# Tens of Thousands March in Baghdad **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 11, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262 "2003-12-11T03:48:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/61 "2003-12-12T04:24:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*It WAS covered by the US media. It just wasn’t especially significant that few hundred people showed up to protest violence. \*\* This comment proves that you didn’t look at more than a few pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/62 "2003-12-12T04:46:14Z")
I’ve seen more people at WNBA games. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/63 "2003-12-12T04:53:19Z")
You _been_ to a WNBA game? Was it, like, shirts and skins? ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/64 "2003-12-12T04:59:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beagle \* > Most mullahs, especially the critical Shia, seem to be adopting a wait-and-see approach to democracy. I hate to point out the blindingly obvious, but that is because a straight-up democracy gives the Shiites complete control over the country and the power of life and death over their Sunni oppressors and the Kurds who nobody really likes anyway. Hooray for democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/65 "2003-12-12T05:07:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*You _been_ to a WNBA game? Was it, like, shirts and skins? \*\* I wish… …well, maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/66 "2003-12-12T05:19:10Z")
A titillating concept. But impractical. It would, however, resolve the question of whether or not the jiggle-to-dribble ratio is a direct 1:1. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/67 "2003-12-12T06:05:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*A titillating concept. But impractical. It would, however, resolve the question of whether or not the jiggle-to-dribble ratio is a direct 1:1. \*\* I would have surmised a 2:1 ratio myself. 1 being the dribble for clarity’s sake. But I am willing to stand corrected by witnessing the experi…er, game. As to the OP, keep scraping. Surely there must be more worthy stuff at the bottom of the Invasion Jusfication barrel. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/68 "2003-12-12T06:09:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*I hate to point out the blindingly obvious, but… \*\* You’re right. Everything you mentioned is blindingly obvious. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/69 "2003-12-12T15:52:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\* > I did NOT say that this is a vast liberal conspiracy, and the people who set up that particular straw man can bite me. > > WHY wasn’t this covered by the U.S. media? > > But really, this hasn’t been covered. Not like the anti-U.S. protests were. > > …I’m…thinking the media might be biased… > \*\* So you thinks that media is biased, but it’s not a “vast liberal conspiracy”? This leaves open a small liberal conspiracy, a vast conspiracy that’s not liberal, or something that’s vast and liberal, but not a conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/70 "2003-12-12T15:55:44Z")
It’s a small, but tastefully done, liberal conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/71 "2003-12-12T19:58:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*So… Anyone like to tackle this? …some other reasons for thinking this wasn’t covered. \*\* Judging from the pictures, the whole affair appears quite normal: no maniacal throngs jumping up and down, no deranged faces spitting in the cameras, no shooting small arms in the air; barely deserves a mention. If the crowds would draw out denuded Saddam on the end of a rope and beat him to death with slippers, it would be reprted widely. Alas… ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/72 "2003-12-12T20:10:47Z")
I have reason to suspect that the editorial processes that determine which stories get what coverage have many variables. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/73 "2003-12-12T20:14:15Z")
You may be right. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/74 "2003-12-12T20:27:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SimonX \* > So you thinks that media is biased, but it’s not a “vast liberal conspiracy”? Well, _I_ think the media is biased, and that it’s not a “vast liberal conspiracy.” But that’s only because I don’t think the media can be biased only in one direction. ---
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/75 "2003-12-13T04:09:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Indeed. Sorry it eluded you. I was making fun of the contention that the demonstration was some massive turnout to express support for the US and its policies. You did look at the pictures, right? So you saw the pictures the people carried. Now, carrying images is a very common feature of demonstrations like this. Looks like about the only images being toted about were those of Muslim clerics, a group not noted for its sympathy for American military interventions. > > As far as a point and/or intellectual submission, about all you’ve said is that you don’t much like **Diogenes** either. Have _you_ anything to say as to the matter at hand? \*\* Just pointing out your unshakable biases, but you probably already knew about those. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/76 "2003-12-13T05:48:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chicago Faucet \* > Just pointing out your unshakable biases, but you probably already knew about those. In other words, nothing to say about the matter being discussed except take cheap shots at someone who is pointing out things you do not like and cannot refute. The fact is that the demonstration (1) is not huge by any means (there are still anti-american demonstrations taking place in Europe which are larger than that), (2) does not show any signs of being pro-American and does show a few signs of being anti-American and (3) Even if it were 100% pro-American does not mean much of anything because American intervention has just managed to bring chaos, anarchy and civil strife to Iraq and you are going to have lots of people demonstrating against lots of other people and, as soon as they get a chance, killing each other energetically. In that context, what would be good news is that Iraqis, rather than demonstrating or fighting were going about their daily lives and that is, most definitely, not happening. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/77 "2003-12-13T05:55:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SimonX \* > \*\*I have reason to suspect that the editorial processes that determine which stories get what coverage have many variables. \*\* What kind of namby-pamby whitewash is this? There are variables and there are constants. Everybody knows that if instead of “No to terrorism” signs there were “No to US occupation” signs carried around, all the major networks would pick it up right away. Not because their black hearts rejoice at everything anti-US; because their black hearts rejoice at _controversy_: they stand ready to peddle any snub, anything humiliating to anybody. If people will ever stop behaving like animals, media will start covering dog fights. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/78 "2003-12-13T06:12:16Z")
> [@](#): > > What do you want, the friggin Hallelujah Chorus singing it from the rooftops? 561 hits on a small demonstration is pretty good coverage. A number of hits is not at all relevant (especially when the vast majority don’t have anything to do with the story in question!). The important thing is how big a deal the coverage was, and Sam was right: it was not treated as major news. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/79 "2003-12-13T06:14:56Z")
> [@](#): > > I hate to point out the blindingly obvious, but that is because a straight-up democracy gives the Shiites complete control over the country and the power of life and death over their Sunni oppressors and the Kurds who nobody really likes anyway. > > Hooray for democracy. Hur, so wadda want, a buncha liberal judges running around defending the so called “rights” of them Kurds? The polls clearly show overwhelming support for their elimination of them there Kurds, but you just wanna impose your knowitall will over all the people, hunh. Why you hate democracy so much? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262/80 "2003-12-13T06:55:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > Hur, so wadda want, a buncha liberal judges running around defending the so called “rights” of them Kurds? The polls clearly show overwhelming support for their elimination of them there Kurds, but you just wanna impose your knowitall will over all the people, hunh. Why you hate democracy so much? 😛 The Sunnis want to eliminate the Kurds and the Shiites but the Shiites want to eliminate the Kurds and the Sunnis but depending on the electoral system you could have the two smallest groups join together to eliminate the larger one or have the larger one eliminate the other two. In any case you are now left with two groups which want to eliminate each other. The American occupation forces are, de facto, fighting the Sunnis and, therefore, aiding the other two groups. This ensures the animosity gets even worse, if this is possible. If and when the Americans leave the place, the bloodbath is going to be of epic proportions. The idea that elections is going to solve any of this is as laughable as the idea that what Vietnam needed to solve all its problems was free elections. I am afraid the only way out of this one may be a Vietnam-style bloodbath. I really hope I am mistaken and it may work out better but I don’t have much hope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tens-of-thousands-march-in-baghdad/218262.md?page=5)