I have seen the enemy ...

World Net Daily ^ | 14 APR 06 | Franklin Raff

[fifthvirginia]

An Iraqi officer of significant rank approached my translator as I quietly took notes near the banks of the Euphrates River, at a combat observation post named COP Dunlop. He knew I was an embedded American. He had a sense, perhaps, that I was a sympathetic soul, and he wanted to pass along an urgent message.

[eyespysomething]

It was hilarious at the time. So funny, in fact, I nearly wept. I will never forget the sight of my colleague, a well-known, market-leading radio reporter feverishly clutching his satellite phone as a Chinook transport helicopter flew by, half a mile or so away. He was standing right beside me as he dialed through the time zones to go "live from Iraq":

We're right in the middle of the action! I'm sorry ... I can't hear you! There's a Blackhawk landing right behind me! I can't quite describe what's going on! This is unbelievable!

At the time, you see, we were just outside an Embassy chow hall, quietly discussing the weather. We had just eaten a magnificent lunch. In this combat reporter's trembling right hand was the target of his desperate screams, the satellite phone – his listeners' link to the horror and chaos of war, the sweat and tears, the booming, blood-shod tragedy of it all. And in his left hand – I swear it – a chocolate milkshake.

[Allegra]

Why do you people not tell our story? Why do you not say what is going on? Why do you come to our country and see what is happening, you see the schools and the hospitals and you see the markets and you eat with Sunni and Shia soldiers – everybody eats together, everybody works together –you see that Saddam is gone forever and we are free to speak and complain.

You see we are working and eating together and fighting together – Sunni and Shia – you see what we are building here, you see the votes we make as one people. Then you say to the world about a great war and horrible things and how we are all killing each other? We are not animals! We are Iraqis. Look around you! Look!

Yes, I've had Iraqis ask me those questions, too. And I tell them outright that our media is corrupt, Marxist and agenda-driven.

[advance_copy]

It is absolutely necessary that everyone read this.

[jigsaw]

A Major Bump for this wonderful article!

Thank you so much for posting this!

It is no wonder a "PRESS" tag will get you a few hairy eyeballs in the field: There's a general consensus that we are liars.

[Bahbah]

It is absolutely necessary that everyone read this.

Agreed. BTTT

[nuconvert]

"I was there. I was in some miserable places, but I saw a miracle every day. I saw a lot of smiles, a lot of hope, and a lot of pride in that traumatized country. I saw a remarkably fraternal affection between Iraqi and coalition soldiers. I saw bustling markets, busy streets, and peaceful demonstrations. I believe I may have witnessed a pivotal time in the infancy of a vibrant, freedom-loving ally in the Middle East.

I did not see a civil war. I did not see the beginnings of a civil war. ... Iraq's civil war has been engineered, in no small part, from the comfort of a Baghdad hotel room. It is catalyzed by minor exaggerations, partial facts, and propagandistic suppressions."

[Americanexpat]

We put up with the same media crap during the Vietnam war, same media tactics about reporting the war. One of the reasons the US politicians lost heart in Vietnam was the media lies coming out of Saigon. Here it is fifty years later, a new war, and nothing has changed. Another reason that for every since the Korean War no soldier has ever trusted a reporter and every time they have they have gotten screwed.

[Leisler]

I'd say that for over twenty years one of my great pleasures was getting a morning armful of papers and sitting down with coffee and reading them. The habit is still there. However, even on Sundays I now find the papers mostly unread. Or if so, I just skim.

Since the internet, I find the papers too late, way to left, accepting even the leftism, the writing is poor, the knowledge of the writers is little. Lastly the newspapers and tv news is passive, one way conduit.

The papers are dead men walking. They are going the way of the town crier.

Good.

[Erik Latranyi]

I has the (dis)pleasure of sitting in an airport yesterday for nearly 6 hours with CNN Aiport TV playing.

The tactics of using negative polls to soften the good news is very evident. Every story starts with Bush's low poll numbers and how the American people do not trust him to lead on Iran, North Korea, Iraq, the economy, etc.

The near hyperventilation in reporting that another retired general thinks Rumsfeld should resign....even though that general wanted to be more brutal in his approach.

Thankfully, FR is the alternative and we are witnessing the slow suicide of those that undermine our great nation.

[Waverunner]

" I trampled thrugh a mass of depleted uranium"
WTF????
This guy wouldnt know what DU looked like if he saw it.
And by the time we got to the cities most anti armor shooting was done - another Idiot trying to make it look like he knows something when he probably made it all up.

[hershey]

Terrific read. Thanks for posting this. The MSM is Leftist controlled, racist, and an abomination. They don't care how many die, let alone who they are. Large numbers of Iraqi dead is fine, women and children preferred, but American dead is better. In the scheme of things, all that matters is mounting body count so Leftists can do to Iraq what they did to Vietnam. However, Vietnam didn't have nukes, and Iran, numero uno supplier of 'insurgent' terrorists and weaponry to Iraq will have them before you can spell B...O...O...M. If Iraq is lost, there goes the Middle East, there goes oil, and here comes Jihad in earnest.

[Erik Latranyi]

Don't let the "All Islam is Evil" crowd read this.

It demonstrates that there are many Muslims that are more intelligent and dedicated to freedom than some Americans.

[Nuc1]

"Thankfully, FR is the alternative and we are witnessing the slow suicide of those that undermine our great nation."

FR is the absolute best place to get news, information, and opinion. I only hope you are correct about the MSM. And that it happens in time.

[Erik Latranyi]

I only hope you are correct about the MSM. And that it happens in time.

A slow death is much more fun to watch than a quick death.

[Chgogal]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...............damn the Chicago Tribune....big picture of Iraq in ruins and the title CIVIL WAR! MSM bastardoes......GRRRRRRRRR. Have to go to work now. Sorry about letting off steam.

[JimRed]

It is absolutely necessary that everyone read this.

Those who need it most will never hear it. It will remain as buried by the MSM as the Jews at Babi Yar (God rest their souls).

Many who may read it will "consider the source" and reject it (much as I reject the NYT or WaPo), as they consider World"Nut"Daily a right wing propaganda outlet.

[manic4organic]

Bump!

[Pietro]

There is a momentum building that will utterly disgrace our noble efforts to establish some form of rational government in this region. Something that is absolutely essential if we are to drive back the forces of terror and chaos.

This momentum is even now sucking in the jellyfish RINOs who care more about getting their stupid gob on TV than about the critical crisis they are helping to perpetuate.

This war should not be serialized by the election cycle, but it may be up to us, dear Freepers, to hold the line against the stampede of retreat.

The upcoming election is vital. The upcoming election is a test of whether this nation can survive against the forces of "progressives" that will utterly destroy Western Civilization.

[nuconvert]

bump