Stop the presses! ABC's got a scoop: the situation in Iraq isn't ideal.
Trying to pave the way for the rejection of the Petraeus report, today's "Good Morning America" took the tack that the lack of complete calm is proof of the surge's failure.
Co-anchor Kate Snow set the negative tone by displaying a poll finding to the effect a majority of Americans believe the Petraeus report "will try to make things look better" in Iraq rather than portraying the situation "honestly."
Then it was on to a report from Iraq by ABC's Terry McCarthy. Don't miss the video of Snow and co-anchor Bill Weir walking in unison across the GMA stage, crossing a floor-map of Iraq to a video screen displaying McCarthy's report. Their studied maneuver reminded me of a bridesmaid and groom attendant doing their earnest best at a wedding rehearsal.
The leitmotif of McCarthy's report: yeah, things might be better in Iraq, but darn it, they're not perfect.
TERRY MCCARTHY: Iraqis have been making their own assessement of the surge, and they're not that impressed. Now, statistically car bombings and sectarian killings might have gone down, but they haven't stopped, and for many Iraqis here life is a daily passage through hell.
General Petraeus brought 30,000 extra U.S. troops into Baghdad and surrounding areas. They have detained or killed many death-squad leaders and would-be suicide bombers. But they have not eliminated them all, nor the fear they inspire among ordinary citizens.
Cut to some man-in-the-Iraqi-street interviews. The first claims to not feel safe anywhere, though he wears a relaxed smile while standing on the sidewalk of a street thronged with apparent shoppers. The next man says: "It is true the U.S. succeeded in clearing some hot neighborhoods, but they didn't succeed 100%."
After taking some shots at the lack of performance of the Maliki government, McCarthy trains his sights on Anbar. Harder to make the case things haven't improved there, but the ABC reporter does his un-level best.
MCCARTHY: U.S. commanders have pointed to a steep reduction in violence in Anbar province to the west of Baghdad as proof that the surge is working. But when we talked to local people there, they told us they were scared to travel outside their own areas.MAN-IN-THE-FALLUJAH-STREET: Yes, security is much better than before, but nobody from Fallujah can go to Baghdad because of the armed militias.
Back to McCarthy for a final downer of an assessment.
MCCARTHY: In the middle of all the violence, many Iraqis have to struggle to get the daily necessities for life. U.S. troops may be making some progress on the ground, but they're still a long way away from winning the hearts and minds of these traumatized Iraqi people.
Got it? Things might be better in Iraq. But they're not perfect. And there are Iraqis willing to express their frustrations on camera. Conclusive proof, ABC-style, that the surge has failed.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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...for many Iraqis here
September 9, 2007 - 08:42 ET by HypocriteHater...for many Iraqis here life is a daily passage through hell.
And we all know that under Sadam's rule, Iraq was a little slice of heaven where children could fly kites.
Hey ABC, here's a scoop for you. There are plenty of inner city neighborhoods in our own country that are a daily passage through hell. Did you know that?
"ABC, here's a scoop for
September 9, 2007 - 08:44 ET by Mark Finkelstein"ABC, here's a scoop for you. There are plenty of inner city neighborhoods in our own country that are a daily passage through hell. Did you know that?"
Actually, ABC does know that. And it's all Bush's fault ;-)
Especially when the mayors
September 9, 2007 - 09:07 ET by HypocriteHaterEspecially when the mayors and/or governors are democrats. Because we all know local democrat goverments aren't responsible for anything in their cities and states when things go bad (ie: New Orleans) when a Republican is President. I understand the trend now!
Maybe the DC press
September 9, 2007 - 09:46 ET by midnight cowboyMaybe the DC press corps should look in their own backyard.
In the immortal words of former Washington D.C. mayor Marion Barry "Except for the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."
Read all about it...
September 9, 2007 - 11:51 ET by TruthMongerAnd when everthing in Iraq is finally 100% PERFECT next year - this will be the new MSM approach:
LIFE IN IRAQ IS TOO PERFECT - AND NOW THERE IS NOTHING TO DO - EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY AND PERFECTLY DONE - NO CHALLENGES OR IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED OF ANY SORT - LIFE IN IRAQ HAS NO PURPOSE OR MEANING NOW
Unless of course there's a Dem in the WH:
BRILLIANT AND HEROIC NEW DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP HAS FIXED BUSH'S IRAQ DEBACLE/QUAGMIRE/ILLEGAL WAR - ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IN THE WORLD EVEN REMOTELY DISLIKES US NOW, COMRADES - BTW CHERNOBYL NEVER HAPPENED EITHER:)
Try this!
September 9, 2007 - 13:25 ET by heldmywMCCARTHY: "...pointed to a steep reduction in violence in [Anbar] Oakland to the west of [Baghdad] Sacramento, as proof that the surge is working. But when we talked to local people there, they told us they were scared to travel outside their own areas."
Odd how well that works, huh?
Liberal Press vs. Polish Joke -- what's the diff?
September 9, 2007 - 08:52 ET by ThisnThat"They have detained or killed many death-squad leaders and would-be suicide bombers. But they have not eliminated them all".
So, as punishment to the United States, we (the liberal press) are now demanding complete and immeditate removal of all the forces that have killed these death-squad leaders and suicide bombers -- leaving in place NO ONE to continue this worth-while effort.
See? And you all thought us left-wing MSM types didn't know anything about military strategery.
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Would they insinuate the
September 9, 2007 - 09:02 ET by HypocriteHaterWould they insinuate the removal of our police force if "death-squad leaders" and "would-be suicide bombers" were substituted in that sentence for drug dealers and murderers? Of course not, because perfection is only required of our military when a Rebublican is in charge, not when our crime infected cities are run by democrats.
This just infuriates me!
September 9, 2007 - 08:59 ET by motherbeltThis just infuriates me to no end!!
From the MSM already beating the "failure" drum, to Chuckie Schumer and his buddies saying there is success "in spite of" the surge, to Her Speakerness Pelosi and her acolytes, along with Harry Reid, who have taken the pre-emptive action of calling Gen. Petraeus' evaluation the "Bush Report" (so they can trash it with impunity without appearing to attack the military), they are all of a piece.
BTW, if they trash the report, saying it is Bush's report, what does that say about Gen. Petraeus: that he is just Bush's patsy? Didn't they approve of him to take over? Why would they do that if they thought he wouldn't give an honest assessment? Or did they all get "fooled again" by that idiot GW Bush?
Motherbelt
September 9, 2007 - 11:13 ET by Felicity RandI agree motherbelt. I am so angry I scream!
I can only conclude that the Democrats are purely political animals, with no concern for human suffering or the future of this country. With the exception of Leiberman, Democrats are playing a game, ignoring the seriousness of their treachery.
May they rot on the vine of political discourse and never recover from this blasphemy.
Bush did it again?
September 9, 2007 - 09:08 ET by Mica the MagnificentI guess to satisfy the MSM and the other libs we have to pull out of Iraq now.
When the Iranians and other terrorists take over the country and the bloodbath occurs and Osama is on t.v. again claiming victory, the MSM will point to Bush as failing to execute an effective exit strategy.
What a bloodbath in Iraq after our troops left. Our troops didn't retreat effectively -- Something Chuck Schumer would say
No fair peeking at their
September 9, 2007 - 09:17 ET by HypocriteHaterNo fair peeking at their playbook! That's suppose to be their super secret agenda only to be seen by the enlightened liberal elites.
Talking points
September 9, 2007 - 09:44 ET by nkviking75The DNC talking points are out. The lib politicians and the MSM are working hard to undermine the report by casting it as White House spin. Nothing Petraeus will say can be taken seriously unless he declares Iraq a total failure and demands withdrawl immediaely. If he does that, he'll be a hero.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Walking in Unison-ish
September 9, 2007 - 10:47 ET by BacchusDon't miss the video of Snow and co-anchor Bill Weir walking in unison across the GMA stage
A fairly good effort but plain to see they didn't walk in perfect lock-step. They're a complete failure, an embarrassment, it's sad to say. It's ABC's fault. Pull them off the air now! No one should die (laughing) for their inability to walk together.
Question?
September 9, 2007 - 11:17 ET by well99Did this reporter get his degree from a cracker jack box.Why is he giving us his bias view instead of just reporting the news?Is ABC representing the terrorist as part of their propaganda wing?Does ABC care about anything but their own agenda?
Poifect
September 9, 2007 - 13:15 ET by acumenCo-anchor Kate Snow set the negative tone by displaying a poll finding to the effect a majority of Americans believe the Petraeus report "will try to make things look better" in Iraq rather than portraying the situation "honestly."
In a "perfect" media it would be explained from just whom "a majority of Americans" got that idea. Sadly back in our imperfect world the biased demedia that shape "a majority of Americans" beliefs decided to withhold that story.
ABC Masters of the obvious...
September 9, 2007 - 14:45 ET by Conservative_in_mass.On the heels of such an insightful probing analysis of how things are going in a WAR ZONE, and that everything is not peaches and cream, this just in from our friends at ABC;
Birds have feathers
The sky is blue
Water is wet
You will burn your hand touching a hot stove
The moon is not made of cheese
Chickens lay eggs
We ARE as dumb as we look at times...back to you Terry.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown