I guess I am on a MSM bias rampage today. The latest bit is with this panel of AP editors attempting to say that they would be printing all the good news in Iraq if only they were protected, you know like the way they were protected in Vietnam, Korea, WWII. (h/t Security Watchtower)
A panel of journalists at the Associated Press Managing Editors conference spoke about difficulties in Iraq, in what amounted to a blame the administration and the failure to provide security for their one-sided portrayals of Iraq. The AP article by Michael Warren makes it sound like journalists are the victims, and they are chomping at the bit to cover good news and progress, but security has prevented them.
I would concede that security in some areas may limit media access, but let’s keep in mind that the primary purpose of this conflict is not to accomodate the media, and plenty of damage has been done in the newsrooms across America, not in Baghdad. Seymour Hersh, who never met an uncollaborated story he didn’t like, was also part of the panel. One might recall Hersh’s inflammatory article last year that insisted U.S. special forces were operating in Iran. Just reading his comments one can’t help but be left with the impression that Mr. Hersh wishes the media had better access so they could actually cover the news beyond the car bomb and IED.
Hersh described a “perfect trifecta” of problems as the conflict unfolds — an Iran-friendly Shia regime in the south that is hostile to Sunni-led Arab governments in nearby countries, an independence-minded Kurd region in the north that may go to war with Turkey, and a war of attrition in the center of Iraq. “The exit plan is really simple, folks — you’re going to see fewer troops and more bombs,” Hersh said. “We don’t control anything outside the Green Zone,” the fortified district of Baghdad where most non-Iraqis stay. Hersh also predicted that the new Iraqi constitution practically guarantees civil war.
Hersh also blamed the administration for secrecy and for failing to provide security for the media’s inability to get at those positive stories they’ve been trying so hard to obtain. So once again, the media won’t accept accountability for their largely one-sided reporting over the last two and a half years and instead even seek to blame that problem on Bush too. Where is the sanity? This wasn’t a problem solving panel, it was a skirt accountability panel.
Naw, no bias there. If this panel had actually gone 5 miles outside the green zone they could see how much progress there is in Iraq. But no, if they can’t be protected during a war then they will just continue to write uncorraborated stories belittling our soldiers and our Countrie.
I spent five minutes searching the web and found a whole lot of good news. I guess reporters can no longer be trusted to do some actual reporting by, you know, going out into the country and REPORTING.
As the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment continue to clear the city of roadside bombs and any remaining insurgent operations, the Marines and interpreter of civil affairs talk with citizens and work on projects to restore their city.
Detachment 3, which is comprised of more than 30 Marines, works throughout the Al Anbar province helping the Iraqi local governments legitimize themselves and also assist the Iraqi people with civil-military operations. These operations include working with local engineers and contractors to repair the city?s infrastructure.
Currently, the members of Team 5 are working with residents in the former insurgent-controlled city repairing water pipes, a hospital and creating employment for the people. With the upcoming elections, the team is also on hand to assist the Iraqi people with security needs during the elections if requested.
?We are supposed to be completely hands off, but available if they want help organizing or providing security for it,? said Sgt. Michael T. Lamoureux, a Santa Ana, Calif. native and civil affairs team noncommissioned officer for the detachment.
Whether running a convoy or patrolling nearby towns for insurgents, no mission in Iraq is without some element of danger. However, 18 service members here had a welcome break from the daily routine to bring smiles to the local children of Iraq.
Soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion 112th Armored Regiment, 36th Armored Division and Marines assigned to the Provisional Rifle Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, both with 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward) took advantage of the opportunity to pass out a variety of gifts to the children.
[….]As the unit approached the local town the children ran out to greet the troops. While the troops set up a station to hand out gifts the older children helped by keeping the younger children in line.
?These kids know that we are here to help them and give them gifts that they either need or may want,? said Spc. David F. Denbeck, a Denton, Texas native.
Army 1st Lt. Brian M. Gallavan, of Richmond, Va., said some children need clothes and shoes while others just want a soccer ball.
Today?s mission was not to search for insurgents or improvised explosive devices but as Denbeck said, ?It?s about being good neighbors and showing the people that we care.?
The government has allocated $46 million for the construction of a new hospital in the war-ravaged city of Falluja. Minister of Industry and Minerals Asama al-Najafi has laid the foundation stone for the 200-bed hospital.
“The building of this hospital has a lot of symbolic significance because it is being implemented in a city that has suffered a lot of oppression and tyranny,” Najafi said, without elaborating.
A seminar was recently held in Baghdad for 175 business people from 10 business associations on World Trade Organization (WTO) membership and what it would mean to Iraq and its business community.
USAID?s Agriculture Reconstruction and Development for Iraq (ARDI) program is assisting the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to restore hybrid maize, which provides increased yields and better performance. USAID partners have completed training 180 volunteers from 130 local NGOs to monitor all 540 voter registration centers throughout Iraq.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) and UNICEF have registered approximately 8,500 out of the targeted 10,000 children to attend school in the upcoming school year under this year?s Accelerated Learning Program (ALP), sponsored by USAID. USAID partners have helped advance the Wheat Flour Fortification (WFF) program in Iraq through advanced training and distribution of nutrient supplements.
Programs are on-track to rehabilitate water and sanitation facilities in 800 Iraqi schools by the end of December this year. A local Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) and OFDA partners recently completed rehabilitation work at a major university in northern Iraq, employing 160 displaced and impoverished women in the process. A 16-week public health campaign in an Arbil Governorate sub-district has been completed after benefiting roughly 1,100 internally displaced persons (IDPs) returning to 19 villages.
On September 11, USAID Mission Director Dawn Liberi and Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Ja?afari inaugurated the opening of the new 216 megawatt (MW) Baghdad South power plant. This is a new grass roots combustion gas turbine power plant, consisting of two 108 MW gas turbine generators capable of burning residual fuel oil, supplied by the nearby Doura refinery.
The Internet Technology Infrastructure project at a northern Iraqi university is nearing completion. Over 100 computers have been installed and the campus-wide network is functioning. A satellite dish has also been installed, giving the entire campus high-speed Internet access. Equipment has already been sent for the final part of the project: linking the medical college and a satellite campus with wireless equipment.
Yeah, it’s all going to hell in a handbasket.
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