Posted on 08/08/2006 3:45:08 PM PDT by kellynla
There is so much mis-reporting about the successes of Iraq, even our generals sometimes get fed up sufficiently to write a letter to one of the offending papers. The Washington Post is one of the chief offenders, and has been for years. (If you have any doubts about it, see the ravings of WaPo Pentagon reporter Tom Ricks posted in yesterday's PowerLine.)
The latest offense by the Washington Post is another example of news manufacturing concocting stories in contravention of facts. Here's the letter Gen. Bill McCoy - who's in charge of construction projects in Iraq -- sent to the Washington Post on Sunday. They haven't printed it yet. Will they ever?
Sunday, 06 August 2006
Maj. Gen. William H. McCoy Jr.
To the editor of the Washington Post,
After spending almost three days traveling with and being interviewed by one of the co-writers of a very poorly written article ("Much Undone in Rebuilding Iraq, Audit says", Washington Post, August 2, 2006), I'm astounded at how distorted a good story can become and what agenda drives a paper to see only the bad side to the reconstruction effort here in Iraq. Instead of distorting the facts, let's get to the truth.
There is no flailing reconstruction effort in Iraq. The United States has rightfully invested $20 billion in Iraq's reconstruction - in the opinion of many here, we should do more. This massive undertaking is part of a wider strategy for success in Iraq that involves the establishment of a democratic government, the development of professional Iraqi security forces, and the restoration of basic essential services and facilities to promote the sustained economic development of this new country.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
We deserve better from those who claim the protection of the Constitution we are fighting to support and defend.
America, don't give up. You are doing much better over here than all too many of your press will tell you. If you are tired of fighting for freedom and democracy for those who so strongly long for the country we have, then think of the alternatives for a moment. Iraq will be better for our efforts and so will the world. And you are making it happen. Be proud and keep supporting this vital effort. It is the most important thing America can do.
Thank you. I invite you and your staff to come over at any time to get the facts. I took a risk with Mr. Mosher and obviously got what I consider to be a very unbalanced representation of what he saw, personally. But I still believe in general in the press and will always be open to helping you tell a balanced story.
Essayons! Deliverance!
Maj. Gen. Bill McCoy
Commanding General
Gulf Region Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Multi-National Force-Iraq
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. It's something that I needed to read. It's tough to keep positive at times with the onslaught of terrible leftist reporting.
That's why I'm sick to death of this Ricks' character who is nothing but a Compost-bot getting all this media attention and admiration as if he's not just a partisan spouter. He's supposedly some great expert on national security, yet his insights are as deep as pond foam. And his rhetoric is pure party loyalist boilerplate.
WaPo could print it, but the left would neither read it nor understand it. It's written well above most of their comprehension levels, unfortunately.
You're quite welcome.
Unfortunately, we cannot depend on the MSM to honestly report on the war. We have to dig and dig and dig to get the facts. Imagine what the situation would be without the Internet, talk radio and cable news? Viet Nam all over again!
Journalism promotes the reputation of anyone who helps journalism look more important than the people who do things. Journalism calls such people "liberals."
This needs to be shouted from the rooftops. Thanks for the article.
Don't hold your breath until the MSM get it right. A free press, yes, but press traitors, no!
Wonderful letter. Thanks so much for posting it. I've sent the link to a friend serving in Iraq, who occasionally wonders whether anyone here know what's really going on there. We'll never learn it from the so-called mainstream media.
BTTT
The rationale for newspapers in the beginning, was because people were ignorant of what was going on in the world.
Now they have to manufacture ignorance of what is going on in the world, in order to rationalize their continued existence.
The virulent left likes to use "Iraq reconstruction is a total failure" as one more throw-away shot at the President and the War that they hate. Left-leaning newspapers are glad to help them out by shading things.
You can't trust this guy, he's in the military.
For the real story, we need to interview the people he's fighting - we'll call it "balance."
Agreed. Thanks again.
Amen, friend.
Thanks, kelly.
I hate those SOBs.
ping to self for later read
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