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Media's Dark Cloud a Danger (Falsely bleak reports reduce our chances of success in Iraq)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 9/22/03 | Jim Marshall

Posted on 09/22/2003 6:38:10 AM PDT by NYC Republican

On Sept. 14, I flew from Baghdad to Kuwait with Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg from Dearborn, Mich. He was in a body bag. He'd been ambushed and killed that afternoon. Sitting in the cargo bay of a C 130E, I found myself wondering whether the news media were somehow complicit in his death.

News media reports about our progress in Iraq have been bleak since shortly after the president's premature declaration of victory. These reports contrast sharply with reports of hope and progress presented to Congress by Department of Defense representatives -- a real disconnect, Vietnam déja vu. So I went to Iraq with six other members of Congress to see for myself.

The Iraq war has predictably evolved into a guerrilla conflict similar to Vietnam. Our currently stated objectives are to establish reasonable security and foster the creation of a secular, representative government with a stable market economy that provides broad opportunity throughout Iraqi society. Attaining these objectives in Iraq would inevitably transform the Arab world and immeasurably increase our future national security.

These are goals worthy of a fight, of sacrifice, of more lives lost now to save thousands, perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands in the future. In Mosul last Monday, a colonel in the 101st Airborne put it to me quite simply: "Sir, this is worth doing." No one I spoke with said anything different. And I spoke with all ranks.

But there will be more Blumbergs killed in action, many more. So it is worth doing only if we have a reasonable chance of success. And we do, but I'm afraid the news media are hurting our chances. They are dwelling upon the mistakes, the ambushes, the soldiers killed, the wounded, the Blumbergs. Fair enough. But it is not balancing this bad news with "the rest of the story," the progress made daily, the good news. The falsely bleak picture weakens our national resolve, discourages Iraqi cooperation and emboldens our enemy.

During the conventional part of this conflict, embedded journalists reported the good, the bad and the ugly. Where are the embeds now that we are in the difficult part of the war, now that fair and balanced reporting is critically important to our chances of success? At the height of the conventional conflict, Fox News alone had 27 journalists embedded with U.S. troops (out of a total of 774 from all Western media). Today there are only 27 embedded journalists from all media combined.

Throughout Iraq, American soldiers with their typical "can do" attitude and ingenuity are engaging in thousands upon thousands of small reconstruction projects, working with Iraqi contractors and citizens. Through decentralized decision-making by unit commanders, the 101st Airborne Division alone has spent nearly $23 million in just the past few months. This sum goes a very long way in Iraq. Hundreds upon hundreds of schools are being renovated, repainted, replumbed and reroofed. Imagine the effect that has on children and their parents.

Zogby International recently released the results of an August poll showing hope and progress. My own unscientific surveys told me the same thing. With virtually no exceptions, hundreds of Iraqis enthusiastically waved back at me as I sat in the open door of a helicopter traveling between Babylon and Baghdad. And I received a similar reception as I worked my way alone, shaking hands through a large crowd of refinery workers just to see their reaction.

We may need a few credible Baghdad Bobs to undo the harm done by our media. I'm afraid it is killing our troops.

-- U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) of Macon, a Vietnam combat veteran, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: embeddedreport; iraq; jimmarshall; mediabias
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To: NYC Republican
Thanks for posting this article.

I just called Rep. Marshall's office in Washington to thank him for this article and to encourage him to get this message out to more of the media: we are creating a lot of goodwill in Iraq by our actions, and the media, by reporting the negative only, is working to embolden our enemies there.

His tollfree number at the Capitol(as well as for all Congressmen and Senators) is 1-800-648-3516. Tell the operator you want to be connected to Congressman Jim Marshall's office.

It would be good to encourage him to speak out even more, and to thank him for writing this article.
21 posted on 09/22/2003 8:05:35 AM PDT by exit82 (Ted Kennedy knows all about frauds--he is one.)
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To: exit82
Just called, and left a message of support for one of his staff members. Thanks for the info!
22 posted on 09/22/2003 8:08:34 AM PDT by NYC Republican
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To: NYC Republican
News media reports about our progress in Iraq have been bleak since shortly after the president's premature declaration of victory.

This author's soul searching rings hollow when he intentionally puts a lie into print.

23 posted on 09/22/2003 8:09:37 AM PDT by Coop (God bless our troops!)
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To: NYC Republican
Wow, you work fast. Good for you!
24 posted on 09/22/2003 8:12:56 AM PDT by exit82 (Ted Kennedy knows all about frauds--he is one.)
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To: NYC Republican
News media reports about our progress in Iraq have been bleak since shortly after the president's premature declaration of victory.

This is so typical of reporters today - notice the word premature. It was a thank you speech from a grateful Commander in Chief of a 1st stage job well done - making it very clear there would be much more hard work to come before a victory could be claimed.

We need letters from those who are still on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan to act as our eyes and ears for the success stories the press seems to feel are not important. We need these hard working military folks to act as our embedded reporters. So please, post letters telling of the steady success as well as the news of terrorists within Iraq.

The liberal driven press is truly doing enormous harm to our men and women in an effort to unseat President Bush.

Ted Kennedy, Dick Gephardt, Nancy Peolsi etc. have become every bit as distasteful in their remarks and accusations about Iraq and the President as the enemy who would destroy America and that is just what those lame brains are doing.

Our wonderful military deserve far better than those just mentioned; their success and selflessness need to be told each and every day.

25 posted on 09/22/2003 8:14:48 AM PDT by yoe (Term Limits - and 2 terms are the limit for all Federal offices!!)
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To: yoe
All Bush did was declare the end to "major military conflict" and that appears to be true. Sheesh...during the war we were flying sorties all day, everday. We are not doing that now and we are not rushing through Iraq to get to Baghdad. There was nothing premature about Bush's statement.

And this Congressman is absolutely right. All the negative reporting is dropping the support for the war here at home. It made me sick to read about soldiers, during the major military operation, who were concerned about what the people thought back at home. The soldiers are scared of a Vietnam syndrome wherein they are not respected and the nation is not grateful for their service. The press is aiding and abetting that sentiment. It's disgusting.

I HATE THE PRESS!

26 posted on 09/22/2003 8:18:44 AM PDT by Wphile (Keep the UN out of Iraq)
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To: mass55th; boxerblues
Thanks for the ping, boxer.

The press is complicite in the deaths of our troops at the very least by hyping our enemies' strength and ignoring our successes - intentionally undermining morale at home and, more importantly, in Iraq.

The President did not declare early victory, simply the end of major combat ops, which it was.

The similarity to Vietnam is a deceitful left-press-Hollywood siding with our enemies.

The greatest number of post-Baghdad Liberation Day casualties due to hostile acts was 28 - in July - during a month of major aggressive operations where we took out MANY bad guys, and the death of the Hussein boys....out of then ~ 150,000 US troops on the ground in a country the size of California.

The casaulty rate has remained relatively steady and so low that a car accident skews the totals, so forgive me if, after 6 months of daily, destructive lies from the left-press, I am not applauding this Democrat for this late, faint praise. The left is guilty. It's dawning on some of them, I think, that they were always on the wrong side in this war.

The Iraqi people, the troops, and many around the world are getting their news elsewhere. We know what Saddam did to the Iraqi people. We know that everyone calling for the UN to run things cares nothing about the wishes of the Iraqi people, the history of the UN in Iraq...or the US Constitution.

The left, not the troops, the President or the DoD, has some explaining and apologizing to do to the troops, the President, the DoD, the Iraqi people...and the free world.

I'm willing to forgive if they change their ways, give the troops everything they need to get the job done in Iraq, quit trying to push the hapless UN on the Iraqi people. It is not their will and it mocks every Soldier's sacrifice. Start reporting the truth from Iraq, fire the reporters who were on Saddam's payroll. That's a start.

Imho, lol.

27 posted on 09/22/2003 8:50:48 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("I was taught to love America." ~ Freeper 'Bullish', '60s LA public school.)
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To: exit82
I actually know Jim Marshall personally, and he is one of the most amazing politicians I have ever met. Dropped out of Princeton to enlist in the army in Viet Nam. Well decorated Ranger, absolutely honest stand-up guy. (Except for a little bit too close to the trial lawyers, but nobody's perfect.) I'm glad he wrote this, and I'm actually going to write him a check.
28 posted on 09/22/2003 8:57:39 AM PDT by babble-on (i don't make a habit of giving to Dems, but this is a very good guy)
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To: finnman69
He's going to use it to followup his MSNBC post today.

What MSNBC post??

29 posted on 09/22/2003 9:06:52 AM PDT by Dog
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To: Dog
Glenn Renyolds has a MSNBC blog column...

http://www.glennreynolds.com

or

http://www.msnbc.com/news/856672.asp


30 posted on 09/22/2003 9:16:30 AM PDT by finnman69 (!)
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To: babble-on
Thanks for the info on Marshall. There MUST be some good, decent democrats out there. The trouble is, there are so few. I'm interested in knowing about the good people who are serving our nation (instead of themselves), whether they are Rep. or Dem. They deserve our support.

I hope this Dem. congressman doesn't get slapped down hard by the powers that be in his party. The truth can set you free, but it can also be dangerous to wander too far from the 'Rat reservation.
31 posted on 09/22/2003 9:27:20 AM PDT by baseballmom (Baseball is life - the rest is just details)
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To: NYC Republican
Great post!
32 posted on 09/22/2003 9:37:03 AM PDT by aculeus
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To: baseballmom
I hope this Dem. congressman doesn't get slapped down hard by the powers that be in his party. The truth can set you free, but it can also be dangerous to wander too far from the 'Rat reservation.

Hopefully, he'll wander way to the right, and officially come to our side.

33 posted on 09/22/2003 9:44:40 AM PDT by NYC Republican
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To: NYC Republican
The media AND the Democrats want us to be DEFEATED! Un-freaking treasonous.
34 posted on 09/22/2003 9:47:27 AM PDT by Ann Archy
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To: over3Owithabrain
Memo o Mr. Marshall:

your fellow Democrats are hurting our efforts to win this war as much as the media is. The Democrats have BLOOD on their hands for siding with the enemy by weakening our effort to save civilization from these un-civilized terrorists.

35 posted on 09/22/2003 9:58:05 AM PDT by Ann Archy
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To: babble-on
Thanks for the background--this article is my first exposure to him. Glad he seems like a decent person, cause only a decent person would write this forthrightly.
36 posted on 09/22/2003 11:25:26 AM PDT by exit82 (Ted Kennedy knows all about frauds--he is one.)
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To: NYC Republican
The Iraq war has predictably evolved into a guerrilla conflict similar to Vietnam.

Been trying to figure out what is this Viet Nam crap, I think it is more like the reconstrution period after the war of northern aggression, (or maybe the aftermath of WWII) with the copperheads fueling the effort of the losers.

I wish I was a better versed in that period of our history, but it seems very similiar.

Any comments from those have more knowledge of those periods?

37 posted on 09/22/2003 12:52:45 PM PDT by dts32041 ("Any priest or shaman must be presumed guilty until proved innocent."--RAH)
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To: NYC Republican
bump
38 posted on 09/22/2003 2:50:25 PM PDT by Roscoe Karns
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To: NYC Republican
bump
39 posted on 09/22/2003 2:51:05 PM PDT by Roscoe Karns
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To: Roscoe Karns
bump
40 posted on 09/22/2003 2:51:26 PM PDT by Roscoe Karns
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