Posted on 12/14/2005 9:10:09 PM PST by Names Ash Housewares
Considering another side Think about everything you’ve heard about the conditions in Iraq, the role of U.S. forces, the multi-layered complexities of the war.
Then think again.
I’m a journalist. I read the news everyday, from several sources. I have the luxury of reading stuff newspapers don’t always have room to print. I read every tidbit I could on Iraq and the war before coming.
Everything I thought I knew was wrong.
Maybe not wrong, but certainly different than the picture in my head.
I liken it to this; It was real struggle for me to choose to see the Harry Potter movies. I had read the books and loved the pictures I had in my mind of the details I read. I didn’t need to see a movie; I had a movie playing in my head of exactly how I perceived the stories.
I had similar notions about Iraq, Mosul, the war and what exactly soldiers do. And it was handily shattered like glass today by a group of soldiers, half of them younger than myself.
There are houses of this city that by Fairbanks standards are luxurious. Or at least they were at one time. They are ornate and gated and in neighborhoods with schools, stores and mosques. They are also ghosts of what they once were. They are still lived in, but after years of war and lack of many basic municipal services, the houses look spent and tired around the shutters.
There is garbage on the streets, in yards, in open areas. There is a stench. There is grime. But there are also people.
They are vivid, unlike their surroundings. They are excitable and friendly and conversational. They live in conditions I hope I don’t have to experience in my own life. Yet, if my neighborhood saw two wars, the breakdown of the national and local governments and decline of municipal services, I’m not sure I wouldn’t be in the same boat.
I still haven’t seen U.S. troops engaged or encounter car bombs or explosives. But I did see them play backgammon with some local police and Iraqi soldiers. I saw them take photos with more locals and make jokes mostly lost in translation. They gave advice and expertise to local troops on how to conduct a neighborhood patrol. They drank the local customary tea, and many admitted they’ve become addicted to it. They know several locals by name. I didn’t hear one slight or ridicule of a very distinct culture. One soldier mentioned it might be a good idea to clean up the trash around one polling place, and another commented on the status of women in the culture, but they were nothing but respectful, friendly and buddy-buddy with the Iraqis they mingled with today.
And this is good stuff.
More than anything in the last few days I’ve heard from soldiers and commanders that people back home don’t quite get it. They don’t see the real picture. They don’t get the real story. Some of them, like Lt. Col. Gregg Parrish, look seriously pained in the face when he says only a part of the picture is being told; the part of car bombs and explosives and suicide bombers and death. It’s a necessary part of the picture, but not a complete one, he says.
I’ve listened to the soldiers and Parrish about the missing pieces of the puzzles that don’t reach home. My selfish, journalistic drive immediately thinks “Perfect. A story that hasn’t been told. Let me at it.”
But I have a slight hesitation; I need to keep balanced. I can’t be a cheerleader, even if I have a soft spot for the hometown troops, especially after the welcome they’ve shown me. I still need to be truthful and walk the centerline and report the good or bad.
But then I realize it’s not a conflict of interest. If I am truly unbiased, then I need to get used to this one simple fact; that the untold story, might in fact, be a positive one. It takes a minute to wrap my mind around it, as a news junkie that became a news writer. The great, career-making, breaking news stories usually don’t have happy endings; they usually revolve around disturbing news, deceit and downfall. Nasty political doings. Gruesome crimes and murders. Revealing secrets.
But I’ve come upon something that is none of those. Not this aspect of it. There are politics to this war and controversies and investigations. But there is another side.
Good for this lady. This should be front page on the NY Times, but it won't be....ever.
That's right. After the successful Iraqi election we will begin to see the real news out of Iraq filter into our biased MSM, much to the chagrin of the White Flag Democrats/Liberals in the USA. I hope that this is the beginning of the end for the lies, non-truths, and misinformation of this war. I hope that finally President Bush begins to get the deserved respect and admiration of the American people.
Great story.
Crap. Call it like you see it. The hometown troops happen to be a pretty impressive bunch, and the truth is not served by attempting to find as much evil to portray as the obvious good. That isn't balance, but it is, sadly, modern journalism.
How about a movie about a journalist like this who goes to Iraq and sees reality and tries to report it and gets ostracized by her fellow journalists and persecuted by liberals who can't bear to hear the truth. Ahhhhhhhhhhh, that would be sweet. I'd go twelve times and buy the poster.
Liberal myopia is curable. What the troops have been trying to tell America is finally taking hold. I think we will see more people like her in the months to come.
If she thought about it a little bit more, she'd realize that the news is actually that there IS good news.
Her peers will slap her around, shun her, and force her back into line.
News-Miner's first embedded reporter leaves for Iraq on Tuesday
http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7252~3154448,00.html
Good news from Iraq!
> What the troops have been trying to tell America is
> finally taking hold.
The troops didn't need to tell many of us. Indeed,
what we need to tell them is that the legacy media
is the enemy. There is no "misunderstanding" - the
legacy media has a solidly pro-DNC, which means
anti-American, anti-victory, anti-Iraqi agenda.
> I think we will see more people like her in the
> months to come.
Sending out her resume. She works for the enemy,
and does not realize it. When she does, she'll
get fired, quit, or allow herself to be "re-educated".
That is due to an influence from the 'fame' given to Jennings,Rather,Kronkite.
A case of where the reporter is the news.
Dirty Laundry.
Problem is that the MSM pursued those with clean clothes, and ignored the smell coming from those who would bribe them.
What a load, how can you be alive and not see that that story isn't being told. Especially if you think your a pro.
Little by little the truth is getting out finally. Sometimes 1 story a day and other days 2 or 3. Before long they'll start to make an impact and the general public will hopefully realize all the lies the MSM have been telling.
I think perhaps the reason those in DC on the left of the aisle are acting like a bunch of stark raving loonies is because they realize this and they know their losing ground.
Interesting prediction.
I also see that Democrats will start taking credit for what happens after the election, and will somehow try to take credit for the fact that the IRAQI'S are providing the police force , and the coalition forces that trained them will be on the side cheering.
This is evidence of the carefully planned withdrawal from Iraq that the Dems complain is not happening.
......
“Perfect. A story that hasn’t been told. Let me at it.”
I find it amazing the upper paragraph made it through and her followup ultimatly calls the msm, useless. But in a nice way. :-)
I'd be surprised if we see many whom will of a sudden see the light.
More than likely the Dems will train their MSM attack journalists more heavily on creative, and not so creative lies and contrived scandals. If you think it's ugly now, wait until after the successful Iraqi elections this week.
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