Newsweek Baghdad Bureau Chief: "It's a lot worse [in Iraq] than reported"

[blitzen]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3525


FOREIGN POLICY: Are Americans getting an accurate picture of what’s going on in Iraq?

Rod Nordland: It’s a lot worse over here than is reported. The administration does a great job of managing the news. Just an example: There was a press conference here about Zarqawi’s death, and somebody asked what role U.S. Special Forces played in finding Zarqawi. The official either denied any role or didn’t answer the question. Somebody pointed out that the president, half an hour earlier, had already acknowledged and thanked the Special Forces for their involvement. They are just not giving very much information here.

FP: The Bush administration often complains that the reporting out of Iraq is too negative, yet you say they are managing the news. What’s the real story?

RN: You can only manage the news to a certain degree. It is certainly hard to hide the fact that in the third year of this war, Iraqis are only getting electricity for about 5 to 10 percent of the day. Living conditions have gotten so much worse, violence is at an even higher tempo, and the country is on the verge of civil war. The administration has been successful to the extent that most Americans are not aware of just how dire it is and how little progress has been made. They keep talking about how the Iraqi army is doing much better and taking over responsibilities, but for the most part that’s not true.

[Ksec]

1. an honest reporter!! Wow.

I figure it this way. If you cant walk through town without either getting killed or kidnapped, Iraq aint nothing like Fox and other whacko media would have people believe. When you can walk through Fallujah or Baghdad without getting your head blown off then I will say youve done some good. You cant and neither can reporters.

[azurnoir]

4. By next week

at this time he'll be called a treasonous reporter who personally hates George and all the good he's doing in Iraq, quite possibly an AQ operative. BTW has any heard on how GWB is coming along with his new "Ministry of Propaganda" or whatever they're calling it?

[cali]

6. The reason I know Baghdad and Iraq

are so much worse than the general impression given, is because I read the NYT Iraq coverage everyday. Between Burns, Filkins, Wong and others, a devastating picture is composed. It's not any discrete event or day or series of days; it's the entire picture. And it's way worse than most Americans think. The NYT has been reporting the number of bodies brought to the central Baghdad morgue each month- the figures have gone up steadily over the past few months, and can be compared to this time last year, for instance, or the year before. The level of violence in Baghdad, even in upscale neighborhoods, cannot be overstated.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. The good news in Iraq is that we shouldn't be launching

major aerial assaults on their cities anytime soon.

[izzie]

3. There was an interesting story on electricity in NYT, I think, today.

Something about cutting it down for the Kurdish region which I had read was the one part of the country doing pretty well. That seems to mean they want the whole country in one big mess I guess. One hardly thinks they do much in that country with out the US saying what they can do so guess this must be something we think is a good deal. I guess if the Kurdish region is going pretty well it would not be fair. Right?

[napi21]

5. There was a panel of reporters on the WJ on Fri AM who were good too!

They represented the WSJ, UPI, & Baltimore Sun. I was impressed with their frankness, and they explained a lot of why the perception is that reporters just aren't doing the job anymore.

[Monkeyman]

7. MOST WON'T LEAVE GREEN ZONE

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. ...........because they don't want to die.

[indepat]

9. Everything this administration has done or touched is much worse than

reported.

[Olney Blue]

10. I am sick and tired of the lies.

:banghead:

[Monkeyman]

11. You are so right

Lies and devert that is the Republican Party You should read my better half blog she is so pissed off she will not let up.
http://janets-conner.blogspot.com

And I have to live with her LOL

[Olney Blue]

12. I like her!