RUSH CALLER: IRAQ - "Rules Have Changed" - Soldiers in Iraq Cannot Respond to Incoming Mortar Fire

Rush Limbaugh Program | 2004-05-20 | A Caller to Rush Limbaugh

[justshutupandtakeit]

I have not seen or heard one thing to cause me to waver as to whether we are doing as well as we can. My God, Bush has defeated three terrorist regimes in 3 yrs. (one without firing a shot in its direction) and people "wonder?"

I wonder what the hell they expect.

[Puppage]

But by the time he left Iraq, soldiers literally had to take incoming mortar rounds without responding or actually have someone shot before returning fire

Sorry, but I find this extremely hard to believe.

[LS]

And as soon as you do that, every says, "Ahh. So Iraq isn't going to be an open democracy after all!" That won't work.

EVERYONE HERE ON FR NEEDS TO FIGURE THIS OUT: we are in a new age, and for better or worse the media is a part of the equation. The "embeds" was a brilliant end-run around the media, and it can't be the only strategy. But censorship in the age of satellite phones and the internet is NO LONGER AN OPTION.

We need to look forward, not backward to WW II, to figure out NEW ways of circumventing the leftist press.

[Old Sarge]

On FR, I have been referred to as "racist bigot", "tothless white trash", "wannabe troopie", "National Guard Imitation Soldier Boy", and other things I don't care to hear.

And those are just by the famous, sleep-at-JimRob's-feet paleo-FReepers.

Does that all sound like "bitchy, nit pick disagreements", to you?

[Taquito]

I'm okay with that.

[LS]

And which of those isn't true? (Just kidding!)

[justshutupandtakeit]

That is b.s. and the call probably is too. Anyone can claim to be anything on a radio call. I don't believe any of it sounds like Rush got snookered and the rabid here fall for it.

[Taquito]

Been called Francis yet?

[sauropod]

I heard it. It was a compelling call.

[Cicero]

o The media is killing us - deliberately.
o The politicians and field commanders are buckling to the pressure from the reported images.
o The people in America are virtually clueless as to what we are fighting for or the threat they pose due to their hate.

The people are clueless because the media and the educators have never told them the truth. Anyone who has grown up in America in the past 50 years or so has been told: "Saladin good -- Crusaders bad." The media suppress the facts in the Middle East and the facts about Islam.

As for the second point, the Republican politicians are caving. The Democrat politicians have helped organize the media blackout and are working closely with the press to demonize Bush.

Apparently the only way to get the word out to people is for them to see for themselves. A few nuked cities maybe. I don't know what else will do it. And even that will be spun by the press as far as they can.

[LADY J]

Jeff did say there is a reporter on every street corner and they are ready to shove a camera into a soldier's face.

They are looking for everything they can to turn the American people against the war.

[Future Snake Eater]

Soldiers in Iraq Cannot Respond to Incoming Mortar Fire

That's not exactly what he said...

[freebilly]

On FR, I have been referred to as "racist bigot", "tothless white trash"

Those are some of my better qualities....

[Michael.SF.]

soldier "Jeff, from Morehead OK" calling in to Rush Limbaugh explained that in Iraq wedding parties and funerals are full of people with guns who often fire on American troops that happen by.... But by the time he left Iraq, soldiers literally had to take incoming mortar rounds without responding

Makes it almost sound like the Iraqi's take mortar's to wedding parties to celebrate.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

I understand how you drew that inference. A bit clumsy on my part. But in my defense, I did not say "Rules of Engagement". In fact, I suspect the "official" rules haven't changed. But I drew the inferrence that there is pressure from the top to not respond unless absolutely necessary for fear of media playing up every dead body. Thus the "Rules" have changed in fact if not on paper.

[FrankR]

"I'm not sure he meant that rules of engagement have changed DUE TO media interference IN THIS CASE. "

IF we're knee-jerking the rules of engagement because of the freakin' media, then this will be another VietNam...and we'll lose.

[Rushgrrl]

"Soldiers in Iraq Cannot Respond to Incoming Mortar Fire
That's not exactly what he said..."


True. He had said that they've TAKEN incoming mortar fire and did nothing about it, due to having to think and re-think and triple-think, instead of just doing their job, doing what they are there for.

[Puppage]

He said that every Iraqi is permitted to keep an AK-47 or pistol

Well, THAT'S bs. Have a look at the new Iraqi Constitution.....

[bagman]

I believe that we can locate the location of the firing mortar using radar. There is no need to visually spot the piece.