Posted on 03/22/2006 5:24:01 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
March 22, 2006
Laura Ingraham clearly hit an MSM sore spot with the charges she levelled during her appearance on yesterday's Today show, in which she locked horns with David Gregory and James Carville. Read Laura in the Lions Den.
Ingraham accused most American media of covering Iraq from their balconies in the Green Zone, confining their reports largely to IEDs and killings and missing the more positive stories that abound across the country.
This morning, a clearly stung NBC asked itself whether it is doing a good job reporting on Iraq, and - surprise! - the Peacock Network assured itself and us that indeed it is. If anything, Today told us, the situation in Iraq is even worse than the MSM portray it.
Ingraham's gutsy appearance took on national momentum. Laura discussed it at length during her own syndicated radio show. Rush Limbaugh picked it up, and Ingraham made evening appearances on the O'Reilly Factor and Hannity & Colmes. At one point, Ingraham mentioned that it was her viewing yesterday of a report by NBC's Richard Engel, from the proverbial Green Zone balcony, that sparked some of her sentiment.
NBC fired back this morning, and featured the very same Engel in doing so.
Hosting the segment was Gregory, sitting in for Matt Lauer. He kicked things off asking "is the U.S. media focusing too much on the negative and ignoring the positive stories in Iraq?" Gregory then threw it to Engel in Baghdad, who began by alleging that there are "a lot of myths and misperceptions about what reporters are doing and are not doing here in Iraq."
Engel then narrated a montage showing that at various times, he and his crew have accompanied US troops, put on flack jackets and ventured outside the Green Zone, and exposed themselves to a variety of violent situations. We saw dramatic footage of Engel flat on the ground as bullets whizzed around. The point was made that even staying in the office can be dangerous, as the NBC News Bureau has twice been bombed. Engel also mentioned the danger of kidnapping, with 40 reporters having been taken hostage so far.
While making the case that Baghdad is a dangerous place and that the people covering display bravery, in many ways Engel failed to confront Ingraham's most fundamental charges. She had challenged NBC to apply some of the massive resources it devoted to the Olympics, or even to answering "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?", to its Iraq coverage. Ingraham suggested that the media get off their perches and out into the field. Speak with the Iraqi military, meet with villagers and children. Ingraham predicted that the resulting stories would paint a picture of Iraq more positive than the gloom and doom seen in the glare of the latest IED explosion that is the typical MSM fare.
There was nothing in Engel's report to indicate that NBC had ventured much if at all outside Baghdad or made any systematic effort to speak with the Iraqi military, or with Iraqi people-in-the street or with villagers in the many peaceful areas of the country.
Indeed, Engel's report confirmed Ingraham's allegation that the MSM portray Iraq in a consistently negative light. At one point, Engel asserted that "reporting on everyday life is increasingly dangerous because life here is getting more dangerous." And incredibly, Engel closed by claiming that, if anything, NBC's coverage was . . . not negative enough.
When Gregory asked "is security the overall story?" Engel replied:
"Most Iraqis I speak to say most reporters get it wrong. The situation on the ground is worse than the images we project on television."
The new war is called the war on terror
And we will stay in the area just to keep an eye on the terrorists
Then, even if asked by the Iraqi's, to leave as has been stated in the past, we will remain there forever. The war on terror will and can only end when humanity no longer exists.
Too many folks got burned with Desert Storm for being on the wrong side of that issue and there was reluctance at the beginning to be on the wrong side of Op Iraqi Freedom.
Clearly, that has changed. Part of that is the politics of the media. Part of it is the reality of how the war has played out.
Read my post again .. I said there or some where in the area
The war on terror will and can only end when humanity no longer exists.
Well gee aren't we the cheery optimist
" In the early days of the troops in Bagdad, one of the big hotels was attacked. IIRC NBC's Richard Engel was the reporter who sent his driver downstairs (where the action was) to get the news reports. Engel stayed upstairs (safety) and made his broadcasts from there.
There were FR threads about it when it was revealed. That was about the time he was annointed with the nomenclature: Chicken Richard."
Those threads were hysterical.
IIRC, didn't Chicken Richard oversleep during Shock and Awe and then fudge his report to cover that fact ?
You may think "Mission Accomplished" was a bad move. It was an acknowledgement that Saddam's regime had fallen. In that perspective it was correct. "Mission." Even at that time he said there was more to do.
The laughing at the President for that statement began with the Dems when the insurgency boiled up. The press ran with it. 20/20 hindsight, a moment in time ridiculed. If you decided not to support the effort at that time, you were reacting to the left who think a man can see the future of a war, and should be held accountable. Those of us who researched the reasons for the war, understood why we were there, did not lose our will because of a statement.
You may think the war is wrong, and may think we should never have gone in. Fine, but don't think those who still support it and the President will change our minds because of the propoganda bombings by terrorists on the news. We know it's tough but still believe we can and must win.
The reality is that war is bloody, tough and long. If you didn't know that, I understand your point of view.
Laura needs a few more stations
Many thanks, DM. I try to get it right, and it means a lot to hear from fellow FReepers who find that I've succeeded.
I don't think the war is wrong in its entirety. And I have no beef against those that support it no matter what.
At some point, as Kenny Rogers would say, you gotta know when to hold em and know when to fold em. I'm not saying we're at that point. But at sometime we will be. That point may be six months from now. Or a year.
Yes, I believe we are in a position where we must win. The problem is even though we must, there is a chance we won't. When and how do we come to that realization.
No, we will be in Iraq for a very, very long period of time. Probably at a level of troops at least half if not more of todays levels. And while my comments may not be optimistic, how many here believed we would be at the troop levels we are today three years ago? Yes, troops would be there, but I believed they would be much smaller in number.
About 2/3 were Iraqi or other Arabic types. Hired by the MSM to cover those rough areas.
That's what I'd call "an admission". He's apparently acknowledging that he doesn't get out much, and when he does see positive incidents he sometimes doesn't report them.
It'd be interesting to know if he reported the incident he described at the time it occurred, or is just remembering it now.
"...Clearly, that has changed. Part of that is the politics of the media. Part of it is the reality of how the war has played out."
and part of it has to due with the history challenged left's obsessive need to invalidate our President.
Either Iraq becomes a democracy and does not become an enemy of the US and allies, or it has a civil war or Iran or Syria takes it over, and it becomes a terrorist state.
I think it's pretty clear when it happens, but I think we should stay and struggle not to let the second scenario take place. Until then, should we just be scared that we could lose? You say there's a chance we may lose...I'm not sure what your point is. Should we pull out before one or the other happens? I'm not 100% sure of anything, but that won't stop me from getting up in the morning.
GREAT find!!
Excellent point that can be applied to any 'action news' report in the United States.
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