Letter From Iraq (Blasts the MSM)

WSJ ^ | 6/6/06 | Soldier in Theatre

[pissant]

Here's an email we received from a U.S. military officer who asks us to withhold his name:

I am currently stationed here in Iraq and have been here for the past 11 months; I am an adviser to the Iraqis and meet them on a daily basis. I have been in many locations in the country and am involved on a daily basis together with the Iraqis fighting the insurgency.

The media manipulation by the insurgents is brilliant and extremely effective. The press has become a puppet for the insurgents; the insurgents know exactly what they are doing with these "massacres" (quoted here because the investigation has not been completed, nor have any charges been filed) and the political nightmare they will cause the current administration. Bodies are produced for film, and there is zero fact-checking by the media--the media eat up this "news" like there is no tomorrow. A couple of hundred bucks paid by the insurgents to a few guys/ladies in the town where this "massacre" occurred to make up some bad news and pine for the BBC's or CBS's or whoever's cameras is a nice month's salary for many and money well spent by the insurgency.

All the Arabs (Sunni and Shia), Kurds and Chaldeans I have come to know well here will tell you that Arabs are emotional people who tend to exaggerate. A lot. Experience has shown that "50 insurgents hiding out in XX location" is five, at most 10. "Three hundred dead" at the morgue is at most 40. "A huge cache with WMD" is 45-50 weapons. It is a cultural norm and is accepted over here as a norm. It is reported in the West as fact. With no fact-checking.

[pissant]

The media WANTS to believe the terrorists. They are firmly on their side. And right thinking Americans need to treat them as the traitors they are.

[Steve_Seattle]

"The media WANTS to believe the terrorists."

Yup. Rather went over to Iraq and kissed Saddam's ass; he kissed Castro's ass in Cuba. But all the media want to talk tough to Bush, to question him and investigate him and second-guess him. But every lie told by an Iraqi cab driver is taken as absolute gospel. No fact checking; none. And these ba*tards call themselves "professionals."

[Kolb]

What, Arabs exaggerate, I never.....

[Coop]

So the real question is... will we let them succeed?

[Patriot Hooligan]

"I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast." William Tecumseh Sherman

[pissant]

They are professionals alright. Professional seditionists.

[pissant]

I agree, and scores of editors and reporters fall into that 2nd category

[pissant]

Kinda like gypsies.

[pissant]

Nope. Delacoert is keeping track of all the important articles and threads and I plan to hang this albatross around their necks.

[pissant]

Fantastic quote. Here's to the good General.

[hsalaw]

Arabs are emotional people who tend to exaggerate. A lot.

This is true - and it's not a sin to lie to an infidel. BTW, as emotional people who lie a lot, I'm surprised they're not on the payroll of CNN and the NYSlimes. Oh, wait. . . maybe they are.

[pissant]

Many of their field reporters are Al Jazeera types. Less than worthless, but no more so than the wusses who run the papers here.

[delacoert]

List of recent Haditha incident threads:

• Letter From Iraq (Blasts the MSM) . Source: WSJ ^, on 06/06/2006 6:16:18 PM CDT by pissant. (12 replies)
• [Blog] Did Marine Haditha Photographer Have A Personal Motive?. Source: AP on Sweetness & Light ^, on 06/06/2006 11:30:47 AM CDT by Sam Hill. (42 replies)
• The Press and the Rush to Judgment. Source: New York Sun ^, on 06/06/2006 9:52:07 AM CDT by Coop. (33 replies)
• U.S. Curbs Iraqi Civilian Deaths In Checkpoint, Convoy Incidents. Source: Wall Street Journal ^, on 06/06/2006 8:23:03 AM CDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks. (5 replies)
• [Vanity] Hannity and Liberal Nutbag go at it. Source: Hannity and Combs, on 06/05/2006 8:58:20 PM CDT by pabianice. (55 replies)
• Haditha: On the Ground. Source: Foxnews ^, on 06/05/2006 8:59:40 PM CDT by pissant. (49 replies)
• [Blog] Time's McGirk Wanted To Call Haditha "A Massacre". Source: New York Observer on Sweetness & Light ^, on 06/05/2006 2:20:16 PM CDT by Sam Hill. (50 replies)
• Haditha: reasonable Doubt. Source: Hawaii Reporter ^, on 06/05/2006 1:31:50 PM CDT by AndrewWalden. (16 replies)
• Media's Vietnam sin drone. Source: Washington Times ^, on 06/05/2006 12:07:27 PM CDT by pissant. (5 replies)
• “Supporting” the Troops--Why has the mass media already convicted the "Haditha" Marines?. Source: FrontPageMagazine.com ^, on 06/05/2006 7:35:51 AM CDT by SJackson. (45 replies)
• Muttering madman Murtha (pile of doo-doo that keeps coming out of your mouth). Source: World Net Daily ^, on 06/05/2006 7:30:08 AM CDT by IrishMike. (15 replies)
• How innocent are the 'innocents' at haditha ? (the cover-up by the MSM lynch mob). Source: Democracy Project ^, on 06/05/2006 6:42:06 AM CDT by IrishMike. (49 replies)
• [Blog] The Haditha Killings. Source: Michael Yon's Frontline Forum ^, on 06/05/2006 1:16:14 AM CDT by Starman417. (6 replies)
• How Haditha Came to Light. Source: Time ^, on 06/04/2006 10:08:05 PM CDT by MinorityRepublican. (52 replies)
• [Blog] A Brief Comparison of Haditha and St. Lo . Source: NewsBusters ^, on 06/04/2006 11:52:53 AM CDT by Congressman Billybob. (31 replies)
• Haditha, Hotbed of 'haddis or Guilt on the Western Front. Source: Newsmax ^, on 06/04/2006 10:46:23 AM CDT by Valkeri. (7 replies)
• Robert Riech - "We don't know how many Haditha's there are out there" -- Video. Source: This Week on ABC ^, on 06/04/2006 9:24:59 AM CDT by FreedomNeocon. (58 replies)
• Fantastic FR post 'Haditha uncovered' with thorough analysis and links. Source: Post #222 in Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 4 June 2006, on 06/04/2006 9:11:06 AM CDT by Phsstpok.
• Take atrocity claims with grains of salt (Four BIG Reasons). Source: NY DailyNews ^, on 06/04/2006 8:53:18 AM CDT by IrishMike. (31 replies)
• Haditha killings could haunt the GOP in the midterm elections (BS Barf Alert). Source: Newsweek on MSNBC ^, on 06/04/2006 8:30:26 AM CDT by TSchmereL. (13 replies)
• Mark Steyn: Events at Haditha don't change need for victory . Source: Chicago Sun-Times ^, on 06/04/2006 4:22:14 AM CDT by croak. (61 replies)
• Fight a more sensitive, ethical war, troops told. Source: Scotsman.com ^, on 06/03/2006 10:13:28 PM CDT by EnigmaticAnomaly. (95 replies)
• Iraqi survivor wants U.S. troops executed (Haditha). Source: Yahoo! News ^, on 06/03/2006 4:52:25 PM CDT by El Conservador. (53 replies)
• What's Lost in the Hue and Cry Over Haditha. Source: Washington Post ^, on 06/03/2006 2:09:50 PM CDT by baseball_fan. (26 replies)
• [Blog] Innocent Until Proven Guilty...Unless You're A Marine . Source: GOP USA ^, on 06/03/2006 11:37:49 AM CDT by smoothsailing. (70 replies)
• [Satire] War Journalists Get ‘Core Values Training’. Source: ScrappleFace ^, on 06/03/2006 11:36:11 AM CDT by Kaslin. (2 replies)
• [Blog] UK Times Smears our Marines. Source: Michelle Malkin.Com ^, started on 06/03/2006 11:13:05 AM CDT by spanalot. (17 relies)
            See also Duplicate thread on 06/03/2006 3:20:19 PM CDT by GilGil. (17 replies)
• [Blog] Haditha 'Massacre' Source Once Jailed By US Troops. Source: Right Stream News ^, started on 06/03/2006 11:10:11 AM CDT CDT by HHKrepublican_2. (57 relies)
• Haditha Child: I Knew of Bomb Plot to Kill Marines. Source: NewsMax.com ^, started on 06/03/2006 10:26:22 AM CDT CDT by Carl/NewsMax. (177 replies)
• Haditha killings recall Vietnam's My Lai . Source: AP on Yahoo ^, started on 06/02/2006 8:52:09 PM CDT CDT by NormsRevenge. (50 replies)
• GIs at Ishaqi cleared; Haditha probe open. Source: Yahoo!News ^, started on 06/02/2006 8:10:29 PM CDT CDT by Kaslin. (21 replies)
• Hell & Haditha. Source: National Review Online ^, started on 06/02/2006 7:32:45 PM CDT CDT by SuzyQ2. (108 replies)
• Haditha Investigation Doesn't Reflect Majority of Troops, General Says. Source: American Forces Press Service ^, started on 06/02/2006 6:25:17 PM CDT by SandRat. (4 replies)
• Kristol: Haditha Handwringing (The last thing we need is hand-wringing liberalism). Source: The Weekly Standard ^, started on 06/02/2006 4:19:55 PM CDT by RWR8189. (17 replies)
• U.S. Military Denies New Abuse Allegations at Ishaqi (Marines Exonerated from Killings). Source: abcnews ^, started on 06/02/2006 2:43:57 PM CDT by demlosers. (85 replies)
• As accusations mount, Iraq furor grows. Source: AP/Yahoo ^, started on 06/02/2006 2:29:22 PM CDT by tobyhill. (90 replies)
• U.S. accused in more Iraq civilian deaths . Source: AP via Yahoooo ^, started on 06/02/2006 12:44:12 PM CDT by ARealMothersSonForever. (37 replies)
• Questions Arise About Haditha Doctor - Wahid al-Obeidi - Central Figure In "Massacre" Case. Source: Pipeline News ^, started on 06/02/2006 12:41:28 PM by pissant. (17 replies)
• BBC: Taking the Insurgents' Word For It. Source: NRO ^, started on 06/02/2006 12:34:36 PM CDT by pissant. (36 replies)
• Haditha Marines and Duke LaCrosse players. Source: American Thinker ^, started on 06/02/2006 12:26:53 PM CDT pissant. (24 replies)
• Marine Irked at Inclusion in Haditha Case. Source: AP on Washington Post^, started on 06/02/2006 11:53:21 AM by LSUfan. (24 replies)
• Marine Brass Seem Exonerated (And I predict, so will the Enlisted!). Source: The Washington Times ^, started on 06/02/2006 11:13:25 AM CDT by kellynla. (120 replies)
• [Vanity & Blog] Haditha, Iraq: What it should mean.. Source: JEFFHEAD.COM ^, started on 06/02/2006 10:17:29 AM CDT by Jeff Head. (107 replies)
• Haditha reporter's and doctor's backgrounds (motives emerging). Source: American Thinker ^, started on 06/02/2006 9:10:03 AM CDT by teddyballgame. (54 replies)
• Keeping the Faith (Some thoughts about Haditha, the war in Iraq, and historic context.). Source: The American Prowler ^, started on 06/02/2006 1:52:28 AM CDT by nickcarraway. (24 replies)
• Haditha: Blood Money, Lies and Videotape?. Source: Front Page Mag ^, started on 06/01/2006 11:09:03 PM CDT by beaversmom. (77 replies)
• Officers Likely to Be Charged in Haditha Killings, Sources Say. Source: ABC News ^, started on 06/01/2006 10:15:24 PM CDT by NormsRevenge. (87 replies)
• Investigators of Haditha Shootings Look to Exhume Bodies. Source: The Washington Post ^, started on 06/01/2006 9:46:12 PM CDT by WildPlum. (19 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread by kristinn. (109 replies)
• Haditha Doctor Was Arrested, Hates US Too (article has different title). Source: Uruknet ^, started on 06/01/2006 8:44:39 PM CDT by Sam Hill. (156 replies)
• Slain Marine's Kin Blasts John Murtha . Source: NewsMax ^, started on 06/01/2006 7:26:06 PM CDT by Aussie Dasher . (40 replies)
• Haditha Reporter Was Jailed By US, Shares Name With Source (Sweetness & Light). Source: Reuters on Yahoo ^, started on 06/01/2006 5:24:18 PM CDT by Sam Hill. (123 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread by Thebaddog. (44 replies)
• New 'Iraq massacre' tape emerges. Source: BBC ^, started on 06/01/2006 5:19:46 PM CDT by Axlrose. (149 replies)
• Freep a poll! (Haditha. Criminal act or accident?). Source: Pasadena Star-news ^, started on 06/01/2006 3:51:22 PM CDT by dynachrome. (63 replies)
• Marine officer a "political casualty" of Haditha investigation. Source: AP ^, started on 06/01/2006 3:51:16 PM CDT by NormsRevenge. (66 replies)
• Survivors say Marines went house to house in a rage. Source: Seattle Times ^, started on 06/01/2006 1:59:32 PM CDT by edpc. (107 replies)
• U.S. Troops in Iraq to Get Ethics Training( Iraq opens own probe of civilian deaths). Source: The Washington Times ^, started on 06/01/2006 1:46:43 PM CDT by kellynla. (20 replies)
• The Real Haditha The MSM Won't Tell Us (article has different title). Source: The Gaurdian ^, started on 06/01/2006 11:11:58 AM CDT by AmericanYankee. (99 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread: The Haditha Our Media Won’t Tell You About by Sam Hill. (42 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread: Guardian [UK] via NavySeals.com on 06/04/2006 5:27:23 PM CDT by blasater1960. (37 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread on 06/05/2006 7:37:09 AM CDT by SJackson. (14 replies)
• A Town Awoke to Slaughter (Haditha. Get your Barf Bag out!) . Source: Los Angeles Times ^, started on 06/01/2006 9:52:47 AM CDT by kellynla. (26 replies)
• Rep. Murtha: Semper Fi?. Source: The American Thinker ^, started on 06/01/2006 9:28:55 AM CDT by Quilla. (55 replies)
• Pentagon Haditha inquiry finds false reports- WPost. Source: Reuters ^, started on 06/01/2006 9:06:38 AM CDT by delacoert. (50 replies)
• Marine injured in Haditha talks about massacre (see the Video Interview). Source: King5 Seattle News ^, started on 06/01/2006 8:13:43 AM CDT by bobsunshine. (116 replies)
• Family of slain Marine doubts Haditha reports (New interview + great tribute). Source: MSNBC/AP ^, started on 05/31/2006 8:01:26 PM CDT by pissant. (81 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread by LSUfan. (25 replies)
• Probe Finds Haditha Killings Unprovoked. Source: Reuters ^, started on 05/31/2006 6:01:53 PM CDT by Types_with_Fist. (552 replies)
• White House: Haditha details to be public. Source: AP/Yahoo ^, started on 05/31/2006 8:20:21 AM CDT by Coop. (508 replies)
• Father of Marine Backs Son's Iraq Comrades. Source: Forbes/AP ^, started on 05/31/2006 1:02:15 PM CDT by pissant. (122 replies)
• A reporter's shock at the Haditha allegation (Was embedded with Marines - different perspective). Source: CNN ^, started on 05/30/2006 2:49:13 PM CDT by gondramB. (97 replies)
• Iraqis' Accounts Link Marines to the Mass Killing of Civilians. Source: New York Times ^, started on 05/30/2006 2:03:35 PM CDT by delacoert. (64 replies)
• Pilotless plane took video of town where Iraqis died (Important). Source: Mercury News/WaPost ^, started on 05/30/2006 12:13:00 PM CDT by pissant. (427 replies)
• On a Marine Base, Disbelief Over Charges. Source: New York Times ^, started on 05/30/2006 8:00:23 AM CDT by Peach. (308 replies)
• Drone's Video May Aid Marine Inquiry. Source: Washington Post ^, started on 05/29/2006 11:45:20 PM CDT by Lancey Howard. (84 replies)
• Evidence of massacre by Marines caught on film. Source: The Courier Mail ^, started on 05/29/2006 10:36:31 PM CDT by MinorityRepublican. (246 replies)
• Marine at Haditha: 'I Can Still Smell the Blood'. Source: ABC News ^, started on 05/29/2006 8:12:03 PM CDT by marli (438 replies)
• Probe Finds Marines Killed Unarmed Iraqi Civilians. Source: Los Angeles Times ^, started on 05/27/2006 6:37:13 AM CDT by billorites. (70 replies)

Related articles:

• Collateral Damage or Civilian Massacre in Haditha? old (Mar. 19, 2006)
• Pendleton Marine dies in explosion old -- original? (Nov. 22, 2005)
• FACTBOX-Investigation into Haditha killings in Iraq
• New Witness Describes Alleged Iraq Atrocity
• Three versions from the surviving child (Safa Younis Salim):
  • Iraqis' Accounts Link Marines to the Mass Killing of Civilians
  • Iraqis: Marines Killed 24 Civilians
  • What happened in Haditha?
• Marines' families discuss Iraq incident
• Military Inquiry Contradicts Marines Account Of Haditha Deaths
• Military Inquiry Said to Oppose Account of Raid
• PAULA ZAHN NOW: Did U.S. Marines Commit Massacre in Iraq?; Interview With Pennsylvania Congressman John Murth

Video link:

ITN videos on Haditha

---

Things have slowed down, and I finally have a chance to read - catch up. (Whew.)

As always, PLEASE ping me to new Haditha threads or old ones I have missed.

The most current list of Haditha threads (including the ping list) is available on my profile page.

As you read, you will undoubtedly find particularly poignant posts - well reasoned, well thought out. Please ping me (us) to those posts.

[Chgogal]

((((ping))))

Here is a nice little article that you can point to when MSM lovers claim the sky is falling.

:)

Stay safe.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for all the thread links!

[Billthedrill]

The media WANTS to believe the terrorists.

Yep. Here's a quote from an Associated Press article that reveals why:

Politically, the alleged murders in Haditha — as well as unsubstantiated claims of unprovoked civilian deaths by U.S. troops elsewhere in Iraq — threaten to further drag down support for the Iraq war and could turn into a political problem for President Bush and Republicans five months before congressional elections. Polls show voters increasingly uncomfortable with the direction of the war as well as more inclined to see Democrats leading Congress.

SOURCE

This isn't accidental. Its perpetrators know full well what they're doing. Should the Dems not take back Congress as I think they will not, stand by for two years of absolute hysteria. It can get worse, believe it or not. It did after Nixon won in 1972.

[Just A Nobody]

Thank you for the ping and for your outstanding work in assembling this mess.

[Just A Nobody]

If only it was the ENEMEDIA that wants to believe it, we could survive. The fact that many of our public servants elected officials are actively pushing the same conclusion is depressing, to say the least.