# Iraq news coverage **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 7, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014 "2005-08-07T18:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/61 "2005-08-10T21:39:24Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > NOT appropriate in **GD** , thank you. Insisting that a poster is incorrect because they are drug-addled is no more acceptable than saying they are simply stupid. > > Keep that sort of rhetoric for the **Pit**. > > [/Moderator Mode] I would have characterized it as merely a suggestion. But then you and I often disagree on what the correct characterization might be. Will comply. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/62 "2005-08-10T23:51:15Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > What? What kind of cite are you looking for? A cite for why I think this is probably the case? Huh? Do you want me to cite all the artrocities of all wars ever waged and then cite all atrocities commited in this war? An article that might exist on some right wing blog, which you will discount any way? Try not to be ridiculous. If you don’t agree with my assessment, why don’t you refute it? Tell me why you think it is wrong. I know it’s easier to just write “cite” and run away, but you gotta at least try. To make a long story short: you were just blowing smoke and have nothing to back your faith-based assertion. Thanks for clearing that up. > [@](#): > > As far as “outright lies and deceptions”, my advice is to lay off the Michael Moore for a while. Show me where the President has lied to get us into war. What the _fuck_ does Michael Moore have to do with the copious lies told by this Administration in the run up to the invasion? [The Bush Administration on Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Capabilities](http://www.carnegieendowment.org/static/npp/bush_admin_quotes.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/63 "2005-08-11T00:14:07Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Now, I extend to you an invitation I’ve extended in the past. If you have a story of an Iraqi who has fought honorably against our soldiers, go ahead and post it. I’ll give it a read with an open mind. Otherwise, quit griping about my posts about military heroes. For reasons that I can’t even begin to phantom, those pathetic Iraqis are fighting to win, not to meet your – and other warmongering American Patriots – “honorable” expectations. Given what they have to fight with – and against – I’d say they are putting up a formidable battle. Wouldn’t you? Take it up with your Great Misleader if you don’t like it. For it was him, along with many other members of this Administration, that envisioned a flower-strewn path in response to your illegal and immoral invasion. > [@](#): > > Your problem, after all, doesn’t seem to be with me, but with a system that produces military heroism in the first place. That’s certainly a fair criticism, and borne out of a long tradition of honorable pacifism. It is, however, a bit misplaced for you to worry about me, who’s just a cog in the big rotten machine. IOW, if there’s any guilt to be found, it’s with the system that produces individuals such as yourself. Scary what the US has become. Sounds just like the USSR of old. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/64 "2005-08-11T00:21:19Z")
> [@](#): > > the copious lies told by this Administration This is a futile argument. The standard response is that the Administration was “misguided” by “errors” in the “intelligence community” or because they were compelled to make choices “in good faith” regarding which information to believe. The clear pattern of behavior by the OSP, the indications that Secretary Powell knew that he was being told to present falsehoods to the UN, and all other evidence is simply circumstantial evidence that is being “spun” by those who “choose” to believe badly of President Bush–whose every false (erroneous) statement can be laid at the feet of the intelligence community. Even when he told a direct falsehood, he “didn’t know” that it was false at the time he spoke it. Pursuing that trail will take this thread down an never-ending spiral to nowhere as neither those who do nor those who do not believe the president was a willing accomplice in those false statements can point to hard evidence that conclusively proves the point. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/65 "2005-08-11T00:30:01Z")
Oh, I realize that, Tom. But until what’s left of the Faith-based Community joins Reality there’s little by way of common ground, is there? “Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.” Colin Powell Since “there is no doubt,” I want to see some. How’s that unreasonable? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/66 "2005-08-11T02:39:29Z")
> [@magellan](#): > > Whatever degree of hope they have now, it’s more they had under Saddam. Or would you like to debate that, too?.. That is, in fact, somewhat debatable. If strict _sharia_ law becomes the foundation of the new Iraqi order, it is entirely possible that the average Iraqi woman will find herself less empowered. Unlikely, perhaps, but not impossible. > [@](#): > > …Ha! I’m the one who is trrying to get in MORE information. I have not said news shouldn’t be reported. I have said that it should be balanced… We have your word on this. Period. You state your conclusion as a fact to support your conclusion, i.e., that coverage is somehow biased. If the good news isn’t being reported, how the heck did _you_ find out about all this good news that isn’t being reported? Some special sources denied to us victims of the liberal media conspiracy? This is called “buggering the question.” > [@](#): > > …The the _amount_ of coverage regarding AG was excessive and that we should here more about the positive things—which, as much as you might wish otherwise—are also part of reality… So you say. “As much as you might wish otherwise”, it is nothing more than your opinion offered as fact. > [@](#): > > …My guess is that the problem you have is that the more good news that might find it’s way into the NY Times, the less bad news there will be. Or iverall, the war won’t seem as bad as they, and others portray it now. Boo-effin-hoo. You are welcome to guess all you like. You are also welcome to suggest and imply nefarious motives on my part. After all, its says more about you than it says about me. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/67 "2005-08-11T02:53:22Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > To make a long story short: you were just blowing smoke and have nothing to back your faith-based assertion. Red Furry: Have you no pride, man? You would think someone who makes a statement like that had contributed mightily. But here’s your ENTIRE contribution to this thread up to now: > [@](#): > > While we’re at it, best magellan01, order that well-known peacenik, Rusmfeld, to quit undermining the war effort: > > Insurgency could get worse: Rumsfeld > [@](#): > > Cite? Besides the glaringly obvious fact that if you “should endeavor to stay out of war altogther,” backing an aggressive war of choice, based on outright lies and deceptions, is rather incongruent. THAT"S IT!!! But most recently there was this little gem below: > [@](#): > > What the _fuck_ does Michael Moore have to do with the copious lies told by this Administration in the run up to the invasion? > > [The Bush Administration on Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Capabilities](http://www.carnegieendowment.org/static/npp/bush_admin_quotes.cfm) Ooooh, Furry, you used a baaad word. Thomas is not going to liiike thaaaat. And not only do you run around: “here, read this link”, “read that link”, “cite”, and then talk tough, in the meantime you don’t even contribute what the heck your own position is? That’s so lame there should be a telethon for it. Come on, show me you can do something other than follow me around and nip at my heels. I’m putting my ideas out there, others are doing the same. It’s called engaging in a debate. Try it, you might like it. By the way, do you even know what kind of cite you were asking for. I asked for clarification on what I thought was a ridiculous request and got nothing but big-dog attitude. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/68 "2005-08-11T02:56:45Z")
Oh, my goodness! Those horrible, horrible news media, undermining our war effort by reporting facts! > [@The Daily Show](#): > > Corddry: How does one report the facts in an unbiased way when the facts themselves are biased? > > Stewart: I’m sorry, Rob, did you say the facts are biased? > > Corddry: That’s right Jon. From the names of our fallen soldiers to the gradual withdrawal of our allies to the growing insurgency, it’s become all too clear that facts in Iraq have an anti-Bush agenda. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/69 "2005-08-11T03:15:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > That is, in fact, somewhat debatable. If strict _sharia_ law becomes the foundation of the new Iraqi order, it is entirely possible that the average Iraqi woman will find herself less empowered. Unlikely, perhaps, but not impossible. True. Let’s hope not. > [@](#): > > We have your word on this. Period. You state your conclusion as a fact to support your conclusion, i.e., that coverage is somehow biased. If the good news isn’t being reported, how the heck did _you_ find out about all this good news that isn’t being reported? To clarify, my point has been that the mass media isn’t reporting it. This is an opinion held by me any many others. There havebeen articles in almost all mainstream papers about this, not to mention the media further to the right. The NY Times even hired a guy to try to keep things balanced. To imply that this is my sole fabrication is disengenuous. That said, as support for my opinion, I offer both the guy that the NYT’s hired, and the information you can find on right-wing blogs that you can’t find in the mass media. (by the way, your comment (above) has nothing to do with what you quoted from my post) > [@](#): > > So you say. “As much as you might wish otherwise”, it is nothing more than your opinion offered as fact. No, it is my opinion offered as opinion. If you think it is wrong, fine. So let me ask you: how many cover stories do you think AG merited? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/70 "2005-08-11T03:19:10Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Oh, my goodness! Those horrible, horrible news media, undermining our war effort by reporting facts! Well done. We now know you can 1) copy and paste and 2) turn your TV on. Anything else we should know? Anything to actually add to the debate? Anything? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/71 "2005-08-11T03:26:45Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Well done. We now know you can 1) copy and paste and 2) turn your TV on. Anything else we should know? > > Anything to actually add to the debate? > > Anything? The “debate” at this point consists of the Kool-Aid Drinkers berating the media for not being nicer to Bush’s war effort and making snide insinuations that such is grounds for accusing them of hurting same. Anything anyone injects on the side of fact-based reality is a valuable addition to the “debate”. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/72 "2005-08-11T03:48:13Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > The “debate” at this point consists of the Kool-Aid Drinkers berating the media for not being nicer to Bush’s war effort and making snide insinuations that such is grounds for accusing them of hurting same. > > Anything anyone injects on the side of fact-based reality is a valuable addition to the “debate”. Just as I thought… ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/73 "2005-08-11T03:49:53Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Anything anyone injects on the side of fact-based reality is a valuable addition to the “debate”. Well, despite our great strides in training and equipping Iraqi security forces over this past year, _e.g._[for the first time they outnumber coalition forces, and _this time_ we really mean it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6300844&highlight=outnumber#post6300844), it seems we’ll be doing the same up and down with our force levels this fall, to cover elections, as we did for the first set of elections. How’s that for progress? Remember, once the Iraqi’s can cover their own security, Bush gets to bring our troops home. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/74 "2005-08-11T03:50:35Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > The “debate” at this point consists of the Kool-Aid Drinkers berating the media for not being nicer to Bush’s war effort and making snide insinuations that such is grounds for accusing them of hurting same. > > Anything anyone injects on the side of fact-based reality is a valuable addition to the “debate”. Well, when some facts are ignored entirely by said media, wouldn’t that skew the debate a bit? Again, I refer to those numerous soldiers decorated for bravery. How often do you see a news story about this? Why, in the last year or so, nearly every mention of military medals in print or television media concerned the Kerry campaign. That’s not right, not right at all. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/75 "2005-08-11T03:56:08Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Oh, the evil right-wing blog. Well, if papers like the NY Tiimes did thier job properly, you wouldn’t need right-wing blogs. And, seriously, is that all you got out of his link? I suggest you read it again. Seriously. No snarkiness intended. I urge all serious readers of the linked “evil right-wing blog” to click on that blog’s link to [http://betoniraq.com/](http://betoniraq.com/) and buy as many Iraqi Dinars from them as you can. After all, if things are really going better in Iraq than the mainstream media portrays, IQD should be a good investment, right? OK, not really. It’s a scam. Really. I actually urge you all to go here: [http://www.xe.com/iqd.htm](http://www.xe.com/iqd.htm) And ask yourselves: if Iraq really is better off than the Media allows us to see, why aren’t International Currency speculators buying up all the young Democracy’s currency? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/76 "2005-08-11T04:03:20Z")
I see stories about _local_ medal winners in the Cleveland, Akron, and Lake County papers all the time. Where do you live that they are not being reported? On the other hand, if you are upset that the national news sources are not covering them, I would like to see evidence that national sources reported medals in Korea, WWII, or WWI. Heck, the few times that I know they _did_ report valor nationally, they generally got the story wrong (witness Colin P. Kelly jr.). ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/77 "2005-08-11T04:07:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Why, in the last year or so, nearly every mention of military medals in print or television media concerned the Kerry campaign. That would be because Rove’s attack dogs spents several millions of dollars trying to tarnish those medals. Without the SwiftLiars, there would have been almost no mention of Kerry’s medals. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/78 "2005-08-11T04:19:13Z")
Not right, and not really so either: [Purple Heart](http://news.google.com/news?num=50&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&q=%22purple+heart%22&btnG=Search+News) [Bronze Star](http://news.google.com/news?num=50&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&q=%22bronze+star%22&btnG=Search+News) [Silver Star](http://news.google.com/news?q=%22silver+star%22&num=50&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&sa=G&scoring=d) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/79 "2005-08-11T05:00:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Ooooh, Furry, you used a baaad word. Thomas is not going to liiike thaaaat. Actually, cussing in **GD** is permitted, as long as it is not aimed as an insult at another poster. On the other hand, playing games with other poster’s names is rude and is not permitted. C’mon, **magellan01** , you do a decent job of making your arguments in an intelligent fashion, but you keep letting your irritation spill over into personal sleights and digs. Stick to the discussion and leave the personal comments out of your posts. [/Moderator Mode] ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014/80 "2005-08-11T05:05:12Z")
Gee, a Google search that turns up a lot of military news sites that few prople read, stories of Vietnam and WWII veterans, and at least one mention of the Silver Star cruise line. That hardly proves that medal winners are getting the recognition they deserve. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-news-coverage/316014.md?page=5)