Keying off the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war this Tuesday, the networks will be running overviews of the situation there all week. Judging by the opening salvos this morning on ABC and NBC, you might when tuning in want to hide the sharp objects and keep the Zoloft handy. The picture painted is ceaselessly dismal, with any bright spots ignored or explained away.
Take the report by ABC's Terry McCarthy on today's Good Morning America. After citing weekend casualty statistics, he began by claiming that "now more than ever" Iraqis are nervous about the future of their country. According to McCarthy, "the sound of bombings and gunfire are constant backdrops to everyday life." Constant? Really? I daresay that in the great majority of the country, people rarely hear either. Even in hotspots like Baghdad, while such sounds are not unusual, neither are they "constant" by any means.
One challenge for the MSM is explaining away the largely peaceful and prosperous Kurdish north. McCarthy did his unlevel best: "even in northern Iraq's Kurdish region, which is relatively peaceful, the fight to keep terrorists out takes up a lot of time and energy. The Kurds dug a six-foot ditch all around the largest city, Irbil, to stop car bombs from entering."
After a bleak assessment of the Iraqi economy, and more on the security situation, McCarthy concluded: "Iraqis are learning how to survive like this. But it is eating away at their souls." ABC News: your official surveyor of souls.
Note that McCarthy excluded reference to the encouraging developments in recent weeks, or to the progress toward democracy Iraq has made. Over on "Today" this morning, reporter Tom Aspell, doing a similar overview, did mention the steps toward democracy -- but only for purposes of dismissing them. After reciting a litany of woe compararable to McCarthy's, he continued:
"There have been two nation-wide elections, and a constitutional referendum. The country now has a free press, and dozens of political parties. But it means little to Iraqis when there's no security; two-thirds of them believe the situation is worsening."
It's not clear what poll Aspell was relying on, but when GMA cited similar findings, it acknowledged that the poll had been taken before the current surge, which has been yielding hopeful, if still early, signs of success.
Compare and contrast with the poll cited in this Times of London article today, Iraqis: life is getting better, which found that "most Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein, according to a British opinion poll published today. The survey of more than 5,000 Iraqis found the majority optimistic despite their suffering in sectarian violence since the American-led invasion four years ago this week." H/t reader paulnashtn.
Predictably, neither McCarthy nor Aspell cited that poll or its findings.
The situation in Iraq is difficult and too-often deadly. But much of the country is largely peaceful and there are indications the new policies may be yielding positive results. But since that doesn't fit the MSM script, it is ignored or explained away. Moreover, does not Aspell insult Iraqis in suggesting they don't believe freedom and democracy are worth sacrificing for?
Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
What I want to see explained
March 18, 2007 - 08:45 ET by jcrapes4What I want to see explained if Iraq is such a failure and Iraq proves military action should not be used then why does the MSM think military action in Darfur will work:)????????
That's different. The US h
March 18, 2007 - 08:47 ET by Mark FinkelsteinThat's different. The US has no national security interest there ;-)
From Drudge
March 18, 2007 - 08:48 ET by paulnashtnFrom The Sunday Times March 18 Iraqis: life is getting better, 2007 Marie Colvin
MOST Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam
Hussein, according to a British opinion poll published today
“I would remind you
that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind
you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
Many thanks for mentioning
March 18, 2007 - 08:53 ET by Mark FinkelsteinMany thanks for mentioning this. I'm adding it to the item, h/t to you!
Mark, the MSM cares not for the Iraqis.
March 18, 2007 - 09:15 ET by acaiguanaMark, the MSM cares not for the Iraqis.
Of course you know that. The sad thing is that by showing such a racist and disrespectful attitude toward Iraqi innate hopes and dreams (where have those been discussed?) the MSM continues to politicize one of the greatest efforts ever made in modern times to redefine the Middle East.
Iraq is central and pivotal to the concept of breaking the pattern in the Middle East. The pattern extends to the security of Israel and to the people in the region.
There are deep sectarian hatreds in the Middle East expressed through killings and terror. But we ignored the region for so long out of fear of 'body bags' (particularly under Carter) that when we finally go there; with small loss of life we have changed the region forever.
And to not support that effort by continually painting the US as a failure and the effort as failed, the MSM is adhering to the enemy.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
the MSM continues to politi
March 18, 2007 - 12:51 ET by motherbeltthe MSM continues to politicize one of the greatest efforts ever made in modern times to redefine the Middle East.- acaiguana
You forgot that for a Republican, efforts don't matter. All that matters is everything that goes wrong. But for Liberals, all we ever hear about is that they have good intentions. Even if they fail miserably, they are praised by the MSM because they had "good intentions."
Zoloft?
March 18, 2007 - 09:22 ET by TC Lynch"keep the Zoloft handy."
Son, it's the day after Paddy's Day; a stout single malt will do!
And yet, there is no bias. Th
March 18, 2007 - 09:37 ET by ThisnThatAnd yet, there is no bias. The only bias that can be found is on the Illegitimate Fox News. I pointed out elsewhere Fox's Brit Humes questioning this very same thing on 15 March. Here's what Brit said:
It's like these people live on another planet, in a bubble that has no transparancy. What they don't realize, apparantly, is that their bias, stupidity, and agenda are very transparant, and becoming more so each day. Do they honestly believe they can keep getting away with this kind of crap for much longer?
Just another day when the moonbats are pleased, and the networks lose more viewers.
Do they honestly believe th
March 18, 2007 - 10:24 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsDo they honestly believe they can keep getting away with this kind of crap for much longer?
Well, considering they run the MSM, are imbedded in our schools (for decades now) and entertainment (term used loosely) industry, are the only source of 'news' for the majority of (not paying close attention) Americans, yes, they do believe they can keep getting away with this crap.
And they are right.
Sorry. Sad but true.
D
A day without NewsBusters is like a day without sunshine.
Liberals are ignorant of th
March 18, 2007 - 11:08 ET by wiwfLiberals are ignorant of the truth. They claim that Iraq was better under Saddam and all this drivel, and they choose to ignore the one poll that's gotten any real attention that shows that Iraqi's, the people that matter the most really, are loving the results from the war and security measures. Liberals are just overly pessimistic and clearly so wrong when it comes to decision making.
Green Zone Nancys
March 18, 2007 - 11:41 ET by Sua Sponte 75Ahhh, life inside the Green Zone where you can report on things you "heard". "The sound of bombings and shooting are constant in the backdrops of everyday life", sure he's not talking about a major U.S. city? These reporters that hang out in the GZ and never leave the compound are a bunch of clowns, plain and simple, and then have the nerve to "report"?
"You're either part of the solution or part of the problem"
It has to be true because NBC
March 18, 2007 - 13:37 ET by nicksmith112It has to be true because NBC uses only the finest.... "Unnamed",Unidentified","High-Ranking","Anonymous" sources.
CNN just had three commenta
March 18, 2007 - 13:53 ET by daveinbocaCNN just had three commentators, a general who said things were getting better and a young female talking-head named Damon who poo-pooed the general's signs of progress.
Of course, Canadian John Roberts ended with the girly interpretation. After all, what do generals know about war?
Seven more Americans di
March 18, 2007 - 15:25 ET by rainlillieSeven more Americans died today fighting in Iraq's civil war. Seven
American families have lost a loved one.. for no good reason. This isn't our
fight to win or lose. The Iraqi government must step up to the plate and do
whatever it takes to bring the different factions together, until that happens
Americans and Iraqis will continue to die ..needlessly. It's a damn shame that
people here are too delusional to see this "war" for what it really is... A
civil war.
"The biggest threat to the Bush Administration is
an informed public."
Terrorists realize that rainlillie & her kind are their allies
March 18, 2007 - 15:32 ET by RJTerrorists understood from the very beginning that treasonous leftists like rainlillie are their symbiotic allies.
American soldiers have understood from the very beginning that treasonous leftists like rainlillie are the symbiotic allies of the terrorists.
Stupid, treasonous leftists like rainlillie are the only ones who cannot admit to the symbiotic relationship between terrorists and leftists.
rainlillie (aka Car 54)
March 18, 2007 - 15:44 ET by Sua Sponte 75How many people died in the U.S. for no good reason the past week? This isn't our fight to win or lose? Nice to see that you are forthright in your stance that nothing is worth fighting for. You obviously are missing the hundreds of stories (of course you won't see them in the MSM) of the achievments made over the past three years. It's a damn shame that there are those such as you that don't have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and ensue in a fight for our future existance without terrorism and countries willing to support and export it. History is surely a fleeting thing with you. Die needlesly? That's an asshat statement. I beg your pardon, but what would you know about sacrificing your life for another or even be willing to? Bring the different factions together? What world do you live in? These factions you speak of are terrorists, oh that's right, you must believe in apeasement, take a look around at all the other apeasement countries and tell me how that's working out for them. Apparantly you haven't been paying any attention, appeasement gets your head cut off. Maybe you should drop a letter to the innocent civillians families who were murdered and give them this line bull. Maybe you ought to brush up on facts instead of clown history.
FDR led us into World War II.
Germany never attacked us; Japan did.
From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost ...
An average of 112,500 per year.
Truman finished that war and started one in Korea.
North Korea never attacked us.
From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost ...
An average of 18,334 per year.
John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962.
Vietnam never attacked us.
Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire.
From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost
An average of 5,800 per year.
Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent.
Bosnia never attacked us.
He was offered Osama bin Laden 'S head on a platter three
Times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on
Multiple occasions.
In the years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush
Has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled
Al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and, North
Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who
Slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.
The Democrats are complaining
About how long the war is taking.
But Wait
It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno
To take the Branch Davidian compound.
That was a 51-day operation.
We've been looking for evidence for chemical weapons
In Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find
The Rose Law Firm billing records.
It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the
Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard
Than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his
Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.
It took less time to take Iraq than it took
To count the votes in Florida!!!!
"You're either part of the solution or part of the problem"
Nah, don't Call me "Suillivan"
March 18, 2007 - 18:16 ET by TC Lynchjust call me "buttmunch."
Sua, It’s not really my p
March 18, 2007 - 18:35 ET by RDWSua, It’s not really my place to say, but I think you need to give rainlillie a hug. She’s just trying to reach out to you. You’ll be a better person for it. So why don’t you sip some herbal tea and think about it. Ok? rainlillie we love you.
The flying Imam: Tantalus the Insane. (There is madness in every answer)
One slight correction: the US
March 18, 2007 - 22:30 ET by Del DolemonteOne slight correction: the US involvement in Vietnam was actually started by (Democrat) President Harry Truman in the late 1940s.
Rainlillie - when you cut and past, you should edit too.
March 18, 2007 - 18:40 ET by acaiguanaRainlillie - when you cut and past, you should edit too.
You know, take out the extraneous carriage returns?
Having given that gentle criticism.
<Hug>
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
Unfortunately for intellectua
March 18, 2007 - 22:25 ET by Del DolemonteUnfortunately for intellectually-challenged persons like yourself, the people fighting this war actually signed up to join the military-they weren't forced into military service like the soldiers in Vietnam (run by Democrats), Korea (run by Democrats) or even WW 2 (run by Democrats).
Now go water your poppies.
Seven US soldiers were killed
March 19, 2007 - 11:09 ET by BDSeven US soldiers were killed today? How many of the bad guys assumed room temperature because of the efforts of OTHER US soldiers located int eh proximity.
We will NEVER have a successful war without casualties...
The media are stepping up the
March 18, 2007 - 18:27 ET by bigtimerThe media are stepping up the pessimism in unison because the surge may just improve the situation in Baghdad and elsewhere...and really really work...and the good guys will win.
Can't have that now can we if you are a leftist democrat.
I heard Barbara Starr this morning along with Engel(who is having a mental break-down along with his some of his other fellow reporters according to him...too funny, what a guy) say 'we' meaning the elite know-it-all media have to remain skeptical....I would like to know, when haven't you been Barbara?
Victory is defeat for the enemy within this country as far as winning the war goes.
Aid and abet the enemy you leftist reporters, that is all you have ever done.
"It's a damn shame tha
March 18, 2007 - 18:42 ET by wiwf"It's a damn shame that
people here are too delusional to see this "war" for what it really is... A
civil war."
Really? Because the Iraqis, the ones who are in the middle of YOUR self proclaimed "civil war" don't believe there is a civil war.
leave your feelings and emotions at the door, please.
This is also why the "ob
March 18, 2007 - 22:28 ET by Del DolemonteThis is also why the "objective" media has desperately clung to the US Attorney non-story, as they want to deflect the sheeple's attention away from a possible success in Iraq.
They can't have that, as it will make them look bad, and make the hated Bush look good.