hello everyone, I am taking time to ask you all for your help. First off, I’d like to say that this is not a political message. I’m not concerned about domestic politics right now. We have much bigger things to deal with and we need your help.

It seems that despite the tremendous and heroic efforts of the men and women serving here in Iraq to bring much-needed peace and stability to this region, we are losing the war of perception with the media and American people.

Our enemy has learned that the key to defeating the mighty American military is by swaying public opinion at home and abroad. We are a people who cherish the democratic system of government and therefore hold the will of the people in the highest regard. We love to criticize ourselves almost to an endless degree, because we care what others think. Our enemies see this as a weakness and are trying to exploit it.

When we ask ourselves questions like "Why do they hate us?" or "What did we do wrong?" we are playing into our enemies’ hands. Our natural tendency to question ourselves is being used against us to undermine our effort to do good in the world.

How far would we have gotten if after the surprise attacks on Dec. 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, we would have asked, "Why do the Japanese hate us so much?" or "How can we change ourselves so that they won’t do that again?"

Here in Iraq the enemy is trying very hard to portray our efforts as failing and fruitless. They kill innocents and desecrate their bodies in hopes that the people back home will lose the will to fight for liberty. They are betting on our perceived weakness as a thoughtful, considerate people.

Unfortunately, our media only serves to further their cause. In an industry that feeds on ratings and bad news, a failure in Iraq would be a gold mine. When our so-called "trusted" American media takes a quote from an Iraqi doctor as the gospel truth over that of the men and women who are daily fighting to protect the right to freedom of the press, you know something is wrong. That doctor claimed that of the 600 Iraqis who were casualties of the fighting in Fallujah, the vast majority of them were women, children and the elderly. This is totally absurd. In the history of man, no one has spent more time and effort, often to the detriment of our own mission, to be more discriminate in our targeting of the enemy than the American military. The Marines and soldiers serving in Iraq have gone through extensive training to avoid shedding innocent blood.

Yet, despite all of this, our media consistently side with those who openly lie and directly challenge the honor of our brave heroes fighting for liberty and peace. What we have to remember is that peace is not defined as an absence of war. It is the presence of liberty, stability and prosperity. In the face of the horrendous tyranny of the former Iraqi regime, the only way true peace was able to come to this region was through force. That is what the American Revolution was all about. Have we forgotten?

Freedom is not free, and "peace" without principle is not peace. The peace that so-called "peace advocates" support can only be brought to Iraq through the military. And we are doing it, if only the world will let us.

If the American people believe we are failing, even if we are not, then we will ultimately fail. That is why I am asking for your support. Become a voice of truth in your community. Wherever you are, fight the enemy’s lies. Don’t buy into pessimism and apathy and say that it is hopeless, that they hate us too much, that this part of the world is just too messed up and it is our fault anyway, that we are to blame.

Whether you’re in middle school, working a 9-to-5 job, retired or a stay-at-home mom, you can make a huge difference. There is nothing more powerful than the truth. So when you watch the news and see doomsday predictions and spiteful opinions about our efforts over here, you can refute them by knowing that we are doing a tremendous amount of good. Spread the word. No one is poised to make such an amazing contribution to the everyday lives of Iraqis and the rest of the Arab world than the American Armed Forces. by making this a place where liberty can finally grow, we are making the whole world safer.

Your efforts at home are directly tied to our success. You are the soldiers at home fighting the war of perception. So I’m asking you as fellow soldiers to do your duty; stop the attempts of the enemy wherever you are. You are a mighty force for good, because truth is on your side.

Together we will win this fight and ensure a better world for the future.

Robert L. Nofsinger is a first lieutenant in the Marines. He’s from Overland Park, Kan., and is the nephew of Roberta Houston of Aptos.

[FairOpinion]

Outstanding letter!

He is right.

If people would only listen, stop, and think, instead of letting the media tell them what they are supposed to think.

[Avenger]

Santa Cruz Sentinel? As in Santa Cruz, CA? Whoa. I need to lie down for a while.

[af_vet_1981]

If people would only listen, stop, and think, instead of letting the media tell them what they are supposed to think.

People are trying to just that here on FR but any independent thought is attacked as a sacrilege against strategery.

People know victory when they see it. Anything else is propaganda.

[patriciamary]

You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dane]

People are trying to just that here on FR but any independent thought is attacked as a sacrilege against strategery

Wrong, so called "independent thought" from "reports" from the Washington Post, Reuters, etc.etc. and you soak up the "reports" from these known leftist bias anti-WOT sources and get mad when called on it.

[Maigret]

I saw a most interesting interview on CSPAN today, with author & historian Niall Ferguson. His latest book is called Colossus and appears to be a must read for those who want to fully understand our greatest danger at this point in time, the lack of will to be the empire we are in the world. In brief he says the American People have an Attention Deficit Disorder when it comes to politics and political correctness is crippling our view of everything important.

I believe Bush knows that his being re-elected is important to the world not just our nation, but trying to execute this war and keep our eyes focused on the big picture is like walking a tightrope. A tightrope that the media is desperately trying to shake with pictures of abused prisoners and the reading of all the names of those who have died in Iraq.

Everything is at stake in November. God willing, Bush will win and he'll be able to do what will be of benefit for generations to come.

[WideGlide]

Nahhhh, must be a Santa Cruz with a Sentinel in Arizona or something. Nueva Mexico?

[af_vet_1981]

Wrong, so called "independent thought" from "reports" from the Washington Post, Reuters, etc.etc. and you soak up the "reports" from these known leftist bias anti-WOT sources and get mad when called on it.

You are so far out there I don't know what anyone can do for you. The principals of this administration deal with the real world, including the Washington Post. Even the WP can't hide victory. All your propaganda wishes can't impersonate victory. Fallujah is calling you to account.

[freedom44]

Thanks ... great one.

[Blzbba]

"Everything is at stake in November. God willing, Bush will win and he'll be able to do what will be of benefit for generations to come."


Even if Bush gets reelected, 4 (more) years isn't long enough to win the WOT, regardless of how many more Muslims our troops are able to kill. This death match will continue for much longer.

[Dane]

You are so far out there I don't know what anyone can do for you. The principals of this administration deal with the real world, including the Washington Post. Even the WP can't hide victory. All your propaganda wishes can't impersonate victory. Fallujah is calling you to account

And your "independent thought"( propaganda, IMO) from 6,000 miles away can't give us the real pciture, either.

Me I will trust our CIC and military commanders in the field, not a, IMO, blowhard who is 6,000 miles away from the action and bases his "independent thoughts" on well documented anti-WOT press account sources.

[jocon307]

"Everything is at stake in November. God willing, Bush will win and he'll be able to do what will be of benefit for generations to come."

What you said! I've got three new voters who will ALL vote for bush. I am also working on my old friend. and I am contemplating approaching my landlord and lady before November.

BUSH MUST WIN. We must put the stick in the eye to the commies, the america haters, the leftists, the dems.

[MN_Mike]

Long on insight; short on remedial actions.

The enemy's strategy is classic Viet Nam. But the answer cannot be to outshout the useful idiots, no one reacts well to be shouted at or forced into accepting someone else's position.

Remedial actions require fighting fire with fire. Ask yourself, just what tactics is the enemy employing to influence hearts and minds? They are masters of images, photographs of caskets worked very well to loosen US resolve during Viet Nam, as did seizing upon atrocities committed by extremely stupid soldiers (the 17 prision keepers in Iraq this week; Captain Calley (sp) burning and killing in Viet Name villages. I just finished two hours on the ultra-liberal Washington Post discussion forum, where useful idiots in Europe and in the US are trying to generalize the actions of 17 into an indictment of the entire 150,000 Coalition. I encourage you to jump on the Washington Post discussion forum but be forewarned, I've gotten bounced twice before posing a different view. You need to be persistent and avoid responding directly to truly Howard Dean irrational comments -- focus only on the facts and be polite, as difficult as it is to some of them.

Frankly, I don't think preaching to the choir is particularly useful either. While I completely enjoy Free Republic, American Spectator, National Review; yes, and even Rush; and meeting with like minder people; this is not where the battle of hearts and minds is won.

The useful idiots in the US are reinforced by the obvious media outlets. But the achilles heel for media outlets (CNN, NYT, ABC, CBS, Washington Post, MSNNBC) is that they are for-profit organizations. While we may not represent the majority of their consumers, we can band together to represent the most "known" portion of their demographic. They may take pause at a list of a thousand petitioners who demand they provide balance in their coverage.

This article is a timely call for action. It is so important that I would like to see a category devoted to it (if one doesn't already exist) where we can take collective action to promote the good in our country while giving support to our troops who are well-deserving of it.

[MEG33]

FYI

[freedom44]

You're right.

I came on Free Republic the other day and 9 out of the 10 posts seemed like they should be on Democratic Underground,
and watching FOXNews i thought i was watching the BBC.

Alot of people on here are starting to remind me of the Leftists in things they're saying - we're only there to steal the oil, we need to pull out, no one wants us there, President Bush can't admit he's wrong, etc.

There are many who support our President, but there are many who have this warped view that being extremely critical is a helpful thing.

Some just hate Muslims, and that will probably never change, but perhaps, they have forgotten that President Bush carries a Koran on his desk, was the first president to court the Muslim vote, has freed two Muslim countries, and has separated from Moderates from Radicals.

I don't even understand why some of these people vote Republican, but nevertheless i'm glad they're voting that way... just wish they'd be a little less critical.

[MEG33]

Good post.

[MHGinTN]

Thanks for the ping ... I couldn't have said it better, though I would have named names.

[MEG33]

Did I mention how proud I am of our military?I hate to see them undermined,just hate it.

[rdb3]

I think I understand what you are saying. However, I don't waste any time on certain well-known posters who are contrary just for the sake of being contrary.

MHGinTN, you should name names.

A.K.A. Sleepy Brown

[MHGinTN]

It appears that a few tasked with softening up the captured terrorists operating in Iraq went too far and took pictures of it. It breaks my heart also that the 99.9999% other American Soldiers will take the heat from this wrong committed by a select few. It also infuriates me that the likes of Kerry and Kennedy and the societal engineering liberal pukes of the big media (like CrapBilgeSludge) exploit the wrong for political leverage against this administration, with zero regard for what it will mean to Americans if they are now taken prisoner in Iraq. The way the media is handling these stories is treacherous to our in theater Soldiers. And I will not forget such treachery when it comes time to vote, with ballot and consumer power.