Reports of burning mosques, like this one from Reuters remain unconfirmed, and may have been fabricated by Sunni militants.
Also, sensationalized accounts of Sunnis being dragged from prayer and burned alive by rampaging Shiites are unconfirmed, and all appear to come from the same source, police Captain Jamil Hussein, whose entire career appears to be issuing statements about Shia violence against Sunnis. Curt at Flopping Aces has researched Hussein and found a remarkable number of atrocity stories for which he is the source.
Curt also reports that he has received an email from CENTCOM that is very skeptical of the media accounts:
We are checking with the Iraqi Government to verify that Capt. Jamil Hussein is a legitimate Iraqi Government spokesperson. We haven’t heard back yet. Unfortunately, people posing as government officials often do call the media to make statements.
From the Multi-National Force's Iraqi Freedom website:
BAGHDAD — Contrary to recent media reporting that four mosques were burned in Hurriya, an Iraqi Army patrol investigating the area found only one mosque had been burned in the neighborhood...
...An alleged attack on a fourth mosque remains unconfirmed. The patrol was also unable to confirm media reports that six Sunni civilians were allegedly dragged out of Friday prayers and burned to death. Neither Baghdad police nor Coalition forces have reports of any such incident.
This is all uncomfortably reminiscent of the Reutersgate/fauxtography scandal during the Israeli/Hezbollah war, and once again brings into question just how much Western news agencies have compromised their integrity by depending on unvetted local stringers and sources.
If these incidents were embellished, as they now seem to be, they show a frightening level of sophistication about Western media. The stories all broke toward the end of the weekly news cycle so that even if they are eventually corrected, they will have at least the weekend to sink into the American psyche.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Reuters
November 26, 2006 - 11:28 ET by iveseenitallReuters, CNN, CBS, AP, and the rest will print anything which fits their agenda. Truth be damned.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
You're absolutely right about
November 26, 2006 - 12:46 ET by Andrew H.You're absolutely right about these easy money media "professionals," but God, I pray the story is not true.
Never relent.
Hussein, Hussein...hmmmm...wh
November 26, 2006 - 18:05 ET by bigtimerHussein, Hussein...hmmmm...where have I heard that name before? Sounds familiar....
The press are far beyond disgraceful...I do not doubt this story one little bit. Especially after Green Helmet Guy...
As a veteran of this confli
November 26, 2006 - 19:50 ET by OIFveteranAs a veteran of this conflict, I've been trying to tell this to people I have come in contact since I left theatre...the MSM is FOS (full of, um....feces)
We, the U.S., have had approximately 140k-150k soldiers in theatre per year. So, since 2003 there have been approximately 450k troops in theatre which means less than a 1% death rate, assuming we are at 3k now(Granted, I was just a lowly Sergeant, but I can't think of any General that wouldn't love to have such a low death rate). Now the KEYWORD here is theatre. Theatre includes Kuwait. So those that happen to die for whatever reason, be it HMMWV accident, dehydration, people who have died that never set foot in Iraq, or some other freak accident are counted among the dead for OIF.
While the death toll has nothing to do with this story directly it does show the purposeful intellectual dishonesty engaged by the MSM everyday. Why verify things if it makes the U.S. look bad? Why take the time to discern between a KIA and a death? Why ignore intellegence reports that show the "insurgents" have used cyclosarin gas in some of their IEDs? Why say Saddam had no WMDs when, between the U.S. and Poland, have found over 800 mortor rounds? Why not report on the still missing 3k liters of Anthrax?
I don't know. Maybe if I was as smart as Kerry or Rangel I'd have the answers. I don't know how my civilian couterparts feel, but it is so infuriating having traitors amongst our midst who hide behind the first amendment.
/rant off.
<insert something clever>
It just don't fit their agenda
November 26, 2006 - 23:59 ET by terrigMy husband was home on R & R during the election and he said to me, "I wonder how long it will take the MSM to report on positive stories now that the Dems or Dims are in charge?". We both feel the same way you do, Sarge. I can tell you that everyone I know who is either in the military and their spouse feels this way too. It's the civilians who get their food from the MSM trough who don't get it. I can't believe that the MSM revels in anything that could be a possible "atrocity" but ignores anything positive. God Bless & thank you for serving over there.
Terrig, I cannot thank you
November 27, 2006 - 01:12 ET by OIFveteranTerrig,
I cannot thank you enough for your comment. I never joined the Army to recieve thanks. As any true soldier, sailor, airman, or marine knows that is not the point.
While I was in, I would have gladly laid down my life to know that one of my subordinates came home to such a loving and greatful spouse. I turned down the "R & R" leave 3 times because there were some soldiers in my battalion whom hadn't received it yet.
As an NCO my soldiers were my life. I would have died for any (even the ones I didn't like) of them just to know that they would come home safely.
Granted, I didn't earn 3 purple hearts as "John Kerry" did..cough, cough (in only 3 months...).... but I knew then as LEADER, you never leave your troops behind. PERIOD. If you can walk, you can lead.
Just because, knowing, most of the soldiers have wonderful people to come home to, such as yourself...any true leader, regardless of personel feelings, regardless of risk of injury would do his or her utmost to make sure your spouce came home to you.
As a leader, a true leader, if it comes down to you or your soldiers, you know, or better damn well know, that your life is irrelevant. The bottom line up front is ensuring that your troops have the knowledge in their job, first aid, standards, communications, etc., etc.. and Army Standards to ensure that they take care of themselves and those around them. That is all a lowly Sergeant can hope for.
I am greatful for the service your husband gives to all of us. I hope and pray that he returns to you safely. May you both become fat and happy while having many children and Grand children. If you have many, name one of them Hayden for me. It is my namesake. A great warrior of Vietnam, whom was an uncle of mine and flew many EVAC missions. One of which cost him his life.
God Speed, and God Bless to the Military Spouce, the toughest of us all.
<insert something clever>
P.S. I never once allowed enough slack in discipline for my solders to call me "Sarge". But you can call me that any day. I'd rather fight 10 thousand jihadis than have someone I loved have to sit by and wait for me to return for doing that such job.
I may have, and hoped to have been, a tough as nails, in your face arsehole. But I could never, in a million years, aproach the same strength that you have.
Thank you for all you have done.
November 27, 2006 - 02:05 ET by terrigYou know it's people like you who make the Army go rolling along. When I read your comment it reminded me of a friend we recently lost over in Iraq. He was cut from the same cloth as you. He spent his R & R in Sept. visiting his Soldier's families who had been lost or wounded. You gave up a lot by missing R & R & I know that it was a sacrifice. We are greatful for your service as well. I wish we could have more children because I would be proud to name one after Hayden. We adopted a son last year but named him after Pope John Paul II as we received him two days after his death. I appreciate your prayers because since Mark has died, I have become less sure of his returning safely to me.
thank you Sarge & Aloha! terrig
I apologize for still stayi
November 27, 2006 - 02:27 ET by OIFveteranI apologize for still staying off topic to my fellow NBers. But Terrig's strength and will have inpsired me to post the following. The military wife.
The good Lord was
creating a model for military wives and was into his sixth day of overtime when
an angel appeared. She said," Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble
with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied," Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be
completely independent, possess the qualities of both mother and father, be a
perfect hostess for four to 40 with an hour notice, run on black coffee, handle
every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully,
even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must have six pair of
hands."
The angel shook her head. "Six pair of hands? No way!"
The Lord continued. "Don't worry, we will make other military wives to
help her. And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with
pride in her husbands achievements, sustain the pain of separation, beat
soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say, "I
understand" when she doesn't and "I love you" regardless.
"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently, "Go to bed and
get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow."
"I can't stop now," Said the Lord. "I am so close to creating
something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up
six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave good-bye to her husband from a
pier, a runway or a depot, and understand why it's important that he
leave."
The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely and sighed.
"It looks fine, but it's too soft."
"She may look soft," replied the Lord, "but she had the strength
of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's
creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong
with the construction. I'm not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to
put too much into this model."
The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of confidence. "What you
see is not a leak," he said. "It's a tear."
"A tear? What is it there for?" asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment,
loneliness, pride and dedication to all the values that she and her husband
hold dear."
"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put it there."
Author Unknown
God bless you Terrig, your husband, and all his fellow troops.
<insert something clever>
Thank you for your service--y
November 27, 2006 - 06:15 ET by Andrew H.Thank you for your service--you and the troops are the best we have and may God bless your life.
Never relent.
Can't we sue Reuters for malp
November 26, 2006 - 21:06 ET by idahoguyCan't we sue Reuters for malpractice or something? Maybe set up a "Certified Public Journalist" licensing for news organizations and if they pull this sort of stuff they get their CPJ license yanked. They can still report the news, free speech and all that, but there has to be some penalty for this sort of garbage. Heck, every little contractor around here has to be licensed. Why not these clowns?
Right, I know, the marketplace will eventually sort this all out. But in the meantime, heck, all we have to lose is a war.