Shocking Interview with Unembedded, Independent American journalist in Iraq

[North King]

That would certainly curb a lot of the senseless leftist spitter-spatter.

So you find annoying text on the internet more important to end than thousands of lives being ended?

 

[BasketCase]

Well, why don't you go there?

Two reasons, Zulu: because my current job doesn't get vacations, and I haven't got the time to go out there (we mus cover our accounts 24x365, NO execeptions whatsoever, or we'd get fired); and because I'd only be able to see a sample of the nation anyway. Most likely that sample would consist entirely of the safer areas, because big burly U.S. soldiers with real nasty guns would be stopping me from entering the dangerous areas, and because radical idiots with C4 and a death wish would also be trying to stop me from entering those areas in less friendly ways.

In the end, the most important reason is buried in the middle of the above mishmash: the world is just too damn big to really see it all and actually get a good look at everything that happens in it. Odin's All-Seeing Throne is not meant for mortals to sit in; we'd suffer a brain overload.

 

[amadeus]

Independent jouralists usually tend to be independent of other things, like credibility, sanity, and the facts.

 

[amadeus]

Well, why don't you go there?

Only if you go to Cuba. Deal?

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[BasketCase]

Good call, Sharpe.

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

Well, why don't you go there?

I know this was directed at someone else, but I was in various locations in SouthWest Asia for over two years supporting the two major operations in the region. I have many Arabic friends who live there and a few fellow buds in the military who are there.

Although the Bush administration tries to put a positive spin on the situation and there are those against the war who put a negative spin on the situation, this guy just spouts utter non-sense.

If he said, 'many Sunnis consider the anti-US fighters patriots' I would listen. However, when he tries to make that claim about most Iraqis, many of whom have lost family members to the insurgency and greatly fear a Sunni resurgence of power, I know for a fact it is nothing but a false statement.

There are legitimate arguments about why things are going bad rather than good over there. This guy, however, is in lala land.

 

[zulu9812]

Only if you go to Cuba. Deal?

See, one again, the pair of you come out with something completely unrelated to anything else that's been said. Basket Case implied that only people who had personal experience of Iraq should comment on it (whilst at the same time dismissing someone who did), so I suggested he get that personal experience. When have I ever said anything about Cuba?

 

[zulu9812]

Independent jouralists usually tend to be independent of other things, like credibility, sanity, and the facts.

Rather than come out with crap lies, let's have a think about this. In Iraq, there are basically two types of western journalists: embedded and unembedded. The concept of having journalists embedded with military units wasn't thought up by the press corp: it was thought up by the military, and you have to think what they get out of it. Embedding journalists isn't supposed to give them better access to stories (or dare I say it, the truth?), or even supposed to give them protection. The military wants journalists embedded with military units in Iraq for one very simple reason: if they control where the units go, they control where the journalists go. Not only that, but there cases of journalists empathising with 'their' military unit: there's the semi-famous example talking about how "We've just had our order to ship out", checking himself and saying "Sorry, they've just had orders to ship out". The embedded journalist, whilst maybe wanting to report the truth, is unable to do so. Not through any fault of his or her own, but simply because they are not able to bring the audience an accurate picture. The unembedded journalist risks his life to bring the truth to the American people. That is journalism.

 

[zulu9812]

Do you actually believe that? I mean, something more along the lines of "PNAC wants to spread American interests abroad" would have made much more sense. There has been nothing profitable about this venture.

tell that to Halliburton and the Carlyle Group

 

[Peri]

I thought you said that you were not trying to convert the nutcases?

 

[Mr. Do]

I bet no-one would be complaining about the quality of unimbedded independent journalists if he was reporting the same as the rest of the media.

And although his bias is absolutely clear, at least it allows the reader to decide for himself how much to trust what he is told. None of this, "fair and balanced" rubbish that certain news organisations espouse of themselves

 

[Mario Feldberg]

BTW it's not hard to find other independent journalists who strongly disagree with this guy. I guess it's really just how you look at it. What you WANT to see..
If I would be a communist anti-American journalist I would head straight to Falluja and ask the Sunni Saddam *****es there how they feel. Of course the answer is predictable: they have lost their privileged social position, they fear revenge from Shi'ites etc. They will tell me how they hate America and how the terrorists are "patriots" etc. I'll combine this with some basic warzone pictures of bloody corpses, destroyed buildings and crying women. I've my story - time to go home.
Of course if I would want to support Operation Iraqi Freedom I would rather show success stories of rebuilding and good Iraqi-American relations (they are easy to find!). Maybe if I want to get real hardcore I will ask a member of one of Iraq's democratic parties to repeat one of their favorite slogans in front of my camera: God bless America!
I do know why I don't trust the media

 

[Bronx Warlord]

I've been to Iraq Zulu... wanna talk about it?

 

[Strider]

I'd say this much about this guy, if there was any possibility I was a soldier in Iraq, and I could find a way to do it without getting into trouble. I'd shoot this guy.

I wouldn't believe him, even if I did agree with him. Yes, Iraq is a failure, but atleast they now have a chance to make there lives better.

 

[Bronx Warlord]

I thought the majority of political posters were pro-US hawks.

What does being pro US have to do with being a hawk or dove? and thoes terms went out in the early 70's.

I never intended to convert the nutcases anyway

Looking at the source of this statement, I'd say someone converted you nicely.

RealGoober, in the act of protesting, we become free - no matter where we are or what yoke we live under

To bad you live in a democratic nation and wouldent know about oppression. Mabey you should ask the irish sometime?

I am NOT going to argue about the Lancet figure, I've done it enough times

We all know it's crap anyway


Nice try Zulu, you almost had some meat on the table with this one. This guy is some wackjob, and definately has political motivations written all over his ulgy face. I can tell you about Fallujah if you want to learn about it from someone that has been there, I can tell you about some crazy **** going on in Iraq, I can tell you about good and bad. Since you had the bright idea to ask Basket if he had plans on going to iraq, and you have never been there yourself I'll make my point again... I've been there, wanna try me sometime?

 

[North King]

Bronx, could you answer this honestly: Would you consider yourself an unbiased obsever?

After all, this guy has been to Iraq, but everyone says he spouting crap. Do you think you are unbiased?

(not a troll question, honest inquiry)

 

[Peri]

Well tell us then since you have been there:

When were you there?
So where exactly in Iraq have you been?
How long were you there?
Did you have any contact with ordinary Iraqis?
Did you become aware of any disregard for Iraqis by the US soldiers?
What was the morale of the soldiers like?
Was there any evidence of tacit support for those Iraqis attacking US troops from the people?
How did Iraqi people react to the deaths of US soldiers?
Did you come into contact with any charities or 'contractors' working there?
Were you aware of any 'atrocities/mistakes' committed by US forces?

 

[Yom]

I am NOT going to argue about the Lancet figure, I've done it enough times

We all know it's crap anyway

What are you talking about? You think that doctors from one of the most prestigious medical programs (at Johns Hopkins University) lied about the civilian figure? First of all, there have obviously been at least 10 times as many civilians killed, as there are much more Iraqis dead each day than U.S. soldiers. Second of all, what figures do you have to go with if not those? The Bush administration refuses to count the number of civilian dead, remember? Are you simply going to come up with a number that suits you?

 

[newfangle]

So you find annoying text on the internet more important to end than thousands of lives being ended?

Certainly. Especially since it results in me gaining more for myself somehow.

 

[carlosMM]

You are definitely wrong. CFC OT is very liberal/leftist. The only reason you get such negative responses is that those who agree with you see less reason to post than those who hold completely antagonistic views.

Edit: Seeing as you've been here since January, 2002, I'd think that you'd know that.

going from right-wing nutcase to right-wing is NOT liberal!

OK, I am exaggerating, but there's quite a bunch of radical US nationalists here who will not believe in any wrong by Bush even if he admits it.

CFC OT has become (!) a place where liberals and socialists can speak their minds, but by no means is it left of center as a whole!