Posted on 06/08/2004 6:59:49 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Mods: can this be fixed, please...?
In keeping with the theme of this article, this morning's Seattle Times featured a front-page story sympathetically presenting the resentments of Sadr's Baghdad militia (misunderstood poor boys who've been abused and neglected by the evil Americans).
Thanks for the post, Kent!
Iraqi GratitudeA myth had developed that Iraqis aren't grateful for their liberation from Saddam. So it's worth notice that the leaders of Iraq's new interim have been explicit and gracious in their thanks, not that you've heard this from the U.S. media.
First in Arabic and then in English, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said in his inaugural address to the Iraqi people last Tuesday that "I would like to record our profound gratitude and appreciation to the U.S.-led coalition, which has made great sacrifices for the liberation of Iraq." In his own remarks, President Ghazi al-Yawer said: "Before I end my speech, I would like us to remember our martyrs who fell in defense of freedom and honor, as well as our friends who fell in the battle for the liberation of Iraq."
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the U.N. Security Council much the same thing last Thursday: "We Iraqis are grateful to the coalition who helped liberate us from the persecution of Saddam Hussein's regine. We thank President Bush and Prime Minister Blair for their dedication and commitment."
We thought our readers might like to know.
Anyone catch the mainstream media coverage? < /sarcasm >
I like Mort. As a Democrat and liberal commentator, his level-headed and thoughtful commentary provides an excellent contrast to the shrill partisanship and irresponsible rhetoric of the rest of his party and media elites - exposing it for what it is.
Now, now - sure you think it is important information for American readers and viewers to know that the Iraqui provisional government is grateful for the American aid and sacrifice but the New York Times prints only the news fit to print...why, even today the Times had a full page article on, with pictures of, some naked Iraqui prisoners -I do not know whether the rest of you know this but apparently George Bush ordered the wholesale humiliation of some Iraqui prioners - he couldn't be there personally, Crawford ya know, so he had some others do it - gosh, a real travesty - certainly outweighs the importance of some political appointees saying thanks to them what appointed them...c'mon, readers, the NYT is the source, ya just gotta believe.
Pray for W and Our Awesome Troops
He is liberal, but I always considered him to be reasonable, too. Kondracke exemplifies what I consider to be a "patriotic liberal". He puts the country and its values above politics. When he disagrees with my viewpoint, I am as a result more likely to listen to him and give his ideas consideration.
When I see the Beltway Boys (Barnes/Kondracke) I often have trouble remembering which is the conservative and which is the liberal. This means that neither is a shameless spinmeister who will turn the world upside down to defend his party.
Good for you,Mort!This ought to put you in solid with your LIB buds!!!!!
It irritates me than even our friends blame the administration for the rabid bias and dedicated propaganda of the media. All say the administration should do a better job. If they are not going to report it, what good does it do to say it?
As the election nears, the economy will be booming, Iraq will be in good shape and the Pubbies will spend lots of money telling us about it. Plus, the Clintons will still be doing all they can to undermine Kerry.
Later
The understatement of the year. The ultra liberal media not only won't help, but intentionally hides the good news from Iraq in small, inconspicuous articles on odd numbered pages.
While you do have a point that in a fair and just world the media would just report the whole story and objective truth rather than use the papers to spead propaganda, Mort and others accept and acknowledge the realities of the world we actually do live in. And Mort is right. Given the media for what it is, and given the fact that they will ignore whatever contradicts their agenda, and distort everything else to fit it, the Bush Administration DOES need to get out in front and force the debate in their direction, rather than retreating and allowing the media to endlessly spin against them without even a response.
As dirty as I feel saying this, Bush could learn a lot from the Democrats in the area of playing politics. If this were Clinton, he would have had the new Iraqi Prime Minister along with those Iraqi amputees standing next to him in a Rose Garden press conference.
Mort Kondrake demonstrates its possible to be a Democrat, a liberal, and actually engage in a political "conversation"...as opposed to what spews from the mouth's of the Begala's and Carville's of the world.
The only show I know I'm going to watch each day, when I'm home, is Hume's with the all stars.
Mort has grown up a lot since his days on McLaughlin Group. While he still seems to hold himself out as a Democrat, he is talking more like a Republican with each passing day.
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