Cavuto: Only Half the Story

Fox News Channel ^ | 09/03/03 | Neil Cavuto

[Pokey78]

You'd think listening to all the news reports out of Iraq, that things are out of control in Iraq.

Joe Klein in Time magazine going so far as to ask, "Who is losing Iraq?"

I don't know, Joe. But I know this much: We aren't.

[nutmeg]

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[Teacher317]

"...we're missing the good news there? I think we are."
I think it's right to report on U.S. soldiers dying. But it's even more right to point out what they're dying for. A liberated Iraq. A freer Iraq. A better Iraq."
...
The juxtaposition of the two lines make my hyperbole "how great it is to die for a free Iraq" completely fair game.

There is no juxtaposition. The "good news" is the free, liberated Iraq, not the soldiers dying. He points out that we already ARE reporting the soldiers dying, but not the "other half of the story" (see the title?), which would be the better lives of the liberated Iraqis, aka, the good news that we're "missing". Ergo, if you would "practice independent thought" and some basic grammar, you would see that the "good news" refers to the unreported part (better life for Iraqis), and NOT to the over-reported part (US soldiers dying). Get it now?

[norton]

1 - reason for going there = our national interests.
2 - reason for kicking Saddam's butt = our national interests.
3 - reasons for still being there (in our national interest)
a) suppress resurgance of Baathist infrastructure (insure victory)
b) confront regional al-quada and 'foreign' islamists (round 'em up and take 'em out)
c) show others in the area that we are serious (slap - down)
d) create situation to allow Iraqi people to govern themselves in some less dangerous and reasonably democratic manner (lower odds of another Saddam)
e) create conditions that will encourage locals to join the 21st century and benefit sufficiently from the change as to want it to continue (see "d" above)
4 - beneficial side effects: life definately should be better for the average Iraqi and Iraq might possibly begin to advance out of the dismal hole it's been in under Saddam.

I think Cavuto was talking most about the last item - America is about the only nation on earth that would consider improving the other guy's lot as even one of the goals of invasion and victory. One of very few that would make it a part of policy during an occupation.

Cavuto has a right to his opinions, he has ajob that allows him to express it, and I really doubt he's a liberal.

[JohnGalt]

Oh I see, so this article is even more patronizing because its a media critique?

He is arguing that the news of dead American soldiers should be juxtaposed with stories of a liberated Iraq.

[JohnGalt]

Well, he needs to learn how to think and write as a conservative, because this article sounds like he is simply a Wilsonian liberal who sides with a Republican Administration.

[onedoug]

[ultima ratio]

Do you know the difference between apples and oranges? We also haven't found the cure for cancer. Is this Bush's fault also?

[JohnGalt]

You have ample proof the government fails at every grandiose project it undertakes so don't pretend like you think the state is going to win the war on terrorism.

[ArrogantBustard]

He's arguing for telling the whole truth, something which neither you nor the communist media seem able to comprehend.

[dighton]

Oh, now you're going to lecture us on how to honor our soldiers in Iraq?

As you've surely noticed, Galt has crowned himself Head Lecturer and Pope, with excommunications performed daily. It's the funniest show here.

[Salvation]

**Americans didn't question the value of what we were doing then. (re-construction of Germany) We shouldn't grow impatient with what we're doing now. I guess it's far easier to write damning stories about all that's going wrong, than for one solitary moment, to consider all that is going right. ** Parentheses mine.

Cavuto belts out another good op-ed. Bravo! From someone of that generation!

God bless.

[Salvation]

Wow! What logic!

[Coop]

As you've surely noticed, Galt has crowned himself Head Lecturer and Pope, with excommunications performed daily. It's the funniest show here.

Tonight I'm going home and instructing my wife on how to conduct childbirth.

I may not be able to type for a while.

[Cobra64]

It's a patronizing leftwing attitude to believe its good news for US soldiers to die for another country.

I worked on the Barry Goldwater campaign in 1964, as well as Ronald Reagan's; America's finest President in my lifetime. It is the liberals who hate this country and gloat at every American death. Furthermore, there are seven generations of in my family who risked death on foreign soil.

[XJarhead]

The soldiers who have died in Iraq, died defending the United States. If you can't see the danger in Cavuto's liberal rational, God Help Us.

First, I think its kind of funny for anyone who posts here to imply that Cavuto shouldn't express an opinion on Iraq because he's only a stock show guy. What is your profession that qualifies you to express an opinion?

Cavuto makes a legitimate contribution to the debate. He is right in pointing out that the bad news coming out of Iraq is rarely balanced with any of the positive news. That's because an American soldier killed by a mine is obviously a discrete, easily reported event. But if a bunch of schools open, or something else positive happens, its really just the return of "normalcy", which doesn't make as much of a story. So, it gets underreported.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying that we ought to realize that some good is being accomplished in Iraq by our troops, and to ignore it insults them by implying that they aren't accomplishing anything. Believe me, troops in a zone like that want both the good and bad reported. I know because I'm in communication with some personally.

Obviously, the fact that they are accomplishing some good does not mean that the good outweighs the cost. Cavuto is right about considering the good they are accomplishing, and he may be wrong in his (presumed) belief that the good is worth the cost. But you just launch right into outrage without even engaging in that discussion.

You also made the point that it was "sickening" for a "talk show host" to be saying its great to die for Iraq. But like others have said, a talk show host has the same right to express an opinion as do you and I. Presumably, to you, it would be equally "sickening" for us to support the efforts in Iraq.

That places you in the position of being able to shut down all debate as to the merits of staying in Iraq, because its "sickening" for anyone here to support that decision. "Who are you to say its great to die for Iraq?" is an accusation you effectively have leveled against anyone who supports the efforts in Iraq. You've made all of us Neil Cavuto.

If you want to say "its not worth a single American life to do anything to benefit the people of Iraq", then fine. State that position clearly and defend it. As it is, I have no idea where you stand, because your vituperative attacks on anyone who supports actions in Iraq masks the details of your own beliefs. If we could turn Iraq into a fully functioning democracy, pro-capitalist, that improves the lives of millions of Iraqis, is that worth the life of a single American?

[Cobra64]

I agree about this guy as an effing moron. He should probably be put on a brigade in digging up mass graves, see Hussein's HCL dipping baths, and wood/body slaughtering chippers in Iraq.

My guess is that he's a North Eastern (MA) or Berkely, CA type twit professor who cannot tell a long gun from a pistol or reel gun revolver. BTW, I love my Ruger Blackhawk .357 "cloaked" w/7.5" barrel Accurate as hell.

[aculeus]

America soldiers, like my Great Uncle, fought World War II to save Joe Stalin's Communist empire

Your relative knew (as you apparently do not) that America went to war in Europe following Hitler's declaration of war on the USA.

[aculeus]

incessantly sprints to every thread containing positive news on Iraq only to cyber-urinate all over it,

We need some cyber-diapers!

[rdb3]

Patriotism is indeed the last refuge of a scoundrel.

[M. Thatcher]

My guess is that he's a North Eastern (MA) or Berkely, CA type twit professor

My guess is he's a typical know-nothing 20-something pitchforker.