THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume V, Issue # 86, March 30, 2003
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE WAR IN IRAQ:
MILITARY REALITY VERSUS LEFTIST DISTORTIONS
By Paul Walfield
Most people, at least the people whom you would not be ashamed to admit you know, would prefer that a war in which our country becomes involved be a nice war. America would have no casualties, no deaths. While there might be enemy resistance to Ameri- ca's military advances, it would be short lived (pun intended).
The other side, our enemy, would have few casualties, and those that were killed would be necessarily vaporized and, unlike unruly children, would not be seen, but only heard about.
Alas, such is not the case, not in reality, no such luck.
America is at war with Iraq and having been denied a more convenient and less risky means of establishing a northern front to fight the Iraqi military--more convenient and less risky than air-lifting troops and equipment into northern Iraq--has been speeding (by military standards) up Iraq from Kuwait to Baghdad and beyond. America has not been stopped, and America rules the skies over our warriors. Unfortunately, tragically, Americans are getting killed, wounded, and taken prisoner by Iraqis. However, none of the events that have occurred so far, or are likely to occur in the future, will stop Ameri- ca's mission to disarm Iraq and remove the butcher of Baghdad from power.
Unfortunately, the Left-leaning media does not seem to report the progress of America's endeavors in a favorable light. Rather they seem to stress America's difficulties as if they, as tragic and horrific as a death may be, will somehow stop a war, stop America from achieving its victory.
As the 18th. American president James Garfield said a little over 100 years ago, "A na- tion is not worthy to be saved if, in the hour of its fate, it will not gather up all its jewels of manhood and life, and go down into the conflict, however bloody and doubtful, resolved on measureless ruin or complete success."
It is apparent to many that when an American news network like CNN reports facts as, "the American military views Iraqis displaying POWs as a violation of the Geneva Con- vention," that news network is showing its true but shameful colors. CNN is unwilling to take sides, and views American corpses being lifted off the ground, their hair pulled back and the bullet holes in the foreheads shown to the audience, as possibly acceptable be- havior.
CNN views the interrogation of American POWs for a TV audience, some badly wound- ed and forced before the camera by the interrogator to raise their heads, as open to interpretation as to whether it violates the Geneva Convention or the norms of civilized behavior. CNN is headquartered in Atlanta, though it sometimes appears they would prefer it was Baghdad.
Then there is the Washington Post. In a news article on March 24, 2003, the Washing- ton Post, in its disdain for America, for our troops and for the American President, com- mented on the prowess of the Iraqi soldiers, the ineptness of America's warriors, and the weakness of America's overall plan: "Iraqi troops and militias used ruses, ambushes, and other guerrilla tactics yesterday that exploited the risks inherent in the fast-moving Pentagon war strategy, inflicting more than a score of American casualties and raising questions about how effective the U.S. approach has been in persuading Iraqi troops and civilians that President Saddam Hussein's removal is inevitable."
Then there are NBC and MSNBC: "With advancing American forces rubbing up against Iraqi Republican Guard units in the Baghdad area, U.S. and British troops continued to face stiff resistance all along their long supply line from Kuwait, raising concerns that the rapid thrust northward may have exposed the allied flank." They do add, "Tommy Franks characterized the opposition as 'sporadic' and said that the coalition was making rapid and dramatic progress." However, they lead with the negative. Why is that?
Who at the Pentagon, White House, or Central Command believes America was facing anything more than was expected. Or that American strategy has left America's war- riors more vulnerable than they should be?
Our American warriors lost their lives and limbs in a noble cause and many more will no doubt experience the same. The Left-leaning media want us to believe these fine Ameri- cans gave their lives and health in vain. War is called war because it is. Americans at home may be subjected to terrorism and violence, all sorts of calamities may befall us. We all need to remember and hold onto the notion that we, as Americans, must stand up for what and who we are, and not fall into the trap of doubting our position and give cre- dence to those who hold nothing but contempt for us all.
For the political Left, there is no capitulation. There is no acceptance of their defeat at the polls and their failure at imposing their ideals and values on America's population. However they, true to the insidious Fifth Column they have become, continue to chip away at America's foundation in the hopes of attaining power at any cost, even if that means the loss of American lives to merely prove a point.
American involvement in Iraq is not a venture in greed, capitalism, or revenge. Ameri- can involvement in Iraq is to ensure that our children and theirs will grow up and live in a world that is safer than would be otherwise. America is at war with a ruthless enemy that has no regard for the norms and expectations of civilized behavior. If America was to leave Iraq prior to achieving its goals, the consequences for us, and for all American generations to follow, would be horrific. What motive does the political Left have then for wanting that result?
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
The News Media & Political Bias
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, & Other Leftists
Disloyalty, Subversion, Sedition, & Treason
The Middle East & the Problem of Iraq
Page Two
Page One
The Problem of Rogue States:
Iraq as a Case History
The Middle East & the Arabs
Islamism & Jihadism -- The Threat of Radical Islam
Page Three
Page Two
Page One
War & Peace in the Real World
Page Two
Page One
Islamist Terrorist Attacks on the U.S.A.
Osama bin Laden & the Islamist Declaration of War
Against the U.S.A. & Western Civilization
Islamist International Terrorism &
U.S. Intelligence Agencies
U.S. National Security Strategy
Paul Walfield is a freelance writer and member of the State Bar of California, with an undergraduate degree in Psychology
and post-graduate study in behavioral and analytical psychology. He resided for a number of years in the small town of
Houlton, Maine, and is now a California attorney. His articles appear in numerous periodicals and on numerous websites. He
has been the featured guest on KTSA News Talk Radio. CONTACT INFORMATION: Email:
paul.walfield@cox.net
Return to Top of Page
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE,
Public Issues & Political Controversies
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE,
Volume V, 2003
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE,
Subject Matter Highlights
Return to POLITICAL EDUCATION Homepage
This is not a commercial website. The sole purpose of the website is to share with interested persons information regarding civics,
civic and social education, political science, government, politics, law, constitutional law and history, public policy, and political
philosophy and history, as well as current and recent political developments, public issues, and political controversies.
POLITICAL EDUCATION, CONSERVATIVE ANALYSIS
POLITICS, SOCIETY, & THE SOVEREIGN STATE
Website of Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr.
Government, Politics, Public Policy, Legal Issues, Constitutional Law, Government & the Economy, Cultural Values, Foreign Affairs,
International Relations, Military Defense & National Security, Geopolitics, Terrorism & Homeland Security, American National Interests,
Political Systems & Processes, Political Institutions, Political Ideologies, & Political Philosophy
INDEX FOR THE ENTIRE WEBSITE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Conservative & Free-Market Analysis of Government, Politics & Public Policy, Covering Political, Legal, Constitutional, Economic,
Cultural, Military, International, Strategic, & Geopolitical Issues
Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity