war in Iraq
October 11, 2003 10:56 PM Subscribe
many posts, same story;
next time check the inventory.
posted by troybob at 11:09 PM on October 11, 2003
next time check the inventory.
posted by troybob at 11:09 PM on October 11, 2003
The ladies love DoublePostGuy!
posted by UKnowForKids at 11:43 PM on October 11, 2003
posted by UKnowForKids at 11:43 PM on October 11, 2003
This is a truly pathetic attempt to shore up support for an increasingly unpopular war by an administration that is desperately trying to hang onto power. Sad.
What happened to Dubya's promise to "restore dignity to the White House"? Lying and trying to rewrite history ain't "restoring dignity," Dumbass.
posted by Cranky Media Guy at 12:15 AM on October 12, 2003
What happened to Dubya's promise to "restore dignity to the White House"? Lying and trying to rewrite history ain't "restoring dignity," Dumbass.
posted by Cranky Media Guy at 12:15 AM on October 12, 2003
Sgt. Chris Shelton, Sgt. 1st Class Edwin Gargas Jr. and Pfc. Adam C. Connell agree. The War In Iraq is the best!
posted by mosch at 12:24 AM on October 12, 2003
posted by mosch at 12:24 AM on October 12, 2003
i didn't notice the earlier post. anyway cranky media person, i take a different view. the soldiers quoted in the linked story said they agree with the sentiments expressed. i believe the letter. the soldiers are helping the iraqis, i don't doubt that. the people of iraq are better off with the support of american troops than they were under the despotic regime of saddam hussein. i don't think you can dispute that at all! the only thing that worries me is that when the troops eventually leave, as they surely will, the country will fall to pieces and revert to rule by barbaric warlords or eventual totalitarianism. i think most iraqis are probably desperately hoping the troops will stay as long as possible. could be wrong though.
as for the public relations attempt of this letter, i don't see anything majorly sinister. deceitful, yes, but i would ascribe that to misguidedness, not conspiracy.
posted by mokey at 12:29 AM on October 12, 2003
as for the public relations attempt of this letter, i don't see anything majorly sinister. deceitful, yes, but i would ascribe that to misguidedness, not conspiracy.
posted by mokey at 12:29 AM on October 12, 2003
mokey, interesting story in the Washington Post about a woman who returned to Baghdad after having lived her entire life in the US. To be honest my gut says that they are better off now but I'm really not so sure a majority of the Iraqis feel that way right now. When communism disintegrated in the former Russia an awful lot of people longed for the good old days while their daily lives were thrown into turmoil. I think in time Iraq will be better off than it could have been under Saddam or his sons but it's definitely going to be a rocky road.
posted by zeoslap at 12:56 AM on October 12, 2003
posted by zeoslap at 12:56 AM on October 12, 2003
Agreed, Zeoslap. The American people, in my humble opinion, are victims of a publicity stunt caused by these "phony" letters.
Yes, you've all heard the words "History repeats itself" but that is no excuse. Even though the sergeants and cadets involved agree that these letters are correct, they agreed that they did not write it. We need to know who wrote it, why it was written, and a formal apology to the newspapers that were sent these bogus letters. These people put their lives on the line for honor, yet the inner mechanisms shown in this example speak otherwise.
I love my country so much that I would fight for it. I want a free democracy. These last few years can be seen as a turning point in America's history (like vietnam) or a grand upbringing of voting Americans speaking their minds in response to insoluble odds, by getting another president into office. I'm not democratic, nor replublican. I am American.
posted by Keyser Soze at 1:40 AM on October 12, 2003
Yes, you've all heard the words "History repeats itself" but that is no excuse. Even though the sergeants and cadets involved agree that these letters are correct, they agreed that they did not write it. We need to know who wrote it, why it was written, and a formal apology to the newspapers that were sent these bogus letters. These people put their lives on the line for honor, yet the inner mechanisms shown in this example speak otherwise.
I love my country so much that I would fight for it. I want a free democracy. These last few years can be seen as a turning point in America's history (like vietnam) or a grand upbringing of voting Americans speaking their minds in response to insoluble odds, by getting another president into office. I'm not democratic, nor replublican. I am American.
posted by Keyser Soze at 1:40 AM on October 12, 2003
did I ever tell you guys about the time I parachuted from a C-17 onto a cold, muddy field in Northern Iraq with the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, otherwise known as the "Rock." ?
posted by efalk at 1:54 AM on October 12, 2003
posted by efalk at 1:54 AM on October 12, 2003
I'm not democratic, nor replublican.
i am a proud replublican.
posted by quonsar at 2:50 AM on October 12, 2003
i am a proud replublican.
posted by quonsar at 2:50 AM on October 12, 2003
mokey: I think that somepeople would strongly dispute that 'the people of Iraq' are better off.
As for the letters, were they linked to a commercial venture they would probably provide strong evidence of fraud. The claim that the individuals agreed with the spirit of the letter is beside the point - the letters were written in the first person and purported to be a true story. If this was concocted by someone in the miltary, I hope that a court martial will be instigated.
posted by daveg at 5:25 AM on October 12, 2003
As for the letters, were they linked to a commercial venture they would probably provide strong evidence of fraud. The claim that the individuals agreed with the spirit of the letter is beside the point - the letters were written in the first person and purported to be a true story. If this was concocted by someone in the miltary, I hope that a court martial will be instigated.
posted by daveg at 5:25 AM on October 12, 2003
Someone tries to feed the american public lies?
Color me unsurprised.
posted by spazzm at 5:53 AM on October 12, 2003
Color me unsurprised.
posted by spazzm at 5:53 AM on October 12, 2003
Alternate comment:
Someone is trying to support the war with lies?
Who would do such a thing? Who!?
Oh, that's right...
posted by spazzm at 6:27 AM on October 12, 2003
Someone is trying to support the war with lies?
Who would do such a thing? Who!?
Oh, that's right...
posted by spazzm at 6:27 AM on October 12, 2003
I am a plowed rubicon!
Funny that nobody is bringing up culpability of the newspapers. Most published these letters without even making an attempt at verification.
The dog is being wagged with the help of some lazy gatekeepers.
posted by srboisvert at 8:25 AM on October 12, 2003
Funny that nobody is bringing up culpability of the newspapers. Most published these letters without even making an attempt at verification.
The dog is being wagged with the help of some lazy gatekeepers.
posted by srboisvert at 8:25 AM on October 12, 2003
When it comes to the economy, President Bush is demonstrating genuine leadership. So it doesn't surpise me the troops in Iraq are loving Operation Iraqi Freedom. How many times must a newspaper fall for these things?
posted by birdherder at 8:52 AM on October 12, 2003
posted by birdherder at 8:52 AM on October 12, 2003
Srboisvert: Agreed. I've worked for three newspapers, and every one has maintained a "verify" policy for letters to the editor. Sometimes, guest commentary may not be verified but that's only if it's syndicated. As these letters obviously were :-(
Bad newspapers, bad. I wonder what the soldiers would have said if they'd reached them for verification?
posted by Happydaz at 10:37 AM on October 12, 2003
Bad newspapers, bad. I wonder what the soldiers would have said if they'd reached them for verification?
posted by Happydaz at 10:37 AM on October 12, 2003
Well, I have to say that it would be pretty difficult to reach soldiers on active duty for verification. Frankly, my guess is that whoever in the Army press office cooked up this stunt was relying on that.
The thing that's so idiotic about this is that they could have done it honestly--they could have asked soldiers to write, in their own words, a foreword to a "special report" and then sent the report and foreword on the soldiers' hometown papers.
Something like: "Dear Hooterville Bugle, I wanted to share some news of what we are doing here with the folks at home. Read the attached special report for more information. P. S., HOOTERVILLE PANTHERS ROCK!!!"
Somebody in the Army press corps appears to have failed Public Relations 101. Sigh.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:24 PM on October 12, 2003
The thing that's so idiotic about this is that they could have done it honestly--they could have asked soldiers to write, in their own words, a foreword to a "special report" and then sent the report and foreword on the soldiers' hometown papers.
Something like: "Dear Hooterville Bugle, I wanted to share some news of what we are doing here with the folks at home. Read the attached special report for more information. P. S., HOOTERVILLE PANTHERS ROCK!!!"
Somebody in the Army press corps appears to have failed Public Relations 101. Sigh.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:24 PM on October 12, 2003
daveg:
The breakdown of law and order began with the departure of Saddam Hussein's regime, and with it the brutal system of control that had made Baghdad a relatively safe city for its size.
is this what you want? a brutal system of control? well, that is where we differ. sorry.
posted by mokey at 3:44 PM on October 12, 2003
The breakdown of law and order began with the departure of Saddam Hussein's regime, and with it the brutal system of control that had made Baghdad a relatively safe city for its size.
is this what you want? a brutal system of control? well, that is where we differ. sorry.
posted by mokey at 3:44 PM on October 12, 2003
What's a nice post like you doing in a place like this?
posted by hama7 at 6:53 PM on October 12, 2003
posted by hama7 at 6:53 PM on October 12, 2003
you guys want a list of names of newspaper people who spied for THE GOVERNMENT?
(open source list)
posted by clavdivs at 7:58 PM on October 12, 2003
(open source list)
posted by clavdivs at 7:58 PM on October 12, 2003
*sigh*
I make like two posts a year, and when I finally do get the gumption up, the ensuing double post splinters the conversation, and remains undeleted. Poop.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:54 PM on October 12, 2003
I make like two posts a year, and when I finally do get the gumption up, the ensuing double post splinters the conversation, and remains undeleted. Poop.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:54 PM on October 12, 2003
My sympathies, stavros, but I hear wonderchicken poop is good for growing roses... but what are the chances he'll ever visit THIS thread again?
I am a proud replicant.
posted by wendell at 10:23 PM on October 12, 2003
I am a proud replicant.
posted by wendell at 10:23 PM on October 12, 2003
is this what you want? a brutal system of control? well, that is where we differ. sorry.
I wouldn't be surprised if people preferred running water, electricity and Saddam rather than no Saddam, no water and no electricity.
FYI, I've experienced what life was under Franco (one of them dictators propped up by the US, BTW). retyy much everybody wanted him out, but not at the price of completely ruining our civilized livelyhoods.
Funny how these things work.
posted by magullo at 7:39 AM on October 13, 2003
I wouldn't be surprised if people preferred running water, electricity and Saddam rather than no Saddam, no water and no electricity.
FYI, I've experienced what life was under Franco (one of them dictators propped up by the US, BTW). retyy much everybody wanted him out, but not at the price of completely ruining our civilized livelyhoods.
Funny how these things work.
posted by magullo at 7:39 AM on October 13, 2003
Unapologetic battalion commander says he wrote the letters.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:15 AM on October 14, 2003
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:15 AM on October 14, 2003
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posted by fvw at 11:02 PM on October 11, 2003