Iraq...bad?...good?...or who knows??

[generallee]

I have really starting thinking more and more about the conflict in Iraq. Everybody knows the impact the media has on the people of this country. In my mind, too big a role. The media does far more than just report the news...which has got me thinking. It is clear that a large percentage of Americans do not view the Iraq war as a "good war" or a "success". I would say that the primary reason for this viewpoint is because of the media. Think about it...WWII is viewed as "good war"...and why??? Because there was not a constant flood of opposing media to sway the public's opinion like there is today. Without the media today, what would be reported...???? Perhaps that a brutal dictator and his government were relieved of their power. And that the same brutal dictator stood trial for the thousands and thousands of people that he was responsible for killing. Or maybe, as a result of that trial he will be executed for his crimes. Maybe there would be reports that our soliders are far superior to the enemy and that they are fighting hard and defeating the enemy. Maybe even that our troops have the terrorists on the run and that there has not been an attack on our soil in 5 years…despite their attempts to do so. Sure, there are things going on in Iraq that were not planned and need to be fixed…but this is war, and when you step foot on the ground, the plan goes out the window and you have to adapt to the situation.
Basically what I’m saying is that I believe the strong opposition to the war is due to how the media portrays it…and I don’t think they portray it very accurately. Id be interested to hear what others feel on this issue.

[Newarcher]

Had the democrats, media, and republicans united with the intention of making it a success (like WWII), it certainly would be better than it is now.

The enemy has got the message that if they just inflict enough casualties and keep the upevil long enough, we will tire and pull out. And what do you know, the person who shanghaied us in Vietnam also shanghaied us in Iraq...John Kerry and his ilk.

You are at war, you back your Country.

New

[wtnhunt]

Really is sad how the media has turned this war into what they have. No war should ever be positive, but sometimes they are a necessity, that not to be confused with positive support for a war. The media and the libs have taken the support for the war away by creating a negative image, which is not good for our men and women serving nor is it good for this country and our future.

Here is a good read posted in here not so long back that is worth taking the time to read history post (http://www.realtree.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1099828/an/0/page/0#Post1099828)

[oldksnarc]

If you look beyond what history recalls about WWII and the greatest generation (and I'm not intending any disrepect to them) WWII was just as opposed and politicized as Viet Nam was and now Iraq is becoming.

There were protests in the streets, thousands fled the country to avoid the draft and the politicians were at odds about what should be done.

The difference between then and now? The media was new technology. Those in the media hadn't yet realized what they had or what power and influence they could exert on the minds of Americans. Through the years they have come to learn this and harness that power and use it to bend the thinking of us on this side of the tube.

As a result, they show us what they want on to see. They don't show the good or positive things that are happening. They don't show the re-construction that is being done or the troops who have volunteered for 2nd and 3rd tours. What they do show is the soldiers killed by IEDs or those who have done wrong - which all that does is verify the concept of the "bad american." All we see is the bad and as a result most Americans, who don't investigate the facts for themselves, end up with the skewed view the media wants us to have.

[horst]

[ QUOTE ]
Basically what I’m saying is that I believe the strong opposition to the war is due to how the media portrays it…and I don’t think they portray it very accurately. Id be interested to hear what others feel on this issue.



[/ QUOTE ]

Lets see, we went to war on bad intelligence.

After being assured we werent on a nation building mission were judging victory on what?A nation building mission right?

The insurgency was way underestimated and there were little if any plans to deal with it.Not to mention the fact we created it.

Theres allegations of billions of dollars in fraud going on over there, our tax dollars being the ones in question.Also theres allegations of tens of thousands of US weapons unaccounted for.

The violence is escalating on an almost daily basis and its mostly civilians being killed not troops or bad guys.

The troops and police were training to replace us are full of corrupt Iraqis with ties to the militia.

The new Iraqi govt has so far made very little effort to help itself and at times has actually hindered our efforts

In general the entire wars been a large fiasco based on unsubstatiated intelligence led by people who up till this point have made a stubborn refusal to change any of thier tactics for dealing with an everchanging situation.Apparently the majority of Americans saw many of the same things going on and decided it was time for a change.The media may be biased but it doesnt mean theyre making all these things up, theres a lot of factual information being given which should effect the way people view things.Can you blame people for wondering what exactly it is were hoping to win over there?

[ QUOTE ]
The enemy has got the message that if they just inflict enough casualties and keep the upevil long enough, we will tire and pull out

[/ QUOTE ]

New, your talking about people that use bombs as belts and consider dying for thier cause a sure ticket to allah or wherever it is they go.Do you really think that by keeping a continous supply of troops over there were affecting what theyre going to do in any form?Theyre nutcases with a death wish.Theyve been doing this since the begining of time.Theyll be doing it long after were gone.

I dont agree with the left on most things but I really think this whole affair has been badly handled, was more or less uncalled for, and nobody to this point has been held accountable for any of it.We got rid of Saddam, thats true, but look what they got now, wholesale slaughter in the streets, hows that better?