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Who Is Marla Ruzicka? (the source of the "Afghani civilian deaths" tale...Drudge headline)
Opinion Journal.com "Best of the Web" ^ | July 22, 2002 | JAMES TARANTO

Posted on 07/22/2002 3:55:11 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl

Edited on 04/23/2004 12:04:39 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

For a free e-mail subscription to Best of the Web Today, click .

"Flaws in U.S. Air War Left Hundreds of Civilians Dead," blares the lead headline of yesterday's New York Times. "The American air campaign in Afghanistan, based on a high-tech, out-of-harm's way strategy, has produced a pattern of mistakes that has killed hundreds of Afghan civilians," claims reporter Dexter Filkins.


(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: clymers; dishonorabledems; marlaruzicka; medea; medeabenjamin; newyorktimes
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1 posted on 07/22/2002 3:55:11 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Marla Ruzicka, 23, an officially accredited observer from the Green Party, commented on the tactics of the Bush supporters. She described them as "really nasty. There was one guy with a bald head, like a skinhead. They surrounded me and called me a baby killer, because of my support for the right to abortion. When I pointed out Bush's presiding over the death penalty, they said: no, no, that's justice. They're scary. Maybe they're the ones who should be on the terrorist lists."

So this is where the NYT gets their reliable sources? BUSTED!! LOL!

2 posted on 07/22/2002 3:59:02 PM PDT by TADSLOS
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To: Snow Bunny; Mudboy Slim; Alamo-Girl; JohnHuang2; ALOHA RONNIE; MeeknMing
Matt owes us an apology.
3 posted on 07/22/2002 4:04:24 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: TADSLOS
Ah, the beauty of dealing with leftist dunderheads who think its still the days of the telegraph and if they are reporting from Afganistan they can just quote any Commie nut-case and have it accepted as the Voice of Reason.

Who's byline was on the piece? I bet we find out Marla Ruzika is his/her girlfriend, too.

4 posted on 07/22/2002 4:04:56 PM PDT by eno_
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To: TADSLOS
Dexter Filkins also seems to have a monomania for Afgan collateral damage. Can't write enough about it.
5 posted on 07/22/2002 4:09:55 PM PDT by eno_
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To: TADSLOS; kattracks; seamole; Howlin
Hmmm...

I said back on January 23 "Keep an eye on this group's future propaganda."

Relatives of Afghan war victims hand over claims

This article has Medea Benjamin speculating on 4,000 casualties. Global Exchange was in a big hurry to Afstan to "find" civilian casualties, and to urge claims. What's their NGO cut?

more stuff about Global Exchange and Marla Ruzicka in this Feb 13, post 32 and after.

Afghan Victims of U.S. Bombings Demand Compensation

6 posted on 07/22/2002 4:10:24 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: eno_
They're teaching the Afghans the fine art of exaggeration - for money. A specialty of charities and NGOs.
7 posted on 07/22/2002 4:13:05 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: TADSLOS
What a source, huh? Jenin, Gitmo, civilian casualties one and two...the NY Times is lying habitually. It would be really funny, except that it puts our troops in danger, undermines our authority overseas and consumer confidence at home.

Did you see how angry Donald Rumsfeld was today discussing the NY Times Iraqi war plan? Jail the CEOs if guilty, and jail the Times reporter/leakers as well. The Times is a bigger national security threat.

What undermines your confidence more? The accounting "scandals" or the Dems./media working to destroy the economy and the President for partisan political purposes?

8 posted on 07/22/2002 4:18:58 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: Shermy
But the BBC reports that the Afghan government rejects Filkins's account: "A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai told the BBC that fewer than 500 civilians were believed to have been killed in US air strikes--a low figure considering the size of the military campaign."

Hey, the BBC's on our side. Truth may triumph, yet. (^:

9 posted on 07/22/2002 4:21:43 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: eno_
Dexter Filkins also seems to have a monomania for Afgan collateral damage.

Yep. I guess our own civilian deaths matter very little to this dunderhead... as well as the very real threat of further mass civilian murders here on our soil.

No, we have to stick to reporting on the "brutal" and "unjustified" U.S. military campaign and that "mean" Mr. Rumsfeld. GWB just wants to control all of the oil and that's why all of this is happening. September 11 is old news and it doesn't really matter anymore (sarcasm).

10 posted on 07/22/2002 4:30:40 PM PDT by grimalkin
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Here's another little surprise: a passage from a May 13 article in "The Nation."

"...A European official advising the interim administration on economic matters said that US policy-makers seem to fall into two categories--diplomats on the one hand, and military men and spooks on the other. Whereas the diplomats dutifully follow the loya jirga process, he said, the military and the spooks regard it as a charade; instead, they prefer simply to pay off warlords. The diplomats themselves, he said, have not been very effective. Unlike the British, who have played a "leadership" role, he explained, the Americans "have not been very involved. They're prepared to provide money but not to match it with political engagement."

This dichotomy is mirrored in Afghan attitudes toward the United States. Most are tremendously grateful for America's role in ousting the Taliban. Indeed, Marla Ruzicka, who came to Afghanistan on behalf of Global Exchange, the activist group, to organize families victimized by the US bombing to demand compensation from Washington, told me that she was encountering a problem: People were so pleased with the results of the bombing that many were reluctant to protest it too vocally. (A report on her activities in the New York Times, headlined Shattered Afghan Families Demand U.S. Compensation, did not mention this.)

Seems Marla and Global Exchange trotted out there to confirm their own prejudices, and bloody the US reputation, but came across people who are grateful! Well, they'll work over these grateful people a bit...

11 posted on 07/22/2002 4:38:06 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: Shermy
Marla Ruzicka, who came to Afghanistan on behalf of Global Exchange, the activist group, to organize families victimized by the US bombing to demand compensation from Washington, told me that she was encountering a problem: People were so pleased with the results of the bombing that many were reluctant to protest it too vocally.

Thanks, Shermy. This nails her. How do we hold people like Marla and the NY Times staff accountable without named (and serious) consequences for their actions? This woman, on behalf of some "aid" group is attempting to turn the Afghani people against the US, against the troops that risked their lives to get rid of the Taliban, against her OWN country. These "peaceniks" (and media leftistis) are poor losers....and dangerously foolish. Bush was right. They were wrong. The Afghani people won.

12 posted on 07/22/2002 5:00:57 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: Shermy
Medea Benjamin

"MEDEA"???:@

Nononononono. Nobody would name their daughter Medea on purpose. Therefore she chose this name herself. Tells you a bit about her, doesn't it?

13 posted on 07/22/2002 5:09:18 PM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: hellinahandcart
She finds resonance in a mythological character that murders her own children? Hmmm....
14 posted on 07/22/2002 5:27:20 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: hellinahandcart
Oh, I don't know about that. Quasi-literate cultural elites would name an innocent baby Medea and be proud of themselves.

If you hire 20-nothings, take a look at the names. I have come across a Marly (male) and a Jerzy (female). African names, as well: Laman (male) was one & Zinzi (female) was another. These families were all Caucasian, educated and economically privileged, BTW. Oh, and Leftists, of course.

In a world of post-partum psychosis as an excuse for child murder and Roe vs Wade as a legal justification for same, albeit at an earlier age, why not name one's daughter Medea?

15 posted on 07/22/2002 6:05:51 PM PDT by reformedliberal
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks for the heads up!
16 posted on 07/22/2002 7:54:50 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Green Party......Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17 posted on 07/22/2002 8:00:01 PM PDT by dalebert
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To: Shermy
I think its called scam.
18 posted on 07/22/2002 8:01:53 PM PDT by dalebert
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Marla Ruzicka, 23, an officially accredited observer from the Green Party,

Wow. What a source. A 23 year old nitwit, and certified, too.

.... They surrounded me and called me a baby killer, because of my support for the right to abortion. When I pointed out Bush's presiding over the death penalty, they said: no, no, that's justice. They're scary. Maybe they're the ones who should be on the terrorist lists."

I guess it never occured to her that every person on death row has had a trial before a jury of his peers... with lawyers, evidence, and a chance to cross examine the witnesses, and endless apeals.

But not one aborted infant has had a trial, a lawyer, or had a chance to plead his case, nor even been accused of a crime.

19 posted on 07/22/2002 8:06:55 PM PDT by piasa
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To: Howlin
this thread is ...sweet, in a cutting sort of way
20 posted on 07/22/2002 8:11:27 PM PDT by piasa
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