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Iraq Going Incredibly Well

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by maxwell edison

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Democrat Cogressman and Vietnam Veteran Jim Marshall of Georgia says that excessively negative press is killing our troops.

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Media's dark cloud a danger
Falsely bleak reports reduce our chances of success in Iraq

By JIM MARSHALL (D), U.S. Congressman, Georiga

On Sept. 14, I flew from Baghdad to Kuwait with Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg from Dearborn, Mich. He was in a body bag. He'd been ambushed and killed that afternoon. Sitting in the cargo bay of a C 130E, I found myself wondering whether the news media were somehow complicit in his death.

News media reports about our progress in Iraq have been bleak since shortly after the president's premature declaration of victory. These reports contrast sharply with reports of hope and progress presented to Congress by Department of Defense representatives -- a real disconnect, Vietnam d?ja vu. So I went to Iraq with six other members of Congress to see for myself.

The Iraq war has predictably evolved into a guerrilla conflict similar to Vietnam. Our currently stated objectives are to establish reasonable security and foster the creation of a secular, representative government with a stable market economy that provides broad opportunity throughout Iraqi society. Attaining these objectives in Iraq would inevitably transform the Arab world and immeasurably increase our future national security.

These are goals worthy of a fight, of sacrifice, of more lives lost now to save thousands, perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands in the future. In Mosul last Monday, a colonel in the 101st Airborne put it to me quite simply: "Sir, this is worth doing." No one I spoke with said anything different. And I spoke with all ranks.

But there will be more Blumbergs killed in action, many more. So it is worth doing only if we have a reasonable chance of success. And we do, but I'm afraid the news media are hurting our chances. They are dwelling upon the mistakes, the ambushes, the soldiers killed, the wounded, the Blumbergs. Fair enough. But it is not balancing this bad news with "the rest of the story," the progress made daily, the good news. The falsely bleak picture weakens our national resolve, discourages Iraqi cooperation and emboldens our enemy.

During the conventional part of this conflict, embedded journalists reported the good, the bad and the ugly. Where are the embeds now that we are in the difficult part of the war, now that fair and balanced reporting is critically important to our chances of success? At the height of the conventional conflict, Fox News alone had 27 journalists embedded with U.S. troops (out of a total of 774 from all Western media). Today there are only 27 embedded journalists from all media combined.

Throughout Iraq, American soldiers with their typical "can do" attitude and ingenuity are engaging in thousands upon thousands of small reconstruction projects, working with Iraqi contractors and citizens. Through decentralized decision-making by unit commanders, the 101st Airborne Division alone has spent nearly $23 million in just the past few months. This sum goes a very long way in Iraq. Hundreds upon hundreds of schools are being renovated, repainted, replumbed and reroofed. Imagine the effect that has on children and their parents.

Zogby International recently released the results of an August poll showing hope and progress. My own unscientific surveys told me the same thing. With virtually no exceptions, hundreds of Iraqis enthusiastically waved back at me as I sat in the open door of a helicopter traveling between Babylon and Baghdad. And I received a similar reception as I worked my way alone, shaking hands through a large crowd of refinery workers just to see their reaction.

We may need a few credible Baghdad Bobs to undo the harm done by our media. I'm afraid it is killing our troops.

-- U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) of Macon, a Vietnam combat veteran, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

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Iraq's national electricity network - crippled by war, looting and sabotage - has surpassed the production levels of the prewar period for the first time in six months, U.S. civil administrator L. Paul Bremer reported Thursday. "On Monday, Oct. 6, power generation hit 4,518 megawatts, exceeding the prewar average," Bremer said at a news conference at which he trumpeted accomplishments of the U.S.-led occupation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported the prewar peak to be 4,500 megawatts.

Bremer reported the improved electricity situation at a news conference at which he cataloged accomplishments under the U.S. occupation, which is generally dated to April 9, when U.S. troops took command of central Baghdad.

"Most of what has happened since then, not all of it, has been good," he said. His list included:

* More than 13,000 reconstruction projects completed.

* More than 40,000 police on duty nationwide, including 7,000 in Baghdad, compared with virtually none at the war's end.

* A first battalion of a retrained Iraqi army graduated from basic training and on active duty.

* Twenty-two universities and 43 institutes and colleges open, along with almost all primary and secondary schools.

* An increase in deliveries of pharmaceuticals from 800 tons in May to 12,000 tons.

* Clearing of 8,000 miles of irrigation canals.

* Establishment of 170 newspapers.

"In six short months, we have accomplished a lot, but we're also aware the progress we have made is only a beginning," Bremer said.

He acknowledged that "much remains to be done to establish an acceptable security environment."

20 replies

by road-dog

that under the previous regime, there was such a culture of fear that to be noticed was risking death.

I was watching a news documentary a couple of days ago where Iraqis asked permission to rebuild a wall. The troop told him to go ahead, it was his wall.

This shows a glimpse of the terror of authority that those folks have lived with for a generation.

Such fear is not easily overcome. Along with rebuilding a nation, we must also rebuild a people.

I bet the next Olympic Games will be special for the Iraqi people. Their athletes will compete without fear of reprisal (death/torture) for failure. Athletes who have run off to compete for other nations may very well come back under the Iraqi flag.

It's going to be fun watching the pride return!

by oz_media

I agree wholly that it is about time these people were able to hold their heads high in pride for their country. Yes The Olympics will be an amazing event to watch with Iraqi's competing with the rest of the free world in true spirit of the games.

A happy ending is what everybody wants to see. My overall complaint to this whole war was that it was premature and BUSH was hasty in his attack on Iraq. This could have been a large scale operation that utilized funds from many governments and still ended in the same resolve if not one with less lives lost.

As for rebuilding Iraq, I think BUSH has changed his motives and backed up a little to show the rest of the world that he does have SOME positive intentions, I don't feel he would have made the same actions this efficiently if it weren't for pressure, whether from the people of America, other counties or BAD PRESS.

Remember, whether or not you feel his re-election is in the forefront of his mind, it is still something he must consider before making ANY statements or decisions and definitely a good reason for his change of heart.

by oz_media

Hi Max, I agree that the media often clouds reality to sell news. As Chas had noted before, bad press sells, which I'm sure you are aware of. There are situations where it doesn't but for the most part, that's what reporters wnt to report in order to create contoversy and follow up stories. (Boy they'd love these forums!)

I found some interesting articles on how Bush's premature declaration of war has caused uneccessary deaths due to improper support and planning that was available yet ignored due to the haste to go to war. Unfortunately this haste has also caused lost lives and a much harder fight than needed.

I've posted smippets to the last bit Iraqi flame off but here are the links to the full papers.

Burning Down the House:
How the Iraq War Will Affect the International System
http://tinyurl.com/r6h4
(you'll probably see this as right wing but it is another viewpoint to consider)

The New York Review of books

http://tinyurl.com/r6gr

This has some interesting views regarding the days of preparation (or lack thereof) for the war in Iraq.

As I stated earlier, I don't hate Americans for supporting America, I don't feel that Saddam should be left in power, I do not dcondone the senless and unjust killing and repression he ordered upon his citizens. I also do not feel that BUSH made a valid decision as to why and when to launch an attack. I feel he has lied to Americans and will do anything to not admit his errors. If intelligence from his sources was inaccurate, it should be HIS job to ensure that these allegations are confirmed before declaring war and expecting others to back him.
For American people to NOT see his faults and simply wave their flags victoriously no matter what is said, is what I consider ignorance. As a people it is your duty to look at all sides and consider repercussions BEFORE supporting such a war effort, what I see over and over again is blind conformity.

If Bush is NOW starting to realize his mistakes and haste, do you not find it in his best interests to start QUICKLY rebuilding Iraq as he had promised? All his other reasons/promises are dead ie. WMD, Saddam's capture.

by generalist

Saddam's capture will probably end up being a case of betray or accident. He has a reasonably large support base in parts of Iraq and enough resources to spend a couple of years attempting to 'liberate' Iraq from the foreign invaders.

And if he didn't have official Al Qaeda support before the war, he probably has it now.

What needs to be done at this point is to improve conditions so that the bulk of the Iraqi population is better off than they were under Saddam. This would need to be done without warlords, corrupt cops or radical religious groups.

If Saddam is still uncaptured by that time, just increase the price on his head and encourage Iraqis to become informers.

by road-dog

That he will be captured. At some point his absence will decrease the fear that he has worked so diligently to create.

His lineage is Sunni, a minority in Iraq. He has tens of thousands of Kurds to the north and millions of Shiites to the east and south. Syria has already rejected his sons, closing the rout out to the west.

I'm sure that N. Korea has withdrawn their offer of asylum, as they don't went to give the UN another excuse to go in. (And they would, now that the US has demonstrated that it will do so if they do not).

He simply has limited options, in spite of nearly unlimited cash. I'm sure that his cash on hand will run out and he will get real expendable, really fast.

He's not living the life he envisioned that he would have. I hope that he's a bony, nervous wreck when he's captured. It will not help the world feel sorry for him. It will show his supporters that the emperor has no clothes and I suspect that support for the resistance will dry up. His being alive and in a cage will end his bluster forever, as an example to Kim Jung-il.

by oz_media

It will happen in time and nobody said it would be quick, I'll ecen credit Bush with that.
(must be all the fresh air, I'm going soft)

I believe he already has his Al Qaida ties, even though they won't admit it. IRN members were interviewed and denied it, they also denied ever indicating to CIA officials that there were WMD so they don't hold too much credibility, yet nobody does now.

A bit sad how it all came to this though, it could have been more carefully planned and executed, less people woudl have died, less of YOUR tax money spent, same if not better results in less time without pissing off all your previous allies.

But oh well, as they say: "Americans will be Americans" (or was it me that said that?)

by oz_media

It will happen in time and nobody said it would be quick, I'll ecen credit Bush with that.
(must be all the fresh air, I'm going soft)

I believe he already has his Al Qaida ties, even though they won't admit it. IRN members were interviewed and denied it, they also denied ever indicating to CIA officials that there were WMD so they don't hold too much credibility, yet nobody does now.

A bit sad how it all came to this though, it could have been more carefully planned and executed, less people woudl have died, less of YOUR tax money spent, same if not better results in less time without pissing off all your previous allies.

But oh well, as they say: "Americans will be Americans" (or was it me that said that?)

by jimhm

As I have posted before - that I believe our liberal media was attempting to do another Vietnam on the American people and world. Showing only the Negative side never showing the positives that have been gained.

Why - Because Good News doesn't sell paper or viewers...

It's suprising that a Dem would say that - I would imagin that he will not be supported for his next term by the DNC -

by oz_media

Yes Jim I agree with the fact that the media is clouding the truth, as always. You can't get the truth out of a politician no matter how hard you squeeze, you can't get BOTH sides of a story from the press either.
I have often referred to this as propaganda. It is different than NAZI Germany but not THAT different. The bottom line is you hear what they want you to hear.

It's all crap really when you think about it. People's sons and daughters sent to war in a foreign country and parents who have little idea of whats REALLY going on, not too mention the supportive public. I think this is where I get the idea that many people are just blindly following what they are told and take it as fact.

I think to compare THIS war with the mess and hatred following Vietnam is probably a little too extreme, but I see where you're going with it.

One thing that MAY amuse you, as much as I protest the wars, I praise the soldiers who fight so proudly for their countries. I never saw the Vietnam vets as baby killers etc. They just did a job, if the government screwed up on their end, that's a different story, not the fault of the troops who were subject to such horror.

by maxwell edison

Amid all the Democratic and press criticism of U.S. operations in Iraq, no one can deny that one mission is turning out successfully.

The Pentagon has arranged congressional delegations for more than 100 lawmakers, Republican and Democratic. To a person, the members return to Washington saying three things: The troops are performing splendidly; the Iraqis want the Americans to stay; and reconstruction is progressing much better than press reports indicate.

Meanwhile, some in the Pentagon are amused by the latest Gallup poll, a door-to-door survey of Baghdad residents who by a huge margin want U.S. troops to stay in their country for a while. The comment in the Pentagon is that polls show more Iraqis than Americans support the war to oust Saddam Hussein.

-Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough,Pentagon reporters

by thechas

It is good to hear that the average Iraqi wants us to stay.

We need to stay, or at least maintain a presence until 2 things are accomplished:

1. Saddam is found.

2. The Iraqi's are ready to govern themselves.

I also agree that we need to spend whatever is required to rebuild the infrastructure of Iraq.
(At least what was destroyed as a consequence of the war.)

Hopefully, the people of Iraq will be more grateful then the French or German people have been.

Chas

by oz_media

People who lived in fear of having an opinion have had their feared and destructive ruler scared off by an even BIGGER military force than the one they have feared for most of their lives.

Now, someone from that country knocks the door and asks if they like the American occupation of Iraq. They would have been shot and tortured by Saddam for openly expressing an opinion, but now all of a sudden these people ae filled with truth?

I'm sure there are many who see a positive side or an end to all of the torment, but I'm positive there are an equal amount who simply say they LOVE the occupation out of fear of repercussion.

These people have lived their ENTIRE LIVES in fear of the authorities, why would that change because someone else took over the country?

This will be a loooooong recovery for Iraqi citizens, not an overnight change of thought process.

As I've said Max, your political knowledge and undestanding of the system of America is uncanny, your knowledge of people and how humans think and react is retarded.

by road-dog

We're going to rebuild their economy and now we're outsourcing our burger flippin' jobs overseas.

I think that the trigger for pulling out of Iraq should be when they open their first Chuck E. Cheese. Once that country opens one, I'm convinced that the nation cannot be salvaged....

by oz_media

"It's $2 of heaven. It's the only thing getting us through this deployment,"

I always thought that fighting for the country was the biggest motivator. Guess it's just burgers. Ya think mayor MacCheese should be next on your list of targets? If you overthrow HIS government you'd have complete control over burgers worldwide!

Who would you appoint though?

Mayor MacBush chasing the fry guys around MacDonaldland.

by thechas

Max,

If I had desires to make your blood boil, I would have typed in the liberal editorial that I first saw the information in.

Out of respect for you, I did not even look for a link to that particular editorial as I knew reading it would raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Chas

by maxwell edison

...that you had no desires to make my blood boil.

I was just trying to be funny.

(It's missed at times in these threads.)

That story does, however, make one wonder why Ted Kennedy is so mean towards the Bush family. And if I remember correctly, much to the disdain of many Republicans, GWB pretty much let Ted Kennedy write that education bill that the President supported a couple of years ago.

Man, I don't think I would last very long as a polititian.

Regards.....

by maxwell edison

...as to the motives Ted Kennedy has for being so mean-spirited towards the Bush family.

Perhaps Ted Kennedy has grown rather fond of that "Kennedy family political dynasty" that's been around for the last 40 years, and the Bush family is suddenly creating their own dynasty - pushing the Kennedys into past history.

Jeb Bush in 2008?

(Nope, my guess is Rudy Giuliani.)

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