[<1/1,000,000th%]

But critics, including independent journalists who have reported from Iraq, say the trip is a propaganda mission for the U.S. military and the Bush administration and cannot be considered "journalism" by any standards.

But the independent journalists propaganda that 50 million Iraqi's have been killed by the US and that 90% of them preferred Saddam is OK.

[kcvl]

Peter Beinart, editor of the liberal flagship The New Republic, is worried that liberalism is "sowing the seeds of its own destruction".

******

In one of these columns, published by the Washington Post, The New Republic’s editor Peter Beinart observed that “a plurality of Americans now believe they were ‘deliberately misled’ before the war. When the president talks to the country about Iraq on Tuesday night, he needs to address that.

“Otherwise, he’ll never have the credibility to tell Americans the harsh truth: that Iraqi troops won’t be ready to defend their government for two years or more. And until they can, brave young U.S. soldiers will have to keep doing the job.” [Washington Post, June 26, 2005]

[txradioguy]

Of course they're calling it propaganda and shameful.

They don't have the brass ones to do the same thing.

And they've got to name call the folks that DO have the guts to deflect from their own shortcomings.

[Bob J]

Rightalk.com started as Radio FreeRepublic two years ago.

[auboy]

But critics, including independent journalists who have reported from Iraq, say the trip is a propaganda mission for the U.S. military and the Bush administration and cannot be considered "journalism" by any standards.

It's not journalism unless we say it's journalism.

[ladyL]

My daughter went to Iraq in April for 8 days with a group of Radio Talk Show hosts so this is not a new thing. What this group did discover was 1. the soldiers had a STRONG dislike of the media and until they realized my daughter's group were Conservatives they were not treated the best. 2. The military were proud of the job they were doing and the morale was HIGH 3. It was not as dangerous as the 6 o'clock news shows 4. The Iraqi people were happy the Americans were there.

Basically what my daughter saw is that what we are seeing on the news is NOT THE WAY IT IS.

[tgslTakoma]

DC (WMAL AM630) talk radio host, Michael Graham, is going to Iraq on the Truth Tour. I think it's a great idea, and I am very happy to hear that there are other "conservative talk radio hosts" going on the trip as well. They can report on the good work that our military are doing in Iraq - to their listeners in other cities in the US; which the MSM network news are refusing to report. Good for them all! I'll be listening.

[Mr.Atos]

Liberals go, its a fact-finding or humanitarian mission. Conservatives go, and its a propaganda tour. Well, perhaps the 'critics' are the propagandists seeding more of their misinformation.

Gee...ya think?

[unsycophant]

The "real" journos could not be more condescending, could they? As far as I can tell, nobody is trying to take their jobs away from them, but they perceive it as a threat to their integrity, as if radio people and writers are in the same business. Jeeze.

Radio types are the perfect conduits for letting the soldiers tell their own stories.

FOX should get on board and lend a hand----if they can tear themselves away from Aruba for a few hours, that is.

[concerned about politics]

"This is the most pathetic thing I've heard in a long time. They should be ashamed of themselves," Peter Beinart, editor of left-leaning The New Republic magazine, said.

The left hates it when the truth comes out and their propaganda is exposed.
These right wingers are true patriots. Gods bless them and their journey.

[goldstategop]

Liberals reaction to this radio talk hosts' mission to Iraq is proof liberals are the Hate America crowd. The Left's doomers and gloomers cannot bear to see us win in Iraq, let alone hear any good news from there. They have a psychological investment in an American defeat. That pretty much says it all.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[driftless]

Yes, Beinart, it's just awful that radio personalities are going over to Iraq to support the troops. Sheesh. I just can't get over how far down the road to perdition we've gone when horses posteriors like Beinart can denigrate the efforts of patriotic Americans, and there are no repercussions. Why do these slimy b@#tards ( Beinart, etal) get away with it?

[GloriaJane]

The liberals seem to be acting they may have been hiding something from us.... like the truth!

I can't wait to hear the reports!

[leprechaun9]

PC-FOX

Gender Representation
Race Representation
Intelligence Representation
spinning their version of events!

[Allegra]

She said the group is going to Iraq to support American troops, who see a disconnection with what they experience and what's being reported in the United States. She said the incongruence is leading to "morale problems."

So somebody's going to come over here and report the truth about what is happening here? They're going to talk about the progress and the multitude of positive developments?

I'm feeling faint...

[weegee]

The media never reported that Michael Moore made a major documentary about Iraq and never even visited the country.

You want to talk about PROPAGANDA???

What a miserable failure

[ajolympian2004]

Michelle Malkin's post from today, Monday July 4th, on this subject: (including links for a blog to include daily comments and photos, as well as live webcam feeds)

TIME FOR A PETER BEINART SMACKDOWN

By Michelle Malkin   ·   July 04, 2005 11:33 AM

So, have you heard: Real Journalist Peter Beinart is sneering at conservative talk show hosts headed to Iraq this Friday to report on the war. Fox News.com's Kelly Beaucar Vlahos (whom I'm sure Peter Beinart doesn't consider a Real Journalist either) quotes Beinart:

"This is the most pathetic thing I've heard in a long time. They should be ashamed of themselves," Peter Beinart, editor of left-leaning The New Republic magazine, said.

"They have no idea what journalism is, and to pretend they are journalists is laughable," Beinart said. "You do not achieve victory by not facing reality. I think these are the kinds of people that will lead us to lose there."

The trip is being organized by my friend, the brilliant and often news-breaking Melanie Morgan of KSFO radio in San Francisco. [Added note: As I mentioned last week, the tour was spearheaded by another good friend, Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson.] If Real Journalist Peter Beinart had bothered to do some elementary research before opening his mouth, he would have learned that Melanie was a real journalist while he was still sucking his thumb (not that he hasn't stopped):

Ms. Morgan started her broadcasting career at the age of 16, working at her college radio station, KCLC FM, in St. Charles, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, she began an internship at KUDL AM/FM in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. After working at several radio stations in Kansas City, Melanie began her television career as a researcher, for ABC TV's Howard K. Smith, during the 1976 Republican Convention. In 1980, Melanie went to work for KMBC, Channel 9 in Kansas City as a television reporter and anchor.

She moved to the Bay Area in 1981 and began working for KGO television as a free-lance reporter. It wasn't long before KGO Radio recognized Melanie's outstanding news and reporting ability. Her talents were fully realized when she stepped forward to spend three weeks in Beirut, Lebanon covering the conflict of that war-ravaged country. She received several awards for excellence in news reporting for her on-air reports from Lebanon.

Peter Beinart (his Real Journalism bio is here) should be ashamed of himself. He owes Melanie and the rest of the talk show hosts going on the Iraq tour an abject apology.

Not that Real Journalists ever say they are sorry for getting their facts wrong.

***
Oh, and by the way, here are some background reminders of the Real Journalism practiced by Peter Beinart's esteemed publication, The New Republic:

New Republic Associate Editor Stephen Glass Fired for Fabricating Stories
Lies, damned lies and fiction
The incomplete contrition of serial liar Stephen Glass
Shattered Glass
Ruth Shalit: Plagiarize, Plagiarize, Plagiarize; Too Much Too Soon

***

Bob Johnson at Rightalk.com, one of this site's valued advertisers, is a major sponsor of the tour. He informs me that there will be a blog for participants with daily comments and photos, as well as live webcam feeds, at Voices of Soldiers. Check it out.

[purpleland]

Holy Moley - the Mordant Media propaganda establishment is challenged by the TRUTH CORPS!

Aside: the value of boycott: gollywood is melting down.

[1Old Pro]

FOX could serve the truth well if they did a 1 minute report at the end of each show illustrating a positive in IRAQ which has not been reported.

It could be a new school, or a great victory etc. I did like a recent story on how our military men and women we're helping Iraqi's who lost limbs.

[rockthecasbah]

That's our Melanie!! The underground resistance here in the Bay Area fights on!