Honesty In Media?
August 24th, 2007 by Patriot
I do not think so. It has not happened in the past few years and it surely is not happening now. On Sunday, the New York Slime published an op-ed piece by seven members of the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Buddika Jayamaha, Wesley D. Smith, Jeremy Roebuck, Omar Mora, Edward Sandmeier, Yance T. Gray and Jeremy A. Murphy):
To believe that Americans, with an occupying force that long ago outlived its reluctant welcome, can win over a recalcitrant local population and win this counterinsurgency is far-fetched. As responsible infantrymen and noncommissioned officers with the 82nd Airborne Division soon heading back home, we are skeptical of recent press coverage portraying the conflict as increasingly manageable and feel it has neglected the mounting civil, political and social unrest we see every day.
All these Soldiers are Staff Sergeants and below in the infantry and EOD fields. Based off their AKO accounts, they appear to be in the same unit, perhaps even the same squad. That is not a problem. These Soldiers have earned their opinion, narrow as it may be. However, it fits the media's agenda and was, therefore, published in a prominent newspaper and spread throughout the land and blogosphere. It does not end there.
Seven other Soldiers, David Bellavia, Pete Hegseth, Michael Baumann, Carl Hartmann, David Thul, Knox Nunnally, and Joe Worley, wrote a response to the previous seven and submitted it to the New York Slime as well.
Currently, American and Iraqi Forces are clearing sections of southern Baghdad before turning north to the 82nd Airborne's neighborhoods. As such, the portrait these soldiers painted, while surely accurate and honest, is more representative of pre-surge Baghdad: sectarian strife, lawlessness, and indiscriminate slaughter.
The result? Attacks against civilians are at a six-month low and large al Qaeda-style truck and suicide bombings have dropped 50 percent in Baghdad. With additional troops and a sound strategy, the same results can occur in even the worst areas of Baghdad, including the 82nd Airborne's sector.
The Soldiers went on to mention the other successes in Iraq while maintaining respect for those they disagree with. You may ask yourself when the New York Slime printed this version of "The War As We Saw It". It wasn't printed in the Slime. Instead, it was printed at The Daily Standard:
This Op-Ed was originally submitted to the New York Times, which declined to publish it.
Biased? Naw…….. Keep in mind that David Bellavia was recommended for the Medal of Honor. He has received the Silver Star and Bronze Star with "V" device. This is no chickenhawk Soldier!
Posted in Military Perspective
Ah Patriot, the cup of good news is filling slowly my dear friend, despite the constant drain from the MSM and the far left. With persistence there will at last be the drop that makes the cup runneth over and then, oh then, what will the far left do?? The truth shall set us free!!
Patriot and Sue,
Below is what I posted on another site a few days ago. It is sad that the MSM continues to support the Left Wing Factions. I await to see what they will print after 2008. Sue, I hope and pray you are right. That the last drop makes the cup runneth over.
"I read what was said by soliders from the 82nd . And yes these soliders have a right to say what they said. I am sure these soliders have been all over Iraq. Not just in their AO. I am sure they have been to all 18 provinces. That they have attended meetings/breifings at the highest level with 4 Star and below generals. So that allows them to make judgement calls. What was the highest rank of these soliders. SSG. I am sure he is into the know about what is going on. Dream On".
ALLONS